Skip to main content

Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Menu
Menu

Greensboro nonprofit helps people express themselves through dance

Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro on September 4, 2025

 The Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet is a nonprofit that offers not only ballet but also jazz, hip-hop, tap and contemporary dance classes, and the school is also using dance to make life better with the help of a community foundation.

“When they come here, sometimes you have people who have self-esteem issues, they won’t make eye contact, or they don’t talk much, and then all of a sudden they just blossom.”

And it’s dancing that helps make that blossoming happen. For more than 15 years, Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet and its school of dance have created dance magic in the Piedmont Triad. Founder and Director Princess Johnson says dance intrigued her when she was a child, even though she says she wasn’t that good at it.

“I did well in all subjects, and I was gifted in many things, but I honestly was not that gifted in dance,” says Johnson. “But for some reason, dance was compelling and calling to me, probably because it was the most challenging thing I had ever faced.”

 

Johnson says dance challenged her to express herself and made her feel seen and heard. Years later, she worked to help other girls feel seen, too, with a dance production called “The Hair Journey.” She says hair is such an important part of how we identify and can impact how we navigate our lives.

“Some of us may choose to wear weaves or some of us may want to be natural, or we want to braid our hair, but those choices are always so significant. So, we try to tell that story of our hair through dance and movement and even hands-on classes and training,” she says. “We’ve done hair braiding classes, art classes that involve creating self-portraits of you and your hair. So, we really want people to learn to love themselves and feel confident in who they are and how they were born.”

A $14,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro helped make “The Hair Journey” happen, but Royal Expressions is about more than dance. It’s also about building healthier lifestyles. In the last year, it has implemented a community garden where students can learn about growing food and making better food choices so their bodies are properly fueled for dance.

“If you would like to start your dance journey with us, either through your child or yourself, we do have a school, and our school, we do train and dance, but our wrap-around services include building community, and also building healthier lifestyles,” says Johnson. “So, we are really heavy on focusing on making sure that people have physical, mental and emotional well-being through our program.”

Royal Expressions offers dance classes for children as young as two. There’s also an adult recreational program. It’s based in Greensboro but is working on plans to expand statewide.

Read the full article

More Than a Meal: A Community Lifeline

Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro on May 28, 2025

Meals on Wheels delivers more than food—it brings dignity, friendship, and hope to our senior neighbors. Senior Resources of Guilford recently purchased a medically tailored meal delivery truck with support from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, the Cone Health Foundation, and the Foundation for a Healthy High Point.

She Built This City teaches women construction, repair skills

Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro on January 30, 2025

More than 80 years ago, Rosie the Riveter became a cultural icon, inspiring women to fill the jobs left by men as they went off to fight in World War II. Now, a new generation of Rosies is teaching young women to fill more jobs traditionally held by men. They’re learning the ins and outs of construction and home repair with an organization called She Built This City, and it’s with support from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.

Future Fund Announces 2024 Grantees

Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro on December 5, 2024

$60,000 in nonprofit grants awarded to support healthcare advocacy

Future Fund, a permanent grantmaking endowment of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro (“Community Foundation”), is pleased to announce its 2024 nonprofit grantees. The Grants Committee of the Future Fund awarded $60,000 to six local organizations that are creating lasting impacts in the community through innovative healthcare advocacy programs.

“Our young professionals are proud to support organizations that are driving critical healthcare advocacy and ensuring equitable access for all.  This year’s grantees embody the passion, innovation, and dedication that define our generation’s commitment to creating healthier, more resilient communities. We are excited to invest in their efforts to make lasting, positive change.”

Below are the nonprofit organizations and initiatives that Future Fund is supporting within its chosen field of interest for 2024: Healthcare Advocacy.

2024 Nonprofit Organizations and Programs Supported by Future Fund

PDY&F Community Garden - $5,000

PDY&F Community Garden is working to address food disparities in East Greensboro.  They are continuing this work by creating their GardenFit program, which Future Fund’s grant award will support.  This community-driven initiative tackles the challenges of food deserts, limited access to recreational opportunities, and high obesity rates by providing residents with tools to adopt healthier lifestyles.

PDY&F will enhance its GardenFit program by expanding access to fresh produce and bolstering its health education and fitness components. This funding will allow the organization to serve more residents, provide additional resources for gardening and exercise, and facilitate educational workshops on nutrition and wellness. GardenFit also emphasizes mental health by offering a stress-reducing space for gardening and exercise while fostering a sense of community and belonging. Through these efforts, PDY&F aims to create sustainable, positive health outcomes in East Greensboro.

Combat Female Veterans Families United - $7,000

CFVF United exists to provide transition services to Combat Female Veterans and their families, supporting life after war. They directly confront the issue and lack of support services to address the unique and multi-layered post-deployment obstacles faced by female veterans.  With funding from the Future Fund, CFVF United aims to expand Breaking the Silence, emphasizing that mental health is a critical component of healthcare.

The project will promote mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and advocate for mental health services as essential healthcare. Through outreach, education, and advocacy, CFVF United will ensure that female veterans, often overlooked in traditional healthcare systems, receive comprehensive and empathetic support.   This initiative integrates mental health into the broader healthcare narrative and championing systemic change to improve outcomes for female veterans.

Community Housing Solutions - $10,000

Community Housing Solutions (CHS) improves the lives of low-income seniors in Guilford County through its Aging Gracefully program, which utilizes the evidence-based CAPABLE model developed by Johns Hopkins University. In partnership with Cone Health and Triad Healthcare Network, the program delivers a comprehensive, personalized approach to senior health and home safety. Over four to five months, participants work with an occupational therapist, a registered nurse, and CHS construction staff to receive health education, training, and home modifications tailored to their needs.

These modifications, such as walk-in showers, access ramps, and handrails, enhance accessibility, prevent falls, and support independent living. The program has been proven to reduce falls by 80%, alleviate depression, and significantly improve participants’ ability to perform daily activities, ensuring they can remain safe and confident in their homes.  This funding will allow CHS to provide critical home repairs and accessibility modifications to additional participants, addressing the growing demand for these transformative services.

Depressed While Black - $10,000

Depressed While Black is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Black psychiatric patients by addressing their unique needs with dignity and care. The organization provides Black-affirming personal care items and transitional support to ensure patients can focus on their recovery and reintegrate into their communities. Through initiatives like the Black Beauty Supply Kits, patients receive all-natural, handmade items such as shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, and shea butter tailored to Black skin and hair textures.

These kits help patients maintain grooming, a critical aspect of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) that influences discharge readiness, particularly in hospitals lacking resources suited for Black patients. Additionally, the organization’s WISH List program supplies essential items to patients and staff, often filling critical gaps for unhoused individuals leaving psychiatric care.  Future Fund’s grant award will allow Depressed While Black to expand their services into the Cone Health system.

Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association - $13,000

The Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association (GCPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children from birth to age three with developmental delays and disabilities, along with their families. Through its core Infant-Toddler Early Intervention Program, GCPA provides comprehensive therapeutic services and early intervention strategies designed to improve developmental abilities and support overall wellness. Operating 180 days a year in alignment with the Guilford County Schools calendar, the program offers personalized, full-day programming led by therapists and classroom staff.

GCPA will use their grant award to help fund their Community-Based Rehabilitative Services Program (CBRS).  This program plays a crucial role in supporting parents as they navigate healthcare networks, understand their child’s diagnosis, and implement developmental strategies in their daily routines. The CBRS program provides targeted, consistent support for families, addressing challenges like behavior management, access to resources, and administrative assistance. By formalizing and expanding this service, GCPA aims to better equip families with the tools and knowledge needed to foster their child’s growth and well-being.

Mustard Seed Community Health- $15,000

Mustard Seed Community Health is the only free-standing nonprofit and charitable clinic in Guilford County.  Mustard Seed Community Health has been dedicated to improving the well-being of residents in the Cottage Grove community of East Greensboro and beyond for the past ten years. Their services extend beyond medical treatment to address critical social determinants of health. Patients receive personalized care from the clinic’s founder, Dr. Beth Mulberry, who works closely with a team to provide counseling, food assistance, wellness checks, and access to community resources.

The clinic’s Health Outreach Team plays a vital role in connecting patients to services such as healthy food boxes, social programs, and educational resources. Their Mobile Food Market, open to the entire community, provides fresh produce and healthy options for residents. Over the years, Mustard Seed has grown significantly, expanding its operations to neighboring apartments to meet the increasing demand for their services. Through their compassionate, community-focused approach, they have made a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable populations in Greensboro.  Future Fund’s grant will allow Mustard Seed to continue expanding their work to meet the needs of Guilford County.