Let’s jump into January! There is a lot going on this month…

Upcoming Events:

Tips for Teens
All month, Firestorm Cafe & Books is giving their tips to Word on the Street. I love Firestorm and I love WOTS! Be sure to stop by 610 Haywood Road and support!

Sanctuary: A Partnership Between Immigrant & Faith Communities
Saturday, January 7, 10 – 12 am
Land of Sky UCC, 15 Overbrook Place
“Join us for a workshop and discussion of Sanctuary’s role in the larger immigrants’ rights movement, its history and basis in sacred scriptures, and its objectives and goals.” Click here for more information.

Another public input meeting on City of Asheville’s Equity Manager search
Monday, January 9, 6 – 7:30 pm
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St
If you can’t attend the meeting, you can also bring written input to one of the City’s recreation centers or give input online by January 13 via Open City Hall Asheville.

TNT – Thursday Night Throwdown to benefit Word On The Street
Thursday, January 12, 6 – 9 pm
High Five Coffee, 190 Broadway
“The return of the TNT – Thursday Night Throw Down to High Five Broadway! We’re shaking things up for this Latte Art Competition with a live DJ ( lil meow meow ), prizes from Counter Culture Coffee and $5 buy-in to compete goes to support Word on the Street – La Voz de Los Jovenes which is an online publication designed to give youth in communities of color a platform to express themselves and an opportunity to share their gifts and talents.” Event poster by Word on the Street squad member Quantasia Williams.

2nd Annual Mountain Soul Party
Friday, January 13
Upstairs show 7 – 9 pm, Downstairs show 9 pm – 2 am
Isis Music Hall, 743 Haywood Road
“Featuring Lyric, the Secret B-Sides, Chachillie, Spaceman Jones, Stephanie Morgan, Jonathan Santos, and many more friends. Hosted by Cousin TL (Stank Free Radio).” This is a terrific line-up, and an event celebrating and showcasing “Mountain Soul” makes me very happy. Our regional musical is broader than bluegrass! Click here for tickets.

MLK and Building Bridges Presentation
The Ethical Humanist Society Meeting
Sunday, January 15, 2 pm
Asheville Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road
“Each January, we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., the man. While he is responsible for extraordinary accomplishments, he did it with the help of countless people who made up the Movement. We will explore some of those people, the history of similar movements and the cyclical nature of the need for such movements in an effort to understand where we are today and why this time is so significant to so many of us. Danae will also discuss the local impact and history of the Asheville Building Bridges program. The mission of Building Bridges is to dismantle racism by fostering relationships that respect diversity, seek understanding and encourage action.”

Memoir as Manifesto: Reflections from the NC Black Panther Party
Monday, January 16, 5:30 – 8 pm
Kenilworth Church, 123 Kenilworth Road
“Experience an evening with Hazel Mack, founding member of the Winston- Salem Chapter of the Black Panther Party…She will reflect on her experiences as a member of the Black Panther Party (BPP), her career as a civil rights attorney, and the modern Black Power movement…The evening will be hosted by Marvin Chambers a founding member of A.S.C.O.R.E. (Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality) and an icon of the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina.” Click here for more information. 

Community Meeting re: Walton Street Pool
Tuesday, January 31, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center, 133 Livingston Street
While I firmly believe this is a decision needs to be made based on input the people who live in this neighborhood, I am sharing the info about this meeting because it is an important issue that deserves the larger community to witness the process.

Another Tidbit

The CoThinkk giving circle was recently featured in a story on on EducationNC’s website. Excerpt: “‘That is what I am doing at CoThinkk,’ Tracey says. ‘Changing the narrative and the norm so that collectively all of the efforts can yield equitable opportunities and create a new legacy for generations to come.” Click here to read the full story.

Onward

I hope you found this list useful. Happy new year!