Executive Director Patsy Davis, recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine
Professional Awards
Lorrie Ross, Mountain Strong Prevention, Region A Partnership for Children Champion for Children, 2025
Housing NC Award winner for Home Ownership Rehabilitation (2024). Mountain Projects Rehab and Weatherization Program Manager Vivian Bumgarner (second from left) and Assistant Manager Vicky Ferguson (third from left).
North Carolina Community Action Association Hall of Fame awards and standing award. Left to right: Mark Carden, Central Intake, Hall of Fame; Jane Harrison, Get Covered WNC, Hall of Fame; Board President Carl Matthews, Hall of Fame; Mary Jane Messer, Front Desk, Essential Piece Standing Award.
Please join us in congratulating Mountain Projects' own Roberta Houston on receiving the 2025 Essential Piece Award from the North Carolina Community Action Association!
The Essential Piece Award recognizes an associate who consistently goes above and beyond expectations to serve the agency, colleagues, families, and communities.
Since 2008, Roberta has served as an In-Home Aide—but what she truly offers goes far beyond any job description. With nearly two decades of service to Mountain Projects, Roberta has become a lifeline, a comfort, and often a family member to those she cares for. Whether she’s preparing home-cooked meals from her own pantry, mending clothes, delivering food on holidays, or simply offering a listening ear, Roberta gives her all—every single day.
Please join us in celebrating Christie Paxton, our Head Start Director, for being officially inducted into the North Carolina Community Action Association Hall of Fame!
For more than 30 years, Christie has poured her heart into serving the children and families of Haywood and Jackson Counties, championing early childhood education and support through her work with Head Start. From her start as a Center Supervisor in 1994 to her current role as Director, Christie’s journey is one of dedication, compassion, and impact.
