Claudie Burchfield, Prgm Director cmburchfield@charlottediocese.org   Netta McFaddin, Faith Community Coordinator nwmcfaddin@charlottediocese.org Mary Pat Dailey Marriage and Family Therapist mpdailey@charlottediocese.org 27 Hatchett Street Murphy, NC 28906 Ph: 828-835-3535 Fax: 828-835-9794

Operating under the principle that even actions that are seemingly simple and small can be transformed and results magnified and multiplied by God,  the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) seeks to create collaborative, community driven efforts to achieve economic justice in the counties of Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Swain.  Priority is given to those projects and/or activities that promote systemic change.  

In partnership with other regional agencies, the OEO continues to pursue initiatives in:
     - supporting family strengthening   
     - removing barriers to work
     - promoting financial literacy
     - increasing affordable housing opportunities
     - increasing opportunities for small businesses

The Growing Opportunity Small Grants Program is supported by revenues from the Economic Development Fund, a Diocese of Charlotte fund established to support economic development activities in western North Carolina. Since Fall 2000, over $211,000 has been distributed in far western North Carolina.  Annually grants assist the economic development activities of organizations committed to sustainable economic growth in western North Carolina. 

Each year, during the fall, OEO recognizes the hard work and dedication of individuals, organizations and corporations that promote the economic development of families and communities in far western North Carolina.  Categories for nominations include: Leadership, Community Advocacy and Community Development, Empowerment, Sacrifice & Bravery, and Women & Family Awards.  Please contact the OEO office for award nomination forms. 

Far-West Families First (FWFF) is an outreach ministry program in which "faith teams" are matched with Work First Families.  Individuals from church congregations are placed on ecumenical teams and are trained to serve a family transitioning from welfare to work.  Based on the principles of respect, compassion and family empowerment, they establish a covenant relationship for at least one year with a mutual focus on learning and support.  The Faith Community Coordinator builds collaborations between faith communities, social service departments, and families who are seeking to improve their lives in spite of distressed economic conditions.  The Assets Building Long-term Equity (ABLE) Financial Literacy Program offers individuals and families the opportunity to attend financial literacy workshops, fairs, and seminars. 

OEO, a program of the Office of Justice and Peace, is located in the Bishop Begley Center for Economic Development in Murphy.  The center is named for the first bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, Most Reverend Michael J. Begley, who in 1973 became president of the Catholic Committee on Appalachia (CCA).  Under his guidance, the CCA published “This Land is Home to Me” in 1975, a pastoral statement of solidarity with the poor and powerless in Appalachia. 

In November 1997, the pastoral letter "Of One Heart and One Mind" was published.  This pastoral letter by (then) Bishop G. Curlin of Charlotte and (then) Bishop F. Joseph Gossman of Raleigh discussed the disparities in economic opportunities within our state.  Following upon that letter, the Diocese of Charlotte commissioned the Faith in Action Institute to conduct a study of the needs and assets of the far western region of North Carolina.  OEO was founded in 1999 to implement the study’s recommendations for action.  OEO can thus be viewed as the tangible result of the call to action of previous pastoral letters of the Church and the response of the Diocese of Charlotte to that call.