Each Child. Every Community.

GREENSBORO— Margo Mosley, an Extension Agent in Family and Consumer Sciences at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, was awarded the  Karen W. Ponder Leadership Award at the 2012 National Smart Start Conference. The award, named for Smart Start’s former president, recognizes outstanding service to young children and families in North Carolina.  Mosley was nominated by the Alexander County Partnership for Children. A $1,000 cash award will be made to the partnership in her name. 

For more than 27 years, Margo Mosley has worked on behalf of the children and families of Alexander County. She served on the original Smart Start planning group that held nightly meetings at a local restaurant to develop Alexander County’s plan to bring Smart Start to the community. She has never looked back—serving as board chair twice and leading or being a member of almost every committee at the Partnership.

In addition to Smart Start, Mosley has been instrumental in establishing and enhancing numerous efforts in the community. She helped create the Alexander International Center, an organization that works with the international residents of Alexander County.  She volunteers with Forgiven Ministries, working with the children of prisoners when they visit the prison.

In August Margo will retire as Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences with the NC Cooperative Extension. In nominating Margo, the Alexander Partnership noted, “While a void will be felt through Margo’s retirement there is comfort in knowing that Margo’s work in Alexander County has made Alexander County a much better place.  It has often been said it is important in one’s life to use everything you have.  Margo Mosley has certainly used everything she has for the children and families of Alexander County.   Her legacy will continue long after her retirement.”

Smart Start is North Carolina’s nationally-recognized initiative to ensure that every child reaches his or her potential and is prepared to succeed in a global community. Smart Start measurably increases the health and well-being of young children birth to five, building the foundation for all future learning, by improving children’s early care and education programs so that they are safe, healthy and provide opportunities for children to learn skills they need for success in school; providing parents with tools that support them in raising healthy, happy, successful children; and ensuring that children have access to preventive health care.