One of the most helpful concepts I encountered during my Teaching in Global Classrooms is the idea of going "Glocal." How do we get students--or even adults, for that matter--to care about a problem that seems far away from their own experience? The answer: show them that many of the issues we face as global citizens are present or have parallels in our own communities.
In Western North Carolina, the devastating and unprecedented flooding in Haywood County in 2021 has shared headlines with a growing homeless population in Asheville. Our natural beauty and resources have led to gridlock and the lack of affordable housing as more people flock to our area. Seeing the problems in our own backyard helps us empathize with variations of those problems elsewhere.
A glocal focus reduces the "us versus them" mindset, engaging our students in making a difference in their own community while gaining support from local organizations, businesses, nonprofits, and governments. To echo the cliche from the pandemic, we are all in this together!
Many of the organizations listed below have both local and global interests. Since Hendersonville, Brevard and Asheville are relatively small cities and towns, I've included a few organizations outside Western North Carolina:
The Rotary Club of Hendersonville The "OG" international group, our Rotarians actively endow educational programs with a global focus. This year I received one of their annual grants to purchase Literature Circle sets of texts representing different international settings, issues and protagonists for use by anyone in our school. They've also been tremendously supportive of our National History Day project-based learning. Their membership represents a broad swath of city leaders, both commercial and non-profit.
Hendersonville Sister Cities The pandemic took a toll on our once-active Sister Cities program in Hendersonville. Let's bring it back! It did a terrific job sponsoring student study-abroad programs, offering interesting lectures, and supporting international programs in our local schools. The group is actively seeking new members. Are you interested?
Asheville Sister Cities The Asheville Sister Cities program is still going strong. There is a membership fee, but they also offer resources and support for their sister cities, including one in Russia
!Hola! Carolina is a site featuring Latino stories with a local mountain focus. Many are written in Spanish, so they would be great resources for local MS and HS Spanish students. Additionally this organization works to empower the Latino community with information, drive change through its Health Equity Collaborative, and celebrate diversity in WNC.
University of North Carolina Global Organizations / Worldview is a public service program at UNC-Chapel Hill which equips K-12 and community college educators with global knowledge, best practices and resources to prepare students to engage in our interconnected and diverse world. Click the link to see a list and description of the variety of resources available through this site, ranging from the arts to public health to geographically specific programs.
Carolina Navigators is a highly selective K-14 service learning program that offers UNC students the opportunity to bring the world to North Carolina's classrooms. They offer a variety of programs, including mailing "culture kits" from over 55 countries l to your North Carolina classroom free of charge. You can sign up for their free e-newsletter on their site.
Finally, be CREATIVE! For example, if your students are looking at sustainable agriculture, clean energy, or access to water, there are a wealth of resources right in our own backyard.