Allan Freyer - C4 President Nominee

He is an innovative public affairs professional with more than 20 years of experience driving policy change at the intersection of politics, advocacy, and policy-making. Before founding Peregrine Strategies in 2020, he served as the Director of Workers’ Rights at the NC Justice Center, where he oversaw the Center’s policy and campaign efforts aimed at helping North Carolina’s low-wage workers obtain quality jobs, earn higher wages, receive adequate health and safety protections, and access crucial work family supports like paid leave.

He also is a Capitol Hill veteran, serving as a communications and policy advisor to three members of the United States Congress, where he led policy development and legislative strategy on a wide portfolio of domestic economic issues, including taxes, trade, rural development, job training, and labor. In his service to Congressman Artur Davis, he led the office’s work to develop an economic development strategy to support Alabama’s Black Belt region, worked successfully to increase federal funding for historically-Black land-grant colleges, and played senior communications roles for the congressional office and election campaign, In the years since, he has also served as an independent economic consultant to nonprofits, universities, and state and local government agencies.

Alongside his policy work, Allan has extensive experience leading strategic communications and media relations efforts, including senior communications roles for political campaigns, advocacy groups, industry groups, and members of Congress. He has frequently appeared in state and national media as a commentator and expert on the Southern economy and politics.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Duke University and a masters and a Ph.D. in city & regional planning from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he is currently a Visiting Professor of the Practice. He also has an adjunct appointment to the faculty of the Terry Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, where he teaches classes on the politics of policy-making.

He lives in Durham, NC with his wife and son.

Bjorn Pedersen - C4 Secretary Nominee

Bjorn Pedersen has served on the People's Alliance Board since the start of 2024 and volunteered for the role of Acting Secretary in May. He currently works as a Software Engineer at Google and was elected to lead the NC Triangle chapter of the Alphabet Workers Union in 2023. He also serves on the Durham Workers Rights Commission. Originally from Chapel Hill, he has called Durham home since 2019

PA Budget Priorities for FY25

Responses to our Voice

In response to the PA budget requests the following items have been confirmed as included in the City and County Budgets. The Official County budget is not on-line. Nearly 100% of our budget requests were met!!

Over 23% of PA member voted on our budget priorities this year. Many attended City and County Meetings to speak on behalf of the PA priorities. 

It was rewarding working with our Movement Partners: Bike Durham, the Coalition for Affordable Housing and Transit, Durham For All and the Durham Association of Educators.

County Requests and Response

Full Funding for DPS - Met

Appropriate Sufficient Funding to Achieve Renewable Energy and Carbon Reduction Goals - Met

Renew Funding for Durham Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) - Met

Provide Cradle to Career Systemic Investment-Met

Fully fund Low-Income Homeowners Relief Program (LIHR)-Met

City Requests and Response

Increase Wage for City Staff Following the Pay Study  - Met

Address Contaminants in City Parks - Met

Support Durham’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program - Met

Dedicate City Staff Position to Leverage Federal Environmental Grant Opportunities - Partially funded

City Council

Consider any and all of the following action steps

• Attend the Durham For All Rally - May 20th at 5:45
• Attend the City Council meeting afterwards at 7:00
• Speak in support of one or more of the PA budget Priorities
• Send an email to individual City Council Members:

Mayor Leonardo Williams: [email protected]

Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton: [email protected]

DeDreana Freeman: [email protected]

Chelsea Cook: [email protected]

Nate Baker: [email protected]

Javiera Cabellero: [email protected]

Carl Rist: [email protected]

Email Content

Dear Council Member ___________: As a member of People's Alliance I am writing today in support of all the budget priorities sent to you by the PA board on May 19th. PA represents hundreds of members and moves thousands of voters every election cycle. In our almost 50 year history we have often fought for progressive values and we will continue to do so today.

You can write specifically about a budget request that speaks to you or a simple message of support for all the items in the PA letter to City Council.