WS Chronicle

In the heart of North Carolina, where political and economic landscapes are shifting, there is a woman and organization that stands at the forefront of empowerment and advocacy for Black communities. Advance North Carolina, also known as Advance Carolina, is a statewide, independent, Black-led 501 C (4). The organization was established on July 1, 2014, as an extension of the North Carolina Black Alliance. Advance Carolina has dedicated itself to advancing the interests of the Black community through powerful issue advocacy, strategic candidate alignment, and grassroots mobilization. 

Kay Brown is Advance Carolina’s organizing director. “Our mission is to educate and mobilize Black progressive people to take charge in their communities, fostering inclusivity. We’re deeply committed to community-based political solutions, and we understand that this requires an intergenerational approach. It’s essential to bring people together across generations because we can’t solve a problem if we can’t even agree on what the problem is. And even identifying that takes work,” said Brown. 

Advance Carolina has a strategy on how to tackle those challenges. “It’s been difficult for me as well, but I’m fortunate to have a mentor within our community. I want to give a big shoutout to Dr. Powell. She was one of the people organizing and out there during the Greensboro massacre. From my perspective, solving these issues starts with people admitting what they don’t know and making a real commitment to finding those who do. It’s about working in deep collaboration, with mutual respect at the core,” said the Reidsville, North Carolina native.  

She added, “Building that culture internally directly influences how we engage in the broader community. Culture is key, and part of that culture isn’t just about age or race, but also about class. Even within my own cohort, people from different class backgrounds often view problems differently, and those differences matter.”  

Kay’s passion for helping others was instilled by the elders who raised her. As she entered the field of community advocacy, that passion grew into a deep understanding of the challenges many communities face. The wisdom and values her elders taught her shaped her approach, making her a compassionate and effective advocate. Through their teachings, she learned the importance of listening, understanding diverse perspectives, and finding solutions that uplift the voices of the underserved communities.  

But stepping into the world of social justice as a young Black woman who was resilient, and full of fresh ideas; they weren’t ready for her boldness and tenacity, “I was always told, ‘You’re amazing, you can do anything.’ They encouraged me to pursue any profession I wanted. Then, when I got into social justice work, I started running into institutions that didn’t really seem to value what young people had to offer. There was this big generational divide, with older folks often dismissing our ideas and telling us to ‘sit down,’ and that we didn’t know enough or weren’t experienced enough.”  

That’s when Kay realized the importance of creating space for young adults, specifically millennials. “We had to organize with each other, build solidarity, and challenge institutions in a way that empowered us,” she said. 

“Now, as I’ve gotten older, it’s a bit wild to see that millennials aren’t the ‘new kids on the block’ anymore. The landscape has definitely shifted, but the mission remains – to continue organizing and uplifting the voices of younger generations in the ongoing fight for social change.” 

Kay’s resume proves that faith, hard work and resilience will overcome any obstacles. She served as president of the Greensboro Chapter of The NAACP from 2022-2024, 2nd vice president from 2021-2022, Young Adult Committee chair 2017-2022. She has also served on the Greensboro Criminal Advisory Commission for the city of Greensboro, where she advocated for police reform and collaborated with committee members to resolve grievances submitted about the Greensboro Police Department. Brown also serves on the board of directors for the Interactive Resource Center, advocating to eradicate inadequate housing for Greensboro residents and Jalloh’s Upright Services, supporting our immigrant and refugee neighbors.  

The once overlooked, strong, bold, and beautiful young Black woman has risen to become a powerhouse in the Triad communities. Her resilience and determination have transformed her into a force to be reckoned with, inspiring others and redefining what it means to lead with power and grace. I was truly in awe of Kay’s ability to balance advocacy with warmth and softness, while also embodying rigor and empowerment. It’s not easy to combine these qualities, but she does it effortlessly. 

“When people talk about the poor, they’re talking about us, and that includes when I was a very young adult raising my son. It’s always been about wanting things to be better for the next generation than they were for me. At 36, people don’t always think about that, but I think about it every day. I think about my neighbors, the people in rural eastern North Carolina, and how we can ensure they don’t face the same difficulties and obstacles in achieving what’s supposed to be the American Dream, for themselves and their families. 

“Being in a leadership position with this background has completely changed how decisions are made, how resources are allocated, how we prioritize projects, and who we bring in to help make those projects happen. That lived experience, there’s nothing like it. Holding onto that truth has the power to change the game for others, even if they don’t know it was you who pushed for it.” 

Some of the upcoming projects Kay and Advance Carolina are working on in their Advancing series, with two main parts: Advancing Education and Advancing the Economy.  

“We’re inviting community members to guide us as an organization through these discussions. We recognize that as an organization, we can’t just define the problems and then come up with solutions in isolation. We need to be intentional about bringing in people from all walks of life, not just the elected officials, the pastors everyone listens to, or the big names in the community, but also the everyday people,” said Kay.  

I asked Kay to share what she wants us to take away from this article, and her response was just as inspiring as the words of any Black historical figure I’ve read about in my 61 years of life. “What I hope people take away is that you don’t need a million degrees to be the most eloquent or even be a pastor. You don’t have to be perfect or sinless to show up in this work. What you really need is genuine passion. A passion to care for yourself, your family, and your neighbors. If people can just show up, doing what they can, not only for themselves but also to uplift others, that’s what really matters. When we all come together with that mindset, we, as a community, can achieve the things we truly desire.”  

My Phenomenal Person and Organization of the Week are Kay Brown and Advance Carolina. For more info, email Kay at kay@advancecarolina.org or visit advancecarolina.org.