Community Reparations Commission July 2024 Update
The next meeting of the Community Reparations Commission is scheduled for Monday, July 15, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Banquet Hall, 87 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville.
The Commission’s meeting agendas, generally posted 3-5 days prior to the meeting, can be found at www.ashevillenc.gov/department/city-clerk/boards-and-commissions/reparations-commission.
Where to Watch
All meetings will be streamed on the City’s YouTube Page, Buncombe County’s Facebook page, and the City’s Engagement HUB. You can hear more about the work of the Impact Focus groups on WRES radio’s “Buncombe County’s Tapped In” show every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:30 until noon at wresfm.com.
Follow the Community Reparations Commission’s progress as they work to make short, medium, and long-term recommendations to Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Commissioners. You can access the Reparations Project Page at PublicInput.com/avlreparations.
Regular Scheduled Meetings
The regular meeting schedule is the third Monday at 6:00 p.m. and will be held at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Banquet Hall located at 87 Haywood Road, Asheville (downtown). Members of the public are welcome to attend.
Background
On September 14, 2020, the Asheville City Council passed a resolution supporting community reparations for Black Asheville. The resolution calls for the city manager to, “establish a process within the next year to develop short, medium and long term recommendations to specifically address the creation of generational wealth and to boost economic mobility and opportunity in the black community.”
The Community Reparations Commission is empowered to make short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations that will make significant progress toward repairing the damage caused by public and private systemic racism. The task of the Reparations Commission is to issue a report in a timely manner for consideration by the City and other participating community groups for incorporation into their respective short-term and long-term priorities and plans.
In an effort to repair the harm done by decades of discrimination, the city manager and city staff have recommended a 3 phase process that includes: Information Sharing and Truth-Telling; Formation of a Reparations Commission; and Finalize and Present the Report.
The members of the Reparations Commission were appointed by Asheville City Council on March 8, 2022 and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on March 15, 2022.
Impact Focus Area Meetings
The five Impact Focus Area workgroups, based on the charge in the City Council’s resolution made on July 14, 2020, included Criminal Justice, Economic Development, Education, Health & Wellness, and Housing. The work groups were responsible for analyzing detailed information on the impact focus area and reporting key findings to the full commission.
As of June 30, 2024, the IFA Focus meetings have ended. The Commission members have completed their charge of creating and voting on recommendations created within their respective IFA’s.
Definitions of Reparations Include:
- The action of repairing something.
- The making of amends for wrong or injury done.
- The making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged.
Defining Reparations for the Community
Reparations for Asheville and Buncombe County, NC looks like a commitment to:
- Restoring dignity to Black Asheville and Buncombe County residents.
- Restoring voice to Black Asheville and Buncombe County residents.
- Restoring what was taken away from Black Asheville and Buncombe County residents.
Contact
For more information, please contact Sala Menaya-Merritt, Director of Equity and Inclusion, at (828) 232-4517 or by email to [email protected].
Stay up-to-date at publicinput.com/avlreparations.
For the latest information, and to watch past meetings, go to www.ashevillenc.gov/department/city-clerk/boards-and-commissions/reparations-commission.
