Community Reparations Commission

Mission

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.

The 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.

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.

Background

On July 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.”

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”

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:

1. Information Sharing and Truth-Telling;
2. Formation of a Reparations Commission; and
3. Finalize and Present the Report.

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) unless otherwise noted.  Members of the public are welcome to attend.

All meetings will be streamed on the City’s YouTube Page, Buncombe County’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/buncombeGov, and the City’s Engagement HUB.

Impact Focus Area Meetings

Commission members will serve on at least one of the five Impact Focus Area workgroups based on the charge in the City Council’s resolution:

• Criminal Justice
• Economic Development
• Education
• Health & Wellness
• Housing

The schedule for 2023 is HERE.  Please check this page for any updates to the schedule.

The work groups are responsible for:

• Analyzing detailed information on the impact focus area and reporting key findings to the full commission.
• Each work group will be comprised of fewer than 13 voting members.
• Commission members may serve on more than one work group.

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