Since January, I have been hitting the ground running. This download is a preview of what is to come and a peek into what weâve been up to this past quarter.Â
So far this year, LPNCâs membership has grown by more than 18%! If you know a local elected official who would benefit from this network, invite them to join Local Progress today. And donât forget, the priorities of our organizing at LPNC is determined by the conditions and needs of our members on the ground. Email me to share whatâs going on in your jurisdiction or schedule a meeting today.Â
đ LPNC Collaborative Governance Academy + Meet & Greet
We are still riding high from coming together with re:power Fund, LEAD NC, Down Home NC, NC Black Alliance, NC Association of Educators after co-hosting a Collaborative Governance Academy (CGA) training in Raleigh on May 30-31. There was so much excitement and gratitude from the 12 local elected officials who attended this training, six of whom became new members of LP. The CGA allowed everyone to connect and show what organizing is all about and that is building strong relationships, wielding political power together and navigating tough decisions while still being human. We had electeds from across the state, from cities, counties, school boards, soil & water districts, and jurisdictions large and small.Â
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đ¤ Data Centers: Taking the Fight Head On!
One thing we know is that not all development is good development. Across NC, many local electeds and communities are realizing that unchecked data center expansion risks will strain our electrical grids, limit water supply, increase noise pollution, and can cost more jobs long-term than it brings. Cities and towns like Mount Airy, Charlotte, Holly Springs, and Asheville as well as counties like Harnett, Durham, Gates and Surry are enacting moratoriums ranging from 60 days to a year.Â
LPNC is working with our organizing committee and partner organizations to support members to find longer-term solutions while they work on temporary moratoriums. We are planning to host a virtual strategy session to educate members on the harms of data centers and the levers they can pull to protect their communities.Â
As a member of Local Progress, you have access to the Help Desk, where you can reach out for support and resources. Keep reading below to learn more about our No Buildout for Billionaires policy memo on stopping data center expansion!Â
⥠NC Delegation to the LP National Convening in BaltimoreÂ
From July 9-11, 25 members and partners from North Carolina attended the National Convening in Baltimore. Together, we reflected on how fearless leadership doesnât mean never feeling afraid, but rather choosing to be courageous for the neighbors and communities we lead. Special thank you to our LPNC Organizing Committee Co-chairs, Asheville Councilmember Kim Roney, and East Spencer Mayor Pro-Tem Shawn Rush for welcoming the NC delegation and Issac Davis, Town Council of Midland for supporting the fashion show with Mayor Pro-Tem Shawn Rush. Read the full recap in our blog here.
đłď¸ LP National Election Protection Webinar: Resilient Systems, Prepared People
As a North Carolina native who came up through grassroots organizing, I know and understand well that we are led by a state legislature that supports the bad preemption that is tying your hands and budgets, engaging in voter suppression, and is actively supporting a federal agenda of authoritarianism. But as proud North Carolinians, itâs important for all of us to connect where we can and learn how local elected officials and leaders can plan for safety concerns that may arise at the polls.Â
Local Progress Impact Lab is ready to help with a series of calls featuring guidance from expert partners on key election protection strategies, with space for individualized support. Join to learn about the threat landscape and ways to build people power and resiliency to defend our right to vote. On August 12, we will kick off the series focused on helping you map your election systems and the people who power them, so you can prevent interference.
Check out the other sessions and the series; donât miss out!Â
- September 2: Messaging for Trust & Combating Disinformation
- September 17: Popular Mobilizations to Defend Democracy
- October 8: Defending Against Voter Intimidation & Election Interference
- October 28: The Home Stretch: Support Before Election Day
đ See You in Charlotte at the Metrolina Meet & Greet!
LPNC is excited to host a regional gathering in Charlotte. This will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow members, partners, and allies, and build relationships across the region over light bites, drinks, and good conversation. Weâll also share brief updates on the work weâre advancing across North Carolina, and create space for members and prospective members to learn about the support and resources available at Local Progress. Most importantly, we hope this is a space to come together, deepen connections, and keep building collective power across the region. Please feel free to share this invitation with others in your network who may be interested.Â
đ You Deserve to Feel Safe While Serving, Develop Your Personal Safety Plan Today!
Over the past two years, Local Progress Impact Lab (the Impact Lab) has been collaborating with Womenâs Democracy Lab (WDL) to develop a set of resources for our Local Progress members. As local leaders, your communities are calling on you to take bold action and fearless leadership in this time of increasing authoritarianism. However, wielding your power can also put a target on your back. You and your loved ones deserve to feel safe while serving in elected office!Â
WDL has developed this personal safety plan, serving as a starting point for assessing your safety preparedness, identifying any potential gaps, and outlining your personal action plans. Download it, work your plan, consult your loved ones. We keep each other safe!
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đť No Buildout for Billionaires: A Local Guide to Stopping, Slowing, and Restricting Data Expansion
Big Tech is spending billions in its race to build data centers across the country â and local communities are paying the price. From strained water and energy resources to spiked utility bills and drained public budgets, the costs fall on working people while corporations pocket the profits.Â
But local governments have real power to fight back. Whether youâre getting ahead of proposed data centers, updating existing laws, or mitigating the impacts of harmful data centers in your community, youâll leave with tools to strengthen public participation, build community power, and ensure decisions about land, water, air, and technology benefit people, not corporations. Check out our guide to stopping, slowing, and restricting data center expansion.
đ¤Â Get Involved with LPNCÂ
We are activating a bold, action-oriented chapter in North Carolina, and we need your energy, ideas, and leadership! Here’s how you can get involved:
- Recruit a new member today! Do you know a values-aligned local elected? Whether they are newly elected or seasoned professionals, we want to hear from them!
- Are you a leader who leads the leaders? Please apply to join the LPNC Organizing Committee.Â
- Email me with any questions or ideas you have to make North Carolina stronger, or schedule a meeting today!Â
Together, we’ll learn from one another, celebrate victories, and support each other through the tough moments. We’ll strengthen connections, share ideas, and create a space where everyone’s voice matters. I’m excited for the journey ahead and grateful to be working alongside such passionate, committed people.
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âśď¸ Pay It Forward! Recruit a New Member Today!
With more than 550 members and partners from 41 states, including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, the 2026 national convening in Baltimore is now in the record books as our largest gathering to date! During the convening, we learned new strategies, shared new resources, and strengthened our bonds and community. As many of you have shared, this network is your political home, where you find the strength and courage to be bold and brave, particularly in this moment! Now, we are asking you to pay it forward! Recruit a member today by sharing the join us form. For movement and labor partners, weâve also developed this guide to support connecting the pipeline from campaign to governance!
đĄ Your One Stop for Caucuses
Trying to remember when the next Pride Caucus General meeting is? Want to join the Black Caucus signal group chat? Or find your caucus playlist? Look no further! Your one-stop shop for all things caucus is right here!Â
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â Need Support? Contact the Help Desk
Have a policy, strategy, or communications question? The Local Progress Impact Lab Help Desk is here to help. Through the Help Desk, members can access policy research, strategic guidance, communications support, connections to fellow Local Progress members, and expertise from trusted partner organizations. Simply email your question and timeline, and an Impact Lab team member will follow up with resources, recommendations, and next steps tailored to your needs.
⨠Meet New Member Harrisburg Mayor Pro-Tem Dr. Erin Banks!
Over the next six months, this Harrisburg council member and Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Erin Banks is focused on continuing the momentum around transparency, accountability, and thoughtful, community-centered decision-making. As a new voice on council, she wants residents to have meaningful opportunities to engage in local government, with processes that are consistent, fair, and accessible. She values and prioritizes pushing forward conversations on responsible growth, infrastructure, traffic solutions, economic development, and expanding opportunities for residents of all ages.
She first learned about Local Progress through fellow elected officials and a community organizer who spoke highly of the organization’s commitment to supporting local leaders with practical resources, policy expertise, and a strong network of peers. As a newly elected official, the Mayor Pro Tem was looking for a supportive political community that valued collaboration, equity, and good governance and she found exactly that with LP. Her favorite moment so far has been attending the LP Convening in Baltimore where she connected with elected officials from across the country facing many of the same challenges. She left with new relationships, practical strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose, and a reminder that local government has the power to create meaningful change when leaders learn from and support one another.
A community psychologist and consultant by trade, she ran for office believing local government should be transparent, accessible, and responsive to the people it serves. It is clear to anyone that meets her that she is bringing the same skills she’s used helping organizations listen to stakeholders and solve complex problems into public service.Â
Many people may know Harrisburg as one of the fastest-growing communities in North Carolina, but what they may not realize is how hard the city has worked to preserve its small-town character through that growth. She has accepted that challenge and opportunity and plans to continue ensuring policy reinforces the delivery of quality services to keep pace with what future demands and growth will be as more people call Harrisburg home.Â