Mindy Sopher has always valued community service, and this spring she will bring that passion to the dance floor at the Southern Women’s Show during Dancing Like the Stars, a dance competition benefitting the National Inclusion Project.

The National Inclusion project works with afterschool programs like YMCA, Girl Scouts and children’s museums to bridge the gap between children with and without disabilities. They strive to give all children the opportunity to participate, succeed and make friends.

Sopher, a communication professor and academic adviser, was especially interested in this organization because she had not worked with children with disabilities before and saw this as an opportunity for personal growth.

“It’s not been in my greatest comfort zone, so I intentionally looked for opportunities to work with individuals with disabilities,” Sopher said. “I’m trying to build my awareness, knowledge and skills. It makes me more human when I know more about people who are different than me.”

After battling breast cancer for 12 years and volunteering with the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure, American Cancer Society and Boys and Girls Clubs, Sopher was acknowledged by Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker when he proclaimed Nov. 20 “Mindy Sopher Day.” She was also awarded Order of the Long Leaf Pine for her service in March of 2010.

Along with being an academic adviser for students in Exploratory Studies, Sopher teaches a class called Nonprofit Leadership & Development, a service-learning course in which students work with local nonprofit organizations throughout the semester in order to build communication and leadership skills as well as get involved in community service. The class has partnered with many organizations around the Triangle area including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, STOP Hunger Now, Triangle LGBT Center and more.

Sopher reached out to the National Inclusion Project at the Southern Women’s Show while she was participating in a fashion show for breast cancer survivors put on by Pretty in Pink, a breast cancer support organization. She realized that her class had not yet worked with any organizations that dealt with children or disabilities and took this opportunity to do so. A year later, the National Inclusion Project agreed to become a partner and asked Sopher to participate in Dancing Like the Stars.

Local celebrities, or stars, like Sopher work with professional dancers from Arthur Murray Studios in Cary to prepare a dance and perform at the Southern Women’s Show. The winner is chosen not by who dances the best, but by who raises the most donations. This year, there are eight contestants including one special needs contestant, 10-year-old Kaden Phares. 

“It’s a fabulous event,” said Katie Cronin, show manager for the Southern Women’s Show. “Each year lots of people are interested to see the great outfits and costumes they’re wearing and if their favorite contestant will win.” 

This will not be Sopher’s first experience on the dance floor. She went to dancing school as a young girl and began ballroom dancing in the sixth grade. She fell in love with it and continued as a junior instructor throughout middle school. She also has fond memories of her parents dancing together.

“I loved watching my mother in my father’s arms and their joy and happiness dancing,” Sopher said. “I loved to dance with my dad, and I remember teaching my little brother how to cha-cha in the living room.”

Sopher and her dance partner from Arthur Murray Studios will be performing to the song “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. Her routine incorporates jitterbug, shag and rumba. She is excited to raise awareness and act as an example for her students to align the mission of the agency with their methods and resources.

“It’s always important to me that I live my values and that students can see what my beliefs are,” Sopher said. “Doing this is a way to model my mission and the class mission. I hope to prove that it’s not all work, fun is part of what we do.”

Last year, Dancing Like the Stars raised $18,000 for the National Inclusion Project. Sopher hopes to raise at least $3,000 to help meet or exceed this goal.

The Southern Women’s Show will be held on the NC State Fairgrounds and expects 25,000–29,000 attendees this year. The Dancing Like the Stars performance will take place April 23 at 4 p.m. on the Fashion & Entertainment stage. Donations will be accepted online on the National Inclusion Project website until April 23 at noon. Each vote for a contestant counts as $1 toward the National Inclusion Project.