FCR Head Start & Early Head Start

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

🌟 FCR Community Partner Spotlight: Northern High School Culinary Arts Program

At Families & Communities Rising and FCR Head Start & Early Head Start, we know that strong communities are built through strong partnerships.

Today, we’re proud to highlight the Northern High School Culinary Arts Program, where Chef and Instructor Johnny Rutt is helping students turn classroom learning into real-world experience.

Through hands-on culinary education and work-based learning, students are developing valuable skills, learning from professional chefs, and gaining experience by catering weddings, special events, and community activities.

What makes this partnership especially meaningful is the connection to community. Former students who are now parents have seen today’s students cater events for their families, bringing the impact of the program full circle across generations.

These experiences are about more than learning to cook. They build confidence, introduce young people to career pathways, promote valuable life skills, and show students what is possible for their futures.

At FCR, we’re grateful for community partners like the Northern High School Culinary Arts Program who help us strengthen families, create opportunities, and build thriving communities.

Partnership in action. Community impact. Opportunities for the next generation.

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

Today was a special day for Families & Communities Rising as we celebrated the Grand Opening and Dedication of Mathers Academy for Young Learners in Durham! The celebration included the official ribbon cutting, tours of the new Academy, and the planting of a Legacy Tree in honor of Mike Mathers.

There is something powerful about seeing a vision become reality. Mathers Academy represents an investment in our youngest learners, their families, and the future of our community.

I was honored to be a part of today’s celebration and proud of the work FCR continues to do to educate, empower, and create opportunities for children and families.

Congratulations to the entire FCR team, Board, partners, supporters, and everyone who helped make this vision possible.

The doors are open. The work continues. And the impact is just beginning!

08/28/2026

Today was a special day for Families & Communities Rising and FCR Head Start & Early Head Start as we celebrated the Grand Opening and Dedication of Mathers Academy for Young Learners in Durham! The celebration included the official ribbon cutting, tours of the new Academy, and the planting of a Legacy Tree in honor of Mike Mathers.

There is something powerful about seeing a vision become reality. Mathers Academy represents an investment in our youngest learners, their families, and the future of our community.

Congratulations to the entire FCR team, Board, partners, supporters, and everyone who helped make this vision possible.

The doors are open. The work continues. And the impact is just beginning!

08/26/2026

Our Families & Communities Rising and FCR Head Start & Early Head Start team came together for pre-service, focused on preparing, learning and strengthening our collective commitment to the children and families we serve.

Every training, conversation and moment of collaboration reminded us that no matter our role, location or program, the mission belongs to us all.

One Mission. One Standard. One Impact.

Here’s to a school year filled with purpose, partnership and impact!

08/17/2026

True partnership goes beyond providing a service. It means listening, collaborating and meeting families where they are.

Families & Communities Rising and FCR Head Start & Early Head Start is proud to partner with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina to strengthen nutrition services that begin with our youth and extend to the entire family. From translating recipes into the languages spoken by FCR families to making healthy food and nutrition education more accessible, this partnership is creating meaningful impact across our communities.

Check out this video featuring Belen Rogers, Community Nutrition Manager with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, as she highlights the power of this valued partnership.

07/29/2026

At Families & Communities Rising and FCR Head Start & Early Head Start, family and community aren’t just part of what we do…they’re at the heart of everything we do.

When families come together, children thrive, relationships grow stronger, and communities become more connected. That’s why events like our Family Fun Fest matter. They create opportunities to laugh together, build lasting memories, and strengthen the bonds that help families succeed.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to be part of the FCR family. Together, we’re building stronger families, stronger communities, and brighter futures.

07/25/2026

Today we celebrate the power of partnership.

Families & Communities Rising is proud to partner with Fifth Third Bank and Financial Center Manager Alexandra Lema as we continue creating pathways to opportunity for the families we serve.

At FCR, we know that true upward mobility extends beyond meeting immediate needs. It means ensuring families have access to financial education, trusted banking relationships, wealth-building opportunities, and the resources needed to achieve long-term stability and success.

Our community partners make that vision possible. Together, we are breaking down barriers, expanding access, and investing in every aspect of a family’s growth because every family deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you, Alexandra Lema and the entire Fifth Third Bank team, for your commitment to strengthening our community and helping families build brighter futures.