Center for Participatory Change (CPC)
CPC is holding their annual celebration this Saturday, October 15. CPC is one of my favorite organizations in Asheville, and their gatherings always uplift! May we all live into the collective liberation they promote.

From their event invite:

“Come celebrate 16 years of CPC! The event will be at the YMI Cultural Center, 39 S. Market St. Please allow enough time to find parking. Our goal is to have some cultural sharing from the different communities that help shape our work. So please bring a dish to share!

Ven a celebrar con nosotrxs 16 años de CPC! El evento será en el Centro Cultural YMI, 39 S. Market Street. Por favor, den suficiente tiempo para encontrar estacionamiento. Nuestro objetivo es tener algún intercambio cultural de las diferentes comunidades que ayudan a dar forma a nuestro trabajo. Así que por favor trae un guizo para compartir!”

Find out more about CPC at cpcwnc.org.

My Daddy Taught Me That (MDTMT)
Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Keynon Lake, the founder of MDTMT, as well as a few parents and participants in this program for young men. Kudos to Keynon for seeing a need in the community and boldly taking action to address that need. My overview of the four-year history of the program, its primary components, and examples of the positive impacts it has on the youth it serves is now out as the first “MDMT Post” newsletter. Click here to download and read the Post.

Find out more about MDTMT at mydaddytaughtmethat.org. 

CoThinkk
CoThinkk is a giving circle that brings together community leaders who care about the economic and social well-being of communities of color in Asheville and Western North Carolina. Their goals include changing the economic, health, education, and poverty narrative for communities of color in Asheville and the surrounding region; and creating a paradigm shift that inspires a new picture of resilience for communities of color in Asheville and Western NC.

I am a founding member of CoThinkk and I hold this model, and everyone involved in implementing it, in high regard. CoThinkk is holding a “Connecting Through the Roots” event on October 22 where they will be giving out their first grants as well as celebrating community leaders. While that event is now sold out, you can still make a financial gift to CoThinkk. All gifts made up to and the night of Connecting Through the Roots will be matched 1:1 by the Amy Mandel and Katina Rodis Fund up to $5000. So now is a particularly great time to give!

Find out more about CoThinkk at cothinkk.org. 

Let me take a moment to say that I so am happy to be able to use this platform to highlight such positive initiatives. Thank you so much for reading.