June 2023

Dear Friend,

Amid our team’s tireless work on behalf of all North Carolinians and the many challenges we’ve faced recently— a contentious legislative session and a nationwide blow to affirmative action at the Supreme Court, to name a few—this June has been a month of celebration. We commemorated Pride Month, a time to honor the LGBTQ+ community's strength, courage, and achievements. We also recognized Juneteenth, a day symbolizing freedom, resilience, and the ongoing fight for racial justice.  

Undoubtedly, these times present us with numerous difficulties, but it is crucial to acknowledge the progress we have made.  

I am proud of all we continue to accomplish together. You have shown up for justice—calling your lawmakers, donating, attending advocacy days, and signing petitions, to name just a few ways you have supported the work of the NC Justice Center. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to ensuring all people in our state have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.  

In solidarity,  

Reggie Shuford 
Executive Director 

New analysis shows many private schools in N.C. have more vouchers than students

Legislative leaders in both the House and the Senate seek to triple the size of North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship voucher program by opening it to wealthy families who have already enrolled their children in private schools. But new data shows that the existing program lacks adequate oversight and is potentially riven with fraud. Senior Policy Analyst Kris Nordstrom analyzed data from the two agencies charged with overseeing private schools and North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship voucher program and found several cases where schools have received more vouchers than they have students, including a private school in Johnston County that was suspended from the program last year and is now facing a potential criminal investigation. Several other private schools have received voucher payments from the state after they have apparently closed. These major discrepancies must be fully addressed before further expanding the program.  

Legal Aid and NC Justice Center settle claims on behalf of farmworkers  

In a major win for labor rights in our state, the North Carolina Justice Center and Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Farmworker Unit successfully assisted three farmworkers in reaching a settlement for their case against farm labor contractors José M. Gracia Harvesting, Inc., José M. Gracia, and Gracia & Sons, LLC (Gracia Defendants) based in Four Oaks, North Carolina, for human trafficking and unpaid overtime wages. The settlement agreement, which recently received approval by U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle, requires the Gracia Defendants to pay the Plaintiffs $102,500, plus attorneys’ fees and costs. Defendants are additionally court-ordered to make extensive changes to how they do business in the future. This case will set a precedent in future labor rights abuse cases, especially in the case of migrant workers who experience threats of deportation should they speak out against their employers. 

On June 29, 2023 the U.S. Supreme Court released a deeply disappointing ruling on two affirmative action cases:  Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. University of North Carolina (UNC) and SFFA v. Harvard College. The 6-3 decision in SFFA v. UNC—in which the North Carolina Justice Center, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Relman Colfax PLLC served as co-counsel for a diverse group of students who intervened in the case—held that both UNC’s and Harvard’s admissions programs violate the Equal Protection Clause.

This ruling will require a complete overhaul of UNC's admissions process, hindering the university's pursuit of the educational benefits of racial and ethnic diversity. While students can still discuss the impact of race on their lives in their applications, this decision impedes the creation of an inclusive and supportive environment for all. North Carolina Justice Center Executive Director Reggie Shuford reaffirmed the organization's commitment to ensuring equity and fairness in education across North Carolina stating, "Our organization will redouble our efforts advocating for equitable educational opportunities in this state and for educational institutions to take all necessary actions to achieve that result within the constraints of the law.”

The NC Justice Center is proud to announce our first two Lifetime Champion of Justice Awardees for this year’s Defenders of Justice Awards Gala. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we announce the remainder of our awardees.

This award is given to celebrate the inspirational work of outstanding leaders in our community who have dedicated their lives to the fight for justice. These few exemplify our mission—they are working to eliminate poverty in North Carolina and to ensure the creation of an economy that works for everyone. They are at the front lines of advancing progressive and inclusive policies that build equity and opportunity in our state. 

Bob Hall, Former Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina 

Bob Hall, Retired Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina and a champion for voting rights for the past three decades, is our first Lifetime Champion of Justice Award honoree. Bob Hall and his colleagues at Democracy North Carolina have co-led coalitional efforts to win same-day voter registration, landmark ethics reforms, public campaign financing programs, pre-registration for teenagers, “Souls to the Polls” Sunday voting, and expanded campaign finance disclosure laws. 

Learn more about Bob Hall's legacy and sponsor the Defenders of Justice Gala today! 

 Deborah Dicks Maxwell, President of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP

Deborah Dicks Maxwell, our second Lifetime of Justice Award honoree, is the first female President of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and a passionate advocate for social justice. With a strong commitment to equity and eliminating racial discrimination, Deborah has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life for all citizens in Southeastern North Carolina. She is a staunch advocate for immigrants’ rights, environmental justice, improved minority health, and criminal justice reform. 

Learn more about Deborah Dicks Maxwell’s legacy and sponsor Defenders of Justice Gala today!

On June 21, 2023, the NC Justice Center supported coalition Every Child NC hosted a rally at the Edenton Street Methodist Church in support of our children’s right to a quality public education. In the wake of efforts within state government to defund public education and redirect funds to private schools, it’s more important than ever for us to stand in solidarity with our state’s educators and students and reject privatization.  

The event was attended by over 200 educators, students, families, and activists all demanding the equitable distribution of taxpayer funds to all NC public schools—especially our rural schools, which often lack the resources necessary to provide students the same opportunities as schools in urban and suburban districts. Several speakers called for the full funding of the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan, as the General Assembly’s current plan for funding schools over the next two years still falls short of the amount laid out in the Leandro plan by half a billion dollars.  North Carolina has the resources to fully fund the Leandro Plan, but is instead considering diverting even more resources to wealthy families whose children already attend private schools 

Watch the full rally here:

Introducing The NC Justice Center's Summer Interns

The NC Justice Center is thrilled to welcome our 2023 Summer Interns who joined us earlier this month: 

From left to right: Anum Imran, George Mason University, Legal Intern; Grace Zelkind, University of Lynchburg, Development Intern; Jasmin Beñas, UNC-Chapel Hill, Health Advocacy Intern; Joy Burnett, North Carolina Central University School of Law, Legal Intern; Priscila Morales, Workers’ Rights Intern, California State University Sacramento; Zoe Terner, Legal Intern, Duke University School of Law. 

Learn more about our 2023 Summer Cohort and see why they chose to spend their summer at the NC Justice Center this year.

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

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