There are three things going on next week that I’d like to highlight.

Authentic Communities Summit (ACS)
This summit, which begins on Tuesday night March 24, is is “a multi-day convening aimed at advancing the local economies movement through innovation, collaboration + authenticity.” On Wednesday at 10:30 am I will be part of a panel entitled “Crafting Creative Communities: How partnerships, programs and promotion can support the Appalachian Arts.” On the panel, I will be talking about this blog and my intentions for it, as well as my work with Date My City. As you may expect, my focus will be on cultural inclusivity. Find out more and register at exploreyourauthenticity.com.

YWCA Stand Against Racism
A-B Tech Community College and the YWCA of Asheville are partnering to bring a community-wide Stand Against Racism event to the college from 1 to 4:30 pm, Thursday, March 26, in Ferguson Auditorium on A-B Tech’s Asheville campus. The event is free and open to the public. Jacquelyn Hallum, Director of Health Careers and Diversity Education at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), will deliver a keynote speech on overcoming institutional racism. Following Hallum’s address, there will be a panel discussion on the history of racism in Asheville and a second panel on how employers in the region are recognizing and addressing institutional racism. The event is a part of the national YWCA Stand Against Racism campaign, which is designed to build community among those who work for racial justice and to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism. A reception will follow in the Ferguson Auditorium Lobby from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and members of the Racial Justice Coalition will have displays available for public viewing during the entire event. Child care will be available at the YWCA during this event, call 254-7206 ext. 219 to arrange.

From Hair to There – Artist Talk with Sonya Clark
On Friday, March 27 at 6 pm at The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, Chair of the Department of Craft/Material Studies at VCUarts and 2014 ArtPrize recipient Sonya Clark will discuss the use of human hair and combs in her artwork to address race, culture, class, and history. Clark begins with the premise that hairdressing is the first textile art. Hair is both her subject and medium. Combs as tools of hairdressing also become her subject and medium. She makes hair into cloth, cloth into hair, and combs into cloth and hair. Throughout her art practice she finds narratives.

This program is held in conjunction with the exhibition Loving After Lifetimes of All This on view at The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design’s Benchspace Gallery & Workshop through May 23, 2015. This exhibition explores the intersections of craft, (self-) care, apprenticeship, and survival within the practices of historically disadvantaged populations. “From Hair to There” receives support from Warren Wilson College with media sponsorship by Date My City and the Authentic Communities Summit.