Group work at Instituto

CPC exists to support the work of grassroots leaders, groups and networks throughout Western North Carolina, particularly those whose work promotes racial and economic justice. In the area of economic justice, our partners include both worker-owned cooperative businesses that are creating new income opportunities, and also organizations advocating for workers’ rights, living wage policies, and other economic justice issues. Racial justice partners include organizations that promote power and leadership in communities of color, including African American, Latino, Cherokee and Hmong communities; grassroots groups working to address racial privilege and oppression and reduce racial disparities; and networks that bring people together across racial and cultural lines. Since 2000, CPC has supported more than 150 grassroots groups, community-based organizations and worker-owned businesses across Western North Carolina. Typically, we provide a range of support to between 30 and 50 groups each year. Our grassroots partners from the past two years are listed below, in alphabetical order. Those with websites are linked, and we invite you to visit them and explore some of the incredible grassroots justice work happening in Western North Carolina!

A Safer Walk for Emma, Buncombe County, is a group of people advocating, educating, and raising money for sidewalks in the Emma community.

Adelante Education Coalition is a statewide coalition working for educational equality and access to higher education for immigrant and migrant youth.

African American Coalition of Western North Carolina is a coalition of African American grassroots groups that came together in 2007 to make connections among the region’s African American communities.

Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council partnered with CPC on convening and hosting public dialogues on immigration and on sexual orientation.

Avery Amigos, Avery County, provides information and referral services for Latinos and helps build Latino leadership.

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, in Watauga and surrounding counties, is a collaboration of women involved in small farms who organize the High County Farm Tour and offer workshops on food and food systems for new and seasoned growers.

Bridge to Independence, Buncombe County, is an African American organization that aims to provides intensive services and housing for people transitioning out of prison.

Burnsville Land Community, Yancey County, is a community land trust in Burnsville, formed by a group of Latino and Appalachian residents of a trailer park, who established the trust to co-operatively purchase the land on which their trailer park rests.

Centro Comunitario Hispano Americano, Transylvania County, provides information and referrals for Latinos in Transylvania County and helps build Latino leadership.

Centro de Enlace, Yancey County, serves as an immigrant resource center and cultural center, providing information and referral, community organizing, and support for local projects.

Centro Latino of Caldwell County provides information, referral, services, and advocacy to Latino residents.

Centro Latino y de Solidaridad, Macon County, provides resources to Latinos in the Franklin area.

Channel of Grace, Buncombe County, provides a free Sunday breakfast to housed and homeless people alike, organized by current and former street people in partnership with local faith communities.

Cherokee Healing and Wellness Coalition, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, works to enhance the lives of the people through reclaiming the seven traditional Cherokee values: spirituality, harmony, education, a sense of place, honoring the past, strong character, and a sense of humor.

Cherokee Seven Clans Gadugi, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, supports Cherokee groups, projects, individuals, and community centers with training and assistance in obtaining foundation grants.

Christians for a United Community, Buncombe County, is a coalition of African American and European American churches working on dismantling the root causes of racism and eliminating racial disparities.

Coalición de Organizaciones Latino Americanas (COLA) is a coalition of Latino organizations across 20 counties that organizes gatherings, coordinates advocacy efforts, offers immigrant rights workshops and provides training and support for Latino-led groups.

Emma Family Resource Center, Buncombe County, provides family support to residents of the Emma community.

Emerging Cooperatives, Western NC. CPC staff hold exploratory conversations with community groups considering starting a worker-owned cooperative business.

Grahamtown Team, Rutherford County, is a coalition focusing on the redevelopment of the Grahamtown community in Forest City.

Henderson County Human Relations Council aims to improve relations among people in Henderson County, particularly relations between people of different races and ethnicities.

HOLA, Wilkes County, provides information and referral services for Latino immigrants in Wilkes County.

Home Cleaning Professionals, Buncombe County, is a worker-owned, eco-friendly cleaning business that is owned and controlled by immigrant women.

Immigrant Rights Work, Western NC, includes CPC’s work in areas such as helping groups prepare for and respond to checkpoints and immigration raids, helping immigrants understand their civil rights, and educating non-immigrants about why people come to the US and to Western North Carolina.

Instituto de Desarollo Humano, Haywood County, is a Latino group coming together to build the capacity, skills and educational capacities of local Latino youth and adults.

Just Economics, Buncombe and Transylvania Counties, organizes living wage campaigns, operates a Living Wage Employer Certification Program, and runs a leadership development program for low wage workers.

Justice Initiative, Henderson County, is a multi-racial effort to hold public agencies accountable for ensuring that immigrants’ rights are respected in Henderson County.

Latino Advocacy Coalition, Henderson County, runs a Latino center in Hendersonville with programs focusing on worker advocacy, English language classes, women’s groups, cultural activities, and information and referral.

Latino Business Association, Henderson and Buncombe County, is a network of entrepreneurs that aims to develop and strengthen Latino businesses through training, marketing, and fundraising opportunities.

Latino Steering Committee, McDowell County, works to build bridges between the Latino community and service providers in McDowell County.

Latino Center, McDowell County, is an emerging Latino center in McDowell County which will educate and advocate for the Latino community.

MANOS, Watauga County, is a group of Latinos that has come together to collectively meet the needs of Latinos in the county and advocate for immigrants’ rights.

Neighbors in Ministry, Transylvania County, is a multi-racial organization offering an academic mentoring program, parent empowerment and racial equity training.

Nuestro Centro, Buncombe County, is a Latino center that provides advocacy opportunities, information and referral to Latinos in the greater Asheville area.

One Dozen Who Care, Cherokee County, is an African American women’s organization that conducts an annual Multicultural Women’s Development Conference, youth mentoring, and educational and cultural programs.

Opportunity Threads, Burke County, is a worker-owned cut and sew textile plant run by immigrant workers in Morganton.

Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, Haywood County, is a multi-racial organization that conducts a summer youth enrichment program, computer classes, community dinners, and cultural events.

Pisgah View Community Peace Garden, Buncombe County, is an organic garden organized by residents of an Asheville public housing community; it provides fresh produce, supplemental income, and learning opportunities through practicing and promoting sustainable agriculture.

REACH of Clay County provides services for women who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault; they run a women’s shelter, provide crisis counseling and information and referral, and women’s economic empowerment.

Salsaria Doña So, Transylvania County, is a co-operatively run Latina business that makes and sells Mexican chili sauce.

Servicio de Centro Latino, Mitchell County, is a Latino center in a very rural county that provides information and referral services, a women’s group, and other important resources for local Latinos.

Shiloh Community Association, Buncombe County, is an African American community improvement organization in Asheville’s historic Shiloh neighborhood.

Swannanoa Pride Community Coalition, Buncombe County, is a group that has come together to shape development and preserve heritage in the Swannanoa Valley.

Tabernacle Enrichment Corporation, Buncombe County, is an African American group in Asheville’s Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church that has started an after-school program.

Tortilleria el Progreso, Yancey County, is a community-based tortilla making business run by Latina women in Burnsville.

Workers’ Center of Western North Carolina provides educational resources, support, referral and advocacy services to low-wage and immigrant workers in Western North Carolina.