What we do We are working for you! All departments within the City of Asheville are operating. In the Communication and Public Engagement Department some staff are in a Joint Information Center with County partners, some are in the City’s Area Command and some are working remotely. This is an evolving situation. Our partners in Buncombe County are a great resource for the latest information on our community’s COVID-19 response. To receive emergency texts directly from Buncombe County for breaking health and safety news text BCALERT on your smartphone to 888-777. Sign up for AVL Alerts online for information from the City of Asheville. AVL ! ALERT The Communication & Public Engagement Department (CAPE) is responsible for the city’s strategic communications and coordination of public engagement efforts. Communication responsibilities include media relations, community relations, intergovernmental relations and internal communications. It seeks the best ways for the City to communicate its priorities and achieve its policy objectives, and designs public education and community outreach initiatives to inform citizens and the media about City services, programs and policy. CAPE is also responsible for leading, coordinating or supporting efforts between City of Asheville departments, outside partner agencies and consultants. With a commitment to equity, professionalism, innovation and best practices, the City’s public engagement efforts seek to maximize participant access, understanding and experience. Asheville Government Channel Streaming External Communication Internal Communication Media Relations Neighborhood Services On-Demand City Council Recordings Public Engagement Efforts ConnectCommunication and Public Engagement70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801Mailing AddressPO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 288801Business HoursMonday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.DirectorDawa HitchPhone828-259-5981Additional LinksStaff Directory Related Services Sign up for city e-newsletter Receive City News in your inbox! Watch livestream of city council meetings View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov. Gun safety Learn how to prevent deadly gun accidents and teach your children what to do if they come across a firearm. More Related Services Communication and Public Engagement News Reimagining public safety survey link now live Posted on September 4, 2020September 14, 2020 by Ashley Traynum-Carson Following a clear call from our community, City Council voted to remove or repurpose the Vance Monument, passed a resolution supporting community reparations, and passed a budget that only funded departments for three months so that City staff could [...] Asheville residents invited to reimagining public safety listening sessions this week Posted on August 28, 2020September 14, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Updated information: The City of Asheville has now opened a survey to gather input from residents on how our public safety services can better promote racial equity and economic inclusion. Original announcement: In September, the City of Asheville will launch an extensive series of listening sessions with the community to help us reimagine the [...] Census 2020: Make sure you are counted, Asheville Posted on August 14, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Federal funding to our community is on the line Completing the census will help us count the number of people in our state, which is how the federal government divides tax dollars to states and communities. As of July, more than 40% of North Carolinians, over 4 million people, had not been counted, which could mean [...] More Communication and Public Engagement News
Watch livestream of city council meetings View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.
Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov.
Gun safety Learn how to prevent deadly gun accidents and teach your children what to do if they come across a firearm.
Reimagining public safety survey link now live Posted on September 4, 2020September 14, 2020 by Ashley Traynum-Carson Following a clear call from our community, City Council voted to remove or repurpose the Vance Monument, passed a resolution supporting community reparations, and passed a budget that only funded departments for three months so that City staff could [...]
Asheville residents invited to reimagining public safety listening sessions this week Posted on August 28, 2020September 14, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Updated information: The City of Asheville has now opened a survey to gather input from residents on how our public safety services can better promote racial equity and economic inclusion. Original announcement: In September, the City of Asheville will launch an extensive series of listening sessions with the community to help us reimagine the [...]
Census 2020: Make sure you are counted, Asheville Posted on August 14, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Federal funding to our community is on the line Completing the census will help us count the number of people in our state, which is how the federal government divides tax dollars to states and communities. As of July, more than 40% of North Carolinians, over 4 million people, had not been counted, which could mean [...]