Older Stories

In 1994, the 68-year-old Stecoah Union School in Graham County was forced to close its doors, losing what community members saw as the cultural center of their community. Fast-forward to 2014, and the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center is flourishing in that space,...

The best and worst thing about running a nonprofit is understanding it will never be perfect and the challenges will never go away. All you can do is keep your eye on the mission, know there will be setbacks, and just keep going. When Amy Renigar stepped into her...

For Steve Bush, Executive Director of the McDowell Chamber of Commerce, a military background instilled a leadership style that was disciplined and obedient. But in his civilian role, he needed to add individual empowerment, collaboration and creativity. So he turned...

In early 2014, the team at The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design (CCCD) was adrift in a sea of transition. Their demands were expanding, yet their capacity was not keeping pace. They were exhausted with few reserves to propel them. It was time to steer in a...

For Debora Foerst, being the principal at Cherokee High School can sometimes be challenging. Because a principal’s job description is so broad, she has her hands in virtually everything related to students, teachers, and parents. When she was invited to participate in...