Buncombe Community Remembrance Project: October, 2022 Special Edition

Important Events to Share

It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes important events are announced or we get information about them after the deadline of our monthly edition. With the midterm elections only 32 days away, and early voting beginning in just 13 days, it also is appropriate to share the latest on that front as well.
Please check out the following and, as always, feel free to share any or all of this e-newsletter with everyone you think might be interested.

Ron Katz
Editor

Calls to Action or Engagement

1. UNCA is offering “Tearing Hatred from the Sky: Leading the way toward social change” with Bree Newsome Bass on Thursday, October 13th at 7 pm in Highsmith Student Union, Blue Ridge Room. This event is open to the UNCA Community and general public. Get details about the event and speaker here. For parking, please see this link for details. 
2. Two “Souls to the Polls” planning events are upcoming. One for WNC (on the 10th) and statewide (on the 17th) are strategy sessions being led by the NC Black Alliance, 7:30 pm each evening. These are both virtual events. Get some details and register here. 
3. The Asheville Downtown Association is offering a candidate forum for Asheville Mayor and City Council, October 17th, 6:30 pm, in the Century Room at Pack’s Tavern. Get details here.
4. Voter Mobilization Rally is coming to the mountains!  Local organizers from the NC Poor People’s Campaign are bringing Rev. William Barber II to lead this rally, October 22nd, 4 pm. The rally is scheduled for First Congregation United Church of Christ, 20 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Additional details can be found here.  
5. UNC Asheville Chancellor Nancy Cable & the PEAK Academy invite you to “Better Together: An Evening With Author and Inspirational Speaker Chris Singleton”, Wednesday, October 26th, beginning at 5 pm. Get details here for this event. (Note: While the flyer asks for RSVPs by October 1st, it appears you can still register for this event.)
6. If you’re an unaffiliated voter, the Mountain Xpress is asking for your help to improve its coverage of local elections and politics. They want to better understand the concerns and motivations of people outside the party system in Western North Carolina. By completing their short survey at avl.mx/c1u, you can teach them more about the biggest voting bloc in WNC.
7. If you have a group that is interested in a presentation that will help members of the group better navigate voting this year, email Ron Katz. That presentation will offer ways to address any questions people have. 
8. Finally, one of the ways to be prepared for this election as well as take action to support others is offered through this google doc. It is generally updated every day or so until Election Day.

Candidate Information

Once you have your sample ballot and view the candidates which will be on your ballot, you can get candidate information through the following:

• Vote411 offers good information on candidates for the midterm elections. In counties like Buncombe County, the local chapter of the League of Women Voters has done an excellent job in trying to connect with candidates. When you enter your address, the races on the ballot are listed, and you can see candidate information from those that completed the questionnaire.
• Common Cause NC has created this Voter Guide for your consideration. As with Vote411, enter your address, and the races on your ballot will appear. They pose some questions to candidates that can provide some insight into their positions on important issues.
• Here is the Candidate Guide for those running for the NC General Assembly in WNC and US House District 11 produced by Carolina Jews for Justice-West. Please share this widely with those living in our mountains. 
• Finally, there are likely to be races on your ballot where candidate  information is not easy to find. A tried and true method that some use is to contact several trusted friends, particularly those who share your values, and get their opinion on the candidates in those races. 

Pandemic Resources

COVID-19 and its variants remain a concern. Buncombe County has created this webpage that provides information and resources to help our community. The state of North Carolina provides this page as well.

Additionally, the NC Black Alliance offers this webpage dedicated to the latest information on COVID-19 for members of the Black community.