DECEMBER PROGRAM

Savannah and Erika from NCCJ will talk about winter holidays beyond Christmas and Hannukah, exploring why they embrace the phrase, “Happy Holidays!” at this time of year, and how there is so much we can learn from and teach each other when we make room for difference. To conclude, they’ll share some NCCJ resources, designed to help WPF sisters be more aware and inclusive of the mosaic of faith and cultural traditions that enriches our community.

Savannah Knoble

Savannah grew up in Stokesdale, NC, and discovered her passion for social justice during her time as a student in Guilford County. In 2015, she participated in NCCJ’s flagship youth human relations program, Anytown, which became a transformative experience, exposing her to people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. This experience sparked a lifelong commitment to advocating for social justice. Savannah continued to build on this passion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a double major in Sociology and Economics, along with a minor in Social and Economic Justice, graduating in 2021.

During her college years, she conducted research on gig work during the pandemic, and her work was published in the *Russell Sage Foundation Journal of Social Sciences*.

Today, Savannah serves as the Operations Director at NCCJ (North Carolina for Community and Justice), where she works to promote equality and inclusion. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, knitting, playing board games with her husband, and spending quality time with her two cats.

Erika Rain Wilhite

One of Erika’s earliest memories is watching Star Trek with her parents. It gave her an inclusive, optimistic model of a future where women were leaders and diverse groups of people collaborated and compromised to make a better society for everyone. Erika can’t say what came first, those dreams of a Star Trek future or her deep passion for history. Always driven to understand what happened in the past that led to things being “the way they are,” she earned a master’s degree in public history from the University of West Florida.

While working in historic preservation and museum interpretation, Erika discovered a talent for fund development after securing grant funds to restore the Pensacola Lighthouse. Today, she has 10+ years of experience in nonprofit fund development, communications and leadership. Erika is employed as interim executive director of NCCJ (North Carolina for Community and Justice), after having served as the organization’s development and communications director for the past eight years. She and her husband live in Greensboro with their two rescue cats.

WPF ANNUAL HOLIDAY BRUNCH

Sunday, December 8, 2024

11:00 am

Print Works Bistro

702 Green Valley Road

Join Laura Burton and Jody Susong for this annual event. 

Only a few seats left, so register ASAP!

RSVP via the following link: https://forms.gle/3JUXWwPbYhk1SdNV9

Questions: Laura Burton at lburton@foxrothschild.com

WPF FOUNDATION NEWS

From Chandra Hackenbruch

WPF Foundation President

Greetings dear sisters!

Words cannot express how grateful and appreciative I am for your support of the Rock the Night away fundraiser!  This event raised $11,600 for the foundation!  The goal was to raise enough money to match what the Foundation would have gained from the Bazaar and I am overjoyed to announce that the proceeds from this event allowed us to meet that goal!

Special thanks to:

• The performers who volunteered their time: High Cotton, Molly McGuinn/Kate Musselwhite, and Taboo Sue
• Flat Iron for the opportunity to use the space
• Kibi’s Crazy Casseroles for the delicious food and donating all sale proceeds to the Foundation
• The Sponsors: Vivid Interiors, Friends Homes, Ward Black Law, Jeanie Duncan, Mi-Box Storage, and Window Works Studio
• All 92 attendees of the event which included WPF members and non members
• The Foundation Fundraising Committee:  Frenesa Hall, Amy Meinecke, Valda Ford, Christine Byrd and Maria Hanlin

This event was amazing and we look forward to possibly repeating this event next year!

As we wrap up this year, I express my sincere gratitude to the 2024 Foundation Board for a magnificent year.  The year was a success because of them and I appreciate their time, efforts, and talent.   I also want to express gratitude for Frenesa Hall who served as secretary for the past 2 years and served on Fundraising and Grant committees and Keyshia Gray who have served on the Grant and May Meeting committees during their time on the board.  They will rolling off the board at the end of this year.

The Foundation is grateful for all the donors that have given generously this year.   We would not be able to give the grants below without your support!

The Women’s Resource: for Women to Work. It offers job readiness, training, and placement support services designed to address women’s unique needs.

Sister Circle International: for their She Works & Wins program will offer the opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency, insight, knowledge, and resources to empower women.

I Am A Queen: for Queen Arise Leadership Program which provides self-esteem and leadership training targeting key areas such as money management, healthy relationships, health and fitness, and etiquette to ask-risk girls ages 10-18.

Greensboro History Museum:  for a program that will: (1) host a public program with a noted historian; (2) organize a youth leadership summit (3) develop curriculum around Bennett College students’ 1960 Operation Doorknock.