ENC Nonprofit Partners, Inc. is hosting “Livin’ the Dream,” a tribute to local nonprofit leaders in honor of the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday celebration. The MLK Day event, co-sponsored by Young Women of Promise, Inc. and Greater Glory AME Mission Church, will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at New Vision Faith Ministries, located at 102 Eastbrook Drive in Greenville, N.C.

The program will include a prayer service and presentation of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, as well as the “Keepers of the Dream” and “Teens and Kids Who Care” awards. Musical performances will be provided by Sandra Fisher, Olene Solomon and Y’Anna Rivers.

The Greenville-based ENC Nonprofit Partners has sponsored the Strengthening the Foundation Leadership Development program for African American nonprofit leaders in Pitt, Lenoir and Duplin counties since August 2023. The program was facilitated by Dr. Nay Malloy Howell and Theresa Williams. The participants have engaged in workshops, Zoom webinars, mentoring and coaching to help build the capacity of their respective organizations. Workshops were on topics such as leadership development; planning & evaluation; cultivating effective boards of directors; achieving work-life balance; grants research and writing; and leadership in the African-American community. The “Livin’ the Dream” event will honor participating nonprofits and their leaders.

ENC Nonprofit Partners received funding support from the North Carolina Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. The goal of the “Livin’ the Dream” program is to empower small organizations and nonprofits whose missions align with Dr. King’s vision of racial and economic equality for all people, thus giving testament that Dr. King’s dream still lives.

Event coordinator Theresa Williams shared, “The MLK Day event gives us an opportunity to pay homage to Dr. King’s legacy while placing the spotlight on some of the unsung heroes who are working to make a difference in our communities.”

ENC Nonprofits is a certifying organization for the President Volunteer Service Award, a program of the Points of Light Foundation. Recipients from Pitt County include Bishop Danny & Alice Stancil, One Eighty Enrichment, Inc.; Regina Smithwick, Patricia Ann Morton Foundation; Sharon Battle and Sarah Newton, S&S Parenting Services; Kieanna Bruinton, The DanceLyfe, Inc.; Rev. Dr. Rodney Coles, Sr. Churches Outreach Network; Tyler Pulley, Financial Literacy Kingdom; Rev. Dr. Andra Cunningham, Greater Glory AME Mission Church; Thremene Murphy, My Healing Within; and Theresa Williams, Young Women of Promise, Inc.

Lenoir County recipients include Paul Foxworth and Antoinette Locust, Achievers Academies of NC; Brenda Dixon, Christine Legacy Foundation; and Joseph Jones, Olene Solomon and Fulani Jones, Little Union Martial Arts Center. Duplin County honorees include Earlean Rivers, Diversity Nurtures Achievement Community Youth Center and Y’Anna Rivers.

Keepers of the Dream honorees include Sammy C. Aiken, African-American Heritage Commission of Kinston and Lenoir County; Niesha Spencer Ansley, The Viola M. Daniels Foundation; Shon Bruinton, ENC Voices of Youth; Tonya Foreman, Citizens Advocating for Equity & Equality; Ashanti Williams, An Autastic Dream, Inc.; Arjenae Jones Williams, Something2Somebody, Inc.; and LaToya Williams, Striving with Vision Empowerment Support Group, Inc.

Teens and Kids Who Care recipients include: Courtney Murphy; Beyonca Foster Banton; Zariea Marie Bowens; Blair Edmondson; Madilynn Hunter Newton; Kemani Rivers; Y’Anna Rivers; Jamiyah Sparks; Kandace Sutton; Camya Whitfield and Xzavier (Ziggy) Williams.

The “Livin’ the Dream” event is free and open to the public. There will be a community offering to support community youth development programs. For more information, contact Theresa Williams at 252-367-8292 or encnonprofits@gmail.com.