Morehead-Cain Scholars partnered with Land of Sky Regional Council to help modernize services for aging populations in western North Carolina. (Photo by Jeyhoun Allebaugh)
The summer following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), which supports some of the residents most affected by Helene, was seeking ways to better meet demand amid ongoing staffing shortages and increased service needs.
Challenges like these are why the Morehead-Cain Civic Collaboration program exists. Through the program, teams of rising sophomores and juniors spend eight weeks working alongside regional partners to tackle real-world problems.
The Asheville-based team — Sofia Chan ’27, Harsehaj Dhami ’28, Walter Marr ’28 and Ibrahim Mohsin ’28 — partnered with the Land of Sky Regional Council to help modernize services for aging populations across Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties. The team aimed for a technology based solution that would be practical and deeply human-centered.
With a clear problem statement in mind, the team set out to build a tool that could help. The result was SkyNav, an SMS-first AI care-navigation service designed to connect caregivers and aging adults with appropriate resources while also easing the burden on AAA staff. The system serves both community members and administrators: Users receive real-time, personalized information through text messaging while AAA staff can rely on the tool to streamline and organize resource referrals in one centralized platform.
The project represents a major step forward for AAA and the Land of Sky Regional Council, demonstrating what’s possible when rural communities embrace innovation without compromising their values.
“Our hope with Civic Collaboration is that scholars get a taste of what it takes to research a local issue and partner with the community to explore creative solutions,” said Ann Taylor Shaw, scholar advisor. “When teams prioritize their community partnerships, it contributes to the long-term impact and viability of their recommendations.”
The summer project in Asheville demonstrates the adaptability and impact of the Morehead-Cain Civic Collaboration program. The team’s work continues to shape how western North Carolina innovates to serve its aging population.
Written by Mary Stuart Gray, Morehead-Cain Foundation
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