Thank you for writing the follow-up piece on the unincorporated communities in Moore County that have been successful in getting the nearby municipalities to apply for and receive grants for water and sewer (“Equalizing public services across racial, socioeconomic lines in Moore County,” by Amanda Younger, April 9). These services are long overdue, so we are thrilled at the recent progress. But, these infrastructure projects are still a long way from being complete, and are just one step in ensuring these communities remain vibrant, so we are always glad to see articles that will keep people up to date.
Please allow us to recognize the key partners that were not mentioned. The North Carolina Rural Communities Assistance Project Inc. and the Southern Coalition for Justice both have had critical roles in the success of these efforts. Anita Earls of the Southern Coalition for Justice has been a core voice of support for these communities, and has diligently spoken with local government staff, media and other organizations to make sure the communities received the prompt consideration they deserved. The Rural Communities Assistance Project has been instrumental in documenting the case of need and linking communities to available resources so they can make their own informed decisions. Of course, this progress would not be possible without the dedication, courage, persistence and good hearts of the current residents, and all of those who came before them.
Thank you also to: Carol Henry, Southern Moore Alliance for Excluded Communities; Charles Daye, UNC Center for Civil Rights; and Peter Kittany, North Carolina Rural Communities Assistance Project Inc.
Bob Taylor
N.C. Rural Communities Assistance Project
Pittsboro
