Western North Carolina has a rich history of local civic engagement and community development. Across the region, organizations, cooperatives, and civic coalitions have worked for decades to strengthen democratic participation and to address pressing regional issues — whether economic equity in rural communities, land and environmental stewardship, or mutual aid and cooperative economic projects. While each initiative reflects unique local needs, all share a common purpose: community agency and collective action for a more just and vibrant region. Engagement through COPA WNC builds on and contributes to that broader tradition.