DeWayne Barton’s “The Art of Resilience” art opening, book release and poetry reading is this Friday, November 13, starting at 7 pm at the YMI Cultural Center, 39 South Market Street. (Stop by after the Asheville High School debate if you have plans to attend that.) I hope to see you there!

As you may know, Barton’s visual art focuses on justice issues for people and the planet, as well as strategies for creating vibrant, healthy, sustainable communities. The show will feature new sculptures. In addition, the event will be a book release and poetry reading for Barton’s second book, Return to Burton Street, which just came out on Black Mountain Press.

Most importantly, “The Art of Resilience” will launch Hood Huggers International, Barton’s new initiative which offers innovative strategies for building support pillars for systemically marginalized neighborhoods, providing a framework for community capacity building while increasing the effectiveness of existing service programs. These strategies incorporate the arts, environmental education and social enterprise.

For more information go to hoodhuggers.com.