North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation
About
Family Forward NC, an initiative of the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF), focuses on business led change to increase access to research-based, family-friendly policies—both big and small—that improve workplace productivity, recruitment and retention; support children’s healthy development; and grow a strong economy.
How Change Happens
Through education and engagement of employers, we propel action toward the creation of more family-friendly workplaces across North Carolina. Employer policies and workplace culture adapts to improve supports for parents and caregivers, resulting in healthier, happier children and families; a more loyal and productive workforce; and a stronger economy.
The Work
We act as chief strategy advisers for Family Forward NC, co-leading both short and long-term program strategy in partnership with NCECF staff. We also leads creation and execution of marketing and communications strategies.
Impact:
In January, we released the Guide to Family Forward Workplaces, a resource for employers that details research-informed benefits that positively impact child health and well-being and provide a positive return on investment for employers.
Over the past two years, we have engaged more than 4,200 employers throughout North Carolina to share the guide and our research about family-friendly policies and their benefits to business and to child health and well-being. Through interviews, surveys, a diverse advisory council, exhibits, presentations and workshops, we have heard the enthusiasm and challenges employers face as they work to make change in offering family-friendly policies within their own workplaces.
We have created and executed a successful communications plan that has helped Family Forward NC scale quickly and effectively. Successes include:
More than tripling initiative website traffic from just over 1,900 users in year one to more than 8,900 unique users in year two, with nearly 1,000 unique visitors engaging directly with the online Guide to Family Forward Workplaces.
Building a highly engaged social media audiences, with a focus on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Securing media placements in markets across the state.
Securing invitations to speak at influential events across the state.
NC Governor Roy Cooper’s office asked NCECF to provide a statement of support about a new paid parental leave policy for state employees in departments he oversees.
digiLEARN
About
Co-founded by former North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue and former Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer, digiLEARN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating digital learning for all ages with a goal of increasing personal learning options for students and expanding instructional opportunities for teachers and instructors.
How Change Happens
digiLEARN works with educators, administrators and policymakers across the country to create a future-defining educational system that prepares all learners—and our nation—to flourish in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The Work
We are building awareness of digiLEARN as it grows its signature program, the Digital Scholars Initiative, from a successful pilot with Rowan-Salisbury schools in North Carolina to a nationally-known initiative. We created and currently manage a communications strategy that focuses on positioning digiLEARN and its board members as thought leaders in the personalized learning space.
Impact:
digiLEARN and the Digital Scholars Program have been featured in several regional and national media outlets, including The 74, Getting Smart, and EdNC.
digiLEARN’s social media reach has quadrupled, and engagement has doubled.
Friends of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail
About
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a simple footpath stretching almost 1,200 miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks. The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail brings together communities and volunteers to build, maintain and improve the trail, connecting North Carolina’s natural treasures for the enjoyment and education of people.
The Work
We are currently working with the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to create and execute a marketing and communications plan that:
elevates the Friends as the stewarding body for one of the most impressive trail systems in the country;
inspires new and current audiences to actively help build, protect and promote the trail;
and reaches more diverse communities across racial, ethnic and gender lines.