Supporting ALICE in North Carolina and Beyond: Reflections from the National ALICE Summit

Cary, NC - Across North Carolina, ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households continue to make invaluable contributions to our communities while struggling to afford essentials such as housing, childcare, healthcare, and transportation. As the cost of living rises, the lived experiences of ALICE families reflect both the challenges and the resilience found across our state.

David, Sally, and I kicked off the new year at the National ALICE Summit. The summit provided a powerful space for leaders, innovators, funders, and community partners to learn from one another and to strengthen our collective commitment to improving stability for ALICE families nationwide. Below is a recap of the key learnings that can help inform and inspire our work here in North Carolina.

Key Learnings from the ALICE Summit

1. The ALICE Movement Is Growing—And Gaining Momentum
   
   1. The Summit highlighted how the ALICE movement is expanding, with hundreds of leaders from nonprofit organizations, corporations, foundations, government, and United Ways coming together to strategize around solutions. There are currently 44 states that have joined the movement. We have a renewed commitment to bringing ALICE champions together in North Carolina to deepen our impact and ensure everyone is thriving. If you are interested in joining our ALICE Champions task force please contact Sally Gordon, sgordon@unitedwaync.org.
2. Peer Collaboration Drives Innovation
   
   1. Throughout the Summit, United Ways across the country shared replicable strategies making a real difference in the lives of ALICE families. This included innovations in housing stability, childcare access, workforce development, and financial coaching. David, Sally, and I joined our friends from United Way of Greater Charlotte and United Way of Greater Greensboro in extensive peer learning sessions from across the country who are uplifting ALICE individuals and families through innovative partnerships, policies, and programs. Sharing ideas helped us see how similar challenges show up differently in each region—and how United Ways can scale solutions when we team up and stay rooted in what communities need.
3. Data Continues to Be Our Strongest Catalyst for Change
   
   1. Dr. Stephanie Hoopes, National Director for United for ALICE, reinforced that ALICE data remains essential to accurately describing financial hardship and driving evidence-based policy change. Summit discussions centered on leveraging local data to advocate for state-level improvements in policy, workforce systems, childcare funding, and safety net programs. We are looking forward to engaging our local United Ways in conversations around a policy agenda informed by the ALICE report.  

What This Means for North Carolina  

North Carolina is home to hundreds of thousands of ALICE households. The Summit’s insights align directly with our statewide priorities at United Way of North Carolina:

• 211 and Closed-Loop Referrals: Our expanded capabilities are positioning North Carolina as a leader in coordinated access systems. 
• Workforce Partnerships: Opportunities exist to deepen partnerships with employers and workforce boards to support career advancement for ALICE workers. 
• Childcare and Early Learning Investments: There is growing statewide momentum to support childcare workforce stabilization, expand subsidy access, and advocate for sustainable funding. 
• Data-Driven Advocacy: ALICE data continues to be a powerful tool for legislative engagement and community education.

Moving Forward Together

The ALICE Summit reaffirmed that this work—our work—is both urgent and transformative. Across the country, United Ways are demonstrating what is possible when communities unite around the shared belief that every family deserves the opportunity to thrive.

North Carolina is poised to continue leading. By leaning into collaboration, leveraging data, and amplifying the voices of ALICE families, we can build a more equitable, resilient, and prosperous state. United Way of North Carolina has a goal to present the ALICE data to every county in our state.

We know many of our local United Ways have already shared this information within their communities. If you would like for United Way to present ALICE in your community please contact Sally Gordon, Director of Mission Advancement, sgordon@unitedwaync.org.  

I look forward to working with each of you as we continue advancing solutions for North Carolina’s ALICE households and strengthening our statewide movement.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

The Impact of Our NC 211 Program to Help North Carolinians Thrive

Cary, NC - Every year on February 11, we come together with colleagues nationwide to celebrate 211 Day. This special occasion honors the incredible dedication of our team by opening our doors to the community. We host an Open House, inviting friends from all over the state to experience firsthand the breadth and impact of our programs and operations.

If you could not make it to our Open House, I’m excited to share some Fun Facts about NC 211:

• In 2025, NC 211 answered over 326,500 calls, connecting people to the help they needed.
• The average wait before speaking with a call specialist? Less than 30 seconds.
• Our NC 211 Community Resource Directory boasts over 16,000 resources, carefully vetted and updated throughout the year.
   

There’s a common misconception that 211 is simply a phone system. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard, “Oh, we don’t need to invest in just a phone system,” and how disappointing it is when folks have this impression. Because 211 is so much more than that. For someone in crisis, NC 211 is often the first step toward hope, a human connection, a compassionate voice, and real solutions. It’s about access, support, and guiding people through some of life’s toughest moments.

What truly sets NC 211 apart is our deep connection to communities across North Carolina. Powered by local United Ways, we’re rooted in the neighborhoods we serve and understand the resources available better than anyone. NC 211 data enable local United Ways to advocate for community needs, identify service gaps, and share the real story of what is happening on the ground. Our local United Way teams are made up of North Carolinians, your neighbors, who are committed to making a difference. This unique model is why our services stand out in the industry.

Time and again, I hear, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a directory of all the health and human services organizations in our community?” Or, “Can we use your resource directory for our own project?” It makes me cringe a little each time. Why reinvent the wheel when we can collaborate? Instead of duplicating efforts, let’s partner and invest in NC 211 to make an already outstanding resource even better.

 During our Open House, we heard comments like:

• “I had no idea the depth of work you all are doing.” 
• “Your resource directory is great. The most comprehensive we’ve ever seen!” 
• And perhaps most meaningfully: “Why doesn’t everyone know about all the work you are doing and how great this program is for North Carolina?”

When you’re immersed in this work every day, it’s easy to forget that many people still do not know about NC 211 or its full impact. That’s why we cherish every opportunity to meet new faces, share our story, and demonstrate the difference our team makes. We want 2-1-1 to become a household number in North Carolina, and we know that it takes awareness, advocacy, and your support.

Here’s how you can help:

• Tell friends and colleagues about NC 211 and our Community Resource Directory. 
• Connect with us on social media (follow, like, and share our posts!) 
• Invite us to speak to your networks or community groups.

Our resource directory is a true treasure. A curated, meticulously maintained database that is best in class statewide and nationally. We’re proud to say it stands up to any directory out there, and we work tirelessly to keep it that way. Delivering this service requires a dedicated team: call specialists available 24/7/365, resource coordinators supporting local United Ways and ensuring accuracy, supervisors maintaining quality, and leadership driving innovation and sustainability. That’s why when others seek to use our directory, we encourage investment, so we can maintain and expand this vital work.

I invite you to make a donation to honor the hundreds of individuals we serve every single day. Or if you are interested in learning more about our partnership opportunities, please reach out to me, bpruittfletcher@unitedwaync.org.

In addition, please check out our recently released 2025 Annual Report. The report provides a detailed and data-driven look into the impact we've made for North Carolinians across all our programs, including NC 211.

Together, we can keep building a stronger, more connected North Carolina, one call, one resource, one community at a time.