FY25 IMPACT REPORT
The Sonja Haynes Stone Center is a vibrant academic and community engagement hub commi ed to advancing knowledge of African American and African diaspora experiences. Through open dialogue, critical inquiry, and creative expression, we nurture a community of spirited exploration that enriches UNC Chapel Hill and beyond.
MEET THE TEAM
Kara Endsley*
Our focus this year was to reimagine our space and its role in the future of academic and community engagement. We assembled a powerful coalition of voices to build community, and modeled what it meant to meaningfully engage through strategic outreach, innovative research and visionary programs. What's more, we stressed the need to sustainably yet courageously evolve as a way to honor our legacy and build our future.
Evolve
Reimagine
Engage
Assemble
Reimagine —
Water Stations
We replaced dated fountains with filling stations on all three levels of the building, conserving approximately 8,300 gallons by summer 2025.
Mural Installation
Commissioned by Dr. Rhon to mark our building's 20th anniversary, the mural created by Cummings Visiting Artist Angelika Wallace-Whitfield honors Dr. Stone's enduring legacy.
Lactation Room Podcast Media Space
The Lactation Room provides a private, comfortable, and accessible space for nursing parents, embodying the Center's commitment to community wellness.
The Wright Podcast Room is a cutting-edge space for story telling. Home to the "Stone Written" podcast, the studio advances our mission of cultural and academic engagement.
Student Harbor
The Student Harbor is a space for rest, connection, and collaborative learning A Chancellor-sponsored upfit, it previewed during finals week, and will officially open to students in Fall 2025.
We reimagined space as a living canvas where connections ourish, culture inspires, and knowledge empowers.
Assemble —
Give UNC —
"I'd like to make a di erence where there is a need to encourage the students, professors, administrators, and the public who are being served."
- Rose Highland-Sharpe classof1980
250
Total donors
The Give UNC event a racted a total of 250 donors, including 199 proud alumni contributors.
$51,898
Total raised
With 5 marketed challenges, $33K was raised through a matching challenge that contributed $100 for every donor, up to a maximum of $1,000.
271
Total gifts
A remarkable increase in 2025 with 271 total gifts—an approximate 155.7% surge in contributions year over year.
Dr Rhon, SHSC Director chatting with f irst-year students, March 2025
We made exponential fundraising gains and we are excited to join the UNC's next campaign with an anticipated fundraising goal of $12 - $25 million. Leveraging the Stone Center's unique history and purpose o ers a powerful narrative to assemble alumni and the broader community, while reinforcing the importance of investing in our future, in perpetuity.
Engage —
8,136 9,737 1,000
As we expand our social media presence and deepen our resonance, we continue to connect meaningfully with campus partners, students, and beyond
Our newest newsle er subscribers demonstrate the strength of our communications network and the sustained interest in the center's programs, initiatives, and events
"StoneWri en"our in-house podcast, hosted by Dr. Rhon, o icially surpassed 1,000 downloads, re ecting our growing audience, and the podcast's role as a meaningful platform for dialogue
Our newest communication initiatives represented a groundbreaking approach to community engagement that has transformed how we connect, serve, and amplify our voices.
Through strategic storytelling, enhanced digital engagement, and the cultivation of meaningful partnerships, we not only expanded our reach, we deepened our impact in ways that created lasting, authentic connections.
Students with SHSC swag, learning more about our work, Give UNC
22,337
421
1,090
Evolve —
Evolution of Impact
The Stone Center’s signature events ran from September 2024 to April 2025, and with documented a endance of over 3,000, counting RSVPs doesn’t tell our whole story We strengthened our engagement by fostering dialogue, celebrating culture, and deepening connections across and beyond campus. Our aim was to evolvewithpurpose: to create programming that is relevant, timely, immersive, and always free and open to the public.
•
• September 13th - Chitlin' Circuit Re-enactment: Musical Performance & Exhibition
26th - Diaspora Festival of Black & Independent Film: Opening Night
• November 12th - The 32nd Annual Stone Memorial Lecture with Patricia Timmons-Goodson
• • February 20th - 2025 McNeil African American History Month Lecture with Dr. Claudrena Harold, University of Virginia
15th to Apr. 30th - Brown Gallery & Museum Opening Event featured WeBuiltThis —Pro lesofBlackArchitectsand
BuildersinNorthCarolina
CommUniversity
Aquietandreserved6th-gradescholarinitially struggledwithfocusandengagement. Bytailoring ourapproachtohisinterestsandneeds, wecreated asupportiveenvironmentthatsparkedhiscuriosity. Overtime, hebeganparticipatingmoreinclassand groupdiscussions, gainingcon denceand improvingacademically—demonstratingthepower ofpatienceandpersonalizedsupport. (ourK-12outofschooltimeprogram, est. in1992
Goals
•
• • CYP Programming scholar's goal is approximately 30 scholars Increasing scholars by developing new recruitment e orts
12 14 work-study students to support Stone Center's mission.
Outreach
• • • 3 UNC Community Events Co-sponsored event with Jackson Center where 40 + UNC students from all backgrounds a ended.
10 + inquiries for Stone Center Tours & Partnerships
Impact Snapshot
•
12 New CYP scholars recruited Burroughs Wellcome Fund SSEP Grant $180K over 3 years
50 + books donated & dispersed to scholars
Ourpaidsummerfellowship(since1989 designedtotrainstudents pursuingaPhDinthehumanities, socialsciences, andthearts.
"I have decided to a end Brown! This would not have been possible without your mentorship during MURAP and your continued investment in my career. I ended up sending my MURAP paper as my writing sample, and work that I began that summer has laid the foundation for what I will research at Brown. Thank you for everything, and I cannot wait to embark on this journey." Isabel Levin, MURAP 2000, entering Brown University PhD Program (Sociology) in Fall 2025
16 Faculty Members 10 Fall 24', 6 Spring 25'
Reaching 667 students in university classes
3 co-sponsorships amounting to $5,756
Expanded reach to the UNC School of Nutrition
Awarded 8 fellowships to faculty mentors
16 student researchers presented in a public symposium
"I am so thankful for the resources and opportunity that SLATE provides to undergraduate students. Because of the program, I have decided to pursue a career in the research eld and have developed meaningful relationships with UNC faculty in my eld of interest."
— Edie E. Moyers, Undergraduate Research Fellow
“We want people to see themselves in the work we do, and to leave inspired, informed and empowered to gain a deeper understanding of our history and culture.”
– Dr. Rhon, Sonja Haynes Stone Center Director
Ampli ed our Mission
In 2024 2025 FY we had four priorities: to REIMAGINE space to re ect the broad communities we serve; to ASSEMBLE key partnerships and foster meaningful connections; to ENGAGE donors and allies who champion our shared vision of academic and cultural excellence; and to EVOLVE our programming and nancial models. We aspired to become more self-sustaining while deepening our impact as an Academic and Community Engagement ACE unit.
There is more work to be done, as shifting philanthropic and economic landscapes have impacted our e orts. Yet we are establishing consistent practices, driven by data-informed decision-making, stewarded by a stellar team, and rooted in a future-focused $12M-$25M campaign. We are pragmatically optimistic about what lies ahead for the Stone Center!
a vital hub for education, culture and community engagement
Guided donor growth with integrity
increased revenue +400% while stewarding net allocations
Strengthened collaborative impact
partnered with 60+ units & organizations to broaden reach
Championed student success
signature programs served 44 fellows and 667 student learners
Transformed innovative spaces
elevated spaces deepen collaboration, wellness and creativity
Elevated communications initiatives
via savvy storytelling and strategic use of digital platforms
Secured Campaign Participation
formal inclusion solidi es future visioning and nancial vitality
