Dear Friends, Although August is usually a slow time of year, these final days of summer have been anything but quiet for those continuing the work of empowering communities across North Carolina.
Here at the NC Justice Center, our team has been organizing advocacy days, participating in community discussions with democracy advocates throughout North Carolina, and working together with partners on issues ranging from workers’ rights to healthcare and beyond. |
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As we face a delayed budget that threatens to hold up Medicaid expansion, an underfunded public school system, rate hikes on utility bills, and a slew of legislation aimed at excluding those already living on the margins, I am heartened that our partners and supporters can join us in celebrating the hard-fought wins. Below, you can learn more about these wins: organizing efforts that are gaining momentum, a legislative call-in blitz, and an advocacy day supporting second-chance legislation.
And you have helped us raise critical resources, shown by the overwhelming support of the sold-out Defenders of Justice Awards gala next month—a testament to the spirit of hope and dedication you bring to this work.
In solidarity,
Reggie Shuford
Executive Director
*Labor Day Panel—NC Workers' Organizing: Lessons from the Field
*600,000 lives on the line as N.C. General Assembly continues to delay the state budget
*Virtual action hour: Advocating for a better North Carolina
*NC Utility Commission's order on Duke Energy proposal
*North Carolina schools face unprecedented teacher shortages |
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Labor Day Panel—NC Workers' Organizing: Lessons from the Field |
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On September 5, 2023, at 6:00 PM, the NC Justice Center’s Workers’ Rights Project, in coalition with Raising Wages NC and the Southern Workers Assembly, is hosting a panel the day after Labor Day to hear lessons learned by North Carolina workers who are organizing across the state. During the panel, participants will hear from workers representing a variety of employers and industries, from city governments and domestic work to the UPS and farmworkers. |
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600,000 lives on the line as N.C. General Assembly continues to delay the state budget |
Stop Gambling with Our Lives campaign
Amid ongoing delays in passing a state budget and expanding Medicaid, in part due to disagreements about a massive expansion of casinos and video slot machines across our state, the NC Justice Center’s Health Advocacy Project, in coalition with grassroots advocates and organizations from across North Carolina, has launched a campaign urging lawmakers to stop gambling with our lives and either separate Medicaid expansion from the budget or work together to immediately pass a state budget that addresses the needs of the people so that expansion can go live as soon as possible.
Kicking off the campaign on August 16, our coalition came together at the General Assembly for a press conference during which directly impacted North Carolinians, a healthcare provider, and advocates shared one message: We need Medicaid expansion now!
On August 24, the NC Justice Center was a sponsoring group for the "Stop Gambling with Our Lives & Enact Medicaid Expansion" call-in blitz, a weeklong effort during which supporters from across North Carolina continuously called Senate President Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore for a total of 24 hours. The call-in blitz was so successful that we are holding a second week of calls starting today.
N.C. Medicaid cancellations have begun: What to do if you lost coverage
As North Carolinians continue to go through the redetermination process, we wanted to remind people with N.C. Medicaid to update their information and explain how to appeal if their Medicaid was canceled. It is important to open and respond to any correspondence from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services or your local Department of Social Services (DSS) requesting information so you don't lose coverage due to an incomplete application. Also, if you or someone you know has been placed into our state’s Medicaid Family Planning program Be Smart, please do NOT cancel your Family Planning coverage!
Folks eligible for Be Smart, Family Planning Medicaid will likely be eligible for NC Health Works (our state’s Medicaid expansion program) once it goes live. |
Virtual action hour: Advocating for a better North Carolina |
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On Wednesday, August 23, the Fair Chance Criminal Justice Project hosted a virtual action hour to advocate for passing four bills that will make our state a fairer place for our justice-impacted neighbors. Supporters tweeted, called, and emailed their local lawmakers and encouraged them to pass the following bills:
Debt-Free Driver's License Restoration (S339 & H888): These bills would end debt-related driver's license suspensions, which trap already under-resourced people in further debt and undermine their ability to advance socially and economically throughout their lifetimes.
Expanded Criminal Record Expunctions (S565): This bill expands access to criminal record expunctions, giving justice-impacted individuals the fresh start they need to rebuild their lives.
Reforms to Harmful Use of Mugshots (H778): Private, third-party companies should not be able to blackmail people with their mugshots. This legislation would regulate the dissemination of booking photos to the media, ensuring that private companies cannot exploit this sensitive information for financial gain.
Those interested in also advocating for these bills can view the Fair Chance Criminal Justice Activism toolkit. |
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Commission increases Duke Energy Progress rates and profits, but adopts low-income affordability programs |
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N.C. schools face unprecedented teacher shortages
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During the 2022-23 school year, North Carolina faced an unprecedented teacher shortage, with 5,095 vacant classrooms on the fortieth day of the school year. This shortage, exacerbated by the actions—or lack thereof—of the General Assembly, is expected to worsen for the 2023-24 school year. Teacher vacancies lead to the use of untrained substitutes or novice teachers, impacting student success and potentially causing schools to resort to less effective virtual classes. These shortages can result in larger class sizes, combined classes, and experienced teachers losing planning periods to support novice teachers. Racial and economic disparities are magnified, as districts with higher percentages of students of color and low-income families tend to have a higher rate of vacancies.
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NC Justice Center
224 S. Dawson Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
United States |
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