Regional Connectivity

Better Understanding

We believe the most effective way to create change is through collaboration. We strive to understand health inequities that affect our communities by redefining who community “experts” are. We learn from advocates, leaders, and those with lived experiences through strategic meetings that ultimately drive our efforts as an organization.

AMYWF Hosting Second Regional Convening Meeting

As community health advocates, we wanted to ensure we heard from our community, as they are the experts.

AMY Wellness Foundation (AMYWF) is seeking input from health advocates, nonprofit leaders, and those with lived experience to attend a strategic Regional Convening Meeting to help prioritize AMYWF’s funding priorities for 2023.

“AMYWF prides itself on being a community lead Foundation. With everything we do, we aim to create change with action through community input,” said Caitlin Johnson, Associate Director, AMY Wellness Foundation. “Our first Regional Convening Meeting was held in early 2020 and helped shape the Foundation’s funding areas for our grant partners. Now, two years later, as we know, so much has changed and the Foundation wants to make sure we remain connected to the community,” said Johnson. “We want to hear from the community on our current funding priorities to ensure our funding efforts are still in line with community needs. This meeting will also help the Foundation understand where the gaps are and what we can change to collectively make the most impact to help shape future funding areas for the Foundation,” she concluded

AMYWF’s current funding areas are Capacity Building, COVID-19 Rapid Response, Family Resilience, and Collaboration and Planning with an emphasis on Housing, Mental Health, and Food Security. The Foundation is looking to have community input on those areas and to better understand the current health landscape and how it has changed since the pandemic. “It is of utmost importance we listen to the people who live, work, and love our community. Without our partners AMYWF would not be able to strategically serve our neighbors, it is important we make sure our funds are meeting their needs,” said Luke Howe, Executive Director, AMY Wellness Foundation.

AMY Wellness Foundation Regional Convening Meeting will take place for all community members in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties on November 3, 2022 from 3-5pm location 31 Cross Street, Banquet Hall, Spruce Pine, NC 28777

This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Caitlin Johnson at [email protected] or by using the link below by 10/21/2022.

Become a Positive Force for Change!

Regional Convening Meetings

We know we can’t make impactful changes alone. We need to hear from you, the experts. AMY will continue to host open discussions around Food Insecurity, Housing, and Mental Health.

Listening Sessions

Health is not stagnant. It changes and develops as our communities do. It is important to our organization that we are always listening and understanding what the most critical needs are. We are committed to hosting Listening Sessions throughout the year to ensure our funding process and the community needs are aligned.

Community Findings

With everything we do, we aim to create change with action. Through each strategic meeting we plan to build reports with our findings that ultimately shape the way our Foundation seeks partnerships. We want to build a healthy community by finding what is working well, where the gaps are and what partnerships will transform health and wellness for our region in the most sustainable, innovative and collaborative way.

The results are in! Click here to review community findings from each Regional Convening Meeting held in 2020.

What's Next?

Here is what we plan to do next:

Targeted Listening Sessions

Regional Convening Meetings 2.0

The emerging themes identified by participants will also guide us in orchestrating targeting listening sessions this summer.

Join us November 3, 2022!