Confluence

The theme of this report is Confluence, inspired by the rivers and streams that flow through every county CFWNC serves. From the Catawba in Burke County to the Tuckasegee in Jackson County, bodies of water, large and small, cross boundaries and represent a resource we all share. There are many issues and efforts where common concerns merge, and we are committed to working at those intersections.

CFWNC has a new strategic framework that we will use to navigate the coming years. It is flexible by design. Our goal is to partner broadly and to integrate a renewed sense of purpose into our work addressing issues that affect us all. We want our actions and resources to be part of relevant and socially-responsible leadership and investment in the region. We are committed to deep collaboration and to the concept that, at times, failure is part of progress and learning - for donors, nonprofits, funders and leaders alike.

We are inspired by people who recognize a problem or opportunity and have the audacity and tenacity to imagine a solution. We see this approach daily across the work of our nonprofit partners and in the generosity of our donors.

A sustained effort in Haywood County helped the Maggie Valley Sanitary District (page 7) win a statewide award for the best drinking water. The Pigeon River

- a coming or flowing together, meeting, or gathering at one point

Fund helped to support the work, but success required the commitment of a broad and talented team that kept the focus on moving forward and was not derailed by differences.

On pages 16 and 17, you can learn more about CFWNC’s work with land trusts and other nonprofits that pursue the complementary goals of protecting natural resources and supporting community-based economic development. The projects engage local leaders, volunteers and community members who understand that our economy and environment are linked. Many of these projects represent years of work.

Big problems, like climate change and polarization, belong to all of us. How we navigate complicated issues rests with us, collectively through our work at CFWNC and individually through the choices we make. All of us care about families, education, healthcare and our communities and recognize that transformation requires stamina, courage and a coming together.

CFWNC is committed to trying, to transparency and accountability, and to aligning our work with the core values of our region. We acknowledge the complexity of this approach, and some likely discomfort, but also the potential of learning, growing and collaborating to better serve WNC.

Elizabeth Brazas President

J. Chris Smith Board Chair