Category: Action

Action

AVL Public Housing Documentary

Ami W

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

Action

African Americans in WNC

Ami W

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

Action

Two Upcoming Opportunities to Engage/Learn

Ami W

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

Action

Minority Enterprise Development

Ami W

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

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Date My City Lounge at Big Love Fest this Sunday

Ami W

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

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The Asheville Blade is an Asset

Ami W

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

Action

Public Housing Awareness and Advocacy

Ami W

The Public Housing Advocacy Coalition (PHAC) is a new Asheville group comprised of public housing residents, representatives from community organizations and concerned citizens (including me). One of the things that frustrates me about Asheville is the general lack of awareness about our public housing communities. I am hoping this group will be able to contribute to increased awareness and support.  Click here to follow PHAC on Facebook. The main focus of PHAC right now is getting the word out about the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville’s (HACA) plan to shift their funding to HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration Program … Continue reading Public Housing Awareness and Advocacy

Action

State of Black Asheville Presentation

Ami W

This Saturday, June 21, from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm at the YMI Cultural Center, UNC Asheville students from the State of Black Asheville course will present their research on the status of Black Asheville in several public policy areas such as: education, health care, housing & economic development, criminal justice, and culture. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. If you have questions, email stateofblackasheville@gmail.com. Click here for the Facebook event page. Continue reading State of Black Asheville Presentation

Action

Juneteenth Celebration this Saturday!

Ami W

  From the Women’s Wellbeing & Development Foundation: Hey everyone, the fourth annual Juneteenth celebration is taking place on Saturday June 14th from 11 am – 4 pm in the field at Hillcrest! Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in the U.S., and will be featuring free food, live entertainment, educational speakers, historical documents and artifacts, fun activities for children, raffle prizes, and more! This is a free public event and is very family friendly, so come on out and celebrate! We are looking for the following items to borrow: popup tents, folding tables and chairs, hoses, … Continue reading Juneteenth Celebration this Saturday!