Special to IFN

Mackenzie Gates has joined the Iredell County Public Library staff as the Community Navigator intern at the Statesville branch library.

Gates, who is currently pursuing her Social Work degree at Appalachian State University, will be taking over the project following the foundational work done by Dawn Church. This role is pivotal in enhancing the library’s engagement with the community by guiding residents to access essential resources and services.

As part of her responsibilities, Gates will work closely with individuals to eliminate barriers to service, offering whole-person care and guidance to empower library patrons to make well-informed decisions.

Her key duties will include linking community members with local agencies, programs, and support services; providing referrals and assistance for housing, healthcare, recovery, employment, and more; holding appointments to assist the public in need of support; and collaborating with library staff to build and maintain a comprehensive resource toolbox for public use.

The Community Navigator program aims to be a central contact point for vital services, ensuring residents can swiftly and effectively locate the resources they need, especially those that are challenging to access.

Gates will maintain regular hours at the library to meet with individuals and assist them in finding community resources.

LEARN MORE

For more information, contact community.navigator@iredellcountync.gov or 980-759-2219.

Community Navigator appointments can be scheduled online at https://iredell-libnc.libcal.com/appointments?lid=9859&g=27629.