Local Boards and Commissions
Our local governments are constantly making decisions that impact our everyday lives. As a citizen, you have the unique opportunity to help make a difference by participating in local advisory board and commission meetings. Ways to participate include attending committee meetings to hold members accountable, making public comments at meetings to influence decisions, or serving on these local boards and commissions made up of regular citizens just like you. Each board or commission functions differently, but they are all open to the public and, in general, they are designed to receive input from the larger community and advise governmental bodies like city and town councils and county commissions. They help shape our local governments’ policies, priorities and the future of our communities!
Resources for many issues
North Carolina Justice Center: This statewide nonprofit is a valuable resource on almost any social justice issue. Going to their website, you will be able to connect to some of the most valuable and up-to-date information relevant to your area of interest. Here is a link to their Budget and Tax Center’s 2021 Economic Snapshots by county. Just hit the link for the county of interest.
The Interfaith Initiative for Social Justice was started in 2017 to promote social justice among faith communities in WNC. A twice a month e-newsletter provides ways for people to learn, get inspired, and take action on a variety of social justice issues. For those interested in subscribing to the e-newsletter, contact Ron Katz.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a “nonpartisan research and policy institute. [They] pursue federal and state policies designed both to reduce poverty and inequality and to restore fiscal responsibility in equitable and effective ways. [They] apply [their] deep expertise in budget and tax issues and in programs and policies that help low-income people, in order to help inform debates and achieve better policy outcomes.”
NC211 is a health and human service referral line available 24/7. It is free, multi-lingual, confidential and can be accessed by dialing 211 or visiting this link.
5Calls. This website is handy for anyone interested in social justice issues that are coming up in the US House and Senate. The left hand column of the homepage lists various issues, and by clicking on any of the issues listed, it will give you information about the legislation, a sample script and the phone number of your House or Senate member. You can adjust the address and/or zipcode listed to ensure you are connecting to the appropriate legislator.
WNC Nonprofit Pathways’ mission is to support nonprofit organizations that form the backbone of communities across the mountains of Western North Carolina. Pathways helps organizations become stronger and more sustainable so they can fulfill their missions. Pathways services are subsidized by local and statewide funders and are offered at no or very low cost to WNC nonprofit organizations.
Robin Funsten Coaching & Consulting (RFCC) supports several organizations and causes in the community. The Youth Advocacy Mission of RFCC is “Advocating for Equity and Accountability in Communities by Supporting Youth and Families.” This time is 100% funded by the business-side of RFCC. This is in line with the values of Deep Accountability and is a part of the RFCC mission for “Discovering Satisfying Lives through Mutual Understanding.” They partner with agencies that are in line with this mission and, therefore, are honored to support partner agencies at no cost. If you’d like to learn more or are interested in partnering, contact Diana Manee-Buskirk at diana.maneebuskirk@gmail.com.
Facing South is an online magazine from the Institute for Southern Studies. They offer research and articles on issues that align with this Guide that particularly affect the South. You can sign up for their weekly e-newsletter on their homepage.
The NC Council of Churches offers a variety of resources. Here is a link to some of those available covering many of the social justice issues listed in this Guide.
100 Days of Advocacy. This Facebook page states “[t]his group [i]s a place to inspire, share ideas, keep us motivated, and share ..what we are doing in order to advocate for those issues we hold near and dear to our hearts. This is a place to take a stand, help each other keep an eye on the issues and what is going on in our local, state and national government…Just support and a sharing of ideas and information.” This is a private group, so you must get permission to join.
Asheville Community Rights Movement. This Facebook page states, “[t]he Community Rights Movement is dismantling corporate rule, putting people and planets over profits. The current law sees nature as property from which resources should be extracted in pursuit of endless growth and gives corporations the privilege of “personhood” and rights. The Community Bill of Rights is paradigm shifting local level legislation that asserts our rights for local self-governance over those of for-profit corporations.”
Indivisible Asheville WNC has a website that connects people to information, events and groups that are working on social justice issues. You can sign up to get informational emails.
Allies covering several issues
Pisgah Legal Services addresses social justice on many levels. Some of those are listed below by issue, but the website notes individual and some system advocacy efforts around homelessness, health care, disability and senior rights to age in place, child care resources, and protecting those who have been or could be abused.
Get involved: Contact Lori Nierzwick at Lori@pisgahlegal.org or call (828) 818-5474.
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Carolina Jews for Justice is a statewide organization that has several regional chapters. They are committed “to creating a just, fair and compassionate North Carolina”. The Carolina Jews for Justice – West chapter has working groups in the following areas: Voting Rights, Antisemitism, and Reproductive Justice. Additionally, this chapter is involved with issues of affordable housing and racial justice.
Get involved: Contact Lisa Forehand, CJJ-West organizer, at lisa@carolinajewsforjustice.org or call (828) 761-1317.
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The North Carolina Council of Churches, founded in 1935, is a statewide, ecumenical organization promoting Christian unity and working towards a more just society. The Council is made up of 18 denominations, inclusive of more than 6,200 congregations. Their current program areas are: Farmworkers, NC InterfView Pageaith Power and Light, Gun Violence Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform, and Partners in Health and Wholeness. Their current priority areas are: Christian unity through a racial equity lens, gun violence prevention, opioid crisis, and public education. Based in Raleigh, they have regional offices throughout the state. For several of their initiatives, you will see them represented in their respective issue areas in this Guide.
Get Involved: General contact is Rachel Baker at rachel@nccouncilofchurches.org. For Gun Violence Prevention and Criminal Justice Reform, contact Jennifer Copeland at jennifer@ncchurches.org
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UU Justice Ministry of NC is the Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of North Carolina. This faith-based nonprofit organizes spiritually-grounded UUs to contribute to a transformative movement for justice in our state. Centering joy, collaboration and imagination, UU Justice NC works in a relationship with other state justice organizations on a range of issues including racial, economic, environmental, immigrant, LGBTQ and electoral justice. They offer a Friday Action Hour. Get details here how you and others can participate.
Get involved: Contact Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson by phone (401-680-2507) or at lisa@uujusticenc.org.
WNC Social Justice Advocacy Guide 