Welcome to the Local Progress North Carolina (LPNC) State Download!Ā
Iām Chad Radock, Local Progressā Associate Organizing Director, and the manager of the North Carolina chapter of Local Progress!Ā I am so excited to be working with such a storied state chapter! In the coming year, we hope to hold a few recruitment events across the state as well as a Progressive Governance Academy in Greensboro, and a state strategy meeting to coalesce around priorities for the state chapter later in the year.Ā
Always feel free to contact me for anything related to Local Progress, its expertise and resources, and I look forward to helping you access the support you need to govern in your community!Ā
LPNC is excited to offer a North Carolina Progressive Governance Academy (PGA) February 7 – 8, 2025 at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro.Ā
The Progressive Governance Academy exists to ensure that local elected officials around the country who align with our values have the resources, assets, tools, and skills they need to become powerful and effective leaders. The program is jointly hosted by Local Progress, re:power Fund, and State Innovation Exchange.Ā Ā
This training will be in-person and is specifically designed for local elected officials. Weāll dive deep into a range of modules including:Ā
- Collaborative Governance
- Power mappingĀ
- Agenda setting
- Self-Care
Whether you are newly elected, serving your first term, or just want to strengthen your leadership skills, we encourage you to register TODAY!
š Fayetteville Establishes a Community Responder Program
While traffic stops of black and brown people are on the rise in Fayetteville, causing disparate impacts on the community, Mario Benavides, LPNC Organizing Committee Member and Fayetteville Councilmember, happily announces that the city has created the Office of Community Safety.Ā
Based on a model from Durham, OCS will focus on four main pillars. One is providing professional, alternative mental health support as authorities are responding to mental health crisis calls. The office will also work on violence prevention, youth engagement, and reducing homelessness. The Fayetteville City Council is directing the city manager to use more than $200,000 to establish the office, including hiring a director to lead the OCS.
Ā
š” 100 New Affordable Housing Units in Durham County!
Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and LPNC Organizing Committee Member, and Chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners, Nida Allam, celebrated the ground breaking of Durhamās Lofts Southside, a 100 unit affordable housing project focused on housing people who are at 60% of the median income for the county, making it possible for 100 families to find quality, affordable housing in Durham County.Ā
āFor too long, affordable housing has been overlooked. We are laying the groundwork for something transformational.ā Said County Commission Chair, Nida Allam.
First elected in 2020, Kim Roney, Asheville City Councilmember, and member of the LPNC Organizing Committee has had a very challenging year. With Hurricane Helene having rampaged through her beloved city, Kim has been busy digging out and rebuilding, slowly attempting to get back to normal. One of the first steps was winning re-election to her seat as the first openly queer member of the Asheville City Council.
Kim ran and won on a platform of affordability in housing, utilities and transportation, something that has remained a focus throughout her tenure with the council. Kim also has prioritized working with the community on initiatives that would work to restore the tree canopy above the city, restoring neighborhoods, and ensuring fair water rates by investing in infrastructure, and stormwater mitigation.Ā
Kimās leadership with our state chapter has been inspiring, keeping the LPNC network at the forefront of her mind, providing needed insight and perspective to our leadership, Kim is always able to jump in and lend her expertise and know how to recruit members in her area of the state, as well as in NC at large.
āļø Recruit New Members
Our members are our best recruiters! Do you know of a community or labor organization that is values aligned and endorses local candidates?Ā Do you know a local elected official in North Carolina who could benefit from the Local Progress network? Have them sign up HERE or Send an email to the North Carolina Chapter Manager Chad Radock, to learn more about how Local Progress can support them!
Ā
ā Apply to join our Organizing Committee
Local Progress North Carolina is in the process of recruiting for our Organizing Committee! This committee guides the priorities for the state and works closely with Local Progress staff to ensure that the Local Progress North Carolina work is values-aligned and reflective of our larger state membership. If youāre interested in learning more about this Committee, email Chad here!
š° ARPA Deadline is Fast Approaching!
Leaders across the Local Progress network seized American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronaivrus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) for recovery programs informed by the principles of advancing equity, reimagining public safety and advancing workerās rights. The deadline for local governments to obligate ARPA SLFRF funds is December 31, 2024. Remember, budgeting is not the same as obligating. For more information about what obligating means, check out this resource.Ā
š§° Resources & Opportunities
The incoming Trump administration has promised to implement policies that will attempt to undo all the progress we have made toward building a more just multi-racial democracy. We know that a second Trump Presidency will be even more destructive than the first. We also know that weāre capable of meeting the moment. Local Progress members were at the forefront of fighting back during the first Trump Presidency, and as we approach another four years, itās up to us to defend our communities and our democracy. Local Progress and Local Progress Impact Lab have designed a toolkit for local elected officials that outlines strategies to navigate the threats posed by an authoritarian regime: LP Toolkit for Local Elected Officials in Second Trump Administration
And check out this new policy memo: Unpacking the McKinney-Vento Act: Understanding Your School Districts’ Obligation to Students Experiencing Homelessness
This year, weāve hosted an incredible series of Policy & Strategy Primers, which are virtual learning sessions designed especially for new members and newly elected folks. Visit the site for upcoming trainings and in the meantime, browse through our resources library here.
ā¤ļø Join an LP Caucus!
LP now has three established identity-based Caucuses: the Black Caucus, Womenās Caucus, Nuestro Caucus, as well as one newly forming caucus: the Pride Caucus! Each caucus represents a space for healing justice, community building and policy organizing with other members who share your lived experience. For LGBTQ+ members, we are calling on you to fill out our survey and join a listening session. The survey can be found here, and stay tuned for our next listening session dates in the new year!
Local Progress Black Caucus is hosting a post-election call on January 29 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET, where we will take time to talk about what this coming year will look like for all of us AND what tools we collectively have to take action and support one another. This call will be an opportunity to process questions or feelings you might be having going into 2025 in a safe space but will also ground us in the tools and systems of support that we have as part of this LP Black Caucus. Register here.
We are also excited to announce that on February 12 at 3pm PT / 6 pm, we are hosting our first All Caucus member call. This will be a space to reflect on the lessons learned over the last 5 years of caucus development, preview our plan for restructuring caucus staffing support and to do some healing justice and renewal work together. Register here.Ā
Just announced: our 2025 National Convening will be in Chicago, IL on July 10-12! Local Progressās annual National Convening is a space to exchange ideas, seek inspiration, and strategize together. Itās the place to feel seen in our struggles and affirmed in our resolve and resilience, and, most importantly, to find support and share joy ā especially in the darkest moments. Information on registration, financial aid, and logistics is forthcoming but, for now, save the date to join us!
We are organizing a partners pipeline briefing to connect the existing movement pipeline to support the transition from candidate to elected as they step in these new roles to lead and govern. During this briefing, partners will:
- Learn about LP and the Impact Lab’s network and our strategic framework.
- Learn about the impact of LP and the Impact Labās work.Ā
- Gain an understanding of how they can support the movement pipeline from candidate to governance.Ā
Please feel free to call or email with any questions, comments or concerns. Weāre here to help! I look forward to working with our North Carolina chapter over the course of 2025!Ā Keep in touch!
