Community Resilience
Rooted in care. Rising together. Rebuilding what matters—side by side.
What do we mean by “Resilience”?
True community resilience means being prepared, rooted in compassion, and agile in the face of adversity. At MCCLC, our commitment to equity and access extends to times of crisis—because when disaster strikes, families need more than just a school; they need a lifeline.
We proudly stand as a member of the Madison Alliance for Resilient Communities (MARC): A regional resilience hub, offering training, infrastructure support, and coordination in times of disaster. MCCLC’s Executive Director also serves on MARC’s board.
Building Resiliency
Crisis Response Model:
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our campus was spared while homes and roads around us were devastated. Within one week, MCCLC reopened its doors—providing safe childcare, hot meals (courtesy of World Central Kitchen), and emotional support for over 150 local children whose schools remained closed. Our middle schoolers even helped distribute meals and organize relief efforts, modeling leadership for younger students.
Lifelong Wellbeing:
Resilience is more than emergency response; it’s prevention. Through nature-connected learning, real food, and emotional literacy, MCCLC addresses mental and physical health at the roots. Our programs help children develop self-regulation, families build food security, and community members form supportive networks—so the next storm, economic downturn, or health crisis doesn’t break us.
Partnerships & Collaboration:
When crisis strikes, MCCLC doesn’t stand alone. We partner with Beacon of Hope for food distribution, World Central Kitchen for emergency meals, and local organizations like Light-En to clear our campus after storms. Together, we ensure rapid, coordinated action—rooted in Appalachian values of neighbor helping neighbor.
Sliding-Scale & Emergency Access:
Well before Helene, local income levels made enrichment and childcare financially out of reach for many families. MCCLC’s sliding-scale tuition and scholarship partnerships (e.g., NC Opportunity Scholarship covering 80% of our families) ensure that no family is turned away—whether in prosperity or in crisis. When recovery strained budgets, we doubled down on affordability so children could continue learning, playing, and healing.
Economic Impact:
By employing local educators, farmers, and artisans year-round—through teaching teams, land stewardship roles, and food distribution—we create stable livelihoods that anchor our rural economy. When adversity hits, these jobs and skills become pillars of regional recovery, fueling local supply chains and community solidarity.
Long-Term Vision:
Our goal is to build a funding model where 70% of our budget comes from secured local grants and donations by aligned funders—so we can focus on service, not survival. This stability will allow us to replicate our proven rural education and resilience model across Appalachia and beyond—connecting communities to their land, their heritage, and each other.
Our Campus
Our Campus contributes to the resiliency of our community by providing space for our K-8 School, Woodson Branch Nature School — where aftercare programs and camps are accessible to all — and our community events & programming. It gave us space to offer support to the community when tragedy struck. Our farm provides both a rich learning environment and food distribution to our community.
