Collaborative Connections: Notes from EENC's Annual Organization Leaders Meeting

Presentation slides used for the meeting featuring different discussion topics

EENC hosted its Annual Organization Leadership Meeting this week, bringing together staff from the Organizational Members for conversation and collaboration. This year's conversation started with participants sharing their Roses, Thorns, and Buds for their programs and organizations this year. We heard stories of celebration around taking on new positions and programs, as well as stories of resilience and return after the impacts of Helene and budget roadblocks. While there were also tales of struggle around turnover and transitions with staff, and limitations on the Americorps program budgeting as well as state budgeting, we also learned that there are so many exciting new programs coming up in 2026 for all of the participants!

Attendees shared challenges and success around staff recruitment and retention: How often to hire seasonal staff? How to keep staff engaged and committed to the organization? What are some successful ways everyone has built connection in their teams?

We also learned about some of the amazing partnerships that are happening across the state, bringing new audiences to each location and/or taking that organization's programs to the communities. Some partners included the TEACCH Autism Program from Chapel Hill, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the NC State Extension offices, and shared contracts with private companies for property use and programming in order to gain additional income.

The final "Hot Topic" included shared updates from the NAAEE Conference, and specifically the conversations around AI and EE: ethics, best practices, and how to use it. There will be more details coming from the NAAEE Affiliate Network after the new year, and in the meantime, EENC is planning a webinar presentation on this topic.

We want to hear from you! Are you working for an EE organziation that could use some collaboration and feedback from likeminded or mission aligned organizations? Please consider joining EENC at the Organizational Membership Level, and be part of the conversation!