Bertie Attainment Coalition Named 2026 Champion for Attainment

RALEIGH, NC -- myFutureNC has named the Bertie Attainment Coalition a 2026 Champion for Attainment in North Carolina, recognizing the coalition's community-driven approach to expanding postsecondary attainment and connecting residents to credentials aligned with high-demand jobs.

The Bertie Attainment Coalition is a cross-sector partnership aligning K-12 education, Martin Community College, Roanoke-Chowan Community College, workforce agencies, local government, and nonprofit organizations across Bertie County. Guided by clear, measurable goals, the coalition works collaboratively to strengthen education-to-employment pathways for youth, opportunity youth, and adult learners.

"Real progress in educational attainment happens at the community level," said Cecilia Holden, President and CEO of myFutureNC. "The Bertie Attainment Coalition is proving that when local leaders use data to align employers and student outcomes, they can remove barriers to completion and build pathways to real opportunity."

Dr. Murray Williams, President of Roanoke-Chowan Community College, and Dr. Tabitha R. Miller, President of Martin Community College, share the importance of working together and prioritizing students' needs over service area boundaries.

Dr. Williams and Dr. Miller emphasized the collaboration behind the initiative:

"From the very beginning, what united us in forming the Bertie Attainment Coalition was a shared concern for the barriers facing students and adults in Bertie County, barriers that often made the path to a diploma, college enrollment, or a good career feel confusing or out of reach. Our partners across education, workforce, and community organizations recognized that people here weren't lacking talent; they lacked a coordinated system of support. By coming together at the same table, we've shifted from working in silos to working side by side, sharing data, aligning resources, and building real relationships. Now, when someone hits a roadblock, they have an entire network ready to help them move forward. That transformation in how we collaborate is making all the difference."

Through career guidance, work-based learning, and reengagement strategies, the coalition supports learners at multiple stages of their educational journey. Its coordinated, data-informed approach helps ensure residents can access and complete credentials that align with regional workforce needs.

The recognition was announced during myFutureNC's 2026 State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina event, which highlighted progress toward the state's goal of ensuring 2 million North Carolinians hold a degree or industry-valued credential by 2030. Champions for Attainment are honored for advancing strategies that connect learning to workforce needs and expand opportunity for learners of all ages.

As a 2026 Champion for Attainment, the Bertie Attainment Coalition exemplifies how community-driven alignment and shared accountability can strengthen pathways to completion and support long-term workforce growth.

Watch the Bertie Attainment Coalition 2026 Champion for Attainment video.

About Bertie Attainment Coalition

The Bertie Attainment Coalition is a community-driven partnership aligning K-12 education, Martin and Roanoke-Chowan Community Colleges, workforce agencies, local government, and nonprofit organizations to expand postsecondary attainment across Bertie County. Guided by clear, measurable goals, the coalition strengthens pathways for youth, opportunity youth, and adult learners through career guidance, work-based learning, and reengagement strategies.

About myFutureNC

myFutureNC is a statewide nonprofit organization focused on educational attainment and is the result of cross-sector collaboration between North Carolina leaders in education, business, and government. Its mission is to prepare North Carolina for the future by empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and ensuring the state's long-term economic viability.