The first class of NCLCV Foundation’s new Boards and Commissions program fellows will graduate next month.

The NCLCV Foundation, in partnership with LEAD NC Institute, is running this Boards and Commissions Fellowship training program. The program is intended to develop the skills and capacity of North Carolina community leaders and build the power of underrepresented groups to serve on relevant local boards and commissions. Underrepresented communities are the ones most impacted by voter suppression efforts, economic injustice, and environmental exploitation. Being at the frontlines of these issues makes leaders from these communities equipped to make meaningful, long-term changes that benefit all North Carolinians. 

One of the upcoming graduates of the fellowship program, the Reverend Kimberla Butler, offered this testimonial for its value. “The Boards and Commissions Fellow Training Program has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me to date. I have always desired to be in a position that would allow me to serve within my local and state community, yet not knowledgeable enough to know how or where to begin. Thankfully, I obtained the education and knowledge needed from the phenomenal training provided through the NCLCV Boards and Commission training platform. It’s been said that ‘knowledge is power,’ and this program has provided me with the knowledge needed to make an impact in the lives and communities of those who are less fortunate and underrepresented,” said Rev. Butler. “Words cannot express how thankful I am to Kerry Wiggins and my mentor Ray Robinson!”