Transylvania Progressives Communique:

Date: August 4, 2025

Subject: Transylvania Progressives Formalizes Long-Intended Independence from TCDP

The Young Progressives and the Transylvania County Democratic Party (TCDP) met and have decided that the goals of each organization will be better achieved if the Young Progressives (YP) are no longer a caucus of the TCDP. The YPs over the past two years have energized and engaged young Transylvanians, while also advocating for discussion of local issues across the political spectrum. The YP events, including monthly Brews and Issues, have attracted members of both parties, including an elected Republican, and viewpoints from across the political spectrum.

The goal of the Young Progressives (formerly U40 Democrats) has always been to activate, motivate, and inform young Transylvanians in the hopes that they will become politically active. This goal has made substantial progress with the election of the youngest county party executive board in the state of North Carolina. Much of the former Young Progressive leadership have taken on leadership roles at the County Party level.

Due to the achievements of the Young Progressives, the relationship of the YPs as a caucus of the County Party has matured. Each group's leadership has discussed and developed different roles from each group. Due to these separate roles of each group, the YPs will no longer be a caucus of the TCDP which allows that group to continue and move beyond the bounds of the TCDP.

Due to this divergence, the YPs social media will be rebranded as Transylvania Independent Progressives (TIPs). Due to word limits on various online accounts, the group is also known as either “Transylvania Progressives” and/or “Transylvania Independents,” and both represent the successor group to the Transylvania Young Progressives. The name “Transylvania Young Progressives” is hereby now retired.

The TCDP will continue to advocate for issues impacting young Transylvanians, and will continue to focus on events specifically for young Transylvanians.

The TIPs will continue a four-pronged approach to supporting, serving, and empowering Transylvania County residents:

1. Continued raw, independent analysis in various social media, blogging, and journalistic outlets (listed below) to help our community members see through the disinformation and understand deeper forces at play impacting our society, culture, and economy.

2. Public service projects, including but not limited to highway cleanups), recruiting and serving at community organizations, networking to support community groups, and more.

3. Local mutual aid, grassroots community response to ad hoc disasters/civil defense, protest organizing and support, and other action in support of the unmet needs of marginalized communities, workers’ rights, civil liberties, and more.

4. Supporting and advocating for candidates whom established parties cannot or will not, and also supporting candidates of registered parties when they support policies aligned with human rights, civil liberties, reducing inequalities, promoting public lands, schools, and assets, supporting civil society, addressing environmental problems and climate change, and building a just economy from the grassroots.

Follow Transylvania Independent Progressives on these accounts:

Email: TCountyIndependent@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transylvaniaindependentprogressives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transylvaniaprogressives/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tcountyindependent.bsky.social

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TCountyIndependent

Substack: https://substack.com/@tcountyindependent

The TCDP will also continue on its mission to advocate for and serve all Transylvanians. Please follow those accounts on social media:

Email: info@transcodems.com

Website: https://www.transcodems.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transcodems/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transcodems/

Collectively we look forward to working for a better and more Transylvania for all.

Sincerely,

-James Carli, Transylvania Independent Progressives

- Peter Offen, Transylvania County Democratic Party Chair

See more conversation about this amicable mutual decision at our Facebook account.