April 6, 2026
By LouMecia Staton, Community Relations Manager
“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.”
– Michael J. Fox
There is truly something special about being in community with others. If you have ever had days when you had a desire to be in the company of others, to go out for coffee or a nice walk, for game night or just for conversation, you are not alone. At Positive Childhood Alliance NC (PCANC), we talk a lot about the power of connection and relationships. Through Connections Matter training and presentations, I am sure you’ve heard the phrase that, “a community built on caring relationships helps protect young children from severe stress and promotes healthy brain development.” As we help build healthy, caring relationships together, we will create connected communities and lay a foundation for healthy futures for our children. That is why for our April Community Partner Spotlight, we are featuring The Family Place in Transylvania County.
Taking a look at The Family Place website, you will see that the organization serves as a Family Resource Center (FRC), offering a welcoming place where families can connect, find support, and simply take a breath. Grounded in its mission of strengthening families and building community, The Family Place focuses on building relationships that help families feel safe, connected, and supported. Core offerings include playgroups, parenting education, and Circle of Parents groups — currently offering six groups designed to meet the diverse needs of families, including those navigating special needs, homeschooling, housing instability, and domestic violence, as well as bilingual and open groups for any caregiver.
As a part of the NC Family Resource Center Network, The Family Place serves as a hub for connection not only through its programs, but also through strong community partnerships. Its CONNECT program, a long-standing collaboration that began in 2012 and now includes 11 partner agencies, meets weekly to support over 200 individuals, focusing not only on families in crisis, but also those working to stay stable and avoid crisis. In addition, The Family Place plays a key role in larger community-wide efforts, helping lead collaborative events such as Super Soaked Saturday, which brings together more than 1,200 community members for a day of connection and family engagement.
We recently spoke with Verdie Duron, Children & Family Facilitator at The Family Place. She shared that one of the initiatives they have started is their Family Mix Nights. Verdie expressed that these nights, “are all about laughter, connection, and creating memorable moments together.” Not only are families able to connect with one another, but the children get to enjoy themselves, too! Their team provides a variety of fun activities for the children while the parents and caregivers connect with their community network at the same time. This approach to family support has proven effective in their community. Verdie emphasized, “Family Mix nights have become such a special part of our community. I love seeing new families join each month and familiar families return for each themed event. It’s amazing to watch connections form, support grow, and families feel like they truly belong. We’re excited to make these evenings twice a month so even more families can enjoy this experience.”
Johanna Agathon, PCANC Capacity Building Associate provides support as they facilitate programs like Circle of Parents to their families. She explained, “It has been a pleasure collaborating with The Family Place of Transylvania County, which has done an excellent job fostering parent leadership within its Circle of Parents groups. Parents are intentionally empowered, with some even becoming Facilitators in their own circles. The program is inclusive, offering groups in both Spanish and English, and prioritizes creating a safe, welcoming environment for families. A strong example of this is their monthly family nights, where parents enjoy social connection and fun while their children are cared for, allowing families meaningful time to relax and recharge.” Verdie Duron further emphasized how crucial Johanna’s support for their Circle of Parents facilitation at The Family Place has been. She mentioned, “Meeting with Johanna from PCANC has been crucial to our growth at Family Place. Her encouragement, feedback, and resources help me become a stronger facilitator in every group, and I’m grateful that our team can always reach out to her for guidance—she’s been such a support to all of us.”.
At the helm of their amazing staff, is their Executive Director, Erin Drew. Regarding how proud she is of her team, the services they provide to the community and what is to come, she states, “The heart of the Family Place has always been creating a space where families feel seen, supported, and connected. When families have access to relationships, resources, and a place to belong, it strengthens not only the family unit, but the entire community. I’m incredibly proud of our team and the way they show up each day to walk alongside families, and we’re excited to continue expanding our reach so even more families can experience that sense of connection and support.
To our friends at The Family Place, continue to be a beacon of love in Transylvania County. The care and support you give to families will always be a light in your community. The seeds of hope that you plant every day in the families you serve will continue to blossom and bloom for many years to come.
Learn more about The Family Place on their website and Facebook, and check out their calendar of events.