While Just Economics has been preparing for new transitions as an organization, we have continued to educate, advocate and organize for a more just and sustainable local economy that works for all in WNC. We have continued to advance living wages, affordable housing and better transit making a difference in our community. Here is what we have been able to accomplish so far:
In the first half of 2026, through our Living Wage Certification Work, we:
- Certified 8 NEW Employers and recertified more than a hundred employers after the Hurricane Helene criteria exemption
- Recorded $912,000 in raises given to meet program criteria
- Hosted a great employer networking event
- Worked with several employers on the road to Dual Certification with Living Wage for US …stay tuned for updates
In our work to improve Public Transit, we:
- Led the Asheville Regional Transit Coalition’s work to protect transit funding in the Asheville City budget!
- Advocated with riders around the City of Asheville’s Comprehensive Operational Analysis plan for transit
- Hosted a Transit Gathering to engage riders new to our work
In our work on Affordable Housing, we:
- Continued to co-lead the Buncombe Affordable Housing Network and worked with partners and the City of Asheville on the beginnings of an Anti-Displacement tool
- Engaged in the leadership of Buncombe County Long-Term Recovery Group and advocated for the efficient use of disaster recovery funding in housing
- Hosted a Tenants Rights Training in partnership with Pisgah Legal Services
In our work for Wages and Worker Justice, we:
- Continued advocating for higher wages for lowest paid City staff
- Co-organized a May Day rally with an estimated crowd of 1,000 attendees and organized several food distribution sites in light of school closures
- Continued supporting solidarity actions supporting local labor unions
- Hosted a screening of the film Without Shade, Without Rest in partnership with We Count and Working Films with over 75 attendees
- Continued to convene the WNC Workers Assembly
- Hosted a Young Workers Organizing Training in collaboration with Labor South
In our Policy Advocacy Work, we:
- Advocated for higher wages for the lowest paid workers at the City of Asheville
- Engaged deeply in statewide disaster recovery efforts and helping to win a FEMA extension
- Engaged in efforts to advocate for a Well Being State Budget and co-hosted two Well Being Budget Workshops with the NC Budget and Tax Center
- Supported policy efforts put forth by our teams of people with lived experience in transit, housing and worker justice
In our Grassroots Education and Engagement work, we:
- Graduated 12 people from our spring virtual Voices for Economic Justice cohort!
- Facilitated a Poverty Simulation and a Public Budgets Workshop
- Hosted 2 Voices Gatherings to bring together current and past graduates and build community
The Living Wage Coalition of Transylvania County:
- Certified a NEW Employer as paying a living wage and recertified dozens of employers
- Fought alongside Transylvania County Association of Educators and joined them in Raleigh for May Day
- Continued our partnership with Sparkpoint to promote health & wellness in local economies through economic justice