One of the most important aspects of local government is connecting with and getting meaningful input from the people we serve. With that in mind, Buncombe County is excited to announce Jeremy Lett as our new Community Engagement Manager. Jeremy’s work with education and local government gives him a unique set of skills and perspective on interacting with our various and diverse communities. Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) Director Lillian Govus says public involvement in day-to-day decisions is vital for local government to have meaningful outcomes. “We are at an exciting point in time when government agencies are moving away from a purely one-way relationship with community to one that involves, collaborates with, and defers to the community we serve in key decisions,” she says. “This position helps guide those engagement opportunities and ensures they are not only authentic, but also close the loop on how the incredibly valuable time that our community members gave in the process guided outcomes.”
Jeremy hails from Georgia and has lived in the Asheville area for more than a decade. He says this position speaks to his passion for working with underserved communities. “The role of local government in our communities is invaluable, and oftentimes, some communities are overlooked and underrepresented. I look forward to building upon all the great work that the CAPE team has done and growing and cultivating new relationships throughout the County,” says Jeremy. Regarding getting started on that work, he says one of his immediate goals is listening to as many people as possible. “To best serve the community in this role, I think that it's important to learn as much as I can about our constantly changing community. With that information, we can serve them in the best way that we can, responding to what their present needs are,” he explains. “Long term, I hope to be able to seamlessly incorporate the sentiments and issues of underserved and underrepresented communities into our daily practices. From the way that we engage with them, to the policies and processes that we implement, I want them to know that their concerns are a priority.”
The Community Engagement Director role is an extremely important and a high-visibility position that will help foster policy decisions closely tied to the County’s 2025 Strategic Plan, especially our commitment to resident well-being and fostering an educated and capable community. Lillian says keeping those goals in mind, Jeremy really stood out as a candidate. “He has passion for local government, and he brings experience and a vision for digital and grassroots engagement that will complement and lift up our award-winning public engagement team’s work, which helps turn those Strategic Priority goals into realities and create lasting and meaningful connections from Sandy Mush to Bent Creek to Big Ivy and everywhere in between.”
With so many diverse communities throughout Buncombe County, Jeremy says it’s important for engagement to be authentic, “I don't want engagement to feel perfunctory, I want it to be a continuous effort to build and strengthen relationships. I want it to lead to results and actions that reflect the importance of the community's time and feedback,” he says. “To better do our jobs, we need to hear from the community. We need to hear their voices, hear about their concerns, and hear any ideas that they have that could make our community better. This is one of the metrics that local government can use to ensure that we are effectively doing our jobs.”
Jeremey officially beings his role as Community Engagement Manager on March 18.
Jeremy Lett’s professional bio.
Originally from Georgia, Jeremy has lived in Asheville for over 10 years. After obtaining his undergraduate studies at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Warren Wilson College, he obtained his Master of Public Affairs degree from Western Carolina University. He has spent the last five years working in higher education and local government, working on various aspects of community development. He is currently working on his Master of Business Administration degree from Western Carolina University. When he is not studying or working, he enjoys traveling with his wife, playing pickleball, fishing, and trying new restaurants - recommendations encouraged.