Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced serious struggles after Helene, long after the cameras left. We're a journalism co-op of working class trans folks. It has not been an easy year.

Amid exhaustion, poverty, illness and trauma we've still done incredible work. We told the story of utility workers striking post-Helene when an exploitative company refused to pay them, covered pro-immigrant demonstrations, reminded locals our city is worth fighting for, investigated a corrupt cover-up at the highest levels of the police department and analyzed how city government was making everything worse to appease the wealthy. We've also expanded our social media coverage, collaborated with local radio and alerted the public about the ongoing risks of covid. We've just launched a series contradicting the myths of a recovered city with a strong dose of reality.

But it still remains a serious challenge, given both the hardship we've endured as well as many of our working class supporters having to leave the city in the storm's aftermath. All this at a time when the people of our city need independent journalism more than ever. With your help we can make sure the Blade survives, and expands, in 2026.