Showing up for North Carolina families

A North Carolina nonprofit and community center offering connected support, to families in need.

Our foundation

What we're built on

Mental HealthEducationSTEEAMSurvivor SupportChild DevelopmentAdvocacy

STEEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Emotional Intelligence & Embodied Agility, Art, Math

Mission

Nurturing Your Light within children, families and communities by connecting safety, wellbeing, learning, practical resources and opportunity.

Vision

Communities where children and families are safe, supported, healthy, prepared and able to lead meaningful lives.

Core Belief

Families face interconnected challenges that require interconnected solutions. We don't treat problems in isolation — we address the whole picture.

Why families trust us

Trust isn't built overnight

Not a pilot project. A long-term partner.

We show up consistently

Amir Institute is the consistent, reliable presence families count on — through funding cycles, staffing changes and everything else that closes other doors.

We meet families where they are

No judgment. No barriers. No requirement to publicly disclose trauma. We listen, respond and walk alongside families with practical tools and deep respect for their experiences.

We're culturally responsive

Our work is grounded in cultural intelligence, trauma-informed practice and authentic understanding of the communities we serve. We adapt to meet families' real needs.

We invest in prevention

Wellness begins before a breaking point. Through preventive health education, mental-health literacy, early childhood support and community learning, we help families build resilience early.

Students and staff planting in the Amir Institute garden

Our comprehensive approach

Eight areas of work, one connected system

A family who comes for one thing often needs three. So our services connect instead of refer.

Explore All Programs

Whole Child Wellness & CarePreventive health education, mental-health literacy, trauma-informed student support, family referrals, essential-needs assistance and crisis intervention.

Education (Grades 2–12)Rigorous, Socratic, individualized learning in classes of fewer than 10, reinforced through farm work, swimming, pantry service, work-study, arts and technology.

Early Childhood CareParent + Me classes, kindergarten readiness support and early learning programming that set children up for success.

Youth DevelopmentSaturday Leadership Academy, Summer Recovery (ages 5–12) and Future Leaders — evidence-informed, trauma-informed groups.

Family SupportParenting workshops, job-readiness services, food-pantry access, resource referrals and practical assistance.

Survivor Support & HealingSurvivor-informed education, safety resources and confidential support led by Halimah Melton, Domestic Violence Coordinator.

Community ProgrammingBook and Cook, Wellness Wednesdays, Mindfulness Movement Matters, Open Mic, art and family activities, and community events.

Upcoming: Clinical PathwaysCounseling, behavioral health and primary care in development — for coordinated, whole-person support. Not yet open for appointments.

Our people

The team

Tap a face to read about them.

Dr. Zainab Qaabidh, Founder and Executive Director of Amir Institute

Dr. Zainab QaabidhMSEd, EdS, PhD

Founder & Executive Director · Senior Fellow

An education strategist, scholar and researcher in educational leadership, school choice and institutional capacity building, whose work bridges the P-12 private and public sectors to advance performance and educational equity. She holds state licensing in New York and North Carolina as a Principal, Superintendent and Special Education Specialist.

Her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development is from North Carolina State University, with a Post-Graduate Certification in School Building and District Leadership from the College of St. Rose, an MSEd in General and Special Education from Touro College, a B.S. in Psychology and an A.A.S. in Business Administration. A certified life coach and keynote speaker, she has co-authored research in Leadership and Policy in Schools and the Journal of Research on Leadership Education. Away from the work, she cooks and takes long drives.

To ensure that every student enjoys learning and is equipped with the tools for lifelong success, while fostering a deep love for the Creator and all of creation in their hearts.Her vision for Amir Institute

Governance

Board of Directors

NWNayisha Walters-JamesChair

KRDr. Kimberly Reaves, D.Eng.Vice Chair

JFJames Fields, Jr., MBATreasurer

TWDr. Troy K. WeaverSecretary

ELErica LamyMember-at-Large

TWThomas WilliamsFounding Board Member

In the community

Our community, in pictures

A student setting seedlings into a prepared bed

A student harvesting from the garden by hand

Amir Institute graduates at the graduation ceremony

Amir Institute students arriving for the school day

Families celebrating at the Amir Institute graduation

Help us keep showing up

Amir Institute exists because this community invested in it. Unrestricted gifts, in-kind donations, volunteer hours and partnerships are what keep the doors open.

Donate

Zeffy charges no fees, so 100% of your gift goes to our students.

See Our Programs