Published March 9, 2026
By LouMecia Staton, PCANC Community Relations Manager
“Where there is no vision, there is no hope.”
― George Washington Carver
For many of us, service is not just what we do, it is how we live our lives daily. It is a part of our very being, and we are continuously looking for ways that we can be an encouragement to those who need a helping hand. What I have found is that you never know where your journey will take you. In the heart of our communities, look closely. You will find someone providing clothes to a neighbor, shelter to those in need, a warm meal, a gentle smile, and much more. Each of us can think of people who have done this for us many times when we have felt down and needed help. In Kinston, North Carolina, we have found someone full of determination and love, serving the citizens of Lenoir County. That person is Hernika Cannon, Founder of Act Now Community Development Corporation, Inc., (Act Now CDC).
During our recent interview with Hernika, we truly felt her heart for people and the community. With a background in housing, one day she asked herself, “Am I helping, or am I hindering?” And with that just as the beautiful butterfly that graces her organization’s website, Act Now CDC was born. The organization has four pillars which also represent the metamorphosis of a butterfly: connect, heal, reimagine, and transform. Initially focusing on housing solutions, the organization soon evolved into serving families holistically while focusing even more on well-being. In 2020 when a violent tragedy impacted her own family, her desire to “create a community where no one has to suffer” deepened her why and her mission.
Act Now CDC has numerous plans to expand the services that they offer in Lenoir County. One of those includes their forthcoming Community Butterfly Garden. They offer several services to the community with their four pillars in mind each step of the way. The Community Connect Initiative (Connect) is the entry point into the Act Now CDC services. As stated on their website, through this initiative, they offer a Parent Connect Support Group, Parent Connect Listening Circle, and a Community Impact Council. Next, there is the Live and Thrive Initiative (Heal), which is designed to foster healing. With this initiative, they aim to bring awareness to the effects of trauma and how families can begin their healing journey. One of the benefits they offer is a “Just Relax” meditation room which helps to operate as a safe space for families to be supported through their healing journey. With this space, they are also able to offer it as a meeting room for the community.
Next is their Transformative Initiative (Reimagine), where their team walks with clients through life transitions, creating opportunities for reflection, and more. Lastly, there is the Visions of Home Initiative (Transform), which as their website states, focuses on “creative, innovative housing options and advocating for affordable, stable housing with tailored support services.” This initiative is especially near and dear to Hernika’s heart as she shared, “Visions of Home represents more than housing; it represents stability, dignity, and the opportunity for individuals and families to rebuild their lives. As we prepare to open the Community Connect Family Resource Center, we are creating a front door for hope in our community, a place where families can find support, resources, and the encouragement to begin again. My heart is for families in Lenoir County to know that no matter what they are facing, they do not have to walk through it alone.”
As she continues to grow her organization and give back to the community in several ways, including with her upcoming Nell Pittman Day Walk-a-Thon Fundraiser and Community Resource Fair, support group sessions and more, Hernika expressed how grateful she is for the support of PCANC. Hernika stated, “PCANC has been incredibly instrumental in helping us strengthen our work and deepen our impact. Through their training, guidance, and statewide network, we have gained knowledge and encouragement that has helped move our vision forward. Their support reminds organizations like ours that we are not alone in this work of building stronger families and healthier communities.”
Through collaborative partnerships coordinated through the Community Impact Council, Act Now CDC continues to bring together organizations, professionals, and community members who share a commitment to improving youth and family mental wellness in Lenoir County. She expressed, “Our focus moving forward is transformation, not just for individuals, but for the entire community. Through the work of the Community Impact Council and our initiatives under Act Now CDC, we are creating spaces where families can heal, grow, and rediscover hope. I hope that the work we do today plants seeds that will transform tragedy and trauma into triumph for generations to come.”
Act Now CDC, we are so grateful for the wonderful work that you are doing in Lenoir County. You can count on us and your Alliance family to support your work all along the way.
Learn more about Act Now Community Development Corporation on their website and visit their Facebook page.