Friends, it’s been an interesting several days. On Friday, my Citizen-Times op-ed, “The Buncombe County TDA spends millions on unsustainable tourism – and we can stop it,” was published online, and it was in print yesterday. The op-ed is a distillation of some of the points from the “Abolish the TDA” piece I wrote for the Asheville Blade, and addresses a few of the responses to that essay. It has struck a chord with people and is generating a LOT of conversation, for which I am glad. Let’s talk about the man behind the curtain, as it were.

While I will likely go deeper into that topic going forward, for the moment I am reflecting on the nature of nourishment – how things must die to sustain life.

In a one of the conversations on the How to Survive the End of the World podcast, hosts Autumn and adrienne talked about how, as empire crumbles, we can use those crumbled pieces as compost to nourish the liberated world we are building.

Our work is pruning and planting. Cutting back oppressive institutions while fertilizing on-the-ground goodness. Creating balance in our ecosystems by shifting resources away from entities that hoard more than their fair share, towards those that center sharing.

Onward.

To nourish…

Mountain of Words

On Saturday, November 23, from 6 – 9 pm at the YMI Cultural Center, Word on the Street/La Voz de Los Jovenes invites you to: “Join us for an intergenerational literary and art event featuring nationally renowned journalist Latria Graham, award-winning poet Juan Sanchez Martinez, Cara Forbes, a frequent contributor to Natives in America and Word on the Street writers Sharissa Thomason, Niobe Wright and Ilah Pennacchini. All hosted by spoken word artist Shanita Jackson. The evening begins with a multimedia art showcase and music DJ’d by the Word on the Street Squad. Great food provided by Benne on Eagle, themed raffles baskets and much more. Child care provided.”

CPC Match Fundraiser Success!

I’m happy to report that the Center for Participatory Change (CPC) met their $20,000 goal for the match fundraiser for interCAMBIO/exCHANGE, meaning they now have $40,000 to dedicate to maintaining that transformative program. Click here to see a beautiful PDF report about the curriculum and experience of the first session. I am so glad another one will be possible, thanks to community support.

“My Soul Looks Back”

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of Shirley Whitesides’ art show at the AB Tech/Mission Health Conference Center gallery. Entitled “My Soul Looks Back: A Reflection of Art by Shirley Walker Whitesides,” it features older works and a number of pieces from this year. It is AWESOME! I encourage you to swing by there to check it out before the end of the month. The evening was also a fundraiser for the important work of Delta House Life Development of Asheville, Inc. A retired art teacher, Ms. Whitesides has been encouraging the artistic expression of young people for most of her life. Such an inspiration.

Community Calendar

Click here for upcoming events, etc. A collaboration with The adé PROJECT.

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