Buncombe County,
North Carolina

Findings

Inclusion is a first step toward empowerment.

Government leaders feel a strong and unified commitment to social connection as a driver of civic and economic resilience, expressing that relationships and networks are core infrastructure essential for addressing inequality, building trust, and supporting upward mobility. Events like Asheville’s Community Nights and Coffee with the Councilwoman can help bring community voice into governing. They also pointed to ongoing efforts such as the reparations process, Grassroots Alliances, and storytelling venues like Hell or High Water; however, they acknowledged that empowerment must go beyond inclusion. It requires leadership pipelines, shared data transparency, and consistent follow-up to sustain relationships between government and the public.

Partnerships during a crisis response can serve as a model, but the work is not done.

Officials point to the coordinated recovery following Hurricane Helene as a model of successful intergovernmental teamwork that could be extended to social connection and economic mobility strategies. Participants envisioned creating similar mechanisms (shared goals, transparent communication channels, and community conveners) to align local government, nonprofits, and the private sector.

Residents also noted that after Hurricane Helene, the community saw a surge in collaboration, as reflected in the Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance, which quickly convened regular meetings across sectors to coordinate relief and recovery. This period demonstrated the community’s ability to mobilize and tell positive stories of resilience, yet participants cautioned that some groups – especially Black and Latinx residents and people experiencing homelessness – were left behind and are still struggling. Out-of-town organizations often dominated recovery efforts without deeply engaging local voices. Residents identified small grassroots organizations, community gardens, and public schools as key institutions that anchor connection and provide access to services. These places often serve as both learning environments and gathering spaces, particularly for residents who lack other access points. However, some of these essential hubs have been defunded or lost over time. Residents noted that cross-department collaboration has led to some local successes, such as Emergency Services’ Community Paramedics program and partnerships between schools and tech organizations to expand skills training. Yet, major challenges remain in aligning policy with equity goals. Law enforcement’s handling of the unhoused population revealed gaps in coordination and compassion. Funding inequities persist, with money not flowing to communities most in need, and residents cited frustration with state and federal barriers such as the Department of Justice challenging a local reparations effort that had been approved at the local level.

Mapping assets and resources can support alignment and equity.

There was also a shared emphasis on asset optimization rather than constant expansion. Government leaders discussed a “resource mapping” approach to identify and repurpose existing community infrastructure. For example, libraries can serve as resilience hubs, schools as community centers, and parks as year-round social gathering places that connect residents across backgrounds. They also noted the importance of policy alignment and equitable design. Policies that open access, such as allowing nonprofits to use libraries at no cost, exemplify how regulatory flexibility can expand civic infrastructure. Leaders stressed embedding connection requirements and social capital metrics into strategic plans and budget processes to ensure accountability. Across discussions, there was a shared belief that connection and belonging are not byproducts of good policy. They are the foundation of resilient, equitable governance.

Difficult conversations about racism and poverty take time, commitment, and resilience.

Residents identified systemic racism and intentional poverty as root causes that must be addressed for lasting change. Too often, efforts treat symptoms rather than causes, resulting in fragmented outcomes. Some expressed fatigue with conversations that lead to little visible change. They observed that youth are largely absent from these spaces, which undermines long-term impact. 

Real progress requires connection across lines of income, race, and experience, grounded in accountability and shared power. Residents stressed that meaningful implementation begins at the micro level around tables where people talk, share phone numbers, and commit to follow-up. Social connection takes investment, and without funding for housing, mental health, and basic needs, measurement alone is hollow. Healing cannot occur without honesty and the willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, including the lasting harms of gentrification and exclusion. Change begins through ongoing activity and relationships, not one-off meetings. Healing starts when people feel seen, heard, and valued for their stories rather than treated as data points.