Down Home NC members are running issue campaigns in their counties to make sure local budgets meet the needs of rural working class people of all races – and this isn’t the first time. For the third year in a row, Down Homies from all over the state came together for a bootcamp training to learn the basics about developing an issue campaign. They then went back to their communities to have conversations, do research, and identify an issue that matters enough – to enough people – that the number of people willing to take action on it will influence local elected officials who make decisions about how funds are allocated.
Last year, the teams involved in this process were able to win more than $34 MILLION in funded programs from their county budgets. We can’t wait to see what happens next for this year’s teams! Learn more about what is happening with this year’s issue campaigns and how you can help build multiracial rural working class power by checking out the county profiles below.
Alamance members win funding for the Family Justice Center.
The Family Justice Center in Alamance County helps thousands of people get the resources they need to be safe each year. Earlier this year, the county commissioners decided not to apply for a federal grant that provides essential funding for this important community service. Down Home members took action by raising awareness about this issue and mobilizing community members to demand that the county commissioners ensure funding through the grant or through budget allocation. On April 21, the Alamance County Commission voted to pursue grant funding for the Family Justice Center up to $500,000.
The chapter will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the funding goes through. To get involved with the Alamance County Down Home NC chapter, click here.
Ashe & Watauga members fight for full recovery.
Although Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina more than seven months ago, the road to recovery continues to be an uphill battle. In the immediate aftermath, Down Homies in Ashe and Watauga counties joined forces with other community organizations to conduct wellness checks; to organize and provide supplies; and to ensure community members were able to vote in the elections last fall. As fall stretched into winter, the same folks found themselves advocating on a national stage to ensure congress provided adequate funding for the monumental recovery efforts. As other chapters work on local issue campaigns, our people have taken a crash course in Community Development Block Grant funding and are working hard to make sure our folks have a seat at the table as big decisions are made and that the recovery helps the multiracial working class rural people of Ashe and Watauga counties rebuild their homes and communities. To get involved, click here for upcoming events in Ashe and Watauga counties.
Down Homies in Cabarrus work for commissioner accountability.
Members in Cabarrus County are taking action to ensure that the county commissioners conduct political appointments in a transparent and democratic fashion. Earlier this year, the Cabarrus County Commission attempted to remove Down Home member Ingrid Nurse from her position on the Planning and Zoning commission. Down Home members came together with the community and successfully prevented this from happening. Since then, there have been other attempts by County Commissioners to remove and reappoint representatives to local boards and committees. Our folks are working hard to raise awareness, get the community involved, and to ensure that multiracial working class rural people have a say in how local government conducts business.
To get involved in Cabarrus County Down Home events, click here.
Franklin fights for public pool funding.
Down Home members in Franklin County started working together last year before they even had a chapter established. In the very first listening session that was held, community members identified the lack of a public pool as a major issue. Over the course of making endorsements for public office and canvassing over 30,000 people in Franklin County to turn out the vote for the 2024 elections, this issue was named again and again by community members as a problem that was important to them.
Fast forward to 2025 — Franklin has officially established a chapter and is well on their way to build support for a public pool. To hear the background on the project, click here for a short video. You can also click here to read a moving letter to the editor submitted by Franklin member Will Hinton about his own terrifying experience as a small child who couldn’t swim. Get involved in the campaign by finding an event here.
Granville has boots on the ground on behalf of solar power.
Down Home members in Granville County are organizing to win federal funds for solar power and recreational opportunites. Although there has been a lot of uncertainty about what will happen to various federal funding streams, Down Homies in Granville are continuing to raise awareness and support through fun events like their “Boots on the ground” dance party and the Graball Field Day coming up. You can stay involved and support their work by finding upcoming events here.
Johnston County members finding new ways to talk about food insecurity.
On Saturday, April 19, Down Home members hosted an historic occasion: the very first Really Really Free Market in Johnston County. This event was planned by Johnston chapter members in order to raise awareness about food insecurity in a new way — by inviting folks to share what they don’t need in order to make more available for everyone. They will be hosting events once a month in different cities in Johnston County as they build support for their campaign to ask County Commissioners to allow food vouchers to be used at local farmer’s markets and to double the funds available for users when they do so. To get involved, you can find upcoming events linked here.
Person chapter members hold commissioners to their promise.
Down Homies in Person County are organizing kids and families to call on the County Commission to make good on their decades-old promise to fund a public swimming pool for the safety and well-being of all.
There are no public swimming facilities in Person County. Families must drive 40 minutes away to reach the closest public swimming facility. This means that many children in working class families are denied the ability to learn swimming and water safety.
To learn more or to support this campaign, click here for upcoming events in Person county.
Pitt chapter works with farmers and community to increase access to healthy food.
Members from the Down Home Pitt County chapter are focusing on fighting food insecurity as well. In order to build their understanding and grow support for this campaign, they have conducted surveys with local farmers; connected with the county commissioner who they endorsed and helped elect in the last election; and gotten the word out through community canvasses.
To learn more or to support this campaign, click here for upcoming events in Pitt county.
Down Homies in Rowan County build coalition to increase resources for young people
Although they don’t have an official chapter (yet!), members in Rowan county are working hard to address the disconnect between available youth resources and those that need them most by advocating for the creation of a youth action agency using a universal prevention model, Communities that Care. So far they’ve connected with youth, parents, teachers, family members, city and county staff, community organizations providing youth services, and other concerned stakeholders to build a coalition that can ensure that the Rowan County Commissioners invest in this community need. To get involved with this campaign you can find upcoming events by clicking here.
Vance county works for repairs to the local Boys and Girls club.
Vance county Down Home members are reaching out to their community to build support for funding that will make important repairs to the local Boys and Girls club. This project would make more recreation and after school activities available for families and community. To find out more or to get involved, find an upcoming event here.
