Building Power by Solving Problems

Grantee pivots to crisis response amid electoral push

In the fall of 2024, Down Home North Carolina was in the middle of a massive electoral mobilization. Then Hurricane Helene hit. Homes were destroyed, and many residents were left without electricity, potable water, or passable roads.

Organizers in hard-hit Ashe and Watauga counties immediately shifted to disaster response. Using their deep knowledge of the communities and geographies of storm-impacted rural areas, they organized volunteers who crossed flooded creeks to deliver supplies and help residents access essential information.

Base building pays off

For years, Down Home has been developing local leaders, building relationships, and creating communities that care for each other. It was this base that enabled them to quickly add disaster recovery. For example, Down Home-endorsed local candidates were on the frontlines from the moment the storm passed, marshaling their resources and connections to provide relief.

Helene highlighted the vital role that government plays in our lives, including whether it provides the necessary resources to mitigate and recover from disasters. In the weeks after the storm, Down Home canvassers resumed their efforts to mobilize rural voters, talking to people about the election, sharing relief resources, and building momentum to sustain advocacy efforts throughout what will be an extensive recovery. As residents face the “second storm” of disinformation, housing instability, and predatory development, Down Home chapters will need to continue to flex their power to ensure that the government provides the tools working people need and that residents know how to access them.

More effective engagement

Down Home’s disaster response work made their voter engagement more effective because it builds their membership, develops stronger leaders, and brings people together who are committed to long-term disaster recovery that protects the region’s rich history. Their approach helped elect a pro-democracy governor, break the supermajority in the statehouse, and elect a pro-public school Superintendent of Public Instruction and 40 “Public School Strong” candidates.