Movement
Shifts are happening. There is movement. Opportunities for action. We are all a part of this. Energy towards equity. Eyes and ears on inclusion. Hearts open to healing. Standing for justice. Today’s post includes some relevant stories and events. Thanks for … Continue reading Movement
Make Asheville Safe Campaign
Last week, Compañeros Inmigrantes de las Montañas en Acción – CIMA launched the Make Asheville Safe campaign. From their announcement: “This comes at a time when marginalized communities are being targeted by the current administration and by our state’s legislature. We … Continue reading Make Asheville Safe Campaign
A Positive Place for Connection
The April issue of the Urban News has a piece I wrote for Buncombe County about the Edington Center in the Southside neighborhood, a community center that truly nurtures community and overflows with heart and hope. For this story, I got to … Continue reading A Positive Place for Connection
April’s Array
This April will offer an array of awesome events related to equity and inclusion in Asheville. A range of opportunities to listen to and learn from local (and national) African American and Latino leaders and creators. I’ve compiled a list of suggestions to … Continue reading April’s Array
Existing While Black
Today’s Mountain Xpress has a story I wrote… Mobilization through art: Local spoken-word artist creates a platform for dialogue about race “It is a one-woman spoken-word show, birthed out of frustration and realizing that a lot of things that I am involved … Continue reading Existing While Black
Descubre Asheville
Entrepreneur Luis Carlos recently launched descubreasheville.com, a bilingual website for Spanish-speaking tourists and locals. On Monday he posted, “Today we start our bilingual blog in an effort to promote diversity in our city. I invite you to be part of the … Continue reading Descubre Asheville
The Collective Narrative
I first heard the phrase “collective narrative” from Darin Waters, PhD in 2014 and it lit up my mind. His insights awakened me to the impact the stories we are immersed in have on how we see ourselves and each other. How our society operates. … Continue reading The Collective Narrative
Buncombe County Steps Towards Solutions
Last night UNC Asheville’s Dr. Dwight Mullen gave a talk at Habitat Tavern & Commons about his decade-long research on “The State of Black Asheville.” While I am familiar with the numbers, having heard him present them on numerous occasions, the disparities still shock … Continue reading Buncombe County Steps Towards Solutions
Being Moved
Yesterday, within the space of a few hours, I found myself being moved to tears by three stories. Today I will share them with you. The first story, “Saving Nina Simone’s Birthplace as an Act of Art and Politics,” is … Continue reading Being Moved
Miami and Asheville
This week I have the good fortune of being at the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival on Virginia Key in Miami, FL. This festival is the sister to the Fingerlakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg, NY and the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival … Continue reading Miami and Asheville
Ami Worthen 