About UCAN!

A legacy organization built by and for the community — two decades of trusted service across Southern NC, Northeastern SC & the Gullah Geechee Corridor.

Our Story

UCAN! was founded in 2003 by a group of visionary Black women in Brunswick County, NC. What began as a focus on out-of-school youth programming has since evolved into a broad socioeconomic advancement organization serving families across the region.

UCAN is deeply rooted in family and community. Leadership across more than two decades has included multiple generations of the same family line — a legacy-driven, community-embedded character that continues to shape how UCAN shows up for the people it serves.

Today, UCAN addresses the interconnected issues of economic disparity and social inequality by providing resources and opportunities for cultural preservation, socioeconomic advancement, and the cultivation of future leaders — not as siloed programs, but as one holistic mission.

Great-Grandmother Eliza Jean, Midwife — UCAN's roots in community care
"UCAN is more than an organization — it is a movement."

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

UCAN! champions the empowerment of marginalized communities by propelling economic growth, honoring cultural vibrancy, and fostering youth leadership development. Through dynamic initiatives that combat food insecurity, address health disparities, nurture entrepreneurship, and empower young leaders, we ignite unity and drive toward economic success.

Our mission is to address the interconnected issues of economic disparity and social inequality by providing resources and opportunities for cultural preservation, socioeconomic advancement, and the cultivation of future leaders.

Our Vision

UCAN envisions a future where minority groups achieve socioeconomic success through access to nutritious food, educational fulfillment, entrepreneur and business development, equitable health care and wellness, financial security, and secure housing.

Through empowerment, unity, and collective action, we seek to build inclusive, resilient communities that celebrate diversity, equity, and unity, driving lasting socioeconomic progress for all.

Our Service Area

UCAN serves Southern NC, Northeastern SC, and the wider Gullah Geechee Corridor. Brunswick and Columbus Counties are our home base, but our reach extends far beyond — including Pender, Duplin, Cumberland, and Bladen Counties through virtual programming, community events, and regional collaboration. If you are in our region, you are welcome here.

Leadership

An all-female, minority-led Board of Directors and multigenerational family leadership reflect authentic community ownership of UCAN's mission.

Sandra Bowers-Hewett Brooks, UCAN Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Sandra Bowers-Hewett Brooks, CNE, CDE, CNC

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

A lifelong Brunswick County native with over two decades of grassroots leadership, Sandra Bowers-Hewett Brooks founded UCAN in 2003 to transform underserved communities through economic innovation, cultural preservation, and strategic resource allocation. Under her stewardship, UCAN has generated more than $1.9 million annually in community impact for UCAN and its partners across both NC and SC.

Sandra holds triple NANOE certifications (CNE, CDE, CNC), is a Certified Community Health Worker, Certified Doula, Certified Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach, Child Development Associate, and Certified AI Strategist & Engineer. She is a Cornell University Women's Entrepreneurship graduate and holds the North Carolina Family Support Credential (Duke University / NC Family Resource Coalition).

Awards & Recognition
President's Lifetime Achievement Award — The White House, 2024

President's Lifetime Achievement Award
The White House / AmeriCorps, 2024

Actor Danny Glover Power of Dream Award, 2026

Danny Glover Power of Dream Award
MCIF International, 2026

Global Caregiver Humanitarian Award — UN Accredited NGO MCIF, 2026

Global Caregiver Humanitarian Award
UN Accredited NGO MCIF, 2026

Credentials & Certifications
NANOE CNE, CDE, CNC Certifications

NANOE: CNE · CDE · CNC
2021

Certified AI Strategist and Engineer

Certified AI Strategist & Engineer

Cornell University Women's Entrepreneurship Certificate

Cornell University
Women's Entrepreneurship, 2020

Duke University NC Family Support Credential

Duke University
NC Family Support Credential, 2004

Child Development Associate Credential

Child Development Associate
CDA Credential, 2003

Fonstena Peck, UCAN External Director and Executive Branch Chair

Fonstena Peck

External Director & Executive Branch Chair

As Chair of UCAN's Executive Branch, Fonstena Peck works hand in hand with the CEO to provide strategic external leadership and governance oversight — advancing UCAN's mission and community impact across the region.

Board of Directors

Temecia Davenport, UCAN Board Chairperson and President

Temecia Davenport

Chairwoman / President
Regional Human Resources Business Partner; Mentor.

Kishawna Pace Bellamy, UCAN Board Director and Treasurer

Kishawna P. Bellamy

Board Director / Treasurer
Brunswick County Government Delinquent Tax Specialist; Co-Business Owner, Moving Company; Evangelist.

Sy'nora Brooks, UCAN Board Vice-President

Sy’nora Brooks

Vice-President / Jr. President
Jr. Board of Directors President; Healthcare Professional & Dental Hygienist; Business Owner – Instructor & Design.

Charla Fullwood, UCAN Board Director

Charla Fullwood

Board Director
Childcare Educator; Community College Student.

Danielle Evans-Hewett, UCAN Board Director and Secretary

Danielle Evans-Hewett

Board Director / Secretary — Child Care Center Administrator
Teacher of the Year 2021; Mentor; Co-Business Owner – Construction & Entertainment Production.

Breana Jenrette, UCAN Board Member

Breana Jenrette

Board Member
2025–2027 Board of Directors.

Jada Green, UCAN Board Member

Jada Green

Board Member
2025–2027 Board of Directors.

Staff & Community Engagement

Nora Brooks, UCAN Operations Director

Nora Brooks

Operations Director
Leading UCAN's day-to-day operations and community programming.

Sandra Brooks in lab coat with community partners and Dr. David Satcher

Sandra Brooks

Community Engagement
UCAN Executive Director Sandra Brooks with community partners and Dr. David Satcher, 16th U.S. Surgeon General.

Sandra Brooks engaging community leaders and stakeholders

Sandra Brooks

Community Leadership
Connecting health, education, and opportunity across southeastern North Carolina.

Notable Visitors & Community Partners

UCAN's reach extends to the highest levels — from national health leadership to community medicine.

Thomas Green with Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher

Thomas Green & Dr. David Satcher

Former U.S. Surgeon General (1998–2002)
Thomas Green alongside Dr. David Satcher, 16th U.S. Surgeon General, in recognition of UCAN's community health work.

NC NAACP President Deborah Dicks Maxwell and Dr. Johnny Williams at UCAN community event

NC NAACP President & Dr. Johnny Williams

NC NAACP President Deborah Dicks Maxwell
Deborah Dicks Maxwell, President of the NC NAACP, alongside Dr. Johnny Williams — reflecting UCAN's deep roots in civil rights, health equity, and community power across North Carolina.

Sandra Brooks and Marion Brooks with Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher

Sandra & Marion Brooks with Dr. David Satcher

Former U.S. Surgeon General (1998–2002)
UCAN Founder Sandra Bowers-Hewett Brooks and Marion Brooks with Dr. David Satcher, honoring UCAN's mission of health equity and community care.

Dr. Johnny Williams, President of Old North State Medical Foundation, speaking at a UCAN event

Dr. Johnny Williams

President, Old North State Medical Foundation (ONSMF)
Dr. Williams addresses the UCAN community, reinforcing the partnership between ONSMF and UCAN in advancing health equity across southeastern North Carolina.

How UCAN Operates

Board of Directors
Executive Director / CEO — Sandra Brooks
Executive Branch — Fonstena Peck, Chair
Fiscal Admin
Operations Admin
Program Coordinator
Advisory Council
Jr. Council (LEAyD)

The Legacy That Built UCAN

Every stitch of UCAN's mission was sewn generations before its founding — by a family of healers, educators, protectors, and pioneers whose service to Brunswick County has never stopped. This is where UCAN truly begins.

Eliza Jane Gause, midwife of Brunswick County, NC

Eliza Jane Gause (1858–1934)

Midwife · Great-Grandmother of Founder Sandra Bowers-Hewett Brooks · UCAN's Founding Inspiration

Born in 1858, Eliza Jane Gause began her career as a midwife in the 1880s and served the people of Brunswick County, NC for 45 years — delivering hundreds of Black and white babies alike, often traveling long distances on foot or horseback to reach her patients. Some believe she delivered more babies in the area than the resident physician of her era.

Eliza was known for her gentle touch, her steady hands, and her ability to calm anxious mothers. She faced the racism and discrimination common to the Jim Crow-era South, yet she never turned away a family in need — providing care to all who needed it, regardless of race or social status. Eliza Jane Gause passed away in 1934, but her legacy of skilled, compassionate, barrier-breaking care lives on as the founding inspiration for UCAN.

"From Eliza's healing hands to our collective action — the legacy lives on."

How Eliza Jane Gause Inspires UCAN Today

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

Like Eliza, UCAN serves marginalized communities without barriers, addressing systemic inequities in food security, healthcare, and economic opportunity — reinforcing our focus on empowering underserved populations, including BIPOC farmers, families, and youth.

Community-Centered Care

Eliza's hands-on approach mirrors UCAN's initiatives, such as the Healthy Food Boxes program and Health Education Workshops, which prioritize direct, compassionate support — just as our Food Hub & Farmers' Market ensures access to nutritious food the way Eliza ensured access to healthcare in remote areas.

Despite tremendous obstacles, Eliza's perseverance inspires UCAN's entrepreneurial spirit and resilient leadership — a reminder that true progress is built on service, unity, and an unwavering belief in community.

A Family Legacy of Service

Eliza's children and grandchildren carried her spirit of care into new generations — law enforcement, education, banking, and volunteerism.

Helen Gause Green McKnight, daughter of Eliza Jane Gause

Helen Gause Green McKnight

Daughter of Eliza Jane Gause · Law Enforcement & Public Servant
A dedicated mother and grandmother, Helen embodied love and care within her family and as a law enforcement public servant, guided by her faith as a devoted daughter of Christ. Her descendants — who now lead UCAN — honor her legacy of strength, kindness, harmony, and tranquility by serving others with the same dignity she showed throughout her life.

Snowree Gause Hewett, Columbia University graduate and 37-year Brunswick County educator

Snowree Gause Hewett

Granddaughter of Eliza Jane Gause · Educator
A Columbia University graduate with a Master's in Education, Snowree dedicated 37 years to Brunswick County Schools, shaping young minds as a beloved primary school teacher at Union Primary School. Her legacy of educational excellence and community empowerment lives on in UCAN's youth development and leadership programs.

Carmella Green, banking pioneer and financial literacy advocate

Carmella Green

Descendant of Eliza Jane Gause · Banking Pioneer
Though Carmella Green passed before UCAN's founding, her pioneering spirit as a banking professional and her commitment to financial literacy live on through UCAN's economic empowerment programs. As a respected figure in Brunswick County's financial sector, Carmella broke barriers in an era when women — especially women of color — faced significant obstacles in banking and business.

Thomas C. Green, descendant of Eliza Jane Gause and dedicated UCAN volunteer

Thomas C. Green

Son of Helen Gause · UCAN Volunteer
A proud descendant of midwife pioneer Eliza Jane Gause and son of Helen Gause, Thomas served as one of UCAN's most dedicated volunteers, leaving an indelible mark on the organization's health and food security programs. His compassionate service shone brightest during UCAN's COVID-19 response, working tirelessly at testing and vaccination events — including a memorable initiative attended by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher.

A Call to Continue Her Legacy

UCAN invites Eliza's descendants and our Board to join us in expanding healthcare access through partnerships, supporting local entrepreneurs — particularly women and minorities, as Eliza supported mothers — and celebrating cultural heritage through programs like the Gullah Geechee Corridor Cultural History, honoring her roots.

Eliza Jane Gause's life teaches us that change begins with courage and compassion. UCAN strives to embody these principles daily, transforming her legacy into actionable progress for Brunswick County and beyond. Together, we can build a future where every community thrives.

In Memoriam

We honor the women who helped lay the foundation of UCAN — whose love, sacrifice, and belief in community made this organization possible. Their legacy lives on in every life we touch.

Gracie Pearl Johnson, UCAN Founding President
Gracie Pearl Johnson
Founding President, UCAN

Gracie Pearl Johnson served as UCAN's very first President, planting the seeds of this organization with vision, grace, and an unshakeable commitment to community. Her spirit of service set the standard for everything UCAN stands for. She is dearly missed and forever honored.

Sarah Stevenson, UCAN Board Member
Sarah Stevenson
Board Member & Early Champion

Sarah Stevenson stood with UCAN in its earliest days as a devoted Board Member, offering her time, heart, and steadfast support when it mattered most. Her belief in this community and in UCAN's mission was a gift we carry forward every day. She is remembered with deep gratitude and love.

Certifications & Memberships

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NANOE CNE / CDE / CNC

Certified Nonprofit Executive, Certified Development Executive, and Certified Nonprofit Consultant credentials held by CEO Sandra Brooks.

UCAN Food Hub Silver Tier Certification

Silver Tier Pantry Certification

Achieved Spring 2024 through the Healthy Food Access Pantry Training Program.

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NC Medicaid Provider

NC DHHS Medicaid Provider ID 40411127 — Healthy Opportunities Pilot Human Services Organization.