Why Us
We see things from a different view.
What makes us unique is not our programs or our data. It is how we see the people we serve, and where that understanding comes from.
Born from a front row seat to the lives of those in need.
Our Founder and Executive Director, Jay, owned and operated a business in CarrMill Mall in Carrboro for five years. Every day, he had a front row seat to the lives of people in need in our community. He witnessed people asking for money, food, shelter, and clothing — anything that would allow them a moment of comfort and dignity, no matter how small.
What he witnessed did not make him look away. It motivated him to start Grata Connects and work to support those in need with kindness, patience, gratitude, and respect.
Marveled by the resilience of those facing hardship and living on the street, he formed a unique starting point for the work: we begin by honoring the path each person has walked to the point we meet them, communicate pride in how hard they have worked just to survive each day, and connect them to the support they need while walking alongside them every step of the way.
An entrepreneurial approach to long-term stability.
We do not run Grata Connects like a traditional nonprofit. We are entrepreneurs by wiring — we identify gaps, build systems, prove results, and iterate relentlessly until people's lives change for the better. We don't wait for people in need to find help. We find them, and we walk with them on their path to stability.
We build supportive connections with existing agencies and work within their existing systems with the goal of improving efficiency and positive outcomes for all involved. Leveraging resources within our community — wisdom, time, and money — is a cornerstone of our work.