February 12, 2026 | Faith, Community and Non-Profit Leader Check-In Meeting
- meckmin
- Feb 13
- 20 min read
Welcome to MeckMIN's Thursday Zoom Check-In Meetings
These meetings are open to anyone interested in supporting compassionate community response, especially in partnership with the most vulnerable among us.
Meetings are held online every other Thursday from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Email LeDayne Polaski for Zoom access code. In addition, if you would like to receive notification when these minutes are posted, please email LeDayne and ask to be added to the Thursday meetings email list.
You can find the recording HERE
75 participants
OPENING REFLECTION
The struggle against hunger is not fought in one cataclysmic battle. There is no “magic bullet” and no hunger monster to slay. Pushing back hunger is more like reclaiming the sea. Just as dikes, pumps and time draw new boundaries between saltwater and farmland, hunger is defeated by a well here, a health clinic there, an agricultural cooperative, a new piece of legislation, a soup kitchen down the block. Like the dikes, all can be lost quickly when we forget simple, recurring, unglamorous tasks. There’s a lot of useful work to be done. –Gary Gunderson
MECKMIN UPDATES
PLEASE SHARE THESE EVENTS WITH YOUR NETWORK AND WITH ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED – AND PLEASE CONSIDER COMING YOURSELF
THURSDAY MEETINGS
We are meeting in 2026:
Feb 26
Mar 12
Mar 26
Apr 9
Apr 23
May 7
May 21
No meetings in June
July 16
July 30
HELP US KEEP THESE MEETINGS GOING:
We know MeckMIN is important to you and that you value these meetings. Help us show our board and our community that this work matters and is worth the substantial investment of staff time and resources by supporting this work with a financial donation. If you feel moved, please mention this meeting in particular. There are several ways you can support us. We hope you will choose one, two or all:
Become an Affliate Member (for nonprofits and community groups)
If you become an affiliate member, you can publicize your work as often as you like throughout the year through our e-newsletter, website, Facebook and Instagram. You'll also get recognition of your membership on MeckMIN's website. Depending on your budget, affiliate memberships are as little as $100 a year and give you access to share the good work you are doing all year long. It's a true win-win! To become an affiliate member, use this link.
Houses of faith can also become members and receive the same benefits.
For $200 organizations can sponsor a specific general MeckMIN newsletter which goes out to almost 4,000 people and has a 53% open rate (well over average). As a sponsor you’ll have:
your logo at the top of the newsletter
an acknowledgement for your sponsorship
your content as the top article.
Only one sponsor will be accepted per newsletter, making your message highly noticeable. To sign up for a specific date, use this link.
You can also sponsor a Faith, Community and Nonprofit Leader newsletter for $100. This more targeted newsletter goes out to over 800 clergy, community leaders, and nonprofit leaders and has an open rate of 55% (well over average). As a newsletter sponsor, you will be thanked in the newsletter as a sponsor, have your logo featured, and be able to share an announcement as the featured article. Only one sponsor will be accepted per newsletter, making your message highly noticeable. To sign up for a specific date, use this link.
Again, you can do one, two, or all.
MeckMIN: Interfaith Service Event with JustServe and - Samaritan's Feet
Sabrina Johnson, JustServe.org, 704-634-7172 sabrinajohnson@justserve.org
Date: Saturday, February 14·8:45am – 12:00pm
Where: 4808 Chesapeake Dr, Charlotte, NC 28216, USA
Samaritan's Feet: https://samaritansfeet.org/
Deadline Friday at 4 pm
What: Join together at Samaritan's Feet International to prepare and pack shoes
Calling everyone to join us on Sunday, February 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Myers Park United Methodist Church (1501 Queens Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207) for MeckMIN's 2026 Interfaith Youth Panel. Created by and for youth AND open to attendees of all ages.
Nominations are open for the 2026 Community Leaders Awards Breakfast, and we want you to nominate amazing individuals or organizations building bridges every day. Save the date for breakfast – May 7 at 7:30 a.m.
· Sydnor Thompson, Jr. Community Leader Award: for people/groups who embody the ideals of MeckMIN primarily through their professional endeavors
· Bridge Builder Award: for people/groups who embody the ideals of MeckMIN primarily through their volunteer endeavors
Interfaith Youth Leader Award: For students (middle, high or college) whose efforts embody the values and ideals of MeckMIN
AWARDS BREAKFAST SPONSORSHIPS
INTERFAITH HARMONY MONTH - Building Bridges in a Divided World
MeckMIN invites Mecklenburg's faith community to join in the celebration of Interfaith Harmony Month during February 2026. Join us for our nterfaith Harmony Month Celebration Dinner February 24th! Interfaith Harmony Month is a series of events across the month that promote and celebrate the values of interfaith bridgebuilding by providing wonderfully diverse opportunities for our communities to get to know one another in engaging ways. Check out the calendar for February on the MeckMIN site to find something that inspires you. ALL ARE WELCOME!!
The views and opinions expressed below are those of the speakers/presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the MeckMIN board or our member organizations.
MECK COUNTY UPDATES
Kenyato Lewis,Kenyato.Lewis@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Keon Lewis, MHSA, Community Health Assessment Coordinator, 980-507-4070
We are excited to announce the official launch of our Inaugural Live Well Meck Tour scheduled to run from February to April 2026. This tour is a seven-stop countywide community engagement initiative designed to share the latest findings from the Community Health Assessment (CHA), essentially our county’s “health report card”, with residents and partners across all seven municipalities. Not many folks understand what the CHA is or how it is used but it is an essential tool in determining strategies and funding moving forward so we have developed this tour to broaden our reach.
The goals for this tour are to offer residents, municipal leaders, nonprofits, CBOs, and faith-based partners an opportunity to:
Learn what the data says about health in their specific community
Engage in meaningful dialogue about priorities that will shape the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
Connect with local resources that support wellness and quality of life
Please consider:
Sharing insights on key collaborative partners in each municipality who would benefit from attending along with the residents they serve.
Sharing with your respective list serves and collaborative partners.
Attached is the flyer of the first stop of the tour: Cornelius.
To register to any of the tour dates/locations: Live Well Meck Tour Registration
Tomiwa Akintode
The Mecklenburg County Senior Games and Silver Arts are annual, multievent sports and arts competitions for adults ages 50 and older. The games foster friendly competition and camaraderie at the local, state and national levels, and promote healthy aging. Mecklenburg County Senior Games and SilverArts competitions take place each spring.
This is an Olympic-style sports and art event for residents aged 50 and above aimed at fostering friendly competition and also promoting healthy aging. Events include badminton, bowling, pickleball, cheerleading, knitting etc. Registration to participate is open till Feb 28. Scholarships and volunteer opportunities available!
You can learn more here.
Continuum of Care (CoC) 101 Information session for houses of faith
This can be an amazing opportunity for any faith leaders to learn more about what the Continuum of Care is, what the charge is for this entity, and how they can be a part of shaping the work that our community does to end homelessness here in Mecklenburg County. Join the Microsoft Teams link
Tuesday, February 17 | 10:00-11:00AM
CITY OF CHARLOTTE UPDATES
FAITH AND SAFETY: A Community Conversation with CMPD’s new Chief of Police, Chief Estella D. Patterson, Working Together for a Safer Charlotte
Diamond Davies, Diamond.Davies@charlottenc.gov
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee (CRC) has partnered with City leadership and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) to engage faith-based leaders during moments of serious community concern or unrest. During those times, faith leaders were often invited into early conversations because having real-time context and fuller situational understanding was critical—not only to help make sense of rapidly unfolding events, but also to thoughtfully assess information before it was shared within the community.
Rather than gathering only in moments of need, Chief Estella D. Patterson is seeking to build familiarity, trust, and mutual understanding in advance—recognizing the important role faith leaders play in shaping community awareness, dialogue, and stability.
Date: February 24, 2026 Time: 1:00 P.M. Location: Park Expo Center (2500 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC) RSVP: www.tinyurl.com/faithandsafetyclt
Additional Dates and times (not specifically for faith leaders):
Northwest Service Area
Tuesday, 2/24 at 6 pm
The Park Church
6029 Beatties Ford Road
Northeast Service Area
Thursday, 2/26 at 6 pm
Camino Church
201 Stetson Drive
Southeast Service Area
Tuesday, 3/2 at 6 pm
Cokesbury United Methodist Church
6701 Idlewild Road
Southwest Service Area
Thursday, 3/5 at 6 pm
St. Matthew Catholic Church
8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway
NONPROFIT UPDATES
Nourish Up
Tina Postel, Chief Executive Officer, tpostel@nourishup.org
Border Patrol:
We have heard that Border Patrol may return and so in preparation LAC and Nourish Up are working together to prepare from a food standpoint. They are planning a collective response. They are raising money to prepare 3000 culturally relevant food boxes. The funds are already secured but there may be a need for volunteers.
Volunteers:
Right now Nourish Up runs about 30 volunteers short for delivery drivers every week. Please ask your contacts if they would consider volunteering in this capacity right now. Link: https://nourishup.org/volunteer/
Meeting Spaces and more:
In their new home at 901 Carrier Drive there is meeting space, conference space and more and they lease offices. So please consider reaching out if you have these needs. https://nourishup.org/roomrentals/
Lauren Rogers (she/her), Director of Programming, 704.689.8221, lauren@familiesforwardclt.org
Families Forward Charlotte At Families Forward Charlotte, we aim to help local families take the necessary steps towards long-term financial stability. First, we help our families overcome whatever circumstances are holding them back, be it a sudden job loss, a need for affordable housing, or dependable child care. We then empower families with educational programs, life skills, and individualized mentoring that all serve as building blocks for a successful and self-sustaining future.
The cycle of multi-generational poverty in Charlotte is powerful but not insurmountable. That's why we meet our families wherever they are and give them all we've got.
Every family that enters their program is matched with a mentor. They attend family workshops on financial literacy, wellness and more. They are looking for volunteers to act in this capacity.
In addition to mentoring, families also participate in monthly professional development workshops on a variety of topics, ranging from financial literacy to parenting to mental wellness. Families also receive a limited amount of essential financial needs support to remove barriers to economic growth. Our goal is to empower families as they navigate their way out of poverty.
Family Liaison Training
Our next Family Liaison Training will be held in April. We have two training options available:
April 21st and 23rd from 9-12 PM (Tues/Thurs-both days required)
April 25th from 9-3:30 PM (Saturday)
If these dates don’t work for you, please reach out for alternatives. The commitment is 4-6 hours/month for a commitment of 1-2 years.
The number of families we can serve is directly linked to the number of volunteers we have to support this work. The more Family Liaisons we have, the larger our Spring Cohort will be! Our goal is to serve 30 families, starting in early May once we complete the liaison training. Do you know of any faith groups or professional organizations we could connect with?
If you are interested in being a referral partner or learning more about our program, please reach out to schedule an information session with our team. In mid-March, we’ll email everyone a link to submit referrals. Please reach out to Lauren at lauren@familiesforwardclt.org to learn more.
Impact Breakfast Event
You’re also invited to join our next Impact Breakfast event on Tuesday, March 31st from 8:30-9:30 AM. This is an opportunity to visit our Program Center, meet a few staff and board members, and hear directly from program participants and volunteers about their experiences.
Adam Cline, Chief Development Officer, (704) 376-0060 ext. 208, acline@hhocharlotte.org
February is National Heart Month, and at Hospitality House of Charlotte, cardiac care is one of our most significant service lines. Each year, we host Heart-to-Heart, a month-long initiative that lifts up families and caregivers accessing medical care in Charlotte during a medical crisis.
A part of Heart-to-Heart, we’re hosting a special lunch-and-learn with Novant Health, focused on the transformational factors that shape caregivers and caregiving, including authentic connection, meaningful support, and access to care.
From the Heart: A Conversation on Caregiving” Lunch & Learn
Date: Thursday, February 19 | 11:30 AM–1:00 PMWhere:Novant Health Belk Heart & Vascular Institute (Rooms A & B)Details: Lunch provided | Free to attend
Registration: (registration required)
This will be an intimate, thoughtful conversation exploring the transformational factors that shape caregivers and caregiving, including authentic connection, meaningful support, and access to care. We’re honored to welcome Furman University’s Dr. Zachary White as our keynote speaker, whose book and research illuminate how people navigate uncertainty and carry caregiving roles into every part of life. All are welcome.
SLAA Primary Purpose Group
Jessica, recovered member of SLAA,
+1 (831) 345-8009 call, text, WhatsApp or email anytime, jessicaslaa@outlook.com
SLAA, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous is there to serve. Jessica shared her personal story and invited others who wished to understand this disease to join her and others in fellowship.
Sex and Love Addiction looks like many things. For some, they stay in or repeatedly return to abusive relationships, they engage in chronic affairs, they compulsively masturbate, use porn or turn to sex workers. Others may be obsessed with a current partner or ex or seek out relationships or sex that they deeply regret afterwards.
These behaviors may be having extremely negative effects on their life, their psyche, their relationships, their employment and/or their family. Despite knowing and experiencing the destructive consequences of their behavior, they may be unable to stop themselves from engaging in it. Such people may have no power to stop or moderate these behaviors once started. They may also find themselves powerless to completely abstain from these behaviors, even though they still display excellent willpower and self-control in other areas of their life.
If someone has come to the point where they cannot keep themselves from engaging in a destructive behavior, and once they begin they have no control over how much they do, they may have placed themselves beyond their own help, and from my experience I have come to believe, beyond all human aid.
SLAA, which is based on Alcoholics Anonymous, is here to serve those who wish to find a path beyond these destructive behaviors. If anyone wishes to hear further from myself or our fellowship, we would be very happy to hear from you. We are available to provide any education, guidance and support needed to anyone who is suffering or who wishes to assist those who suffer. The meetings listed on our website are open to all and anyone who wishes to learn about sex and love addiction is most welcome to attend. In addition,anyone is welcome to call, text or email me at any time for more information.
Lois Johnson, ljoh202.lj@gmail.com
Anne Vani-Obey, asvobey@gmail.com
Botswana is the Companion Diocese of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, The Rt. Rev. Samuel Rodman and Assistant Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brook-Davidson. Fourteen women Seminarians who had completed their studies but been denied being ordained over the past 10 years because of their gender. Finally, the historic ordination will take place at the Anglican Cathedral on May 17, 2026 in Gaborone, Botswana. There is a delegation from the Diocese who will witness this long awaited celebration recognizing their ordination to the priesthood. It will be led by the Chair of the Botswana Companion Link Committee, Rev. Miriam Saxon.
To support this historic occasion, There is a benefit concert April 19th at 3pm at Trinity Episcopal School main auditorium. It will feature Maestro Henri Star Muhammad and tickets are $40. There will also be a pre-concert meet and greet with wine and hors d’oeuvres available for $75. Tickets available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/botswana-benefit-concert-tickets-1981605776220
We would love to see you at this event:
SHC: A Place to Live Again: Warm Soles Night Walk Feb 28th
Amanda Bradberry, amanda@aplacetoliveagain.org
Warm Soles Night Walk is a fundraiser that grounds participants in our most vulnerable neighbors' reality. As the cold night settles in on February 28, Supportive Housing Communities (SHC) invites you to Queens University for the 2nd annual Warm Soles Night Walk—an inspiring opportunity to step into the shoes of our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
This immersive event raises awareness and funds for SHC, helping provide warmth and essentials to our neighbors facing the harshest conditions of winter.
Adult Registration $30*
Child Registration $25* (12 and under)
Lisa Miller, lisa@threebonetheatre.com
New Leadership
Three Bone is excited to announce that Lisa Miller has joined Three Bone Theatre as its inaugural managing director. Lisa, who was last at McColl Center is excited to join the theatre in this next chapter. Lisa will partner with artistic director Robin Tynes-Miller to lead the organization. Three Bone is deeply appreciative of Becky Schultz who served as the volunteer executive director for the past 14 years. Becky is stepping back from much of the administrative work but will continue to support the theatre by serving on the board and providing photo and graphic support.
Current show
On February 6, Three Bone Theatre opened the Charlotte debut of Primary Trust, a Pulitzer prize winning play. This heart-felt production tells the story of a man’s journey from paralyzing grief to a more grounded sense of self and even possible happiness. Kenneth, the main character, struggles with childhood trauma and current mental health struggles. As he is confronted with change, he finds more about himself and the world around him.
The show runs through Feb. 22. Shows begin at 8 pm Thursday - Saturday and 2:00 pm on Sunday. Seating is open, the lobby opens 1 hour before and the theatre doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
Tickets available here
See full program
Show partnership: Charlotte Art on Prescription
This is a partnership between Novant Health and the Bechtler Museum of Art. Three Bone Theatre is one of the participants in the program.
How it works: Someone experiencing loneliness can be prescribed a year of access to the arts. A Novant doctor can literally prescribe this and the program will pay for tickets and admission to various events and venues around Charlotte.
Space Rental:
Arts Factory Rental: They manage the space and provide opportunities and support to rent out the facility. Reach out to Lisa for details.
Another Chance House of Refuge: Hoppin Into Spring Event April 3rd
Shakieta Maloye, smaloye@anotherchanceclt.org,
Eller Stinson, estinson@anotherchanceclt.org
Office: (704)910-5576, Mobile: (704) 562-7500
Since 2019, Another Chance house of Refuge has been providing housing and wrap-around services for those re-entering community after incarceration. On April 3rd they are hosting their signature event and invite you to participate as a sponsor, vendor or more.
Hoppin Into Spring Community Celebration
April 3 , 2026
The Spring Community Hop is a family friendly engagement event designed to connect individuals and families with local resources while celebrating hope renewal and new beginnings. This event features community partners outreach activities and interactive experiences that promote stability, wellness and connection.
Who should participate?
Community members families service providers local businesses volunteer
Partner opportunities
Event sponsorship
Resource tables
In kind donations
Volunteer engagement
Become a Spring Community Hop Partner and support access connection and community healing Reach out to Eller Stinson estinson@anotherchanceclt.org for more information.
GANAS -From LAC
Becca Jackson, Youth Education Center Associate, 704-531-3849
Nancy Apolinar, yecmanager@mylac.org
Are you ready to empower the next generation of multilingual leaders? GANAS is seeking dedicated mentors to support students as they build confidence, resilience, and future-ready skills!
We offer two mentorship opportunities:
In-School Program
March 5 – May 25
Biweekly Mondays at 12-2 PM
Garinger High School, 1100 Eastway Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205
After-School Program
March 16 – May 21
Biweekly Thursdays at 6-8 PM
Latin American Coalition, 4938 Central Ave # 1, Charlotte, NC 28205
If you're ready to make an impact this spring, sign up to become a mentor today! https://forms.gle/QDTh8NR22ZwTvQAw9. Together, we can empower our youth to dream bigger and achieve more.
Offering a raffle for students to the Charlotte FC game against InterMiami
Students who want to learn and practice flag football the Panthers are covering the fees to enter and play flag football this Spring.
RESOURCES FOR NONPROFITS
TRAINING:
Queens University: Certification in Social Justice and Community OrganizationThe Social Justice and Community Organizing Certification program equips participants with political education and practical skills to effectively organize for social change.
AVAILABLE MEETING SPACES
Nonprofit Meeting spaces - Check out this link here
GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Local
From Apparo:
A consulting and grant program like no other. Accenture consultants will help you envision how technology can solve a large organizational challenge, and they’ll coach you on your proposal for a tech-based solution. One organization will win a $10,000 grant and up to $50,000 of additional consulting support.
An education and mentorship program designed to help increase your understanding of artificial intelligence tools and how to put them to work to maximize productivity and increase your capacity.
Share Charlotte - grants from their compiled list:
Thanks to our friends at Share Charlotte for compiling the following local grants. If you are not already a member of Share Charlotte, you may want to explore it.
Inaugural Bertram Scott Leadership Award, Established by Equitable Foundation
This new award recognizes a Charlotte-based nonprofit leader who exemplifies impact, innovation, collaboration, and inclusion, creating meaningful pathways to opportunity and economic mobility in their community. Learn more and apply by February 28.
Carolina Career-Connected Learning RFP
The Leon Levine Foundation has just launched a Carolina Career-Connected Learning RFP, offering unrestricted grants up to $500,000.
They are looking for established programs serving Grades 7-14 that focus on: Scalable work experiences (apprenticeships/internships), Industry-recognized credentials and Direct job placement for first-gen students. Details here plus RSVP for Feb. 4 Webinar.
Funding Available for Initiatives Aimed at Supporting At-Risk Youth
The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is now accepting applications for funding of programs that serve at-risk and delinquent youth, or those under the supervision of juvenile court in Mecklenburg County. More than $2 million has been allocated for fiscal year 2026-2027. Apply by Feb 13.
ANSWER Scholarship: College Funding Opportunity for Moms You Serve
Applications for the ANSWER Scholarship are now open to help local moms go to college. Scholarships are open to mothers in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties who have at least one school-age child from pre-K to 12th grade living at home. Learn more here.
Venue Access Grant from The Arts & Science Council
The Arts & Science Council has opened applications for its new Venue Access Grant to help local creatives and nonprofits secure affordable space for cultural programming across Mecklenburg County. Funded by the county, the program offers grants of up to $20,000 for nonprofits and $10,000 for individual creatives to support public-facing arts, science, history, and heritage projects, with applications accepted on a rolling basis and priority given to submissions by February 11.
National
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation supports grassroots organizations across the U.S. that are led by people most impacted by racial, social, and environmental injustice.
Application deadline: None for inquiries Grant amount: Varies
Target population: Immigrant communities
Description: The Four Freedoms Fund (FFF) supports organizations strengthening the immigrant justice movement at the state and local levels across the U.S. Through the Immigration Frontlines Fund, FFF provides rapid-response grants to immigrants and their allies organizing to protect communities and respond to anti-immigrant policies and hate. The Fund prioritizes advocacy and organizing infrastructure, immigrant civic participation, and efforts to counter immigration enforcement and criminalization.
Application deadline: March 12, 2026 Grant amount: $75,000–$115,000
Target population: Communities affected by climate crises
Description: The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) provides grants to support community-based climate resilience projects across the U.S. Grants are open to climate adaptation professionals working in partnership with community-based organizations and government agencies to develop or advance resilience plans and projects. Activities may include climate risk assessments, planning and prioritization, community engagement, and project implementation. Priority is given to communities on the front lines of the climate crisis facing significant environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
Emergency Funding for Grassroots Nonviolent Activism
Application deadline: March 6 and April 10, 2026
Grant amount: Up to $5,000
Target population: Social activists
Description: The A.J. Muste Foundation for Peace + Justice supports grassroots movements advancing human rights, equality, and efforts to dismantle systems of social, economic, and political oppression. Through its Rapid Response Grants program, the Foundation provides emergency funding to U.S. organizations engaged in nonviolent activism. Grants support organizing events, direct actions, and other time-sensitive efforts responding to urgent needs or emerging political opportunities.
National Grants Support Children Facing Adversity
Application deadline: March 13, 2026
Grant amount: Multiple grants up to $25,000 and one grant of $100,000+
Target population: Children
Description: The CAPTRUST Community Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations across the U.S. that enrich the lives of children, particularly those facing illness, disability, abuse, poverty, or family instability. The Foundation’s Partnership Grant Program annually awards one Charity of Choice grant of $100,000 or more, along with additional national grants of $25,000. The Foundation also offers Crisis Grants to support charities assisting families affected by natural disasters or other major crises.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Measles in NC
We’d like to share an update as we work to keep you in the loop on measles in North Carolina. Our goal is to make it easy for you to share trusted information with your audiences and to provide ready-to-use tools you can put into action quickly.
The latest update to the Measles Cases and Outbreaks Dashboard shows 15 cases in North Carolina since late December 2025, with the first hospitalized case announced last week. As cases persist, NCDHHS is launching new outreach tools to share measles information.
What we’re asking partners to do now
Share the measles homepage as the primary “source of truth.”
Use the measles toolkit materials to communicate quickly and consistently with your networks.
Reinforce the key actions: vaccination protects, and if someone has symptoms, call ahead before going to a health care provider.
Key links (please bookmark and share)
Measles homepage: Helpful links on the homepage include:
Cases and outbreaks in North Carolina Updated twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays at approximately noon. Last updated 12:11 p.m., Jan. 30, 2026.
Guidance for NC child care, schools, and colleges/universities
Measles Toolkit: Use these items for newsletters, listservs, websites, social posts, and outreach. (Note: Spanish social media should be posted by the end of this week.)
Short message you can copy/paste
Measles is a highly contagious virus. Vaccination is the best protection. If you think you or your child may have symptoms, call your health care provider before going in.
Learn more and find resources here: https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/programs/epidemiology/communicable-disease/measles
Know Your Rights: Faith Leaders & Law Enforcement
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 | 2-3 PM ET
Faith leaders are increasingly finding themselves navigating interactions with law enforcement—at houses of worship, during pastoral care, at public witness events, or in moments of crisis. This training will equip clergy and faith leaders with a clear understanding of their legal rights and responsibilities when engaging with law enforcement agents, whether ICE, local police, or the National Guard.
Offered jointly by the Center on Faith and Justice, the ACLU, Democracy 2025, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy & Protection, Democracy Security Project, and the NGO Solidarity Network, this webinar will provide practical guidance on what to expect, how to respond, and how to protect both yourself and your community—grounded in current law and real-world scenarios. The training will also address best practices for preparedness, de-escalation, and faithful public witness in challenging moments. Register Now
Loving Our Leaders Event for people who have been managing Helene disaster
Ann Huffman, NCCUMC Conference Disaster Volunteer & Readiness Coordinator, ahuffman@nccumc.org, 888-440-9167, 919-610-8018
You are invited to a free event 9am-4pm Saturday for those who register.
Mass People’s Assembly Moral March and Mobilization on Raleigh
Greetings Family,
"It's Time To Love Forward Together and Mobilize".
We invite you to participate and join the Mass People’s Assembly Moral March and Mobilization on Raleigh
If you live in the Charlotte or Greensboro area and need a ride to join the event February 14th please complete the form here: RSVP TO RIDE THE BUS.
THIS IS OUR SELMA!!
Hurry...Seats are Limited please complete the bus rider RSVP form HERE!!
The Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation of Union Presbyterian Seminary
Cindy Adcock
The Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation of Union Presbyterian Seminary is holding a virtual discussion next Tuesday, February 17 at 7 pm on Restorative Justice: Transforming Harm into Public Safety. Info at Reimagining America Project | Charlotte, NC | Faith-Based Organization.
Matthews Help Center
AuroraPalmer, Director of Programs & Services 704-847-8383, Aurora@MatthewsHelpCenter.org
Our mission is to provide short-term crisis financial assistance (rent, utilities and daycare) to our neighbors in the Greater Matthews community. We serve people living in six zip codes in and around Matthews; 28104, 28105, 28211, 28226, 28270, and 28079.
We also offer non-financial assistance. Anyone needing food or clothing assistance should visit our site at Client Inquiry Form - Matthews Help Center It’s a very simple process to apply for food and clothing assistance.
Samwel Otachi, Phone: sotachi22@gmail.com +254 727098368, Email: info@empowereddreamsinit.co.ke
Empowered Dreams Initiative (EDI) is a community based organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, dedicated to empowering vulnerable children, young mothers, and youth in Korogocho slums. We address challenges like poverty, hunger, limited education, and access to healthcare by offering community-driven programs that build resilience and sustainable change.
They support kids in the slums of Nairobi through feeding programs, menstrual dignity programs and more. Check out what they are doing and please consider supporting them.
You can also find them on social media at: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwel-otachi-a9a441108
Instagram: @edreamsinitiative.
EDI FACEBOOK PAGE:https://www.facebook.com/share/19VQLBosEU/
PRAYER FOR LEADERS
I recently ran across the following quote in The Catholic Worker. The article, written by Brian Terrell, is titled “Millions of Small Things.”
“Considering the enormity of the danger that the world is facing, do our small efforts, our protests and jailings, make any difference? In our movements there is a false dichotomy, I think, between being faithful and being effective. ‘I’m convinced that if the world survives these dangerous times, it will be tens of millions of small things that do it,’ said the folk singer Pete Seeger.
Perhaps the best, the most effective contribution we can make to save the planet will be for each of us to accomplish one or two of the tens of millions of small things that need to be done.”
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