Imagine Pamlico

This article is sponsored by Imagine Pamlico.

Meetings don’t tend to be things people enjoy. They are often long and difficult to sit through. But sometimes they can surprise us — serving as a place where exciting ideas are conceived, planned, and brought to fruition.

Last month, I was invited to an understated, well-planned, meeting of four people with very different backgrounds, asking one very important question: How do we get more money to the people trying to elevate Pamlico County? We all know areas where the county needs help, but rarely do we see enough money needed to do it.

Imagine Pamlico, a nonprofit that is apolitical and non-partisan, wants to know what people in our county need and want so that they can help organizations (who have often survived purely through the efforts of volunteers) get the funds they need to make it stick.

The meeting focused on where to begin. They discussed how they recognize that the day-to-day demands of running small businesses, nonprofits and public entities often leave little time to pursue the funds available in our area.

“Supporting youth, from toddlers to teenagers, impacts the present and shapes the future of our county,” said Katie Shorter from Pamlico’s Small Business Center, summarizing many of the issues Imagine Pamlico hopes to support. “Providing education and support for our functioning nonprofits is important to make sure they can thrive and grow. Our local legacy industries include farming and fishing industries. They will require more workforce support going forward. Our area will continue to be challenged with major weather events; preparation and preventative measures are also essential for our residents’ safety and livelihood.”

The list goes on and on. Their first goal, Pastor Doug Pearsall of Smalls Chapel UCC said, is to continue to listen to folks in the county, to have a clear direction on where to start.

The Imagine Pamlico team, which plans to expand in 2024, has already supported two efforts that help local non-profits—two free seminars facilitated by the Pamlico Small Business Center. One workshop, on collaboration among nonprofits, brought together over 50 representatives of the local nonprofit community. The second workshop, on grant preparation, a vital skill and challenge for nonprofits, was held a couple of weeks ago with over 50 nonprofit organizations attending.

Though only four people participated in the meeting I attended, six people are part of this team of board members.

Tim Taylor, Imagine Pamlico’s President, is a young man from the county who works in business and health care in the public and private sectors. He is also a local business owner, father of three, and serves on a number of boards related to healthcare and education across the state of North Carolina. He seems to be the brains behind much of the organization’s structure.

Beth Bucksot, Imagine Pamlico’s Vice President, is the Pamlico County Director of Planning and Economic Development, a small business owner, and has served on numerous boards and initiatives at the County, Regional and State level. She was born in Craven County and has lived in Pamlico County for over 40 years. Most folks in the county know her as a person of action, a resource for businesses and nonprofits, and a longtime advocate for partnerships that benefit the private and public sector and advance resilient community and economic development.

Douglas Pearsall, Sr., is another well-known and respected local. He grew up in the county, is a veteran, a pastor, the founder of Pamlico Youth Development Communication Organization, Chair of the NAACP, and board member of the Pamlico County Disaster Recovery Coalition.

Katie Shorter, who has had various careers, has lived in eastern North Carolina for over 15 years and is currently the director of the Pamlico Small Business Center (of the Pamlico Community College). Most small businesses and nonprofits in the county know her and her dedication to improving their business. She has been integral to the organization of Imagine Pamlico and its marketing.

Dr. Lenn Murrelle, a world-renowned epidemiologist, consultant, and scientist who is newly retired to Pamlico County, was born in Greensboro but has been emotionally attached to Pamlico County since he started coming to Arapahoe as a child. He has a deep interest in advancing health care options and solutions. He brought the first framework funding to Imagine Pamlico.

Bob Fuller has lived in the county for the past seven years and is known for his work with the Pamlico County Disaster Recovery Coalition, the Pamlico Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Library, and Neuse Neighborhood Network.  

This team’s mission is to work with members of our community to imagine the Pamlico County that people need and want, and then find the way to get there, one issue at a time.

“We are a group of people who love and are passionate about the county in which we live…on a mission to improve the lives of all of the residents of Pamlico County,” said Taylor during the meeting. “And that has lots of forms… (like) supporting local nonprofit organizations to enhance and provide more access across the county as a whole.”

“That incudes relationship building,” added Pearsall. “We need to bring this county together.”

“We are a bit like a sanctuary,” said Taylor, adding on to their mission. “And a hub. We tried to capture this in our mission statement.”

The group’s mission statement reads: “Imagine Pamlico is a non-profit organization of people who believe in Pamlico County and its potential. Imagine Pamlico is a listening body, hearing local people and interested stakeholders express their hopes and visions for Pamlico County. Imagine Pamlico is a group that will come-alongside existing efforts to help create new ways to grow and expand Pamlico County to reach its full potential.”

If you have ideas for Imagine Pamlico, please email: [email protected].

To learn more, visit ImaginePamlico.org

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