Spring Alumni News
We Are the Weavers The way we break down silos in systems is that we create threads of connection between the parts. This can look like a helper and an organizer teaming up to connect families with services. This can look like the rebel and the advocate creating a strategic collaboration to push elected officials on an issue. However it looks, knowing about each others’ work is a crucial first step. You can be a weaver and help strengthen Charlotte organzing by participating in alumni events. We always have a place and space for you to speak and share about your work. Bottom line, SedgeCo is a community of well wishers happy to cheer you on or grieve with you. Remember from class, we will receive you in any state. We don’t care how you show up, just show up.
First Annual Alumni Cookout Reportback
It was so great to see folks from all three cohorts come together to share our hearts and get to know about each others’ wonderful work! We were able to hear updates and heartbreaks in the work from our colleagues in social change organizing. And some wonderful connections were formed.
James Lee and Judi Brown did a wonderful job facilitating our opening circle and mic time. There was a little friendly competition between the cohorts, with cohort 3 setting it off by claiming they had the best class. Cohort 1 stepped up then to assert their edge for having been the first, And then cohort 2 took offense of course, so we have ourselves some friendly rivalry going!
The idea for a theme this year arose from alumni listening to each other speak about what’s important and making vital connections to support each other's organizing and the families being served. Sheneika Smith and James Lee each shared a powerful connection story of having known each other back in the day. It was a goose bumps moment and we could sense how much more connected we are than we might know.
Alumni Brag Page We want to brag on you and amplify the work you are doing on this new website! And by doing this we can help the organizing systemswe are a part of in Charlotte, become more self aware of it’s parts! Connections emerge from this awareness and from there more webs of relationships can be spun.
So please submit your story online at sjcocharlotte.org/alumni
Just submit a blurb about what you are up!
Free Grantwriting Workshop for Alumni with Laurita CiceronTuesday June 9th 6-7:30 pm Online via Zoom
RSVP here and the Zoom link will be emailed to you to attend live AND it will be recorded and the recording emailed out to folks who RSVP
In this workshop, Laurita will guide participants through the fundamentals of grant writing, including how to prepare an organization for funding readiness, identify and research grant opportunities, develop strong and competitive applications, and manage post-award reporting and compliance. This session is designed to provide practical tools and clear guidance for organizations at any stage of the grant writing process.
Laurita Ciceron is a professional grant writer with five years of experience supporting nonprofit organizations in securing funding for community-based programs and initiatives. Through her work, she has developed and led successful grant strategies across a range of sectors, including workforce development, health equity, education, and community services.
Cohort 4 Dates Fall 2026 @ Queens
One day in person retreat, Saturday, September 26th 9 am - 5 pm Meets online Tuesday nights September 29th - Dec 15th 7 - 8:30 pm Graduation Celebration Dinner in person Thursday, December 17th, 5-9 pm
The application will go live June 15th!