HAYLEY SINK
TITLE: Executive Director
ORGANIZATION: Access of Wilmington
WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Hayley and her team have worked to rethink quality of life and ways to enhance life no matter your age and ability level. Hayley is an advocate of progress, but what makes her truly remarkable is her ability to balance the passionate need for progress with pragmatic implementation. So often ideals get lost in the loftiness of ambition or emotion, yet Hayley has found a way to craft her existence around execution …
 
Hayley, with a mighty team of 3, produces such amazing works, programs and provides services to and for the local community. You cannot imagine and see the smiles of the individuals as they engage in Project Fit and at Miracle Field. You cannot imagine the strength and courage of Project SOAR Participants as they accomplish tasks unthinkable as they realigned their life with amputation or mobility issues.
 
I have never seen Hayley volunteer her time: she gives her all to the causes that align with productive change. She is not one who believes that progress is inevitable; Hayley is the one who questions ‘what will we do about this’ instead of ‘what will someone else do about this’? There is no doubt in my mind that you feel Hayley’s presence when she walks into a room and well after she has left.”
 
–Sheri Shaw
 
JORDYN APPEL
TITLE: Community Food Access Coordinator
ORGANIZATION: Feast Down East
WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Jordyn Appel, Local Food Access Coordinator, has a passion for environmental consciousness and action. She has applied her formal training and research for sustainability and food access in our community – especially those areas designated as food deserts. She transplanted in Wilmington as a FoodCorps service member with Feast Down East in 2015 and spends her time engaging students, school communities and local partners in garden and nutrition lessons and initiatives.
 
Jordyn mobilizes collaborative efforts to build a more equitable and accessible local food system via mobile farms and garden stands. Feast Down East offers the Healthy Communities Program in low-income neighborhoods and the Farm-to-School Program in high-needs schools.
 
Jordyn collaborates for access to food, resources and up to date lobbying information with Farmers Markets, NHRMC, WAVE, Habitat for Humanity, NHC Health Department, Cape Fear Fair Housing Coalition, Cape Fear Disability Coalition and Brunswick Wellness Coalition. ”
 
 -LeShonda Wallace
 
JOYCE MESSICK
TITLE: Certified Nursing Assistant
ORGANIZATION: Lower Cape Fear Hospice
WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Joyce has been a valued team member for LCFH for over 14 years, providing critical support services to hospice families in Pender County. In that time, she has distinguished herself as a true professional who exhibits the most vital characteristics needed to be successful in her field.
 
I once heard that an indication of success is when the people who know you best, respect you the most. With that in mind, the following is but a few responses of LCFH staff, those who work day-in and day-out with Joyce, when asked about her award ‘worthiness’:
 
‘We work in an agency full of passionate professionals, but few of them can touch Joyce’s abounding passion for quality care.’ ‘Joyce has tenacity! She tackles complicated issues with common sense approaches that consistently result in higher quality care.’ And maybe the most telling statement: ‘Honestly, I want Joyce on my medical team when I am at end of life. She just cares.’”
 
-Mandy O’Hara