Watauga County School Districts
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GRANDFATHER ACADEMY
Grandfather Home for Children is a ministry that provides love and healing to more than 600 children and youth annually. The children in our care have experienced deep hurt and trauma from neglect or abuse On our beautiful, historic campus in Banner Elk, North Carolina, generations of children have received a home, nurturing caregivers and much-needed direction. Today, the campus hosts residential care programs and serves as the hub for an array of carefully-targeted services that stretch from the far western counties in North Carolina to the counties east of Raleigh.Our Christian staff works with our children in care to resolve their hurt and to provide acceptance, hope and new life skills to overcome the challenges they face. We strive to mend families whenever possible, and we involve parents in treatment initiatives. If a child cannot be reunited with the family of birth, a trained foster family and a future adoptive placement becomes the goal. Recognizing the critical importance of families, Grandfather Home provides support services to ensure that all our families have the resources needed to nurture their children to live free of abuse and hurt.
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TWO RIVERS COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Mission-We will support each student’s continuing discovery and development of self and community by providing a learning environment that is relevant, active and project oriented. All aspects of the student’s experience at Two Rivers Community School will enhance his/her natural learning power. History-We began serving the families of Watauga and surrounding counties in the 2005-2006 school year. Governed by a Board of Directors, TRCS incorporates a curriculum of project based Expeditionary Learning as the framework for its instructional programs. Teaching and learning at TRCS is guided by research based, best practices.
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WAMY COMM ACTION INC
More Than Four Decades of Effective Community Action! In 1964 twelve concerned citizens formed a steering committee to seek help in the struggle against poverty in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. They applied for assistance from the NC Fund and were approved as one of the seven original project areas to receive funding. W.A.M.Y. was chartered as a private 501-c3 nonprofit agency in 1964 through Economic Opportunity Act, in conjunction with President Johnson’s War on Poverty, and with assistance from the NC Fund and Office of Economic Opportunity.W.A.M.Y.’s founding mission: “to promote individual and family self-sufficiency in order to alleviate poverty at the root level and to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.”. Our first Executive Director was Mr. Ernest Eppley and our first Board Chair was Dr. William Plemmons.Community action agencies are unique because they are able to change the programs they offer as the needs of their community arise. Our tripartite board structure promotes the participation of the entire community in assessing local needs and attacking the causes and conditions of poverty. Our board is made up of 1/3 Elected public officials or their representatives 1/3 Private sector representatives and 1/3 Low-income representatives.Our funding comes from Federal and state grants, local governments, community foundations and private contributors. Our list of past and present services includes community centers (now Senior Centers), Rural Transportation Systems (like AppalCART), Head Start Centers, Craft Centers (like Blue Ridge Hearthside Crafts Cooperative), Summer Youth Programs (like Neighborhood Youth Corps), Adult Day and Health Care Center of Yancey County.WAMY has programs and offices in each of the four counties with the central office and coordination in Boone. The success of WAMY for over four decades, the many community partnerships, and clients’ personal successes have enabled WAMY to remain at the forefront of the fight against poverty. Community Action programs in its four county region provide a variety of services, awareness, solutions, and empowerment to address needs.