Phone banking, planning, and petitioning, oh my! Driving over to my first day at the Democracy Winston- Salem office, I did not know what to expect. Would we start immediately? What would be the focus of this summer? However, from the moment I walked in the office, I knew that this summer would be a [...]
This first week of Democracy Summer foreshadows that this will be one of the most productive summers for Facia and me. We have been working hard, and already have much of our schedule for the next two months planned. Throughout the week, we worked on getting petition signatures and finding activists to attend Mega Moral [...]
Hi! I’m Cassandra Perkins, “Cassy.” I’m a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill studying Political Science and Journalism. Having grown up in Bethesda, MD, working in Eastern NC will be a whole new adventure for me. I’m excited to learn about the current issues facing NC and work with the community to create change! Hi! I'm Martina [...]
One of the most fundamental lessons a student should learn is how their government works. With youth voter turnout at record lows and the general lack of student civic knowledge becoming fodder for late night comedians, it is imperative that students across the state have equitable access to the programs that provide the opportunity to [...]
The movement against the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling continues to gain strength across the nation. Twelve states have already introduced resolutions at the state level calling on Congress to overturn the controversial decision, and there are efforts underway to make Wisconsin number thirteen. Similar efforts are underway here in N.C. To date, fourteen [...]
The NC General Assembly is seeking increased control over local governments through bills that would prevent mayors and city councils from deciding what’s best for their communities. An article on Bloomberg’s Businessweek.com highlights two bills, one that would take way Asheville’s ability to manage their own water supplies, and one that would take management of [...]
The NC NAACP is leading another Pray In / Teach In today, calling for justice and fair treatment for all North Carolinians. According to WRAL.com, the NAACP sent out a release announcing nonviolent civil disobedience that will begin today at 3:45pm with a press conference at Davie Street Presbyterian Church. After that, clergy, professors, students [...]
Hundreds of every day North Carolinians are meeting with lawmakers in Raleigh today, advocating for things like economic and social justice, access to quality, affordable healthcare, ending violence against women and protecting voting rights. Lobby days are more important than ever. It is vital that concerned citizens to come together to walk the legislature's halls, [...]
In 2004, North Carolina established the nation’s first effective public financing program for judicial elections. The Judicial Public Campaign Fund addresses the inherent conflict of judges raising big money from attorneys who appear in their courts. It provides an alternative source of campaign money for candidates for the NC Supreme Court and Court of Appeals [...]
North Carolina seems poised to become the next state to pass a controversial voter photo ID law despite overwhelming opposition at a public hearing held in Raleigh this week. Supporters say voter ID is needed because of the imminent threat voter fraud poses to our democracy, with scores of illegally cast ballots cancelling out legitimate votes. However, [...]