Just Economics was founded in 2000 by a group of labor and community activists concerned about the growing economic divide in our community. Our goal was to build a grassroots organization that could mobilize working people to shape our region’s economic future, with a focus on wages and working conditions, along with affordable housing, health care, and childcare.

Early in 2006, Just Economics joined a larger group of faith communities and labor / community activists to launch the Asheville-Buncombe Living Wage Campaign. By early 2007, this coalition had gotten a modest living wage ordinance through Asheville City Council.

But we knew that the city ordinance was just a start. To have a substantial impact, we needed to dig in for the long term, develop a stronger organizational base, and take the living wage campaign beyond the city workforce and into the private sector.

In 2007, Just Economics became the organizational home for the Asheville-Buncombe Living Wage Campaign. We raised funds for an office and staff, and–with support from foundations, local organizations, and a growing membership–we are running an expanded living wage campaign and becoming an effective voice for economic justice in our community.