Common Appalachian

Buncombe County Democrats Continue Weekly Demonstrations in Weaverville

In the heart of Southern Appalachia, the mountain town of Weaverville, North Carolina, boasts a passionate core of democrats protesting against…

Oct 30 • 

Jeffrey Howard

9

1

'No Kings': Hundreds Rally in Trump Country to Defend Democracy in Morganton

Roughly 700 gathered in Morganton, North Carolina for a “No Kings” protest organized by non-partisan Indivisible Burke NC, challenging President Trump’s…

Oct 18 • 

Jeffrey Howard

11

1

Indivisible Burke NC Returns to Downtown Morganton This Weekend with “No Kings” Rally

Burke County residents are gathering Saturday for peaceful "No Kings" rally, continuing an Appalachian tradition of collective action and community…

Oct 15 • 

Jeffrey Howard

8

1

Nonprofit Hands of Hope Continues Aiding Hispanic Families Post-Hurricane Helene

Hands of Hope’s food pantry feeds roughly 75 families weekly, and its legal assistance supports Hispanic families amidst more aggressive ICE raids and…

Oct 12 • 

Jeffrey Howard

4

Mountain Aid Project Moves into New Headquarters, Expands 'Inclusive' Mission

The Morganton-based group providing relief to Western North Carolina since Hurricane Helene will soon be a cafe with locally-sourced goods and a…

Oct 2 • 

Jeffrey Howard

5

2

August 2025

Common Appalachian at Two-and-a-Half Years, and What's Next

Covering social change and Appalachian solidarity, Common Appalachian is a chronicle of the activists, leaders, community members, and change-makers who…

Aug 27 • 

Jeffrey Howard

7

7

July 2025

Foothills Conservancy's Founding Executive Director Reflects on 30 Years of Land Protection

From fighting a $14 million land deal to taking on Duke Energy, Foothills Conservancy's founding executive director Susie Hamrick Jones reflects on 30…

Jul 16 • 

Jeffrey Howard

4

1

12,000-Acre Hickorynut Mountain Could Become Western NC's Newest Protected Wilderness

Foothills Conservancy is raising $28 million to protect Hickorynut Mountain's 12,000 acres in McDowell County, perhaps western North Carolina's largest…

Jul 10 • 

Jeffrey Howard

6

June 2025

What We Lose When Everything Gets Sold

From church attendance and homemade goods to poetry readings and local activism, many things only flourish when beyond the reach of market forces that…

Jun 25 • 

Jeffrey Howard

7

3

Indivisible Burke County Organizes 600-Person Democracy Rally at Historic Courthouse Square

Nearly 600 rallied at Burke County's Historic Courthouse Square to protest Trump policies threatening democracy, LGBTQIA+ rights, and social programs…

Jun 15 • 

Jeffrey Howard

7

4

April 2025

Mr. Catawba Valley Pride Talks Impact of Trump Presidency on the Queer Community

Tim Tenor, the current reigning Mr. Catawba Valley Pride, discusses the heightened fears experienced by the LGBTQIA+ community under Trump’s second…

Apr 15 • 

Jeffrey Howard

5

1

March 2025

Multiple Wildfires Devastate Hurricane-Ravaged Polk County

Polk County's wildfire response has been severely complicated by Hurricane Helene's aftermath, with emergency officials battling three fires across…

Mar 24 • 

Jeffrey Howard

6

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