UNC Asheville Hosts
SPRING 2025 WNC LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
Event Information
March 14, 2025 | UNC Asheville - Blue Ridge Suites
Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804
Directions and Parking Instructions
WNC Healthcare Workforce Impacts Panel
Building a Foundation for the Future - Strategies for a Sustainable Childcare Solution in WNC
The WNC Legislative Caucus is hosted annually by the WNC Health Policy Initiative. These events bring together members of the NC General Assembly, individuals working in policy development and advocacy, regional health and healthcare leaders, and community service organizations to learn about key health policy priorities for Western North Carolinians, make connections, and share their own concerns and questions about these issues.
About This Event
Creating a sustainable childcare system (especially one that can provide stable and reliable services in our more predominantly rural Western North Carolina communities) is not just important—it is absolutely essential for keeping our healthcare systems, employers, workforce, educational institutions, and other vital economic drivers functioning. Childcare teachers are the workforce behind the workforce, and the foundation-builders for Western North Carolina’s next generation of talent, skills, and leadership.
In the spirit of Pi(e) Day (3.14.25), this event served up conversations focused on policies and strategies to create a bigger economic pie that everyone can share and benefit from through sustainable long-term investments and solutions in childcare. As our region recovers and rebuilds from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene, we have an unparalleled opportunity to “bake in” the foundations of a sustainable childcare system strong enough to support a stable, growth-poised workforce and a vibrant regional economy ready to usher in a new era of success for Western North Carolina.
Panel 1: WNC Healthcare Workforce Impacts
Maintaining our critical healthcare workforce is vital to ensuring the health, resilience, and productivity of our communities and residents, and to support the ongoing success of some of our region’s large and small employers. Panel members from three of our region’s largest health systems will be on hand to share insights, experiences, bright spots and challenges they’re facing as a result of the ongoing childcare crisis.
Panel 2: WNC Economic Impacts
Western North Carolina’s economic growth and development depend on our region’s capacity to support a stable, agile, productive workforce. Access to affordable, reliable childcare is a critical factor in ensuring that all Western North Carolina residents can find jobs, build careers, support the success of regional businesses and employers, and in all ways contribute to and participate in a vibrant, thriving regional economy. Panel members representing regional Chambers of Commerce and an early childhood education provider/employer will present insights, data, and stories illustrating the impacts of childcare shortages on our workforce and economy.
Early Childhood Event Partners
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The WNC Early Childhood Coalition is a coalition of early childhood-focused organizations, child care teachers, parents of young children, and advocates collaborating on policy advocacy to improve access to and quality of Early Childhood Care and Education programming in 18 western NC counties.
WNC ECC collaborates with statewide organizations on shared policy interests and works to represent western counties’ priorities at the state level. The coalition supports local providers and families in building grassroots skills and leadership for these issues across the region.
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The nonprofit YMCA of Western North Carolina strengthens local communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Founded in 1889, the YMCA of WNC engages more than 100,000 people – regardless of age, income, or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the region’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support the community. It does this through seven fitness facilities, dozens of program sites, and YMCA Camp Watia. As the state’s largest provider of licensed school-age childcare, it gives more than 1,000 children a day the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
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Verner Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency providing high quality, affordable early care and education to over 300 children – birth to five years old – throughout Buncombe County, North Carolina. Through holistic learning environments, we strive to help build a community where every child and family has the opportunity to thrive.
Opening Speakers
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Greg Borom
Director
WNC Early Childhood Coalition -
Kimberly van Noort, PhD
Chancellor
UNC Asheville -
Susan Mims, MD, MPH
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Dogwood Health Trust -
William Hathaway, MD
Chief Executive Officer
Mountain Area Health Education Center -
Ereka Williams, Ph.D.
Vice President – Education
Dogwood Health Trust
WNC Healthcare Workforce Impacts Panel
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Nathan Ramsey, JD
Executive Director
Land of Sky Regional Council -
John Bryant, EdD
Vice President, Operations & Support Services,
UNC Health Pardee -
Renee Klimkiewicz, MEd
Human Resources Director
Mission Health -
Victoria Dunkle
Director of Communications
AdventHealth Hendersonville
WNC Economic Impacts Panel
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Kit Cramer
President and CEO
Asheville Chamber of Commerce -
Marcia Whitney, MIA
President & CEO
Verner Center for Early Learning -
David Jackson
President and CEO
Boone Area Chamber of Commerce -
Danielle Stilwell
HR Development Recruitment Manager
Columbia Forest Products
Event Resources
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2025 WNC HPI Legislative Summit on Childcare Opening Slides
March 14, 2025, Opening presentation by Greg Borom (Director, WNC Childcare Coalition)
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Event Handout
March 14, 2025, WNC Health Policy Initiative
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WNC Childcare Summit Minutes and Panel Notes
March 25, 2025, WNC Health Policy Initiative
Learn More: Regional Reports and Studies
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2025 WNC HPI Legislative Summit on Childcare Opening Slides
March 14, 2025, Opening presentation by Greg Borom (Director, WNC Childcare Coalition)
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2025 Child Care Policy Agenda Concept Paper
Spring 2025, WNC Early Childhood Coalition
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Addressing North Carolina’s Child Care Crisis: Eleven Strategies to Expand Supply & Support for Working Families
Feb 2025, NC Chamber Association
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Untapped Potential in NC: How Childcare Impacts North Carolina’s Workforce Productivity and the State’s Economy
Aug 2024, U.S. Chamber Foundation, in partnership with the NC Chamber Foundation and NC Child
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CandL Listening Session Analysis (Western Counties): Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Childcare from the Voices of Parents and Providers Across 13 Counties in Western North Carolina
Sept 2023, The Link Group, in collaboration with NC Child’s Care and Learning Initiative (CandL) and Dogwood Health Trust
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T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program: Supporting ECE Workforce Development, Education, Compensation and Retention in Western North Carolina
June 2023, Dogwood Health Trust and the Child Care Services Association
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Early Care & Education in Western North Carolina: An Overview to Better Serve Young Children, Families and Programs
June 2023, Dogwood Health Trust and the Child Care Services Association
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Watauga County Childcare Snapshot
Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Other Resources
EdNC
Hard times on top of hard times’: Lessons learned from families and child care providers following Helene by Jessica Wakeman, January 13, 2025
What to watch in child care during the 2025 legislative session by Liz Bell, February 13, 2025
The Rising Cost Of Childcare March 20, 2025 (NPR 1A Podcast)
Building a Foundation for the Future - Strategies for a Sustainable Childcare Solution in WNC (WNC Health Policy Initiative)
When a hurricane washes away a region’s child care system by Sara Murphy, March 24, 2025 (The Hechinger Report)
Articles and News
Audio and Video
The Childcare Crunch: How NC’s Childcare Crisis is Putting Families and Businesses Between a Rock and a Hard Place - WNC Health Policy Podcast Ep. 9
This audio feature was produced by WNC HPI’s audio producer Andrew Rainey in conjunction with the Western North Carolina Early Childhood Coalition. In it, Andrew Rainey talks with Greg Borom (WNC Early Childhood Coalition), Susan Rotante (Parent Advocate), Samantha Cole (NC Department of Commerce) and Neil Harrington (NC Child) to explore the past, present and potential future of childcare in Western North Carolina.
Listen at the link above, or via Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Take Care examines North Carolina’s child care crisis through the voices and stories of the state’s families, child care providers and teachers, and business and community leaders. It provides firsthand accounts of how child care impacts everyone, what is at stake if it is not fixed, how communities are trying to address the crisis, and the need to work together to solve the crisis. Take Care was produced by was produced by Neimand Collaborative and SeeBoundless and funded by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Take Care. Learn more at TakeCareNC.com.
Take Care was recently awarded a Platinum Viddy award, an international competition which recognizes outstanding achievement in video and digital production skills.