Communities In Schools of Cape Fear

A big thank you to the Island Women for inviting CIS Cape Fear to be the featured nonprofit for this week's Flamingo Bingo!

We appreciate the opportunity to share our mission with the incredible crowd and are deeply thankful for the generous gift!

Investments like this allow us to connect students with caring adults who help them access the resources needed to reach their full potential and take charge of their future.

Some schools are paying students $50 a week. Could it help boost attendance? This unique study is hoping to improve student outcomes with a little bit of income.

Ever wanted to join a Run Club without the running? A Book Club without the reading? A Cookbook Club without the dishes? 👀

If you’re looking for a way to meet like-minded young professionals in Wilmington and make a real impact in our community, the Communities In Schools Board of Young Professionals might be your perfect fit.

The group meets on the first Tuesday of month and the goal is to network and dream up innovative ways to support youth in the Cape Fear community with Communities In Schools of Cape Fear. The CIS BYP has been around for more than a decade now and is an excellent way to step into the world of philanthropy!

Applications are live now >> https://www.ciscapefear.org/board-of-young-professionals/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSOoplleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFMMmM3ZDd1SzYwR1pvWkdBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqFHfDbgVDOcLh3xfonq99BMnBYveMjvosxVAE204Rn_X6KOXTtRQtUi7l83_aem_7MQsF5-fcyUANuBR8LfBXg

The first day of CIS CDF Freedom School.

It's a homecoming. Connection. Hugs. Dancing. Joy.

Welcome back, Scholars!

Our school-based programs aren't the only ones celebrating graduates! 🎓😎

The New Hanover Baby Steps Young Parent Support Group had a longtime participant "Graduate" the program last week. The Baby Steps group came together for a day at the splash pad, a picnic and cupcakes to mark the milestone!

Nariyah has been in the CIS family for some time now. She was supported by Sylvia Jabaley at New Hanover High School years ago before she graduated high school and returned to join the Baby Steps group 5 years ago. She's a mother of three, and currently in school at Cape Fear Community College. While she's aged out of group, she will be returning next month to serve as the Baby Steps Parent Lead, joining the CIS staff to facilitate group meetings.

Nariyah is known for being a connector, whether its referring other participants to community resources or empowering them to participate in group. This role is an amazing way to use her lived experience to shape offerings and make important connections for her fellow young parents. The group couldn't be in better hands!

🎓🩵Congratulations, Baby Steps Graduate, and welcome aboard, Nariyah! 🍼👣

PENDER COUNTY: We have a rare opportunity!

There are TEN available spots open right now for our Burgaw Middle School Summer Camp! Programming is underway now and runs to July 10, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. Its the perfect summer activity for rising 6-8th grade students.

Email [email protected] to apply for this FREE program!

Details: www.ciscapefear.org/pender-county-summer-programming/

Registration for the 2026 Stuff the Bus Collection Challenge is now live!

Click the link at the bottom of this post if you'd like to host a Stuff the Bus bin at your neighborhood, business, church or civic organization and collect new school supplies for students across New Hanover and Pender counties!

Once the Google form is completed, our team will follow up and share the 2026 Stuff the Bus toolkit, featuring signage and best practices to help you promote your campaign!

Sign Up Link -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk4Zih1sVOqM-lyDG4bSgyrUW7pud1bQVKSU7DOZy-8ciahQ/viewform

✨ Congratulations to Hoggard High School Graduate Sabya! ✨🎓

Just look at how she’s grown over the years! This CIS began in 2020 when Sabya joined our Freedom School summer program as a Scholar, but in many ways, she became part of the CIS family even earlier, when Student Support Specialist Hilary Ozenbaugh began supporting her younger brother, Semaj, at Alderman Elementary.

After attending two summers of Freedom School, Sabya returned year after year as a youth volunteer, a true reflection of the impact the program had on her.

“I love Freedom School. I’d do it all over again,” Sabya shared. “My favorite part was meeting new people, and I also loved the Step Team.”

At Hoggard High School, Sabya made unforgettable memories as a Hoggard Cheerleader. Ms. Ozenbaugh, Mrs. Keisha, Coach Nixon, and Ms. Love still remember the day she proudly announced she made the squad.

This fall, Sabya will attend North Carolina Central University to study nursing, with dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse. 💙

Congratulations, Graduate! 🎓🔨

Its been a memorable first week at our 21st Century Camp at Burgaw Middle School! 😎

Yesterday students got to experience a career fair rotation, complete with visits from community partners, a financial literacy lesson from CIS Board Member John Whitfield and a class on podcasting. You can see how engaged and inspired our students were with the visitors!

Special thanks to Bank OZK, Cape Fear Community College, Town of Burgaw Police Department, Pender EMS & Fire, Inc , Street Safe, Bank of America, Art of Eden, Pender County Schools, EMP Mobile Welding, and the District Attorney's Office for pouring into our 140 summer camp students!