During the Sixth Annual Women of Color Leadership Forum on September 30, 2023, Emancipate NC’s Dawn Blagrove, played a pivotal role in a panel discussion that focused on the challenges faced by rural communities in the Western region of North Carolina. Dawn Blagrove spoke specifically about the voter suppression issues that rural communities face in the state.
The discussion highlighted their unique challenges, such as limited access to lending and other essential resources. People of color and women encounter additional obstacles in such areas. It is worth noting that the Western region of North Carolina has 24 out of its 26 counties designated as rural, thereby presenting specific challenges related to workforce development, access to capital, infrastructure, health, land use, environment, and community preservation. The panel aimed to address these issues and create an avenue for dialogue that will empower allied communities. Please stay tuned for future updates!