In this week's update:
- 2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda Survey
- Veto Override Vote Scheduled for HB 10
- Action Alert - Western NC Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium
- NC Supreme Court Race Remains Close
- NC Justice System Virtual Briefing
- In this Together - Essential Resources for LGBTQ+ Communities
- November is Native American Heritage Month/29th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration
- Coping with Election Stress: NASW-NC Toolkit
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2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda Survey
The NASW-NC Legislative Committee is seeking input into NASW-NC's 2025 Legislative Agenda. This Legislative Agenda will guide the legislative and policy work of NASW-NC in the 2025 long legislative session.
The Legislative Committee will review results and submit a draft Legislative Agenda to the NASW-NC Board of Directors. A final Legislative Agenda will be announced in January 2025.
Click here to take the brief survey! Please submit your responses by Friday, December 6th.
Questions? Contact Lauren Zingraff, Director of Advocacy & Policy at advocacy.naswnc@socialworkers.org or 919-828-9650.
Veto Override Vote Scheduled for HB 10
The NC General Assembly will be returning on November 19th and has scheduled an override vote on Governor Cooper’s veto of HB 10. The bill would increase private school voucher funding and require sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a news release, Cooper called the vouchers “the biggest threat to public schools in decades.” Read more about the bill here from WUNC. The bill will harm North Carolina’s immigrant communities. Contact your NC House representative and ask that they vote to sustain Governor Cooper’s veto of HB 10.
Action Alert - Western NC Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium
Hurricane Helene was the most catastrophic hurricane in NC history, leaving a wake of destruction in Western North Carolina. Many businesses were destroyed, washed away, or were closed for at least most of October due to a lack of water and utilities. Schools and childcare centers were also closed creating additional barriers for working parents. Many Western North Carolinians were left without income for October and beyond and are unable to pay rent for November. Furthermore, the NC General Assembly did not allocate adequate funding for rental assistance in the first two relief bills. While many residents are facing eviction, local organizations, mutual aid networks, and faith communities have to piecemeal together funds for rental assistance to keep people in their homes. With the lack of rental assistance and delays in accessing allocated funds, Western North Carolinians need an immediate eviction moratorium, and the NC General Assembly needs to include a much more significant amount of rental assistance in another relief bill when they return November 19th.
The NC General Assembly is in the process of crafting another relief and recovery bill right now leading up to their upcoming session on November 19th. This is the time to advocate for the necessary protections for North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.
Contact your local representatives in the NC House and Senate. Look them up here.
NC Supreme Court Race Remains Close
Via The News & Observer
In the close race for a seat on the state Supreme Court, Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs on Wednesday trailed Republican Jefferson Griffin by fewer than 8,000 votes. Counties have until Friday to count the remaining eligible ballots, which also include those from military and overseas residents — as well as over 60,000 provisional ballots, though it’s unlikely that all of those will count. Voters cast a provisional ballot for a variety of reasons, like if they try to vote at the wrong precinct on Election Day or don’t bring a photo ID to the polls. County elections staff research each one after the election to determine whether it counts.
There are two state House seats within the recount margin. Democrats are precariously poised to break Republicans’ House supermajority by one seat, which would prevent the GOP from passing legislation over the Democratic governor’s veto without support from across the aisle.
NC Justice System Virtual Briefing
The NC Justice Center will be hosting a virtual Zoom meeting on Wednesday, November 20, at noon to discuss the results of the election and the impact it will have on our neighbors throughout North Carolina, particularly those who are marginalized. Learn about the NC Justice Center’s plans in 2025 as they work to ensure every North Carolinian can live prosperously.
In this Together - Essential Resources for LGBTQ+ Communities
From the Human Rights Campaign:
Many in our community are experiencing the heaviness of recent events and a range of emotions including fear, anger, sadness, grief, hopelessness, and exhaustion. These emotions are real, and we feel them too. No matter the circumstances, our community is in this together. Though the path ahead may be uncertain, we remain committed to a future where everyone is seen, heard, and valued.
HRC will be carefully monitoring the actions of the new administration, and we will be fighting back against any policy changes that can create harm or hardship for our community. We will share updates about what’s happening and how you can join us in defending against attempts to roll back our hard-fought progress toward equal rights for our LGBTQ+ community.
Download this resource as a PDF.
(Source: HRC Facing the Future Togther)
November is Native American Heritage Month
29th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration
Friday, November 22, and Saturday, November 23, 2024
FREE EVENT
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
While the North Carolina Museum of History is closed for renovation, this year's festival is being held at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Activities will take place on the Bicentennial Plaza and inside the museum.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
The AIHC—with support from its community partners, the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs and the North Carolina American Indian Commission—has been the culminating event in honor of American Indian Heritage Month in North Carolina for more than 25 years.
The AIHC consists of a virtual education day on Friday and an in-person festival on Saturday. The celebration highlights traditional and contemporary artistic, historical, and cultural contributions of American Indian communities in North Carolina. The consistent theme and message of AIHC, as expressed by its advisory board, is visibility: Indigenous people are still here!
To learn more about Native America History Month. Click HERE.
Read the White House A Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2024
Coping with Election Stress: National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Toolkit
We are living through uncertain times due to the 2024 election, and this may generate feelings of stress or anxiety for us and for the clients we serve. NASW-NC has added to this toolkit, originally created by NASW-MA, to act as a resource guide for social workers in helping their clients, communities, and themselves, cope with the election. We hope these resources help you to build a support network, prioritize self-care, and practice empathy in these unpredictable environments.
Click here to view the toolkit!
Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.
Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.
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