The For Alamance Initiative is gaining momentum as action teams work to drive change through community-rooted actions. These efforts are sparking a ripple effect of engagement, demonstrating that solutions to local challenges exist within the community and can be implemented by working together across differences. The five action teams-Bridging, Faith, Narrative, Arts & Culture, and Youth Wellness-are already seeing tangible results.
Bridging Team
The Bridging Team is fostering community buy-in through community conversations and the Bridging Agenda. They are also connecting residents to opportunities like serving on local boards and committees. Their upcoming “cottage dinner” series will bring diverse voices together for kitchen-table-style discussions to reflect on key issues and inspire collective action.
Faith Team
The Faith Team is fostering trust and collaboration through Love for Alamance Day of Service projects, uniting congregations and communities around shared goals. The third Day of Service is set for May 10 and will continue building momentum for cross-community connection.
Narrative Team
The Narrative Team has published 11 Community Narratives, emphasizing important pockets of community progress while inspiring new participation in highlighted initiatives. After sharing their work with community leaders, they expanded their distribution network and introduced new tools to better gather and develop stories. A partnership with an Elon university English class is helping adapt narratives into multiple formats to broaden their reach even further.
Arts & Culture Team
The Arts & Culture Team is strengthening community identity and support for local artists through the popular Arty Party Bus tours and the Eyes on Alamance exhibition with Alamance Arts. The team is gaining strong public support, developing strategic partnerships for a future cultural arts center and exploring a potential collaboration with ABSS to support arts education in schools.
Youth Wellness Team
The Youth Wellness Team is amplifying student voices through countywide conversations and advocacy training with UNCG, which have equipped Cummings High School’s SGA with the skills to speak up at local and administrative levels. After surfacing concerns about school facilities–like a lack of clean water and field lighting–they worked with the Youth Justice Advisory Council to resolve these issues, showing students that their voices matter and can lead to real change.
The efforts of individual action teams have caused a growing sense of possibility within the community. These early actions have laid the groundwork for long-term change and signaled that the community has started transitioning into what the Harwood Institute calls Impasse: a critical stage in community development marked by urgency and a collective feeling that “enough is enough.” While Impasse can be challenging, it also presents the opportunity to widen the circle of engagement. By continuing to build on what’s working, inviting new voices and staying grounded in public knowledge, we can harness this moment of tension to deepen our impact and move toward meaningful, lasting change.
There are many ways to join the momentum and be part of this growing movement. You can submit an interest form to connect directly with an action team, reach out to Jewel Tillman, our Community Engagement Manager, for guidance, or simply visit our For Alamance webpage to explore more information. Whether you’re ready to dive in or just want to learn more, there’s a place for you in the For Alamance Initiative.
