[Guest Blog] 2021 Grant Recipient (Equity Before Birth) Shares the Story of Their Good Work

The holiday season and the start of a new year can be filled with intense emotion and reflection for many of us. Some people, like Tiana, are juggling the responsibilities of being an employee, family member and growing a precious life inside of her belly. Others, like Leah,will be honoring the sweet life of their angel baby who graduated from Earth way too soon. Each of them knows they would benefit from additional support to ensure a healthy pregnancy and healing process. They reached out to their community in hopes of gaining that extra layer of support. Both Tiana and Leah were able to receive services from a doula who mirrored her culture and values as well as perinatal education classes, and supplemental income to enhance bonding, processing and recovery. Their partners and care team worked in unity to provide ideal birthing and recovery experiences. 

These birthing experiences were made possible by sponsorships from Equity Before Birth (EBB), a Black maternal health charity organization whose mission is to save the lives of Black birthers and their infants by increasing access to critical pregnancy related services and support. Our mission is carried out by providing paid leave, covering the cost of doula and other auxiliary services and providing funds for essential baby items. Current research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that Black babies are 2.3 times as likely to experience infant mortality than their White counterparts. It also shows that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy related issues than White women. These numbers are unacceptable. 60% of pregnancy related deaths are preventable. EBB is working to eradicate Black maternal and infant mortality right here in our community. We currently serve Black birthing people and their babies in Durham, Chatham, Orange, Johnston and Wake counties in North Carolina. 

In the year since Equity Before Birth started under the leadership of Executive Director Joy Spencer, we have:

• Given $1,800 towards transportation costs to increase access to healthcare during pregnancy;

• Invested more than $31,000 into the economy to pay livable wages to culturally congruent birth workers and educators;

• Distributed over $16,000 to help birthing people pay for essential baby items such as diapers, a crib and car seat; and 

• Given $38,700 to Black moms and birthing people as supplemental income, helping families maintain and thrive in the absence of adequate paid maternity leave.

Equity Before Birth will use Beehive funding to provide diapers and other essential baby items to Black moms and their babies. According to recent research, nearly 1 in 3 parents in the United States struggle to afford and access diapers. We are happy to be able to help fill these gaps. 

In recent EBB news, we’re delighted to welcome new members to our team! Our services are in very high demand, and we are better able to meet this demand through the expansion of our team. We’ve hired two Family Sponsorship Coordinators- Kelly Collins and Star Mauesby.

Our Social Media Coordinator isImanie Williams. T Luna Imhotep is our new Chiefstess of Staff, and Liat Fleming-Rosko is our Donor and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator. 

If you’re interested in getting involved or learning more about our mission, please visit our website www.equitybeforebirth.com to donate, sign up to volunteer, or join our mailing list. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Our work would not be possible without generous collaboration and donations from individuals and organizations like The Beehive Collective. We thank you.

[Guest Blog Author: Joy Spencer]

The Pearl Leadership Institute is our 2019 Small Grant Recipient!

Our 2019 small grant of $5,000 has been awarded to the Pearl Leadership Institute for their Advancing Women in STEM and Leadership project.

The Pearl Leadership Institute STEM outreach for marginalized girls is designed to captivate rising 6th grade girls by providing a hands-on, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, leadership curriculum that meets the NC Standard Course of Study objectives. This program will reinforce and enhance their 5th grade foundation and expose the students to 6th grade curriculum. In addition, the students will learn how to apply this curriculum to ROBOTICS OF GOLF and will work with four other team members and a team leader (trained 9th grader or above) on their group projects. The project will be housed at the RTHS (Research Triangle High School).

In Wake County and across the country, studies show that girls start becoming disinterested in math and science in the 4-6th grades. This is particularly true of African American and Hispanic girls, who are typically underrepresented girls in the high level math and science courses. TPLI’s program hopes to meet the needs of these students by having them work with role models who can relate to their experiences. This project adjusts to the students’ academic needs based on a pre-test, allowing math and science deficiencies to be addressed during the week.

The Advancing Women in STEM and Leadership project will include: advocacy for 20 Girls at NCSU, STEM camp for 50 youths, and 4 quarterly Women Empowerment and Leadership events on various topics (personal brand, women’s empowerment, wholeness and wellness, financial literacy, UN2030 sustainable development goals, coaching, project-based learning, management, power of our voice, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, trust building, and career life skills). The Beehive Collective will fund one-third of the project’s $15,000 budget.

MEALS ON WHEELS WAKE COUNTY

Our 2018 large grant has been awarded to Meals on Wheels Wake County to fund a pilot program providing emergency meal assistance to seniors leaving a Raleigh hospital.

Meals on Wheels (MOW) provides warm nutritious meals to seniors and disabled persons in our community who have challenges leaving their home. MOW Wake County has served homebound elderly and persons with disabilities for over 40 years and have delivered over 9 million meals to date.

Meals on Wheels will use Beehive funding to fund a pilot program which will provide meal assistance to seniors leaving a hospital or rehabilitation facility for 10 days after discharge. By tracking the progress of the participants, MOW will be able to gather the data needed to determine if their emergency meal program made a positive difference in their post-discharge recovery and prevented a hospital readmission. Not only will the program participants receive meals so they can focus on recuperating, but they will also have daily contact with a volunteer who can alert a case manager if the participant has other critical need that would jeopardize their recovery.

MOW will work with Raleigh healthcare facilities to identify and connect with program participants. If the outcomes are successful, the data generated from this pilot program will go to support program expansion and possible private partner funding. The Beehive is very excited to support this innovative program that has the potential to be implemented nationwide.

Large Grant Theme: Food Insecurity

In 2019, we're giving our honey to...

...support a program working towards Environmental Justice in Raleigh!

2019 Giving Theme Meeting at Vita Vite

Environmental Justice is about the fair treatment of all people, regardless of race or class, with respect to environmental laws, regulations and policies. We believe this theme is important because the poor are often subjected to greater health and wellness risks due to environmental inequity. From the loss of green spaces and building projects that impact healthy living conditions, to improper implementation of landfills and chemical waste management, environmental justice aims to address the discriminatory policies, procedures, and practices that benefit organizations at the expense of minorities. The Beehive Collective is excited to fund a project that will support achieving environmental justice- we’ll be fundraising towards this goal over the next 3 months!

Make sure you’re on our mailing list, or connected on social media to stay informed about upcoming events.

Six Months In: 2017 Grant Winner Haven House Makes Good Progress

We had a great first status check with Haven House in August this year. In the first six months of their grant with us, Haven House has developed a streamlined Coordinated Intake and Assessment process for four of their programs that is staffed by a licensed mental health clinician. All youth that have been admitted into the identified programs and have completed the intake process, being screened for mental health and substance abuse needs, as well as for trauma indicators. 60% of those youth also received a comprehensive clinical assessment that yields a DSM V diagnosis and a recommendation for services, and those who didn’t had already had one recently so there was no need. The team at Haven House have also identified an opportunity to improve their process by potentially building internal capacity to provide outpatient services within our agency to allow youth to receive all their support in house.

Haven House was our 2017 Large Grant winner and offers services for youth and young adults who are homeless, in crisis, or having difficulty at home, school or in the community. They currently run 11 programs that reach more than 1,300 struggling youth and their families each year in Raleigh. Haven House is using Beehive funding to develop a streamlined process that will screen youth for mental health and substance abuse needs, as well as for trauma indicators, utilizing evidence-based screening tools. This is a big deal, because prior to taking steps to change this intake process, Haven House clinicians have had to refer their young clients to other organizations to provide mental health screening - creating a variety of barriers to clients getting the critical mental health support they needed.

We look forward to seeing their progress over the next year and a half!

GIVING OUR 2ND LARGEST GRANT - THANKS TO YOU!

2018 10th Annual bee ball

The 10th Annual Bee Ball went beyond what we thought was possible and exceeded last year’s total! Thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors, attendees, and Royalty court we raised over $43,000, an absolute landmark amount!

We are humbled and amazed at the amount of generosity our amazing community has demonstrated. We thank all of the Royalty Court for their time and innovative fundraising efforts. Kim Hammer, Vanessa Lucas, Anthony Casaletto, Tanya Andrews, Nathan Spencer, Mike Glover, Kendra Leonard, Jai Kumar and Angela Lombardi—you are all awesome!

Due to this tremendous success, we will be able to award a $50,000 grant to an area nonprofit working in Food Insecurity in 2018.

2018 Giving theme panel: food insecurity

If you missed our theme panel at the end of May, you’re in luck! Check out the Facebook Live video we recorded here. Thanks to our amazing panelists who educated us on the need to address this important issue:

• Wake County Commissioner Jessica Holmes

• Rev. Richard Joyner, Founder of Conetoe Family Life Center

• Sydney Klein, M.S., Food Security Program Manager, Wake County

• Kharmika Alston, Food System Finance Fellow, World Food Policy Center, Duke University

• Dr. Kim Fisher, Director of the Neonatal Perinatal Research Unit, Duke University

If you haven’t already, please consider becoming a 2018 Bee so that you can help us choose who’ll get our large grant for Food Insecurity in December. Read about becoming a Bee and make your pledge here.  

The Hope Center at Pullen is our 2018 Small Grant Recipient!

Our 2018 small grant of $5,000 has been awarded to The Hope Center at Pullen. The award will fund stipends for 5 young women in or aging out of foster care in the Internship Program.

Young people in foster care have spent their lives on the receiving end of an array of social services, with little opportunity to give back to society and explore their leadership potential. The Hope Center at Pullen’s Internship Program allows these youths to develop employment and leadership skills in the business and non-profit sectors. The internships build resilience, an essential skill for navigating life, and help empower participants to become more independent and take control of their lives.

The Internship Program targets foster youth, ages 16-24, who have no work experience, have not been successful in a job, or want to gain experience in a professional setting. The internships are 10-week employment opportunities. Youth are referred by county and group home foster care social workers, self-referrals, foster parents and homeless shelters.

The organization gets to know the youth to ascertain which internship opportunity best matches their interests and abilities. Youth fill out an application that provides insight into their abilities, career goals, interests, and logistical barriers. Then they attend a resume/interview workshop and send their resume to a potential employer. The employer conducts an interview and offers the youth the position. The youth decides whether to accept the position. The intern builds a relationship with the site supervisor, who becomes a role model and part of a personal and workplace support network. The Hope Center then works with participants to determine their next steps following the internship: starting or returning to school, finding a job, or participating in another internship to gain additional skills.

Request for Proposal Theme: Raleigh non-profit that address women’s empowerment through services or advocacy.

2018 LARGE GRANT THEME: Food Insecurity

At the beginning of the year, the Beehive holds an open meeting to democratically select the annual large grant giving theme. Through this process we are able to be responsive to the current needs of our community, truly providing community sourced giving to Raleigh.

The selected theme for 2018 is Food Insecurity, as defined through the following:

In a food-rich nation like the United States, no one should go hungry, yet food insecurity is an issue that touches the citizens of Raleigh and Wake County in a number of ways. The communities most impacted by food insecurity are low-income families, children, communities of color, and seniors. Food insecurity is a root cause of so many other issues in our community- from decreased educational outcomes to chronic physical ailments like diabetes and asthma.  With increased uncertainty in national and state funding, we are poised to make a tangible impact on lives in our city by making sure everyone is well-nourished.

Projects could focus on providing funding to programs that are working to provide easy access to fresh and healthy foods in food deserts, that provide food access to youth at schools, or keep basic programs afloat (like food pantries, community outreach, and/or advocacy).

The Beehive Collective is particularly interested in projects that look at fixing the food insecurity problem through an intersectional lens (i.e. projects that address how and why various communities are impacted differently or more significantly).

How much money will the 2018 large grant be? Well, that depends on your support! Come to our fundraising events or become a member today!

Haven House Services is this Year's Large Grant Winner!

Last week, because of YOU and our generous community, The Beehive Collective was able to give away our largest grant yet - $60,000 to help fund a project in Health and Health care in Raleigh!

And...our membership chose to fund ... drum roll, please ... Haven House Services!

Haven House offers services for youth and young adults who are homeless, in crisis, or having difficulty at home, school or in the community. They currently run 11 programs that reach more than 1,300 struggling youth and their families each year in Raleigh.

Haven House will use Beehive funding to develop a streamlined process that will screen youth for mental health and substance abuse needs, as well as for trauma indicators, utilizing evidence-based screening tools. This is a big deal, because prior to taking steps to change this intake process, Haven House clinicians have had to refer their young clients to other organizations to provide mental health screening - creating a variety of barriers to clients actually getting the critical mental health support they needed.

Thank you all for making this a special year for the Beehive Collective - raising more money than ever to put back into our community!

Final Grant Report: 2015 Large Grant to Code the Dream, a program of Uniting NC

What is Code the Dream?

Code the Dream recognizes that young people from minority and immigrant backgrounds have great ideas and will play a huge part in our 21st century economy. Already immigrants are more than twice as likely to start their own business, and those businesses create over 25% of new jobs.

Code the Dream seeks to answer the question – What if people with that drive knew how to code? Through an innovative program in Raleigh, Code the Dream teaches immigrants how to code and provides them with mentoring, support, and real-world opportunities to use their new skills to help their community, move on to higher education, and find new career paths.

Background

In 2015, at the time Uniting NC applied for the Beehive Collective Large Grant to fund Code the Dream, the program had been operating for less than a year. Code the Dream was run by two staff and usually served a total of 12 students at any one time. While they saw promising results initially, it was on a small scale.

The Impact of Beehive Funds

A year later, thanks in large part to the Beehive funding, Code the Dream has almost doubled in size and more than doubled in impact – with a 75% larger budget, a staff of four, and an average of 40 students active in the program at any one time.

Throughout 2016, they were able to dramatically increase the opportunities for students to gain real-world experiences. – which in turn had a positive effect on the community. The Code the Dream team started up a software development shop – Code the Dream Labs, which is open to all advanced students.  CTD Labs has formalized an opportunity for students to get real-world experience by creating space for them to get paid for working on projects for local nonprofits and small businesses. They are able to support themselves while continuing to gain invaluable experience. Apps created by CTD students include a ride-sharing app for recently homeless parents who need to get to doctor’s appointments or job interviews (basically free Uber for those who need it most); an app to assist low income students learning music; and an app to help migrant farmworkers find health and education services.

Since the program received Beehive funding, they have also tripled the number of students getting their first employment as software developers, a very meaningful step considering the median wage for Code the Dream students prior to joining the program was $8 / hour. Additionally, 7 students total have received scholarships for higher education in part through assistance received through the program.

GIVING OUR LARGEST GRANT YET

The 9th Annual Bee Ball exceeded our wildest dreams! Thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors, attendees, and Royalty court we raised over $35,000!

We thank all of the Royalty Court for their time and innovative fundraising efforts! Liz Hester, Amanda Finch, Camille Wigely, Regina Twine, Brad Johnson, JoJo Polk, Joseph Giampino, and Napoleon Wright II—you are all awesome!

A special thank you to our fundraising leaders, Liz Hester and Amanda Finch, who individually raised more than many previous Bee Balls totaled.

Due to this tremendous success, we will be able to award a record $60,000 grant to an area nonprofit working in Health and Health Care in 2017.

We invite you to join us for a community conversation about Health and Health Care on June 6, 2017 at Google Fiber to learn more about the theme and The Beehive Collective.

2017 Large Grant Theme: Health and Health Care

Every spring the Beehive holds an open meeting to democratically select the annual large grant giving theme. Through this process we are able to be responsive to the current needs of our community, truly providing community sourced giving to Raleigh.

The selected theme for 2017 is Health and Health Care, as defined through the following:

Every person, regardless of where they live, how much money they make, or whether or not they have health insurance, should have access to basic health care. Communities of low income, with mental health challenges, and of color have historically faced systemic barriers in accessing quality healthcare for themselves and their families.

With the Affordable Care Act under attack, NC health initiatives already underfunded, and the uncertainty of programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, vulnerable populations will be at continued and increased risk. North Carolina is in a particularly interesting but unpredictable political situation as a non-expansion state.

Projects could focus on providing funding to keep basic programs afloat (perhaps related to community outreach/knowledge, and/or advocacy), or focus around specialized projects that could get lost in the shuffle as advocates hone in on saving the most basic programs (i.e. programs around maternal or family health awareness, nutrition, teen health/decision making, etc.).

The Beehive Collective is particularly interested in projects that provide or work toward a more fair, equitable, and just healthcare system by examining and addressing health care systems/issues through an intersectional lens (i.e. projects that address how and why various communities are impacted differently or more significantly.)

Remarkably, within 12 hours of selecting this theme President Trump presented the first attempt at a new health care plan, causing a flurry of concerns regarding health care coverage and treatments for most Americans, including our community in Raleigh.

Health care changes are certain in the coming years, and while the details of the changes remain unknown, we are very excited to support a local nonprofit that demonstrates a direct impact in Raleigh within the definition of this theme.

How much money will the 2017 large grant be? Well, that depends on your support! Come to our fundraising events or become a member today!

​NC HOUSING COALITION IS OUR 2016 LARGE GRANT RECIPIENT!

Beehive members voted for the NC Housing Coalition at the Dec. 6th membership meeting after reviewing comprehensive information from the top grant requests. Founded in 1988, the Coalition is a non-profit membership organization working for affordable housing that promotes stable communities for low- and moderate-income North Carolinians.

Each year, Beehive members choose a theme to focus on within our community and this year focuses on housing and community development. Affordable housing is especially in the spotlight right now as Raleigh sees its population rising and neighborhoods changing. The Coalition’s land bank project will allow local, non-profit affordable housing providers to compete for land in high opportunity areas and transit corridors in an effort to produce and preserve affordable housing. With land becoming more expensive than ever, the project will be crucial to the future of affordable housing in our community. 

The Coalition has more than 60 organizational and individual members in Wake County; a priority area for their local advocacy work. Beehive funds will be used for staff time to organize and convene local affordable housing providers to discuss the creation and governance of the land bank.

You can read more about the NC Housing Coalition and past grantees, including this year’s small grant winner, Girls on the Run of the Triangle, here. 

4th ANNUAL KICK ASS LADIES CLUB INSPIRES US ALL

The fourth annual Kick Ass Ladies Club, once at again at our favorite spot, King’s Baracade, was an amazing night! Our success was  due our MC, Pam Saulsby, and our totally kick ass panelists! Saulsby’s magnetic personality kicked off the show and immediately warmed up the crowd.  We quickly saw her unique gift for connecting with people as the audience cheered and laughed along with her opening. Saulsby shared her own kick ass motto, “If all you do, is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll get, is all you ever got,” before introducing our panelists.

It was a special opportunity to showcase the talents and hard work of these women. And while we heard about their impressive backgrounds in the introduction, our first question asked them to tell us about their most spectacular failure. It is, after all, often our failures which make us stronger, smarter and more compassionate. Sticking to the theme of the night, Saulsby asked them to also explain how this failure made them even more kick-ass. Here are some highlights from the night’s discussion.

Devin Lentz (Chair of the LGBT Center of Raleigh’s Transgender Initiative program and self-described nerd):  “My voice…Learning how to cope with being unintentionally offended and learning how to cope with that in a way that doesn’t leave me bitter and angry all the time has been an education.”

One wish for Raleigh and the Triangle: “Redistribution of social, political and economic power so it is not quite so concentrated in the hands of cisgender white men.”

Laila Bell (Director of Research and Data at NC Child and member of the over-achievers club): “My spectacular failure was trying to do too much and trying to do it exceptionally well…I didn’t say I needed help with enough authority or conviction…The lesson I got was to ‘sing out Louise!’, don’t be afraid to ask for help and do not be afraid to say no.” 

One wish for Raleigh and the Triangle: “My one wish for North Carolina, for Raleigh, is that we once again become a state and a community that looks challenges in the face and says we will solve them together.”

Jessica Holmes (Education law attorney, Wake County Commissioner): “My most spectacular failure was staying in a particular relationship for too long.”. Jessica’s significant other responded to her many opportunities with a “no, that’s not what I see my woman doing, my woman’s place is in the house.”. “I had to realize that I was enough and that I was capable of doing things that my man at the time told me I couldn’t…and because [my friends] told me I could, because of women in positions of power, I was able to become elected as the first and youngest person ever elected in Wake County’s history - woman, man, blue, black, whatever!”

One wish for Raleigh and the Triangle: “Upward mobility for everyone!”

Chanda Branch (Arts Educator and award winning performer): Chanda shared a story about failing an early audition, causing her to “dissolve into a puddle of tears…I let myself get ahead of myself and I messed myself up.” “It took that moment of me falling from grace and splatting flat on my face before I could realize that just because you kick ass, doesn’t mean that you don’t have to kick your own ass sometimes and get up and do the work.” Chanda’s moral: Bounce back!

One wish for Raleigh and the Triangle: “When this foolishness is all said and done, let’s all sit down, have a coke and a smile and R-E-L-A-X.”

Kellie Burris (LGBT Center of Raleigh, Women's Initiative): “When I first took over [my current position]…my goal was to revive this program and many times at the beginning I missed the mark.” After these early failures of trying to engage younger members of the queer community with her group, Kellie thought about her own interests and started to find success by rethinking her approach. “I was able to reach out to this network of 200 women that we’ve created and we have been able to nail something down.” Kellie’s takeaway: Listen to your community because at the end of the day it is about serving them.

One wish for Raleigh and the Triangle: More empathy!

Melony Allen (Director of Conservation and Diversity at the Conservation Trust for North Carolina): After the diagnosis of a chronic illness at an early age, Melony was driven to become an advocate for health care issues. “I started to work with the Children’s Defense Fund…from about 2003-2005, I ate, slept, breathed this legislation…and it didn’t happen and I was devastated.” In 2008, while working on the Obama campaign, Melony found additional opportunities to work for what she was passionate about – connecting with people, with communities, organizing and, of course, healthcare. “While it is really easy to give up, in the end, we keep going and persevering and we can see the change that we want.”

One wish for Raleigh and the Triangle: “I want Raleigh and the Triangle to be as wonderful, as awe-inspiring and as much of a launching pad for the people who have been here for a long time as well as for those people who are coming.”

Molly McKinley (Grassroots Organizer for NC Conservation Network, Oaks and Spokes): After a long period of job searching, student loans coming due and guilt from not wearing her retainer, Molly shared, “these insecurities were exploding, I don’t know where they’ve been but I hope they never come out again!” In May, Molly started her new position with the NC Conservation. “I love this job. Here I am, kicking ass and I’m so humbled to be here with these women that I admire, with all of you, who kick so much ass. You can be here too! You’re going to be kicking ass before too long.”

One wish for Raleigh and the Triangle: “I wish that every single person who wants to make change will have a community that will lift them up and cheer them on, like this.”

For the second year, the Kick Ass Ladies Club was followed by the Eyes up Here Comedy Showcase, hosted by one of Raleigh’s Kick Ass Ladies, Erin Terry.  We were thrilled to have so many attendees stay and enjoy this all-women comedy showcase.

Special thanks to all the local food vendors that donated food for the Kick Ass Ladies Club: Fiction Kitchen, Buku, Capital Club 16, A Pig’s Ear Donuts. 

Kicking Ass at Dinnertime

The second round of the Beehive’s Kick Ass Dinner series was a great success!  Each of the five dinners connected a Kick Ass Host with a diverse group of women to share knowledge, expertise and passion. These dinners offer an intimate opportunity for attendees to share unique and common experiences as well as desires for opportunity and growth.

Hosts and topics included:

Learning how to help abuse victims with Judge Bousman.

Judge Monica Bousman has served as a Wake County District Court Judge for 15 years. Wake County District Court judges are elected every four years, and Judge Bousman is running for re-election in November 2016. During the dinner she shared her experience as the primary judge overseeing domestic violence cases in Wake County for 13 years. Becoming a leader in such an emotional and often tragic area has taught her resilience and that there are two sides to every story.  Staying in the position for 13 years has given her the opportunity to see the long term success of her cases, especially for the most vulnerable affected, the children of domestic violence. Attendees asked questions about her tenure as a judge, but moreover how to be advocates within our community for those who experience abuse.

Pamela Santos has more than 15 years of experience as a strategist in Social Entrepreneurship.  She also teaches Social Ventures at UNC-Chapel Hill. Over dinner Pamela defined the landscape for social entrepreneurship, noting specifically that social entrepreneurship can still be profit driven. She provided several real-world examples of programs. Attendees left inspired to think outside the box and work with local communities to determine needs to create positive social change.

Finding the humor in life with Erin Terry.

Erin Terry is a local stand-up comedian and host of Eyes Up Here Comedy Showcase, featuring local kick ass lady comedians. Over dinner, Erin shared the story of her journey to comedy, owning her body image, and celebrating other independent women in our community. Needless to say there was lots of laughter over dinner! The ladies left feeling kick ass as well as empowered to own and tell their personal stories with confidence and maybe even try a little comedy. 

Carole Marcotte is a local business owner, with years of experience in owning her own unique businesses. The evening’s focus was “Why not?” and evolved around starting a second career as an entrepreneur. Many of the attendees had started their own businesses after years of working for someone else, and shared their stories about the risks and rewards of becoming your own boss. The take-away of the night was that it's never too late to start your own thing!

Molly McKinley is an organizer for the NC Conservation Network, currently working on a hot local topic, alternative forms of transportation in Wake County. Molly asked attendees to map out their transportation options in Wake County, including public transit and biking. She educated members on their opportunity to vote for a county-wide sales tax to fund enhanced public transit. Attendees left knowing a lot more about transportation choices and how they benefit their quality of life.

The Kick Ass Dinner series is an inspired continuation of The Beehive Collective’s annual Kick Ass Ladies Club. Women who have attended the Kick Ass Ladies Club event asked to create a broader community and more opportunities to connect with women in Raleigh. As we approach the fourth year of the Kick Ass Ladies Club we’re thrilled to see its growth into the dinner series! 

Molly facilititates a conversation about transit (and bikes)!

Beehive and Community Leaders Discuss Housing and Community Development

Nearly 70 people gathered at HQ Raleigh on June 29, 2016, for a conversation about the Beehive Collective’s giving theme Housing and Community Development. Led by Beehive board Co-chair Tappan Vickery, the panel featured a broad range of community leaders to talk about this many-sided issue.

Housing is a critical need in Raleigh as many people struggle to find affordable space in an area with a 90% occupancy rate and rising population. Affordable housing is typically defined as total cost of rent/mortgage and utilities coming to less than 30% of total household income. As the average median income and housing values rise in the area, many are struggling to keep up.

While there are many challenges and diverse needs in the community, government agencies, nonprofits, developers and citizens need to work together to on shaping the future. Attending local Citizens Advisory Councils is a good way to learn about an area’s issues and what develop is going on.

“Developing affordable housing starts in the community; it starts in the CACS meetings,” said Raleigh City Councilman Corey Branch. “The council will listen.”

Branch pointed out that while there are programs and incentives in place for those looking to develop affordable housing, many people don’t know about the programs and they’re being underutilized.

And that’s just one prong of the education that needs to take place on such a wide-ranging issue. Creighton Blackwell, Vice President for Corporate Affairs at Coastal Federal Credit Union, said that understanding credit and financial literacy are also key ways to help get people into affordable homes.

“A lot of programs are playing catch up and not looking at the underlying problems,” Blackwell said. “It means nothing unless you create financially healthy people.”

Olive Joyner, Executive Director at Durham’s Housing for New Hope, pointed out that many people live in a cashless economy, without enough money for essentials making this education even more vitally important.

But beyond helping people understand the programs and services available, the city needs to work to rebuild relationships, particularly in areas where affordable housing is being replaced or neighborhoods that are gentrifying quickly.

Branch suggested that meeting people where they are and finding out what they need is a good first step to rebuilding some of these neighborhoods. Programs to help fix homes in disrepair as well as working with community groups to keep the fabric of the neighborhoods together will also be essential.

A best practice for providing affordable housing is a policy called scattered site, or spreading the creation of units across various neighborhoods so they’re not concentrated in one area. But locations should also include access to transportation, employment centers and other services.

“It’s hard for a city like Raleigh to keep up with growth,” said Elizabeth Alley, AICP. “It’s doing a good job in a tough situation.”

While Raleigh has some catching up to do in terms of building more affordable housing and protecting some of its neighborhoods, having conversations about this topic and understanding many different perspectives will help shape a productive dialogue.

The Beehive request for proposals is expected to be released at the end of July. Sign up for our email list to receive notifications.

Meet the Bees: Sarah Ferguson

The Beehive Collective 2015 Board of Directors are working hard to continue our mission to pollinate community giving in Raleigh. You may have met these ladies at one of our many events throughout the year, and now, we’re giving you a closer look. Find out why they became a Bee and why they are dedicated to making Raleigh a better place. Meet the Bees!

Next up is Sarah Ferguson, one of our lovely Co-Chairs on the Membership Committee and board member.

What made you want to join The Beehive Collective? What is your favorite part about being a Bee?
I got initiated into the Cult of Beehive when I attended my first Bee Ball in 2010. The Bee Ball has been the highlight of my year ever since, including the year I won Bee Ball Queen, and the year I got engaged on the night of the Bee Ball.  Becoming a dues-paying member seemed like the honest thing to do, what with all the almost-free fun I was getting to take part in.

Why is The Beehive Collective important to you? To community giving in Raleigh?
For me, the Beehive Collective’s model of giving creates a direct link between philanthropy and activism. I know where my money is going, I know that only a tiny percentage goes towards organizational expenses, and I get to make an informed choice with fellow members about what causes and project to fund. The Beehive Collective provides a means of engaged philanthropy that is hard to find elsewhere.

What inspires you about being a part of a giving circle?
The other members of the Beehive are my inspiration. I have met dozens of intelligent, engaged, critical, and caring women through this organization. The collective wealth of knowledge, connections, dedication and support among the Beehive continually amazes me.

Which grant recipient or project have you been most proud of?
I think that all the grants we have awarded have gone to incredible projects. I am most proud, actually, of the breadth of applications we receive for each grant, and the quality of the organizations we attract. I am proud of how incredibly hard it is to pick just one recipient for each grant we provide!

Why should others consider joining The Beehive Collective?
Beehive membership has perks, such as notoriety. We DO throw the best party of the year…
I think the best thing about Beehive membership is that you can be as involved (or not) as you like. If you want to dive in and co-chair a committee, you can do that. If you want to pay your pledge and be left alone, that’s fine too. If you want to switch back and forth every year, cheers to you! Our motto, “Philanthropy within everyone’s reach,” applies to your donations of time & effort, as well as money.

Why do you think the Bee Ball is the best party in Raleigh?
Climbing the walls in the graffitied back hallway of the Berkeley Cafe, cramming as many people into one photo as possible. I mean LITERALLY climbing the walls. “Hallway photos” became a tradition for three years running. I look forward to finding a confined space somewhere in Southland Ballroom to take up the practice again.

Join Sarah and become a Bee! Clicking here to make your 2015 pledge today!

Meet the Bees: Katy Dunne

The Beehive Collective 2015 Board of Directors are working hard to continue our mission to pollinate community giving in Raleigh. You may have met these ladies at one of our many events throughout the year, and now, we’re giving you a closer look. Find out why they became a Bee and why they are dedicated to making Raleigh a better place. Meet the Bees!

Next up is the lovely Katy Dunne, who serves as our Fundraising Committee Co-Chair.

Name: Katy Dunne
Occupation: Sales Engineer at ChannelAdvisor
Background: Class of ‘99 in Durham, college in Chapel Hill, proud Raleighite since 2008

What made you want to join The Beehive Collective? What is your favorite part about being a Bee?
I learned about The Beehive Collective through some friends from high school who are members and spent a few years attending Bee Balls and supporting from afar. Finally I realized that I was a true Raleigh resident and it was my job to help make my city a better place.

My favorite part about being a Bee is meeting all the amazing people who are doing lots of good things in Raleigh. There are so many inspirational women (and men) who work in nonprofits or build amazing businesses or incite political change, and I get to call them my friends and fellow Bees.

Why is The Beehive Collective important to you? To community giving in Raleigh?
In a nutshell, The Beehive allows me to have a career I love and still sleep at night feeling like a good citizen. What I  mean is, having a corporate job, I spent some years struggling with the idea that I wasn’t giving back enough. Being part of The Beehive allows me to find deeper meaning through philanthropy and engaging with my community. We’re all a part of where we live, and I believe we’re obligated to be good neighbors. The Beehive makes me a better, more involved neighbor.

What inspires you about being a part of a giving circle?
The coolest thing about a giving circle is that we can give grants to different organizations every year. We’re not tied down to one mission or one goal; we can be a part of so many good things going on in Raleigh, and we can adapt to what needs we see around us. We are constantly inspired by the phenomenal organizations around us who are doing great work every day.

Which grant recipient or project have you been most proud of?
It’s almost impossible to pick just one, but I think I’m most proud of the grants we’ve given that are directed at improving the lives of women and girls. Our small grants are specifically targeted toward this, and our 2013 large grant to El Pueblo’s program to provide reproductive health information to Latino youth really struck a nerve with me. It just filled so many gaps around women’s health, youth and sexuality, and educating a subset of our community that is too often overlooked.

Why should others consider joining The Beehive Collective?
Everyone talks about philanthropy and giving back (as I have so far), but truly, join The Beehive because it’s fun! I’ve made so many close friends through this organization, and we really throw the best events. The Bee Ball, the Stewart Cookout, Kick Ass Ladies’ Club – they’re my favorite days of the year!

What’s your craziest Bee Ball memory?
Honestly, I don’t think I can even share my best Bee Ball memories in a public forum. THAT’S how good of a party it is. I will say this: tequila shots.

Join Katy and become a Bee! Clicking here to make your 2015 pledge today!

Meet the Bees: Liz Hester

The Beehive Collective 2015 Board of Directors are working hard to continue our mission to pollinate community giving in Raleigh. You may have met these ladies at one of our many events throughout the year, and now, we’re giving you a closer look. Find out why they became a Bee and why they are dedicated to making Raleigh a better place. Meet the Bees!

Next up is Liz Hester, one of our lovely Board Co-Chairs.

What made you want to join The Beehive Collective? What is your favorite part about being a Bee?
When I first moved back to Raleigh from Brooklyn, I was looking for a community and to volunteer my time to a worthy cause – and for a few new friends. My first month back, I went on a group bike ride sponsored by the Beehive on a recommendation. My initial thought was, “I don’t know anything about bees, but it might be a way to meet people.”

As I’m riding, I started chatting with one of the co-founders. I asked her if they were advocating for backyard beehives (this was totally a thing in Brooklyn). She laughed and told me the details about being a Bee and some of the projects they had funded. I was sold and wrote a check that evening to join.

My favorite part about being a Bee is all the amazing people I’ve met around Raleigh doing incredible things. I love feeling as if I belong to our community and I’m working to make it a better place. Now, most of my friends are involved with the Beehive in some way and it’s having this supportive community that makes living here so special.

Why is The Beehive Collective important to you? To community giving in Raleigh?
Any type of donation – time, treasure or talent — is extremely important, but I love the Beehive’s local focus. Often you write a check for cancer research or to another national organization and while it’s helpful, you don’t have personal connection with those you’re assisting. With the Beehive, we are able to see first-hand how our money is being used, the people we are helping and the way we’re bettering our community.

Raleigh is an incredible place to live, but there are problems we need to work together to solve. The Beehive is addressing needs in a variety of areas. I especially like how we change our theme each year, giving us the opportunity to help more people and learn about a variety of issues. We truly are pollinating community giving.

What inspires you about being a part of a giving circle?
I actually really like the collective wisdom of the group. Each year our giving theme changes, which helps make sure we are assisting a variety of causes that are important to various members. For example, if you’re passionate about children’s rights, odds are we have or will fund a project in that space.

Our members are so plugged into the community and thoughtful about how they give away money. It’s also incredibly gratifying to fund a whole project instead of making a one-off donation. It’s a great way to pool resources and show results quickly.

Which grant recipient or project have you been most proud of?
All of our recipients have been incredible, but I was extremely proud of the grant to Youth Empowered Solutions (YES!) to help them set up a health clinic for high school students in Southeast Raleigh.

As a former journalist, what the Raleigh Public Record was able to do with their grant was simply inspiring. They took our small grant and leveraged it into $57,000 dollars to bring their DocHive software online. The software takes PDF information and converts it to spreadsheet form, making reporting on areas like campaign finance easier. As someone who’s combed through those files at one point, I understand that this is a powerful tool.

Why should others consider joining The Beehive Collective?
Basically if you want to spend time with awesome and inspiring people in Raleigh, you should join. Collectively, we are helping make our community better and we’d love to have you be a part of it.

I’ve learned so much from being involved in the board and our committees. It’s been a huge opportunity for me personally to develop knowledge and different skills. But mostly, it’s about helping others. And we’re super fun.

What’s your craziest Bee Ball memory?
Memory? Who remembers the Bee Ball?

Join Liz and become a Bee! Clicking here to make your 2015 pledge today!

7th Annual Bee Ball Breaks Fundraising Record

Annual Event Raised $17,600 for Immigrant Rights

The best party in Raleigh returned for its seventh year to benefit a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Raleigh a better place. This year, the annual event raised $17,600 to support Immigrant Rights.

Billed as Raleigh’s adult prom, the Bee Ball is the biggest annual fundraiser for The Beehive Collective, a giving circle that raises money for area nonprofits. There was something for everyone at the Bee Ball – music, dancing, photo booths and more!

“We’ve given away more than $150,000 since 2008 and we’re looking to make this our biggest grant year ever, and the Bee Ball is a big part of making that goal a reality,” said Liz Hester, Beehive co-chair. “Each year, our membership chooses a giving theme to grant our funds, and this year, we’ve chosen immigrant rights. Immigrants make up one of the largest growing demographics in Wake County, and the Beehive would like to support Immigrant Rights through a grant of $22,000 to $27,000 this year.”

The Bee Ball is truly a community-supported event. Along with ticket sales, eight of Raleigh’s finest young leaders were chosen as the Bee Ball Royalty Court. These individuals worked overtime to raise even more money on behalf of the Beehive’s grant recipients. Each member of the court pledged to raise at least $1000 through the event.

2015 Royalty Court members included:

• Adam Eckhardt, Co-owner and Co-founder, Crank Arm Brewing
• David Zell, Founder of Oak City Cycling Project
• Lisa Veronica Wood, Sidecar Social Club
• Margaret Griffin, SPARKcon Organizer
• Tappan Vickery, Grants Committee Co-Chair, The Beehive Collective
• Bridget Whelan, Communications Director, NC Conservation Network
• Jenny Bonchak, Founder, Slingshot Coffee Co.
• Tobias Perrino, Founding Member, Stonewall Kickball

2015 marked the second year at Southland Ballroom, and entertainment included performances by Sidecar Social Club & DJ Jenilla Ice. With this amazing group, The Beehive Collective continued the tradition of being the best party in Raleigh.

The Beehive Collective is dedicated to pollinating community giving in Raleigh while inspiring new women leaders. Members of the Beehive Collective work to support the development of women through local activities. By pooling resources and organizing fun events like the Bee Ball, the Bees raise money to fund community projects.

Can’t wait until next May? Revisit all the fun of the 2015 Bee Ball with our event photos courtesy of Abby Nardo and the every popular photo booth courtesy of Erin Debnam.