Local nonprofit sets a new benchmark for unhoused people—and other cities are taking notice.
Oak City Cares has a firm vision that no person should experience homelessness alone. And the organization has gone above and beyond to make that a reality, establishing a one-stop shop for individuals to build trusting relationships and connections to coordinated services necessary to reestablish a home.
Yet, while Oak City Cares has garnered attention across the country for this innovative model, the nonprofit hub is so much more than just a service center. For the guests who come through its doors, Oak City Cares is family.
The local org’s emphasis on collaboration—combined with a heart for what Executive Director Kathy Johnson calls “radical hospitality”—is its secret sauce. Beyond providing meals daily and covering basic needs, Oak City Cares boasts an always-evolving care coordination program incorporating 25+ partner providers in the community. Read: Instead of having to trek all over town, individuals can have all their needs—from primary health care and mental health services to veterans’ services, food stamps, employment training and more—addressed “effectively and efficiently in one location,” she explains.
“Maybe people don’t need all of those things; maybe they just need some,” continues Johnson, “I think what is so subtle—but is the most important thing we do—is connecting [people] to the right service in the right order.” She adds that for a population who can often be given the run-around and easily loses trust, this is “life-changing.”
Today, as everyone grapples with the ripple effects of inflation, Oak City Cares is experiencing a staggering level of growth due to an increasing demand for its services, and is expected to quadruple its numbers of people served from 1,500 in 2021–22 to 6,000 by the end of 2024.
Despite the challenges of these rising numbers, Johnson is confident her team, alongside Oak City Cares’ ever-growing list of community partners, can continue to meet the needs of their guests—“an amazing group of people who touch my heart every single day,” she shares. And not only will they meet the needs, but they will meet them in a way “that is still consistent with who we are,” says Johnson. “We will continue to know people by name and know their stories and become even a surrogate family. It will just be a much larger family now.”
To wit, Oak City Cares is leading the charge nationwide. Already, the org has been contacted by cities across the state—as well as Florida and even Alaska—that were inspired to rethink the way individuals experiencing homelessness are cared for.
“We are eager to figure out how we can collaborate and share funding to do things and do it better. That lends us to be a model for others. Everyone comes together here to serve our neighbors, which is just awesome. … I love that we get to be the convener of that.”
Form Furniture debuts office products for the future at Interior Elements
By Kelsie Barton
When, where and how we work has transformed drastically in our post-COVID world. (WFH, WFO, WFA… who can keep up?). And no one is more aware of the shift than Jonathan Johnson, CEO and founder of Form Furniture.
“I believe the time is right to offer a new company that is more in step with how office work and design is changing—and, critically, is more in step with the generations and professionals affecting those decisions,” says Johnson. “After working in all sides of the design industry for over 20 years, now is the time to offer something more simple, more authentic, more beautiful and at better prices.”
Enter Form, a line of modern furniture for both home and office that champions effortless style, comfort and truly affordable luxury. Johnson and his team launched the company in fall 2023, partnering with Interior Elements as the exclusive dealer partner throughout most of the Southeast, including Raleigh.
“Raleigh is a huge focus for us as it has such a growing business landscape and thriving community,” Johnson shares. “Not only are we thrilled to work with Interior Elements, but we get to work with their team and their customers all over the South, including both North and South Carolina.”
The collab with the fellow industry leader known for delivering remarkable workplace interiors resulted from Johnson’s hometown connection. “They started in Birmingham, which is where I’m from and worked earlier in my career,” the design pro reveals. “Watching Interior Elements grow and thrive was always inspiring to me.”
When he began developing Form, Johnson wanted to ensure he was not making decisions in a silo, so he called his friends at Interior Elements for their perspective. “Their support and feedback were invaluable to me and naturally turned into a larger conversation for the future of our relationship,” he says.
As expected, that relationship has only continued to blossom. “Our team is excited to work with Jonathan and his team,” adds Merritt Atkins, a Raleigh native who works in market development for Interior Elements. “[Johnson] said, ‘Furniture doesn’t have to be hard’—and he’s right, it should be an enjoyable experience for designers and clients. At Interior Elements, our mission is to provide an exceptional client experience while making a difference in the world around us. Form fits right in with that mission.”
As such, Raleighites can now find Form’s sleek, adaptable high-quality products locally at Interior Elements’ Hillsborough Street locale—think the attractive and oh-so comfortable On Board conference chair, or the Stash cart, which serves as a stunningly simple and spacious storage solution. “I really wanted to include storage pieces in our line that are fresh but familiar—and not too trendy,” says Johnson of the Stash series, his personal favorite. “They are simple, with clean lines, minimal materials and are incredibly versatile. These designs will stand the test of time—and at a great price.”
As Form expands its distribution and business partners across the country (“I’m even in talks with some NC-based manufacturers for our new collections,” hints Johnson), the company will remain on the cutting-edge of workplace design through its philosophy of “furniture made simple.”
As a consumer and designer myself, I want quality, beauty and simplicity at a price I can afford,” he maintains. “Clients and designers who are working in the contract/commercial space want the same thing.”
“It’s a very cool project,” says Tanabe, who was brought on by local restaurant guru Anthony Rapillo. When it came to the chef’s vision, “the No. 1 thing I told Anthony was, ‘Hey, we need to make our own pasta from scratch,’” he shares. But not just any old pasta: Rather than churning out “traditional spaghetti or linguine,” Tanabe reveals, “we’re going to be making rooster combs and radiatori—different styles of pasta you don’t see that often here in Raleigh.”
Indeed, Flour & Barrel will flaunt Italian fare—Tanabe-style. “I’m not Italian, everybody knows,” says the culinary powerhouse. “What I’m doing, it’s my take on Italian food. If you ask me to come to your house and cook some Italian, well, I’m going to cook it, but I’m still going to use my flavor profile.” In fact, Tanabe wouldn’t even go as far as calling Flour & Barrel an “Italian” restaurant: “We are a place serving pasta—really good pasta,” he emphasizes.
To wit, Tanabe shares that 90% of the restaurant’s menu is cooked in a giant pizza oven, giving it that perfectly imperfect “rustic” flair. “We’re going to be roasting fish and chicken in there, and braising meatballs,” he explains. And don’t sleep on the cocktails: Tanabe took advantage of the craft brewery on-site to concoct several creative sips combining beer with spirits like gin and amaro.
Beyond his restaurant work, Tanabe is in the early stages of writing a cookbook. “It’s separated by moments in my life—like when you’re happy, when you want to entertain people… when you’re going through depression,” he explains. By showing “how different times in my life have affected my cooking style,” Tanabe hopes to create something that’s equal parts fun and relatable.
And, as if he wasn’t busy enough already, the celeb chef has a number of projects in the works in Chicago—from a partnership with iconic bakery Bittersweet to the Windy City debut of his fast-casual Mexican kosher eatery Mexikosher (also on the horizon: a Chinese kosher joint in Chi-town). He’s even got his sights set on Atlanta, which he’s currently eyeing as a potential destination to reopen High Horse, his first Downtown Raleigh venture that shuttered in 2020.
Despite all his jet-setting, Tanabe says Raleigh is home. “My wife and kids told me already, ‘We’re never moving out of Raleigh,’” he shares. “Moving [here] was probably one of the best things we’ve ever done.” … And we couldn’t agree more.
Tanabe answers our burning Qs.
Best local dish or resto you’ve tried lately? Boulted Bread. That bread is just the best bread I’ve ever had. We are lucky to have such a good bakery in Raleigh. The awful part is on Sundays, usually I wake up late and when I get to the bakery they’re almost out of everything.
Go-to summer cocktail? We have amazing watermelons, so I like to juice and cold-press them. … Imagine a whiskey sour, but with a sour watermelon. So, you put watermelon juice, American whiskey, sweet and sour, and a little egg white; shake it; and put it in a martini glass.
Favorite place to be when you’re not working? Believe it or not—cooking. Living in NC, especially in Raleigh, we have an amazing backyard. Living in LA, I didn’t have anything like that. I have seven different grills. I like to smoke; I like to braise—I like to do it all. We do a lot of nontraditional BBQ, so we’ll do a lot of Asian-inspired dishes. … We try to go quite often to the farmers market to see what’s available locally and then just go wild. My kids, my wife, we love doing that.
Dream chef collab? I was able to cook with Brother Luck, Brooke Williamson, Casey Thompson—all these people I see on TV and admire. So that’s a dream I’ve actually accomplished. … And the best thing is, cooking with friends you actually get to learn—you learn real techniques. All these guys on Top Chef are just amazing people to cook with.
One thing still on your bucket list? I want to open a very elegant Japanese restaurant. … I’m working on it.
For Raleighite and self-proclaimed “water baby” Amber Thayer, there’s no place she’d rather be than diving in a lake or splashing in the ocean. “Water is my happy place,” says the former swim instructor, who also served in the Navy for 10 years. “Always has been.”
So when the pandemic hit and she needed an outlet, Thayer channeled her inner Moana and answered the water’s call. At first she debated getting a kayak, but didn’t want to have to lug it around. “Then I found Freedom Boat Club online,” she shares. “I went and talked to them and discovered they would give me all the training—[and] I don’t have to do the maintenance. I was like, ‘This sounds like a win-win.’”
Today more women are following Thayer’s lead and turning to clubs like Freedom—which boasts locations at Falls Lake and Jordan Lake—that empower them to pursue boating as a hobby by offering robust training programs, women-only social groups and outings, and an easy booking system with access to a wide variety of boats. Globally, Freedom has more than 90,000 members and 35% of its members are women—a percentage that is much higher than the industry average of female boat owners.
Women Making Waves 246% increase in women boaters 2017–2023
“As a father to a young girl, it’s incredible and empowering to see so many women take the helm with Freedom Boat Club,” says Max Curtis, general manager of Freedom Boat Club of Raleigh. “Boating previously had a perception of being a male-dominated hobby, and over the past few years, we have seen a significant increase in women captaining our boats and finding their confidence on the water.”
Thayer concurs: “I do see more and more women doing it. It’s an empowering thing, not to be afraid. I think Freedom does a really good job of being that lifeline.”
Since joining the club in 2020, Thayer has received one-on-one training from Freedom’s licensed captains to learn how to safely navigate our local lakes, and has even traveled to the coast for additional, more intensive training on the ocean. Now, whether she’s solo or has friends or her boyfriend in tow, Thayer feels equipped for success on the water.
At Falls Lake, you can typically spot her driving a tritoon. “We’ll ride way out to the dam, as far out as I can, and then we normally find a little offshoot,” she says of her perfect boat day. “I’ll drop anchor, and we’ll just swim and listen to music and just enjoy being in nature.”
And, of course, no aquatic adventure is complete without her furry co-captain. “My favorite thing is the fact [Freedom Boat Club] lets me bring my dog,” says Thayer.
When asked what advice she’d give to other local women thinking about taking the plunge into boating, Thayer simply responds, “Just do it.” Besides being convenient and hassle-free, “they will help you,” she continues. “I think the hardest part is finding the courage to just try.” So, ~water~ you waiting for? freedomboatclub.com
Talk about a hot ticket: Wake Tech’s highly anticipated IGNITE event sparks inspiration through powerful stories about the community college’s impact.
People across Raleigh love Wake Tech. However, as Wake Tech VP of Development and Strategic Partnerships Matthew Smith began noticing several years ago, many residents felt stumped when they were asked to explain why.
“I went back to my team and said, ‘We’ve got to figure out a way to tell our story because our college is really a hidden gem in Wake County,’” he recalls. “We’re not just a school—in my opinion, we really are the economic backbone of this community. We are the only educational institution that just cares about Wake County. That’s our differentiator.”
He came up with IGNITE, an event that would showcase the community college’s mission of giving every person in Wake County an opportunity to pursue higher ed and make their life better. Fast-forward to today and his brainchild is still going strong, with the seventh annual IGNITE, taking place April 15 at the Raleigh Convention Center, expected to be the most successful—and emotionally stirring—yet.
IGNITE’s “secret sauce,” as Smith calls it, lies in the real-life stories of resilience and triumph highlighted throughout the program. “At every IGNITE event, the president and I are onstage for about five minutes at the beginning and five at the end,” he explains, “and everything in the middle is people whose lives have been directly impacted by our college telling their stories.”
The heartstring-tugging tales from past IGNITE events resonate in myriad ways. Take Wake Tech graduate Carrie Fisher and Assistant Professor of Cosmetology Valerie Bishop, whose lives are forever intertwined after Fisher saved Bishop’s life by giving her a kidney. Or Jorge Goti, who came to NC from Cuba and credits Wake Tech’s English as a Second Language program for not only teaching him English but also “how to make a life in this country and this community,” he says.
Then there’s Michael Denning, who says the knowledge he gained from his time at Wake Early College of Health and Sciences “prepared and propelled” him to transfer to ECU to pursue his dream career in medicine. And, finally, Eddie Mutebi—who grew up in a Uganda orphanage—is thankful for a partnership between Wake Tech and the nonprofit Embrace Uganda for helping him enroll at WTCC when his sponsor didn’t pay his university tuition. Mutebi’s experience ultimately led him to his current role as a data scientist at IBM, while continuing to provide “critical support and resources to my family back in Uganda,” he shares.
This year, IGNITE’s sold-out crowd of more than 750 local business leaders and community influencers will gather to hear even more firsthand accounts of how Wake Tech is making a difference. That includes Khadijah Scarborough, a former foster kid who came to Wake Tech “under unbelievable circumstances,” says Smith. “And now this young woman not only graduated from Wake Tech, but with a nursing degree—and she’s working at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.”
Smith reveals IGNITE’s 2024 theme will be Heroes in the Hallway, a chance to spotlight Wake Tech faculty and staff who have quietly rallied around students to help them succeed. “The people we’re featuring this year are the ones who are doing the gritty, hands-on work,” says Smith. “The one who gets the phone call from the foster kid at 10pm saying, ‘I don’t have anywhere to sleep tonight.’ The one who’s working with the autistic student who barely communicates but knows she wants to do something with her life.”
Ultimately, Smith is proud to have created something that “hopefully will have a long-lasting effect… and, more than anything, emotionally connect with people in this community,” he says. “Everybody who goes to that program knows someone similar to what we’re presenting onstage.”
So, why do people across Raleigh—and the region—love Wake Tech? Because its story is our own—and an event that helps individuals and companies recognize we’re all in this together may be the key to real and lasting support for the community college and its life-changing programs.
