Across western North Carolina, residents are working alongside local government, churches and other organizations to identify where people are being left offline and find ways to connect them.
In this episode, we look at what it takes to build that kind of community infrastructure — and what becomes possible when people have access to it.
We’ll hear from two people who have been working on these questions for years.
Terri Wells is a Buncombe County Commissioner whose family has lived in the rural community of Sandy Mush for nine generations.
Broadband access in her community was one of the main issues that eventually led her to run for public office.
Sara Nichols is the Energy and Economic Development Program Manager for the Land of Sky Regional Council.
She’s spent the past decade working with rural communities across western North Carolina to understand the barriers to internet access and develop ways to address them.
This is the second episode in a two-part series exploring the digital divide in western North Carolina.
Listen to the first part here.
Guests:
- Terri Wells, Buncombe County Commissioner, District 2
- Sara Nichols, Energy and Economic Development Program Manager at Land of Sky Regional Council
Producers: Layna Hong, Kaitlyn Dang
“Send Rural Narratives a message”
Rural Narratives is a project of Narrative Arts, a nonprofit media and storytelling organization working alongside communities to share stories that deepen connection, expand understanding, and strengthen public life in rural America. Learn more at http://www.narrativearts.org.
“Send Rural Narratives a message”
Rural Narratives is a project of Narrative Arts, a nonprofit media and storytelling organization working alongside communities to share stories that deepen connection, expand understanding, and strengthen public life in rural America. Learn more at http://www.narrativearts.org.
