Movement journalism is a tool to ensure that systematically oppressed communities can access accurate, trustworthy news and information in the aftermath of natural disasters.

Our new Southern Movement Media Fund partners, Sara Murphy, PhD (she/her) @smurphyphd and Deana Lytle (she/her) @lilrayzofsunshine, are reporting out a series on how the people of Swannanoa, N.C. are still dealing with the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene two years later. * Deana is a fifth-generation Swannanoa native and serves as Vice Chair of the Swannanoa Resilience Hub. Following Hurricane Helene, she became deeply involved in recovery efforts after recognizing that community recovery is not linear and must include opportunities for connection, healing, and joy. With deep roots in Swannanoa, Deana is committed to helping build a stronger, more resilient future for the community. Her work focuses on supporting equitable recovery, strengthening local connections, and ensuring that future generations inherit a community they are proud to call home. She hopes Swannanoa will be known not for the disaster it endured, but for the resilience, beauty, and spirit of the people who call it home. * Sara is a writer and editor living outside of Asheville, N.C. She has written for The Guardian US, the New York Times, National Geographic, and elsewhere. [Image description: Photos of Deana and Sara. Deana’s photo shows a smiling woman with dark, curly hair highlighted with blonde down to her shoulders, wearing a pink button down over a yellow top with a flower pattern and three necklaces. She is standing in the center of a street lined with trees, with a large building in the background, the Swannanoa Resilience Hub. Sara’s photo depicts a woman with olive skin smiling, her head tilted to one side. Her hair is slightly less than shoulder length and is dark and curled. She wears a black tank top made of slightly shiny fabric. Behind her is a honey-colored wooden pillar, with furniture of various colors—a dark wood table, artwork of reds, beiges, and whites —behind her.]