A NOTE FROM JOY

Friends,

Most of my childhood was spent in small towns and rural places across North Carolina. I know first-hand the beauty and the challenges of rural life, and so do many members of the ZSR team. That’s why we’re honored to support the incredible work happening across NC’s rural counties through ZSR’s Community Progress Fund.

Rural places don’t always make headlines — or get their fair share of resources — but local organizations are rolling up their sleeves and doing the work anyway.

In Harnett County, for example, the Dunn Police Athletic and Activities League is delivering on its motto to “Fill Playgrounds, Not Prisons” by running afterschool programs for youth, including basketball, wrestling and chess.

In Randolph County, the Community Hope Alliance is providing opioid overdose prevention services, distributing Naloxone to reverse overdoses and save lives.

And in Burnsville, where residents are still reeling from Hurricane Helene, Partners Aligned Toward Health is helping Latine community members get critical resources, from food and essentials to mental health services, as they navigate threats of deportation.

These stories highlight the power of North Carolinians to create positive change in their rural communities.

ZSR just announced new grants for the organizations mentioned above and dozens of others working for local progress in rural NC. We’re excited to shine a spotlight on these nonprofits and their good work.

We hope you’ll spread the word and let us know: what inspiring work do you see happening in rural communities in our state?

All For NC,

Joy Vermillion Heinsohn

ZSR Executive Director

GET INSPIRED

Stories of hope and action

from our partners across NC

CleanAIRE NC is making air quality data more accessible. The organization recently launched the AirKeeper Dashboard, an interactive tool that tracks real-time air pollution alongside demographic and health data in communities across NC. The tool empowers residents to better understand local environmental conditions and advocate for cleaner, healthier air.

A new report from Disability Rights NC is shedding light on the misuse of involuntary commitment in NC. The legal process, meant to protect individuals in crisis, too often is used in ways that violate patient rights and cause long-term harm to the children and adults the system is meant to help. The report offers 30 recommendations for reform and highlights hospitals that have already taken steps to reduce unnecessary commitments. By advancing solutions rooted in dignity, transparency and care, North Carolina can do better for people facing mental health challenges.

Hurricane Helene damaged more than 800,000 acres of forest land across western NC, but Asheville Greenworks is stepping up — with support from Pine Gate Renewables — to replant native trees and restore critical green space. These reforestation efforts are not only about recovery; they’re about building long-term climate resilience and ensuring healthier, stronger communities in the future.

New data raises questions about North Carolina’s taxpayer-funded private school voucher program. According to a new report, just 6,710 of the 80,325 students who received Opportunity Scholarships this school year (8.4%) had been enrolled in a North Carolina public school last year. In a press release, Public Schools First NC noted that the program is subsidizing tuition for wealthy families rather than fulfilling its original purpose of serving low- and moderate-income families. This new data is essential for public understanding and advocacy for a high-quality public education system that serves all of North Carolina’s children.

Across the political spectrum, North Carolinians agree that we can build safer communities by investing in solutions that reduce harm and create opportunity. Tarrah Callahan, founder of Conservatives for Criminal Justice Reform, recently wrote about the broad, bipartisan support for smarter approaches to public safety, especially when it comes to preventing youth involvement in the justice system.

Looking for a safe local swimming hole this summer? Waterkeepers across NC have you covered. Every week, they test water quality at hundreds of sites and report results to The Swim Guide, a free resource that helps you find clean water that’s safe for swimming. Check it out, and thank your local waterkeeper for ensuring NC’s lakes, rivers and streams stay safe for everyone to enjoy!

WHAT’S NEW WITH ZSR?

State-Level Systemic Change grants support nonprofit organizations working to build just, inclusive and sustainable systems in NC within and across four issue areas:

• Strengthening democracy

• Fostering a healthy and sustainable environment

• Advancing public education

• Promoting social and economic justice

The application is open through Thursday, July 31, at 12pm ET. Learn more.

During our May board meeting, the ZSR Board of Trustees awarded 35 grants totaling $1.4 million to organizations working for local progress in rural communities across North Carolina.

Last week, ZSR Program Officer Ricky Hurtado was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor for service to the state of North Carolina.

Photo: Governor Josh Stein presents Ricky Hurtado with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.