Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Darren Todd, will lead a virtual writing workshop titled “What if you fly? Weaving speculative elements into fiction.”
The term speculative fiction has grown in usage, but what does it mean? Simply, it’s fiction that speculates or forecasts what might happen. The “if” in that scenario is up to the writer. Spec-fic (as it’s often called) isn’t beholden to a single genre. Certainly, dystopian novels fall under this category, but so could alternate history, science fiction, horror, or even drama. Many ideas can greatly benefit from introducing speculative elements, which give readers a heightened sense of curiosity, wonder, and even engages them to be a part of how the writer’s “what if” develops. Humans are natural problem solvers, and few things kick off that need to find answers like a solid “what if.”
For this workshop, we’ll delve into the rise of spec-fic, how it crosses genre, as well as flexing our speculative muscles with breakout exercises to be reviewed during the workshop.
This workshop is open to writers of all skill levels and is a fun way to find inspiration from a new prompt or revise current work. It is hosted by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and will use Microsoft Teams for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop here!
Darren is a freelance book editor for Evolved Publications, and his short fiction has appeared in fifty publications over the years, including Chilling Tales for Dark Nights, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and The Stoneslide Corrective. His short story collection, The Ugly Mug and Other Stories, launched on Amazon and Audible in 2023.
While some of his works fall under the literary umbrella, he often returns to speculative and horror fiction. His style and preferences tend toward the psychological, as he enjoys stories that linger in the imagination long after he’s closed the book on them.
He lives in Hendersonville, NC with his son and girlfriend. See what he’s up to at darrentodd.net.
Spread Joy this Holiday Season: Support a YWCA Family Through Angel Tree.
Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support. If you would like to support a family this holiday season please click here or email Holly Olsen, Director of Women’s Empowerment to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree:
-
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy. -
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families, and their community. -
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system. -
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
The trees that directly protect our homes and neighborhoods from flooding, extreme heat, pollution, and soil erosion are the most vulnerable to development and the pressures of a changing climate. They also have an immense impact on how vulnerable we are to those same conditions.
Asheville GreenWorks is leading local efforts to protect our urban trees and restore our tree canopy, but it takes ALL of us. You can help create a better future by donating today — no contribution is too small to make an impact.
Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).
Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.
We need your help and the help of your network to make this holiday drive as successful as possible in putting new books into the hands of Buncombe County elementary and middle school students during the holiday break.
What better way to spread holiday cheer than by donating books? Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a brand-new book. It’s like sprinkling a little bit of magic into their lives!
We’ve partnered with over a dozen local organizations serving K-12 students throughout the county. They’re eagerly waiting for book drop-offs like kids waiting for the first snowfall! 
You can make a positive impact right now by donating directly using the button below, or why not turn giving back into an outing?
Holiday Book Drive 2023 (givebutter.com)
Visit the Barnes & Noble on Tunnel Road at the Asheville Mall to shop in-store and donate them on the spot.
Spread Joy this Holiday Season: Support a YWCA Family Through Angel Tree.
Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support. If you would like to support a family this holiday season please click here or email Holly Olsen, Director of Women’s Empowerment to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree:
-
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy. -
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families, and their community. -
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system. -
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
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A Helping of Graditude
River lovers are encouraged to support RiverLink and other community nonprofits through Give!Local, the annual philanthropy program organized by MountainXpress. The first 10 donors of $100 or more to RiverLink will be entered into a drawing for a kayak tour on the French Broad River with Renee Fortner, RiverLink’s expert water resources manager. First Bank is waiving transaction fees, so 100 percent of your donation goes to the nonprofits you select.
Participate in Give!Local
RiverLink deeply appreciates the contributions this community makes directly to the organization — whether as gifts of stock, required IRA distributions, donor-advised funds, donations made in memory of others, and all the ways you give. Please reach out to Susan Andrew at [email protected] for assistance with any of these giving modes. And anyone can use the handy Donate button at the bottom of our newsletters. Thank you! Sincere gratitude to RiverLink’s recent business supporters — we are honored by your contributions:
- Astral
- Bottle Riot
- Burial Beer Co.
- Cedar Rock Adventures
- Curtis Wright Outfitters
- East Fork Pottery
- Edgewater Resources
- Ferguson Waterworks
- Fresh Market
- Hellbender Paddleboards
- High Five Coffee
- Preserving a Picturesque America
- Whole Foods
- Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins
The trees that directly protect our homes and neighborhoods from flooding, extreme heat, pollution, and soil erosion are the most vulnerable to development and the pressures of a changing climate. They also have an immense impact on how vulnerable we are to those same conditions.
Asheville GreenWorks is leading local efforts to protect our urban trees and restore our tree canopy, but it takes ALL of us. You can help create a better future by donating today — no contribution is too small to make an impact.
Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).
Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.
We need your help and the help of your network to make this holiday drive as successful as possible in putting new books into the hands of Buncombe County elementary and middle school students during the holiday break.
What better way to spread holiday cheer than by donating books? Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a brand-new book. It’s like sprinkling a little bit of magic into their lives!
We’ve partnered with over a dozen local organizations serving K-12 students throughout the county. They’re eagerly waiting for book drop-offs like kids waiting for the first snowfall!
You can make a positive impact right now by donating directly using the button below, or why not turn giving back into an outing?
Holiday Book Drive 2023 (givebutter.com)
Visit the Barnes & Noble on Tunnel Road at the Asheville Mall to shop in-store and donate them on the spot.
Spread Joy this Holiday Season: Support a YWCA Family Through Angel Tree.
Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support. If you would like to support a family this holiday season please click here or email Holly Olsen, Director of Women’s Empowerment to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree:
-
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy. -
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families, and their community. -
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system. -
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
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A Helping of Graditude
River lovers are encouraged to support RiverLink and other community nonprofits through Give!Local, the annual philanthropy program organized by MountainXpress. The first 10 donors of $100 or more to RiverLink will be entered into a drawing for a kayak tour on the French Broad River with Renee Fortner, RiverLink’s expert water resources manager. First Bank is waiving transaction fees, so 100 percent of your donation goes to the nonprofits you select.
Participate in Give!Local
RiverLink deeply appreciates the contributions this community makes directly to the organization — whether as gifts of stock, required IRA distributions, donor-advised funds, donations made in memory of others, and all the ways you give. Please reach out to Susan Andrew at [email protected] for assistance with any of these giving modes. And anyone can use the handy Donate button at the bottom of our newsletters. Thank you! Sincere gratitude to RiverLink’s recent business supporters — we are honored by your contributions:
- Astral
- Bottle Riot
- Burial Beer Co.
- Cedar Rock Adventures
- Curtis Wright Outfitters
- East Fork Pottery
- Edgewater Resources
- Ferguson Waterworks
- Fresh Market
- Hellbender Paddleboards
- High Five Coffee
- Preserving a Picturesque America
- Whole Foods
- Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins
The trees that directly protect our homes and neighborhoods from flooding, extreme heat, pollution, and soil erosion are the most vulnerable to development and the pressures of a changing climate. They also have an immense impact on how vulnerable we are to those same conditions.
Asheville GreenWorks is leading local efforts to protect our urban trees and restore our tree canopy, but it takes ALL of us. You can help create a better future by donating today — no contribution is too small to make an impact.
Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).
Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.
We need your help and the help of your network to make this holiday drive as successful as possible in putting new books into the hands of Buncombe County elementary and middle school students during the holiday break.
What better way to spread holiday cheer than by donating books? Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a brand-new book. It’s like sprinkling a little bit of magic into their lives!
We’ve partnered with over a dozen local organizations serving K-12 students throughout the county. They’re eagerly waiting for book drop-offs like kids waiting for the first snowfall!
You can make a positive impact right now by donating directly using the button below, or why not turn giving back into an outing?
Holiday Book Drive 2023 (givebutter.com)
Visit the Barnes & Noble on Tunnel Road at the Asheville Mall to shop in-store and donate them on the spot.
This six week course focuses on proper socialization, bite inhibition, house training, manners and much more!
Your goal as a puppy parent is to give your pup the best possible start in life. Puppies learn more between 5 and 12 weeks of age than they will in their entire lifetime! Laying a positive foundation during this time is critical for puppies to grow into behaviorally healthy dogs.
This six week course focuses on proper socialization, bite inhibition, house training, manners and much more! The class is limited to 12 puppies who are 8 to 18 weeks old when the course begins (if your dog is over 18 weeks of age, please sign up for the Canine Manners class).
* All puppies must have started their puppy vaccine series (distemper, parvo and bordetella) at least one week prior to the first class. Owners are expected to commit to continuing this vaccine series during the six week course.
The cost of this course includes six classes, held one hour per week for six weeks from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM on the following dates: December 16, January 6, 13, 20, 27, & February 3. Scheduled cancellations: December 23 and 30 or unless otherwise stated by trainer.
This class will take place at the Asheville Humane Training Center (800 Fairview Road, Suite C1). Please go to the BACK of the building to enter through the back training center door.
About the trainer:
Pia Silvani is an internationally-recognized dog trainer and lecturer with over 35 years’ experience. As VP of Training and Behavior at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ, she developed numerous courses focused on positive, reward-based techniques. In 2013, Pia began working for the ASPCA, eventually becoming the Director, Behavioral Rehabilitation where she led programs to educate shelter professionals in effective behavior rehabilitation techniques, as well as specialized socialization, enrichment, and shelter protocols. This cutting-edge program is featured in the award-winning Netflix documentary, “Second Chance Dogs”.
After 6 years at the ASPCA, Pia has decided to re-establish her consulting business here in the Asheville area specializing in rehabilitating fearful and aggressive behaviors in dogs. She is Director of Behavior and Training at Asheville Humane, offers private behavioral consultations in client’s homes as well as teaching classes for Asheville Humane Society.
Pia has been chosen as one of Bark’s 100 picks of the best and brightest people that changed the world of dogs. Her goal has always been to combine her love of dogs with her respect and affection for people. She enriches the lives of both through humane relationship work and training.
For more information on Pia, visit her website: www.piasilvani.com and email her for more information.
Spread Joy this Holiday Season: Support a YWCA Family Through Angel Tree.
Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support. If you would like to support a family this holiday season please click here or email Holly Olsen, Director of Women’s Empowerment to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree:
-
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy. -
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families, and their community. -
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system. -
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
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A Helping of Graditude
River lovers are encouraged to support RiverLink and other community nonprofits through Give!Local, the annual philanthropy program organized by MountainXpress. The first 10 donors of $100 or more to RiverLink will be entered into a drawing for a kayak tour on the French Broad River with Renee Fortner, RiverLink’s expert water resources manager. First Bank is waiving transaction fees, so 100 percent of your donation goes to the nonprofits you select.
Participate in Give!Local
RiverLink deeply appreciates the contributions this community makes directly to the organization — whether as gifts of stock, required IRA distributions, donor-advised funds, donations made in memory of others, and all the ways you give. Please reach out to Susan Andrew at [email protected] for assistance with any of these giving modes. And anyone can use the handy Donate button at the bottom of our newsletters. Thank you! Sincere gratitude to RiverLink’s recent business supporters — we are honored by your contributions:
- Astral
- Bottle Riot
- Burial Beer Co.
- Cedar Rock Adventures
- Curtis Wright Outfitters
- East Fork Pottery
- Edgewater Resources
- Ferguson Waterworks
- Fresh Market
- Hellbender Paddleboards
- High Five Coffee
- Preserving a Picturesque America
- Whole Foods
- Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins
Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).
Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.
We need your help and the help of your network to make this holiday drive as successful as possible in putting new books into the hands of Buncombe County elementary and middle school students during the holiday break.
What better way to spread holiday cheer than by donating books? Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a brand-new book. It’s like sprinkling a little bit of magic into their lives!
We’ve partnered with over a dozen local organizations serving K-12 students throughout the county. They’re eagerly waiting for book drop-offs like kids waiting for the first snowfall!
You can make a positive impact right now by donating directly using the button below, or why not turn giving back into an outing?
Holiday Book Drive 2023 (givebutter.com)
Visit the Barnes & Noble on Tunnel Road at the Asheville Mall to shop in-store and donate them on the spot.
Join us for a festive, fun-filled celebration for you and your pups this December 17th! We will have Santa here for photo opportunities, live music, and dog treats!
Donations will be accepted for the Blue Ridge Humane society during the month of December
Spread Joy this Holiday Season: Support a YWCA Family Through Angel Tree.
Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support. If you would like to support a family this holiday season please click here or email Holly Olsen, Director of Women’s Empowerment to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree:
-
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy. -
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families, and their community. -
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system. -
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).
Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.
We need your help and the help of your network to make this holiday drive as successful as possible in putting new books into the hands of Buncombe County elementary and middle school students during the holiday break.
What better way to spread holiday cheer than by donating books? Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a brand-new book. It’s like sprinkling a little bit of magic into their lives!
We’ve partnered with over a dozen local organizations serving K-12 students throughout the county. They’re eagerly waiting for book drop-offs like kids waiting for the first snowfall!
You can make a positive impact right now by donating directly using the button below, or why not turn giving back into an outing?
Holiday Book Drive 2023 (givebutter.com)
Visit the Barnes & Noble on Tunnel Road at the Asheville Mall to shop in-store and donate them on the spot.
Spread Joy this Holiday Season: Support a YWCA Family Through Angel Tree.
Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support. If you would like to support a family this holiday season please click here or email Holly Olsen, Director of Women’s Empowerment to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree:
-
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy. -
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families, and their community. -
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system. -
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
A Helping of Graditude
River lovers are encouraged to support RiverLink and other community nonprofits through Give!Local, the annual philanthropy program organized by MountainXpress. The first 10 donors of $100 or more to RiverLink will be entered into a drawing for a kayak tour on the French Broad River with Renee Fortner, RiverLink’s expert water resources manager. First Bank is waiving transaction fees, so 100 percent of your donation goes to the nonprofits you select.
Participate in Give!Local
RiverLink deeply appreciates the contributions this community makes directly to the organization — whether as gifts of stock, required IRA distributions, donor-advised funds, donations made in memory of others, and all the ways you give. Please reach out to Susan Andrew at [email protected] for assistance with any of these giving modes. And anyone can use the handy Donate button at the bottom of our newsletters. Thank you! Sincere gratitude to RiverLink’s recent business supporters — we are honored by your contributions:
- Astral
- Bottle Riot
- Burial Beer Co.
- Cedar Rock Adventures
- Curtis Wright Outfitters
- East Fork Pottery
- Edgewater Resources
- Ferguson Waterworks
- Fresh Market
- Hellbender Paddleboards
- High Five Coffee
- Preserving a Picturesque America
- Whole Foods
- Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins
Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).
Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.