My name is Erinn Foote and l am the Governor’s Page Program Coordinator. I am reaching out to promote our 2024 program applications.
Founded in 1973, the Governor’s Page Program gives North Carolina high school students the opportunity for hands-on participation in state government. Hosted by VolunteerNC in Raleigh, pages will grow in four areas: history, civics, service, and professional development.
Eligible participants are high school students in good academic standing and classified as Junior, Senior, or recent high school graduates.
This is an opportunity for students to dive into the heart of government; and for those serious about civic engagement. During this week of service, Pages engage with influential decision-makers, explore policy proposals, and cultivate skills that will open doors and opportunities. Pages also get excused school absences and a 200 dollar stipend. Our goal is to have an applicant pool that is representative of the state, and encouraging applicants from your county will support this goal.
So excited to be joining with ETI for our first ever STREAMing Day at X8 Labs. Learn more about this unique facility that our youth are going to get to explore next week. You can read the article from the Fayetteville Business Journal here.
A new technology education hub will soon be available to Robeson County’s budding engineers and tech thinkers.
Emerging Technology Institute is preparing to open the doors to its new headquarters for their Young Entrepreneurs internship program in the back of the Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub located at 202 Main St in Pembroke.
ETI contracted White Walls Custom Painting and Design to renovate the Hub space. They also provided custom builds such as the check in desk, flooring and painting and design.
Taking up nearly 4,000 square-feet of space, the X8 Lab will feature everything a growing tech enthusiast needs while also providing a safe, relaxed atmosphere to train and learn.
The Lab includes an adjustable work space, storage space, and seating area for students.
According to Emerging Technology Institute Founder and President James Freeman, the idea for the space came to him after it was brought to his attention that there was no tech specific place for students in the Pembroke area.
“In June, I forced my daughter to go to a cybersecurity camp. She was mad, she was like ‘I don't know anything about cyber. It's at the community college, I don't want to do this.’ By the third or fourth day, she loved it. She got to be around other kids who were building things, she got to build a robot, she got to meet a federal employee, she got to see people come in and speak to them as employers and she loved it,” shared Freeman. “She said ‘I want to go somewhere after school where I could do robots and drones like your work.’ We can't do that anywhere, we have a lot of students in our community that are tech savvy, but they have no place to go.”
ETI Founder and CEO James Freeman is dedicated to providing the Robeson County community with accessible tech education programs.
According to Freeman, the X8 Lab was created with three core concepts in mind:
Create a STEM Academy and after school program completely free to the community.
Allow a space to create prototypes for ETI and other government projects from Young Innovators.
Connect with area universities and Colleges to help commercialize research and turn ideas into products.
The STEM Academy includes a curriculum that covers drones, coding, additive manufacturing (AKA:3D printing) and more, similar to the traveling STEM Innovation Sessions offered to schools.
“You can sign up your students and bring them here from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. They're gonna do hands-on exercises and get hands-on learning experiences with the Young Innovators,” shared Freeman. “This is a simulated work environment. Students are going to come here as if it’s a job and they’re going to work on government prototypes with us.”
Currently the space can fit up to 35 students with the goal to appeal to ages eight through adulthood. Plans are also in the works to expand the Young Innovators program into the community beyond technology by starting a Young Innovators Street Team launching in 2024.
“Young Innovators is kind of becoming a lifestyle brand. You have the Young Innovator internship and then we're gonna have the Young Innovator street team. So it's not just an internship, it's a community. It's a place for people to be inspired in the community and feel like they're a part of something,” shared ETI Director of Operations Lauren Sobotincic. “Anyone who comes in and just wants to be a part of it can come in, be part of the street team and we can go out and volunteer in the local community.”
ETI is also taking advantage of their new location’s proximity to local businesses by recruiting their Hub neighbors and anchor tenants to get involved with the project.
Vinyl Kings has called the Thomas Entrepreneurship HUB home since 2015 and designed the new X8 Lab logo.
ETI hired Vinyl Kings, a graphic design and sign shop and longtime Hub resident to design the logo for the X8 Lab. Owner Alfredo Irra worked closely with Freeman to design the logo which set the tone for the facility.
“This is actually one of my best friends and he just happened to be in the same kind of space, but just in a different realm,” shared Irra. “I take what he's talking about and I just support what I can support. I just did the design, but he went and did all of the rest.”
ETI also hired Hub neighbor Tuff Digital Marketing to design a new ETI website and optimize their web presence to help get the word out about the X8 Lab also expected to launch soon.
ETI's Hub neighbor Tuff Digital Marketing was tagged in to redesign the ETI website and help get the word out about the X8 Lab through web optimization.
“We do have a mock up in the works right now that we're getting approval on everything. And we're also showcasing the other organization, the ETI Young Innovators, so people will basically be going to a page where they're not overwhelmed with a lot of information, so it’s a great user experience,” shared Owner of Tuff Digital Marketing Joseph White. “And so highlighting the three different aspects of the business, making sure it's clearly laid out, making sure that parents can go to take action and start getting people signed up.”
The space is expected to be complete and welcoming guests in for their first STEM Academy sessions with open house events planned for Dec. 18, 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Guest educators will come in on each day to give the community a sneak peek of what the facility will offer.
Dec. 18 will feature nonprofit organization Community Made INC. Dec. 19 will feature nonprofit organization Communities in Schools and Dec. 20 will feature the North Carolina 4 H Extension Office from NC State.
The Lab is expected to open full time in January, 2024.
Learn more about ETI here and the Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub here.
To register your child (ages 9-13) for this event @X8 labs please click on this link.
Deadline to register for this program is December 14.
Also, 4-H Online will be coming off line this week so the state 4-H Office can collect Data and reset the system. That means we can not send text messages and emails until it is back online. Please keep an eye on our 4-H app and our blog for news and information.
You can download the app from your apple or android store. Go to 4-H Now! and you can download it for free. When you open it look for Robeson County 4-H for our program information. If you accept to get alerts you will get the text messages to let you know what is being updated. Also our blog can be found under news on your app or by going to: https://robeson4-h.blogspot.com/
It was fun to be part of this great event. To read it directly from the source (Bladen Online.com) please click this link.
On December 5, Chemours’ Fayetteville Works site was pleased to host an event celebrating its fundraising efforts for the Cumberland County and Lumber River chapters of United Way. Chemours’ annual United Way campaign supports the company’s corporate responsibility commitment to invest in its communities.
The employees at Fayetteville Works collectively pledged $16,642 to the United Way in its 2023 campaign, which ran from November 1 – December 1. Chemours has partnered with the United Way in several ways throughout the year, including volunteering at the Day of Caring event in Robeson County, gardening at Service Source with Veggies for Vets, and holding a book drive for Connections of Cumberland County. Beyond that, this year’s campaign leaders got creative in engaging employees to fundraise. Employees donated nearly an additional $800 in a contest to have members of the site leadership team kiss a pig on December 5. Total dollars raised for the United Way between the campaign and fundraiser were $17,438.
The pig, named Wilbur, joined the festivities courtesy of Robeson County 4H, through an introduction made by Lumber River United Way. Tony Sesher, Manufacturing Technology Engineer, and Selene Locklear, Quality Specialist, led the effort.
“Here at Chemours Fayetteville Works, our United Way campaign strives to help our local communities, where we live along with our families, to provide for those in need,” shared Selene. “And this year our Kiss the Pig fundraiser encouraged even more support by employees. It was a really fun event.”
The event was held at the Fayetteville Works site, and representatives from the United Way, Robeson County 4H, and site employees were present.
Tate Johnson, Lumber River United Way Director, attended the event and shared a few remarks: “We at Lumber River United Way are so grateful that the employees of Chemours donated to this year’s campaign. These dollars will go to supporting members of our community in meaningful ways.”
This year’s fundraising effort was a success, and the Fayetteville Works site looks forward to continuing to partner with the United Way. Chemours is proud to support the communities where it operates. To learn more about Chemours’ work in North Carolina, visit the Fayetteville Works website.
Folks we may have had to cancel 4-H Appreciation Night but that doesn't mean we aren't going to show our appreciation. Below is a little video presentation showing your hard work this year. Also we have a little game going....count the Santas and if you are the first in your age group to get the right answer you will win a prize. Check it out!
To watch the 2023 Appreciation Video please click this link.
If you have issues with the QR Code and need a link for the Santa Watching Contest please click this link.
You're Invited to Betsy's Bash and the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center on May 18th, 2024!
Friends and Family,
We cordially invite you to attend the second annual Betsy's Bash on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center from 4 - 8pm. The 2024 Bash will also celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Penn 4-H Center and will be a truly spectacular event that you don't want to miss!
This second annual celebration and fundraising event will honor the legacy and impact of Mrs. Betsy Penn and her vision for a 4-H Center focused solely on the health, wellbeing, and education of the youth of North Carolina.
Your $50 event ticket will include a meal, a s'mores dessert, adult beverages, and live music from the Sassafras Bluegrass Band.
All proceeds from the event will support the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center. If you would like to support the center by becoming an event sponsor, please refer to our sponsor packet for more information on sponsor levels and benefits. For questions, please contact the center at 336-349-9445 or by email to Center Director Stacy Burns at stacy_burns@ncsu.edu.
Due to low numbers of folks signing up for 4-H Appreciation night we will be canceling the event. Please note a few more things will be added to our schedule so please see how we will be celebrating our youth and volunteers.
On Friday, December 8, we will be releasing a video of our Honors for our youth and volunteers. We will email everyone a link.
On Saturday, December 16 from 10 am - 2 pm we will have a Holiday Tree Trimming Celebration. This is an open house event where youth and adults will be able to drop off items for our community service project, pick up their awards, gift, and help us trim the tree in the auditorium. It is an open house so you can drop in at any time. However we will ask that you register so we can make sure to have your items ready for you to pick up. The registration is....https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4-h-holiday-tree-trimming-celebration-tickets-771668510287?aff=oddtdtcreator
On Wednesday, December 20 from 9 am -3 pm we will be offering "STREAMing @ X8 Labs". This is a hands on program for our 9-13 year olds where they will get to create a solution to a real world problem using the latest technology and science offerings, and pitch it in a shark tank environment. This is a free event thanks to our partners at ETI (Emerging Technology Institute). They will provide snacks and lunch for the event. It is open to the first 30 youth that register and transportation will be provided from our office to UNCP Hub, where X8 Labs are located. We promise this is a day they won't forget. All youth must be registered in 4-H Online prior to December 11 to be able to attend. The registration link is: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/streaming-x8-labs-tickets-768280968057
If you have any questions please let me know. You can reach me at sadejarn@ncsu.edu.
Thank you for all that you do and we hope folks will be able to join us for these events.
Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center is located in Reidsville, NC. Robeson County 4-H will be taking youth to the camp on Sunday, July 28 and returning on Friday, August 2. While there, campers will have a chance to swim, canoe, horseback ride, climb rock walls, learn archery, go on hikes, stomp in the creek and so much more.
The cost of camp includes transportation, lodging, meals, fees, and money for the camp store as well as a camp t-shirt.
Camp is a gift that helps shape a child's decision-making skills, team-working ability, and self-esteem. It is a gift that will give back for a lifetime! So, If you have a boy or girl between the ages of 9 and 14. consider giving them the gift of 4-H Camp this year.
Camp offers friends for a lifetime, adventures in a safe nurturing environment, and unforgettable activities.
Pay now to reserve your slot and while prices are lower. If you pay by January 3 is will be $350 per child. If you pay by March 6 it will be $450 per child. If you pay prior to June 30 it will be $560 per child.
The Empty Stocking Fund provides a $75 voucher for children in Bladen and a $60 voucher in Robeson Counties that can be redeemed at Roses in Lumberton, Roses Express in Fairmont, and Leinwand's and Walmart in Elizabethtown.
The Fund is collected and distributed through a partnership between The Robesonian and the Bladen Journal, with applications being processed through the Robeson County Department of Social Services, and the Bladen County Department of Social Services. Lumber River United Way is the administrator of the funds.
Lumber River United Way established a McKinney-Vento Fund in Bladen and Robeson Counties to serve homeless students with basic needs such as winter coats, shoes, mattresses, and food. In some cases, funding will be utilized for homeless students to attend field trips or participate in school sports or clubs where they may otherwise not have the financial resources to do so.
During the 2022-23 school year, 133 students were identified as homeless in Bladen County Schools, currently, there are 71 students identified.
When students miss school, every month, due to normal bodily functions, they are not only at risk of failing and dropping out, but also they miss breakfast and lunch. When adults experience period poverty, they risk losing not just wages but also their jobs.
Join United Way in the fight to end period poverty in Bladen, Dillon, Hoke, and Robeson Counties.
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