All For NC Newsletter

• For years, people in southeastern NC have been dealing with contaminated water from the Chemours chemical plant in Fayetteville. When news broke that Chemours was poised to transfer even more harmful chemicals to the plant, people and organizations including Cape Fear River Watch rallied to halt the transfer. Their efforts succeeded; on November 29th, the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew approval of Chemours’ plans. 
   
• The NC Office of Digital Equity and Literacy plans to invest $14 million in partnerships to help North Carolinians afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices and get access to digital literacy courses. They are seeking proposals from nonprofits, local governments, county libraries, K-12 school systems, higher education institutions and regional groups working to develop or expand digital equity projects. The deadline to apply is January 22, 2024.  
   
• November 20th was Transgender Day of Remembrance, and across the state, people gathered to remember lives lost to anti-trans violence. This year, as NC passed a slate of discriminatory legislation, efforts to protect and uplift the trans and gender-nonconforming community are more important than ever. As Equality NC wrote, “Our tragedies do not define us. We have culture and resilience. Trans people have always existed and will always exist, and the world is better because of it.” 
   
• NC FIELD is dedicated to meeting needs defined by farmworkers and their families in eastern NC, so when the community identified food access as a problem, NC FIELD leapt into action. This new video shows the impact of NC FIELD’s work to distribute food to farmworkers and their families while recognizing that “the reason that we have to implement these programs is because there is a systemic issue.” 
   
• Off the NC coast, a restoration effort is underway to protect Sugarloaf Island, Morehead City’s vital protective barrier island, from erosion. The North Carolina Coastal Federation and several partners have spent two years preparing for the effort, which includes installation of seagrass, plants and oyster reefs as well as the creation of 1,200 offshore devices that protect the shoreline by diffusing wave energy.
   
• Eight outdoor entrepreneurs in western NC will get coaching and support to grow their businesses through Mountain BizWorks’ annual business accelerator, which launched last month. From nature adventures for elders to custom headwear to premium kayak paddles, these businesses will expand the already strong outdoor recreation economy and community in the region.
   
• When someone accused of a crime in NC is unable to pay court fees, officials often attempt to force payment by converting the debt into a “civil judgment.” This practice comes with harsh consequences: unpaid civil judgments cause seizure of tax refunds, barriers to expunging criminal records, and difficulty finding housing and employment. A new report from Forward Justice, Center for Responsible Lending and the NC Justice Center shows that it doesn’t have to be this way. A process for waiving fees already exists, and the report suggests that following that process for people who cannot pay is the best way to alleviate debt burden. 

• ZSR Trustees approved $19.9 million in grants within our State-Level Systemic Change strategy at our November board meeting.
   
• Starting in January, Senior Program Officer Sorien Schmidt will become ZSR's Director of Strategy and Learning. This is a new position at ZSR. In this role, Sorien will direct our programmatic work and help operationalize our commitment to being a learning organization. Please join us in congratulating Sorien on her promotion!
   
• We welcomed Barbara Gorham, Human Resources Administrator, to the team in October. Barbara is the first person to hold this position, and we are thrilled to have her aboard.