Nonprofit earns NC Child’s 2021 Award

Soaring As Eagles, a nonprofit focused on closing the achievement gap in Title 1 schools, recently received the NC Child’s 2021 Community Voices Award.

The Community Voices Award recognizes advocates in the community who have brought change for children and youth because of their voices and their efforts.

“I am thrilled to have the work of Soaring As Eagles acknowledged by NC Child, especially in this year that COVID-19 has expanded the learning gap and shined a light on inequity in our schools,” says KIM CEASER, the group’s founder and executive director.

When COVID-19 prompted the shutdown of schools last spring, Soaring As Eagles partnered with LINC (Leading Into New Communities) to start a remote learning lab, providing a safe environment, hot meals, mentors, tutors, and more to help families, officials say.

Nominations for the award came from the North Carolina Child Advocacy Network.

Soaring As Eagles, which is based at The Harrelson Center in downtown Wilmington, was nominated by another member of the campus – MEBANE BOYD, director of New Hanover County’s Resiliency Task Force.

“(This) community-based organization … doesn’t mind getting into the trenches,” Boyd wrote in her nomination. “They aren’t hesitant to go into gang- and drug-infested neighborhoods in service to families and children who need their services. They do all they can to understand each of the children’s unique needs, so they can meet the children where they are.”

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