History of Desegregation in Asheville
Last week I was lucky to be able to attend the “History of Desegregation” panel hosted by the Asheville City Schools Foundation (ACSF) as a part of their Racial Equity Initiative. While I have heard stories of desegregation in Asheville … Continue reading History of Desegregation in Asheville
Asheville Black History Resources
In October, I posted about the first every African Americans in WNC history conference, which was held at the YMI Cultural Center and UNC Asheville. This event was extremely educational and important. The conference was introduced as being created in … Continue reading Asheville Black History Resources
Intersectionality Event this Thursday
Here’s an announcement about an event that is being hosted by Just Economics this week. Just Economics is a wonderful organization that advocates for a Living Wage for all employees. “Intersectionality: looks at the intersections between forms or systems of oppression, domination or discrimination. Inequality based on race, gender, class, ability, orientation are deeply connected! For example, we know that racism impacts economics when you do not get hired for the job or are turned down to rent an apartment because of your race. Come explore these intersections through interactive activities and dialogue! Help Just Economics create a performance about … Continue reading Intersectionality Event this Thursday
AVL Public Housing Documentary
Nicole Hinebaugh, a wonderful person and a true asset to our community, has started a GoFundMe page for a documentary about people living in Asheville Public Housing. It reads: “This is a project in collaboration with students from Mars Hill College to tell the stories of people living in Asheville’s public housing neighborhoods. Over 6,000 people live in these communities, and yet many of the public housing neighborhoods experience isolation from the rest of the city, resulting in a lack of knowledge and understanding from the general public about their lives and experiences. This is an attempt to capture those … Continue reading AVL Public Housing Documentary
African Americans in WNC
Here’s an announcement about an upcoming educational event that I don’t plan on missing: The UNC Asheville History Department is proud to host the first ever conference on the History of African Americans in Western North Carolina. The conference challenges widely held assumptions that the African American presence in Western North Carolina has been negligible at best. Presentations, by respected scholars in the fields of North Carolina History, Southern History, and Southern Appalachian History, will reveal the rich and vibrant African American past in the Southern Appalachian region. The conference is free and open to the general public. Thursday, October … Continue reading African Americans in WNC
Two Upcoming Opportunities to Engage/Learn
There are two events coming up that I’d like to share with you. The first is this Thursday, October 2, from 5 to 7 pm at the Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center, 285 Livingston Street. The event, hosted by Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council and UNCA’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, is “Multi-Generational Conversations on Race, Pt. 1.” The invite reads: “Join us for our two-part series — a diverse group of panelists will participate in community conversations on race, age, and generational differences in perspectives.” The second event, “Everybody’s Environment: Voices for Conservation and Community,” will be held on Friday, October 10, … Continue reading Two Upcoming Opportunities to Engage/Learn
Events at Burton St. this Weekend
Celebrating E.W. Pearson, Sr….. Continue reading Events at Burton St. this Weekend
Minority Enterprise Development
I am embarrassed that, in my running around lately, I failed to post here about Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, which just ended. This is especially remiss since I am on the MED Committee! My only excuse was that I was so busy trying to promote MED Week on other channels, I forgot to use my own. That said, it was a very successful week of free events and workshops for entrepreneurs. There was a nice preview story in the Citizen-Times, click here to read it. There will be a wrap up story in the Mountain Xpress, I’ll share it … Continue reading Minority Enterprise Development
Date My City Lounge at Big Love Fest this Sunday
This Sunday, August 24 from 1 – 8 pm, Date My City will be hosting the “Date My City Lounge” at Big Love Fest. It’ll be a great place to hangout and connect! Stop by for a free massage, sweet tea, games for grown ups and balloon art for the kids. There will be tours to the YMI Cultural Center to see the “Cash Crop” exhibit leaving the Lounge 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm. Date My City is also hosting performers on the AshevilleFM stage. Most importantly, the Date My City Lounge will showcase minority entrepreneurs, activists, writers, and artists … Continue reading Date My City Lounge at Big Love Fest this Sunday
The Asheville Blade is an Asset
The Asheville Blade (ashevilleblade.com) is a new online media outlet, which has already covered crucial stories and added important perspectives to community conversations. With a slogan of “cutting to the point,” the Asheville Blade is a bold and necessary voice for our town. Two recent pieces of note are: Red Lines – an investigative journalism piece by Asheville Blade founder David Forbes “Racist government programs shaped Asheville’s ‘urban renewal,’ demolishing homes and pushing out thousands. The results still haunt the city today.” and ‘Diversity’ is the New Black – an opinion piece by Sheneika Smith “Asheville’s current approach to diversity … Continue reading The Asheville Blade is an Asset
Ami Worthen 