Happy New Gregorian/Western Calendar New Year! I look forward to the new years that different folks will celebrate in the coming days. Anyway, here we are with a quick post about a few items of note.

Black Asheville 2014
First off, I am belated in sharing the blog post Sheneika Smith of Date My City wrote in December entitled, “Black Asheville 2014: Transformative Milestones.” I encourage you to click that title and read it – the post highlights positive initiatives that are happening on institutional and grassroots levels. It’s inspiring, and you may discover some exciting things going on in Asheville that you didn’t know about.
Center for Diversity
Another year end round up that is worth reading is the Center for Diversity Education‘s “Year in Review for 2014.” That organization really did some wonderful work last year, much of which is ongoing.

Hola Carolina
I’ve been meaning to give a shout out to Hola Carolina Magazine, a great new publication that showcases the Latino community in this area. Check it out!

Hood Talk + Funny “R” Us
Hood Talk was featured in the Asheville Citizen-Times on Sunday. It’s an informative article about a group working to bring community issues to light: “Hood Talk brings fresh attention to racial issues.” In related news, promoter Joe Greene, who is one of the organizers of Hood Talk, has a big Funny “R” Us Comedy Show coming up on January 30 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center. It will be an event unlike any we’ve seen in Asheville. There are nice stories about the show and the headliner Red Grant in this month’s Bold Life Magazine and The Laurel. The stories will be online soon. Proceeds will go to support My Daddy Taught Me That, another terrific program.

Ujamaa Freedom Market
The Mountain Xpress recently did an extensive cover story on food deserts in Asheville which featured Ujamaa Freedom Market, a powerful initiative that could use your support. Here’s the story: “Hidden in Plain Sight: Asheville’s Food Deserts.” Please note the side bar about the “RAD” transition in Asheville Public Housing, which we all need to pay attention to.

Thanks for reading!

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