Pisgah Legal Services’ 15th Annual Justice Forum

Pisgah Legal Services invites Western North Carolina to gather for its 15th Annual Justice Forum on Thursday, October 22 at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in downtown Asheville.

The free Justice Forum begins at 7:00 PM and brings together community members for an evening focused on justice, housing insecurity, poverty, and the economic realities affecting working families across the country. A ticketed pre-event reception begins at 5:30 PM, while the main Forum is free to attend. For those who cannot join in person, Pisgah Legal is also offering a livestream option and several Regional Watch Parties across WNC.

This year’s featured speaker is Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Brian Goldstone, whose work examines housing insecurity, economic inequality, poverty, and the growing number of working families experiencing homelessness. His latest book, There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America, explores the lives of families who are employed yet still unable to secure stable housing.

Brian Goldstone Brings a National Perspective to Asheville

Brian Goldstone is known for immersive reporting that puts a human face on economic hardship.

His work looks beyond statistics to examine how housing costs, wages, job insecurity, and economic systems affect real families. Through reporting on working people experiencing homelessness, Goldstone challenges assumptions about who becomes unhoused and why.

At the Justice Forum, his perspective will add a national lens to conversations that are also deeply relevant here in Asheville and throughout Western North Carolina.

Housing affordability, homelessness, displacement, and access to legal assistance continue to affect individuals and families across the region. Pisgah Legal Services works with neighbors facing many of these challenges through programs addressing homelessness prevention, consumer law, domestic and sexual violence, elder law, health care and income security, immigration, veterans law, disaster recovery, and other civil legal needs.

The Justice Forum offers an opportunity to hear these issues discussed in a broader context while connecting them to the work taking place in local communities.

A Free Community Event with Several Ways to Participate

The main Justice Forum at 7:00 PM is free, but registration is encouraged.

Guests who want an additional opportunity to support Pisgah Legal and connect before the program may attend the ticketed reception beginning at 5:30 PM.

For people outside Asheville or those who prefer to participate from home, Pisgah Legal is providing a livestream option. Regional Watch Parties are also planned in communities across Western North Carolina, extending the event beyond Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Attendees can choose their preferred participation option when registering.

The Justice Forum is one of Pisgah Legal Services’ signature annual events and reflects the organization’s broader commitment to promoting justice for people with low incomes throughout WNC. Sponsorship support from businesses, organizations, families, and individuals helps make the Forum accessible to the public.

Whether you are interested in housing issues, poverty, civil legal aid, economic inequality, community advocacy, or simply want to better understand challenges facing working families, the Justice Forum offers an opportunity to listen, learn, and engage.

Pisgah Legal Services’ 15th Annual Justice Forum takes place Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 PM at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville.

Visit https://www.pisgahlegal.org/join-us-at-the-justice-forum-registration-now-open/ to learn more and register.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Justice Forum?

The 15th Annual Justice Forum is Thursday, October 22. The main program begins at 7:00 PM.

Where is it held?

The in-person event takes place at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in downtown Asheville.

Is the Justice Forum free?

Yes. The 7:00 PM Justice Forum is free. A separate ticketed pre-event reception begins at 5:30 PM.

Who is the featured speaker?

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Brian Goldstone is the 2026 featured speaker. His work focuses on housing insecurity, poverty, economic inequality, and working families experiencing homelessness.

Can I participate without attending in Asheville?

Yes. Pisgah Legal is offering a livestream option as well as Regional Watch Parties across Western North Carolina.

Do I need to register?

Registration is encouraged, and attendees can select whether they plan to participate in Asheville, online, or at a Regional Watch Party.