Black communities have long been central to rural life in the South, helping shape the culture, economy and civic life of the places they call home. In North Carolina, nearly half of Black residents live in rural counties, reflecting a history that reaches back to the founding of the country and continues to influence where…

In southeastern North Carolina, residents in Columbus County face some of the steepest challenges to living a healthy life. They consistently have the lowest health outcomes in the state. Like in many rural communities, people have to put in more time and effort to access public services and healthcare systems. And a lack of access…

In this week’s episode, we visited Down Home North Carolina, a non-profit organization that builds rural, multiracial and working-class power across the state through local campaigning and community organizing. Guests:  Taí Coates-Wedde, Director of Communications at Down Home North Carolina Jon Council, western North Carolina regional campaigner at Down Home North Carolina Voices:  Tatiana Jones,…

In our first episode, we ask: Who gets to shape the stories that define rural communities? Welcome to Rural Narratives, a new podcast about public health in North Carolina’s rural communities. In this series, storytelling isn’t just about the news — it’s a way to listen, learn, and understand how meaning is made. We speak…