Dear Friend,

Last month, as news of Western North Carolina began to fill the airwaves and our social media feeds, many of us rushed to check on loved ones, colleagues, and partner organizations out west, heartbroken by the images and stories emerging. With an election just weeks away, following four years marked by a pandemic, a racial reckoning, and an insurrection, an event like Helene seems almost too much to bear. 

And yet, our amazing staff immediately pivoted and got to work connecting with our friends on the ground in WNC to see what they needed. They created informational materials, fielded initial calls to assist WNC legal aid agencies whose impacted employees were occupied in the immediate aftermath of the storm, hosted a virtual partner event on community-centered recovery, hosted know-your-rights webinars, advocated for important policy initiatives including eviction and foreclosure moratoriums, and more.  

As Mr. Rogers famously said, “Look for the helpers.” I am grateful we at the NC Justice Center can play a part as helpers after Helene. And that help will continue as we work to address economic injustices at their root—as we advocate for people-first policies, protect and defend the rights of immigrants and refugees, support better protections for workers, consumers, and tenants, and fight for robust and inclusive public education and health care.  

We know more change is ahead and, with it, successes and challenges. I sustain hope because of the change I have seen in my decades of social justice work—change made possible by coming together, building shared power, and helping one another along the way. Thank you for believing and partnering in this transformative work to build a more just and equitable North Carolina.  

In solidarity,  

Reggie Shuford 
Executive Director

October 2024

The upcoming 2024 election will be especially crucial for working families, both in North Carolina and across the United States. The NC Justice Center created We Work We Vote to inform working voters about key issues at stake this year, such as paid family and medical leave, minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and more. As we face unprecedented challenges—from rising costs of living to the need for affordable childcare to lost income due to Hurricane Helene—it’s time to make our voices heard and demand the change we deserve. 

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, the NC Justice Center has developed a resource page for those impacted by the storm. The page includes resources from organizations based in Western North Carolina, as well as bilingual (Spanish and English) resources from the NC Justice Center on the rights of immigrants and tenants after a disaster. We have compiled partner and community resources for donations and volunteering that have been recommended by either NC Justice Center staff or our partners at Pisgah Legal Services. The NC Justice Center will continue to update this page as new information and resources become available. 

The NC Justice Center’s dedicated staff has been working around the clock since Hurricane Helene made landfall to support impacted North Carolinians. On Thursday, October 10, Senior Staff Attorney Kate Woomer-Deters collaborated with Spanish-language media outlet Enlace Latino NC to share information on the rights of tenants after a disaster, qualifying for FEMA, and more. Later that day, NC Justice Center policy experts hosted A Community-Centered Recovery for Western NC. Panelists reflected on lessons learned from previous disasters and listened to what our most vulnerable communities have to say about policy and funding to advance equitable recovery efforts. 

Advocate Health has announced it will cancel liens and forgive the medical debt associated with them for thousands of patients across the state and country. This exciting news demonstrates the power of everyday people taking action and the role the press can play in pushing for change and accountability. NBC featured a follow-up story sharing the good news of Advocate Health's lien cancellations, which featured Health Advocacy Policy Advocate Rebecca Cerese. Building on this exciting development, the NC Justice Center and other community-based organizations are now taking the lead in urging four other hospitals in North Carolina to follow Advocate Health’s example by canceling liens and all their associated medical debts. 

The NC Justice Center continues the fight to stop House Bill 10, a harmful anti-immigrant measure to which budget adjustments were added at the last minute. The budget adjustments would increase funding for private school vouchers while failing to address important health and safety issues. On September 11, the NC Justice Center-led coalition Every Child NC hosted an advocacy day at the North Carolina General Assembly to speak out against the expansion of the voucher program.

We also created informational videos explaining how HB 10 harms immigrant communities, takes away billions of taxpayer dollars from public schools, and directs resources to unaccountable private schools. The private school vouchers would largely benefit wealthy families during a time when so many of our fellow North Carolinians are hurting after the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene. We encourage North Carolina legislators to uphold Governor Cooper’s veto of the bill and invest our state funds in those who need it most. 

On Tuesday, October 1, the NC Justice Center’s Health Advocacy team hosted an impartial, nonpartisan community education forum where voters heard from North Carolina's Insurance Commissioner candidates. The candidates shared their visions and answered questions about critical issues affecting the lives of North Carolinians, including life, health, home, and auto insurance. You can view a recording of the forum and learn more about both candidates' plans for North Carolina below. 

The NC Justice Center is grateful to the many friends and supporters who joined us for the 2024 Defenders of Justice Awards Gala. We were delighted to celebrate the awardees, and recognize their commitment to eliminating poverty and ensuring the creation of an economy that works for every North Carolinian. The stories shared highlighted the resilience of individuals and communities striving for equity, and it was a privilege to celebrate their achievements with you. 

The North Carolina Justice Center
224 S. Dawson Street  | Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
919-856-2570 | contact@ncjustice.org

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