NC Project LEAD

04/13/2026

10/11/2025

10/06/2025

Minority Enterprise Development week or MED week, is underway in the Cape Fear. The event celebrates minority and women-owned businesses in the Cape Fear region. Watch the full interview below.

10/06/2025

10/04/2025

Can’t believe it has already been one week since we hosted the 2025 White Lotus Gala ‼️

Next year’s date is set for Saturday - September 26 2026…more to come‼️❤️

09/30/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Socioeconomic Summit & 2025 White Lotus Gala hosted by NC Project LEAD‼️

Your presence made each event an unforgettable experience. Stay tuned - photos and highlights are on the way‼️

New content available on our story - now‼️

09/20/2025

🚨🚨One week away from our Socioeconomic Summit & White Lotus Gala 🥂
Purchase your tickets here: www.ncprojectlead.org

09/19/2025

NC Project LEAD is happy to announce this year's Socio-Economic and Development Summit mid-morning keynote speaker Kenny Flowers.

Kenny Flowers serves as the Chief Deputy Secretary at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where he leads teams in operational areas and provides strategic leadership for the agency on issues related to economic development and external affairs.

From 2017 to 2025, Kenny served as Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at N.C. Commerce. In that role he provided guidance for the Department in its efforts to support rural communities and help foster rural prosperity. Mr. Flowers led a team of community and economic development professionals that helps communities make the preparations and infrastructure investments needed to increase competitiveness, attract businesses, and spur economic growth. Under his leadership, the Rural Economic Development Division generated more than $715 Million in grant awards that support over 2000 projects and 28,000 jobs throughout the state.

09/18/2025

Thank you WWAY TV & Tomika Jackson for sitting down with Ms. Juanita Ballard Harper, Executive Director and Mrs. Sondra Collins, Board Chair of NC Project LEAD discussing the upcoming White Lotus Gala 🥂

The gala is a black-tie event honoring emerging and lifetime leaders making a difference in education, health, the arts, and more.

The featured evening speaker Maurice “Mo” Green, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction. Green, an undergraduate and law school graduate of Duke University, has served in his current position since January 1, 2025.

Please join us on Saturday, September 27th at the
Wilmington, NC Convention Center ‼️

Purchase your tickets at www.ncprojectlead.org

Executive Director Juanita Parker from NC Project Lead and board member Sonya Collins sat down with Tomika Jackson to discuss The White Lotus Leadership Awards Gala.

09/18/2025

NC Project LEAD is proud to announce one of this year's White Lotus Gala speakers, Maurice "Mo" Green, the former superintendent of public instruction and was the executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

While acting as North Carolina’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, he was committed to ensuring all students in public schools have access to a high-quality education. He strongly champions greater support and resources for public education, striving to create a brighter future for students, educators and communities across the state.

Come participate in this year's White Lotus Gala and meet Mo!
https://www.ncprojectlead.org/2025-white-lotus-leadership-awards-gala