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.

February 2022 Feb 2022
Collapse All Expand All
Post Your Event
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
How to Start a New Agribusiness
Feb 23 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
online

No cost due to sponsor support

There is a steep learning curve for starting any new business, and agriculture-based businesses are certainly no exception. This session will provide an overview of the regulatory and planning pieces you need to consider in starting an agribusiness. Learn about the variety of programs and resources available to farms in our region and where to go for additional support.

Speaker(s): TenBiz

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info will be emailed after registration

Read more
Categories: Business and Networking Education
PacJAM Spring Semester 2022 ADULTS CLASSES
Feb 23 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

adult pacjm

Option 1:  Classic Rock for acoustic guitar

Join beloved Polk County musician Woody Cowan and learn YOUR favorite tunes.  In this setting, the students pick the songs, and Woody leads the teaching.  This friendly class is full of peer-to-peer encouragement and collaboration.  Artists covered included Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Old Crow Medicine Show, & Grateful Dead.  Whether you know a lot of chords or just a couple, this class will move you forward musically while taking you back through the best era of radio-played folk music.

 

Option 2: Beginner/Intermediate Folk Jam

World-class musician Gaye Johnson leads this class, gently raising your comfort level to play freely in a group setting.  Rooted in traditional folk music, aspiring mandolin, and guitar students will join together to gain more comfort and self-assurance in a group setting, while also diving into rhythm techniques and ornamentations.

 

Option 3: Intermediate/ advanced band

Bob and Amy Buckingham guide adults on all instruments (guitar, clawhammer banjo, fiddle, mandolin, ukulele, & bass).  Several songs are picked by the group at the start of the semester, and over the 10 week semester, the musicality and “setlist” grow exponentially.  Adults love this format for
guided jamming.

Read more
Categories: Education Music
How to Start a New Agribusiness
Feb 23 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
online

No cost due to sponsor support

There is a steep learning curve for starting any new business, and agriculture-based businesses are certainly no exception. This session will provide an overview of the regulatory and planning pieces you need to consider in starting an agribusiness. Learn about the variety of programs and resources available to farms in our region and where to go for additional support.

Speaker(s): TenBiz

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info will be emailed after registration

Read more
Categories: Education
PacJAM Spring Semester 2022 Beginner Youth Classes
Feb 23 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

TFAC Music Classes by Catherine Turner-15

Wednesday 

 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

All beginning students receive 45 minutes of group instruction and 45 minutes of singing/storytelling.

 

Group song & story:  Gaye Johnson (known for having the sweetest voice in the region) gives students the strong foundation they need for learning an instrument.  To learn music most effectively, students must know the songs before they play them on an instrument – then the learning becomes intuitive.  This fun class equips students with the classic songs and stories of the region and helps launch their musical abilities.

Instrument options:

Age ranges are suggestions.  Please email Julie if your child is outside the age range for the class they wish to take.

 

Option 1: Beginning ukulele, ages 6-8

Option 2:  Instrument Survey, ages 8-14

Continuing from last semester, this instrument survey class will focus on clawhammer banjo, plus one additional instrument to be chosen by the students.

Option 3:  Beginning guitar, ages 8-14

Option 4: Beginner mandolin ages 8-14

Option 5: Beginner fiddle ages 8-14

 

*Please be sure to select the student’s 1st and 2nc\d instrument choices when registering.

Read more
Categories: Education Family Fun Music
PacJAM Spring Semester 2022 Intermediate Youth Classes
Feb 23 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

TFAC Music Classes by Catherine Turner-24

Wednesdays 

4:30 pm-6:00pm

All students with some experience under their belt will take an intermediate or advanced group instrument class, and a band class.

 

  • 4:30-5:15 

Jam Band: Phil Jenkins & Carson Moore help young musicians find their voice in a band environment.

  • 5:15 – 6:00

Option 1: Intermediate Guitar

Option 2: Intermediate Fiddle

Option 3: Intermediate Mandolin

Option 4: Three-finger banjo- all levels

 

Clover Pickers: 4:00- 6:00

PacJAM’s house band gets rigorous coaching this semester from Emily Wait and special guest coaches.  Clover Pickers will spend 5 weeks of the semester practicing their teaching skills from 4-4:45 weekly, and 5 weeks working on choosing and arranging songs for Clover Picker performance.  Band rehearsal and coaching last from 4:45-6 for all 10 weeks.  Clover Pickers band is by invitation and the commitment requires extra rehearsals as determined by the group.

Read more
Categories: Education Family Fun Music
Thursday, February 24, 2022
— NURTURING CHILDREN — BLACK HISTORY MONTH READING LIST
Feb 24 all-day
online

It is our hope that the many accomplishments that Black people have made, and continue to make in this country, are celebrated every day of the year as Black history IS American History. Beyond that, we challenge everyone to consider, not just the momentous, exceptional, or singular figures but to truly celebrate Blackness. Visit our blog post designed with our partners at Read2Suceed that includes a children’s reading list of both historic characters and Black characters to add to your child’s library.
Read more
Categories: Community Education Family Fun
Asheville City’s Homeless Initiative: Point-In-Time Count Dashboard Launch
Feb 24 all-day
online
homelessness
Point-In-Time Count

Point in Time (PIT) Count Dashboard and Web Page Available on the City of Asheville Website

 

2021 Point in Time (PIT) count data is now available on the City of Asheville website.  The PIT data is displayed via dashboard, and presents numbers on those experiencing homelessness, either in emergency shelter, transitional housing or who are unsheltered. The 2022 Point in Time Count happened on January 25, and this dashboard will be updated with the new data later in the spring.

 

Each year, the City of Asheville, in collaboration with a number of local organizations that focus on housing insecurity, collects data on the people in our community that are experiencing homelessness in the annual Point in Time (PIT) count. The data collected are aggregated, with identifying information removed, and then are reported to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which requires that all communities that receive HUD funding to address homelessness conduct an annual PIT Count. This count is a one night “snapshot” that, when taken each year, can provide an overview of the population and trends over time.

 

“Understanding who is homeless in our community and what their needs are is essential in the work of ending homelessness.  We’re excited to partner with the Office of Data and Performance to share this information with the community so that stakeholders can be empowered with the data we all need to develop strategies that move the needle on homelessness,” stated Emily Ball, Homeless Services System Performance Lead for the City of Asheville.

 

The dashboard displays information on homeless Asheville residents broken down by sheltered status and race. Visitors to the webpage can explore the data further by clicking the link at the bottom of the dashboard, which navigates to a spreadsheet where the data is broken down by gender, ethnicity, and veteran’s status, as well as the number of people who are chronically homeless in our community. The dashboard is a collaborative effort between the City’s Homeless Initiative in the Community and Economic Development department and the Office of Data & Performance in IT Services.

The PIT Dashboard and information regarding its findings are located on the City of Asheville’s website.  For more information on the City’s Homeless Initiative, contact Brian Huskey ([email protected]) or Emily Ball ([email protected]). For information on affordable housing, emergency housing, rental assistance or down payment assistance, or to learn how to assist our homeless community, please call 211. The service is free, confidential and available in any language.

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Black HERSTORY Month
Feb 24 all-day
online

#BlackHerstoryMonth is this month! 🎉 The perspectives of #BlackFeminists have consistently transformed the fights for gender equity and racial justice to ensure we can continue to build a world of equity, justice, and freedom for all. That’s why, all month, we’re celebrating Black feminism and centering the work of powerful Black sheroes past and present doing the critical intersectional work to #EliminateRacism and #EmpowerWomen. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram all month long as we center the unsung legacy of Black feminism: from Jane Crow to Intersectionality.
Read more
Categories: Community Education
GIVE + GROW LEAF Membership
Feb 24 all-day
online

Read more
Categories: Art & Craft Community Education Family Fun Music
On this Day in WNC History Tidbit
Feb 24 all-day
online
On this Day in WNC History Tidbit
Do you follow us on social media? If not, you’ve missed our new 2021 series –
On This Day in WNC History!

Every week we explore the headlines and overlooked events that happened
on a particular day in Western North Carolina history.

Follow us on social media for more!
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
ON THIS DAY in WNC history: On October 2, 1929, deputies fired into a crowd of striking workers in Marion, NC. Six were killed and even more wounded at the Marion Manufacturing Company in one of the deadliest acts of strike busting in the South.

This year marked an apogee of strikes and labor organization in southern textile mills. Eight years prior, over 100 miners were killed at the Battle of Blair Mountain in West Virginia in a period of coal clashes and unionization attempts. Later in the 1920s, many textile workers reacting to grueling and dirty work conditions under the “stretch-out” system, along with a reduction of their pay in company scrip, began organizing and demanding better conditions. Spearheaded by the National Textile Workers Union (an organization supported by the Communist Party), concurrent strikes began early in 1929 at the Bemberg-Glanzstoff Rayon Corporation in Elizabethton, Tennessee and at Loray Mills in Gastonia, North Carolina. Female employees were key to the organization of both strikes, and the latter is most famously remembered for the death of Ella May Wiggins. National Guard members, local police, and union-busting mobs were called to both of these events.

The Marion strikes (which occurred at the neighboring Clinchfield Mill as well) began July 11. Workers struck without official union support, resisting involvement by communist organizers. After frequent violence and threats, with two National Guard units present, workers returned to these mills September 11, with no raise in pay and a mandated 55-hour workweek. Marion Manufacturing Mill refused to rehire 114 of the strikers, leading to further anger. Workers struck again on October 2, and deputies were dispatched by the local sheriff. Though some details are murky, deputies shot into a crowd of strikers, killing four on site, wounding at least fifteen, with two others dying later. Nearby hospitals refused medical care to strikers, and churches of the mill village refused to administer their funerals. Eight deputies were charged, but acquitted in December. They contended the strikers were armed, but no guns were found, and the New York Times reported those killed were shot in the back.

The memory of these events will be examined in our upcoming event, Marion Mill Massacre in Memory, on Thursday, Oct 14.

Image: Raleigh News and Observer, Oct. 4, 1929
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Read more
Categories: Community Education
Student Poetry Contest – “Ambition”
Feb 24 all-day
online

January through April

Actors performing Sandburg's works on stageActors portray characters from Carl Sandburg’s Rootabaga Story “Three Boys with Jugs of Molasses and Secret Ambitions.”

NPS Photo

Educators in grades 3-12 are invited to submit original poems written by their students in February. The poems will be judged and winners announced in April. Find the 2022 Poetry Contest Information and submission guidelines here. The theme “Ambition” is from one of Carl Sandburg’s Rootabaga Stories, to celebrate it’s 100th year of being published. “An ambition…creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, ‘Come and find me, come and find me.”

Students are invited to submit a poem to Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site’s annual Student Poetry Contest. The contest encourages youth to explore writing their own poetry, and is open to students nationwide!

Submissions are accepted from grades 3-12 and must be postmarked by March 1, 2022. See below for submission rules.

Winners will be notified by April 8, 2022, and will be invited to participate in a special virtual program on April 22.

2022 Contest Rules

Theme – “Ambition”
Carl Sandburg wrote millions of words reflecting on the American experience of the 20th century. Though his words often focused on war, labor, and social injustice, as a father of three, he also wrote imaginative, zany, and fantastical children’s stories, called “Rootabaga Stories.” Carl Sandburg’s “Rootabaga Stories” were first published in 1922 and celebrate 100 years of entertaining readers of all ages this year. The theme “Ambition” is from one of these stories. “An ambition…creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, ‘Come and find me, come and find me.” Read the story here.

Poems submitted for the 2022 contest should reflect the theme of “Ambition.” By definition, a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. Or setting goals to achieve success.

Submission Rules

  • Poetry accepted from 3-12th grades only. Poems will be grouped for judging by 3-5th, 6-8th, and 9-12th.
  • Poems must be submitted by a teacher (traditional classroom or homeschool teacher).
  • No more than three poems per class. Teachers with multiple classes, can submit up to three poems per class period.
  • Poem will be judged on its ability to communicate the theme.
  • Poem can be written in any style, but must not exceed one-page in length. No illustrations.
  • Poems must be typed, no handwritten entries, using standard computer fonts, like Times, Arial, etc…
  • Do not place any identifying information (name, school, grade, etc…) on poem sheet, that will go on the accompanying submission form.
  • Submission form must be complete to be accepted:
    • Paperclipped to poem, no staples
    • Must be signed by parent, student and teacher
    • Submissions must be postmarked, faxed, or e-mailed to [email protected], by March 1, 2022. Emailed submissions must be docs, .pdfs or scans. Low resolution pictures of the submission will not be accepted.

Judging
Judges from the literary community will make the decision for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place within each grade category (3-5th, 6-8th, 9-12th).

Poetry Partners
The 2022 Poetry Contest is a result of tremendous community support including the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara, and literary volunteers who serve as judges. Thank you.

Poetry Resources
You may also find curriculum resources to use in the classroom at the park’s website: www.nps.gov/carl/learn/education/index.htm.

Send Submissions to:
Carl Sandburg Home NHS
Attn: Poetry Contest
81 Carl Sandburg Lane
Flat Rock, North Carolina 28731
Fax 828-693-4179
Email: [email protected]

Read more
Categories: Art & Craft Education Family Fun Writing
The 13th Annual Student Food Drive
Feb 24 all-day
online

#MANNAStudentChallenge2022

The past few years, we have been unable to host our annual student food drive due to the pandemic. This year, however, the student food drive and the competition between schools to see who can collect the most food returns!
Throughout the entire month of March, schools will be hosting food drives and competing between each other to see who can donate the most pounds of food to MANNA or their local partner agency. Students can also earn points that will be added to their total score by making financial donations, volunteering at their local partner agency, participating in hunger and nutrition education opportunities and joining us in our #MANNAStudentChallenge2022 TikTok campaign.
To earn points for their school through the #MANNAStudentChallenge2022, students can create TikTok videos that either feature them eating a fruit or vegetable they have never tried before or highlight a recipe that they believe is unique to their family.
At the end of the campaign, we will announce winners for each of our categories: high school, middle school, elementary school, college or university, most improved, rookie of the year and most creative.
If you are interested in having your school participate in MANNA’s Annual Student Food Drive, contact Jake Deuterman.
Read more
Categories: Community Donations Education Family Fun
Tours: Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site
Feb 24 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
The Thomas Wolfe Memorial

Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial

American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)

American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)

Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.

House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.

Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free

Hours of Operation

9:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday – Saturday
Sunday & Monday: CLOSED
Closed State Holidays

Read more
Categories: Tours
Ready for Kindergarten! Free Family Information Session
Feb 24 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
YWCA of Asheville Multipurpose Room

Ready for Kindergarten! Free Family Information Session (In-Person @ YWCA)

It’s Time for Kindergarten: Family Information Session (In-Person at the YWCA of Asheville)

Do you have a rising kindergartner and questions about what it means to be “ready for kindergarten”?

Join us for this FREE information session with Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools representatives that will include information about what to expect as you support your child’s transition to kindergarten. Individuals who attend are eligible to receive a Kaplan Kindergarten Readiness Kit, which includes great resources for families and materials for kids.

** Limited child care space available on a first come, first serve basis with registration. If you select that you would like child care in the registration process, we will contact you to let you know if there is space.**

 

Who Should Attend: Families with rising kindergartners, or any adult with a rising kindergartener in their life who is curious about how best to support them.

Ready for Kindergarten! Family info session with Buncombe Partnership for Children, Asheville City Schools, and Buncombe County School

Read more
Categories: Education Family Fun
Nonprofit Sales and Use Tax
Feb 24 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
online

No cost due to sponsor support

This workshop will help participants better understand their sales and use tax obligations. Participants will receive a hands-on experience preparing sales and use tax returns in addition to learning about sales and use tax basics, about the most common types of sales and use taxes collected, and how to register an account. Sales and use tax law changes regarding capital improvements and repair, maintenance, and installation services will not be addressed in any depth during this workshop.

Speaker(s): NCDOR

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info will be emailed after registration

Read more
Categories: Business and Networking Education
Lectures/Performances with Jamie Laval
Feb 24 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Hybrid: Tryon Fine Arts Center and Zoom

World-renown Celtic musical artist Jamie Laval presents a behind-the-scenes view of how he creates music. Months of research, creative inspiration, skilled application of technological tools and diligent practicing go into each new song before it is ready to be shared with the public. Learn about the process from inception to manifestation in this three-part lecture/performance series.

TFAC will follow CDC and Polk County COVID recommendations. Participants will have space to social distance and appropriate face masks are strongly recommended. The program will also be available via Zoom.

Description

Registrations are for ONE HOUSEHOLD.

All sessions will be held on Thursdays, from 4:30-5:30.  For those desiring to participate by Zoom, a link will be sent out the morning of the call.

Schedule: 

  • February 10:  Celtic Music: Cultural History and Performance Practice
  • February  17:  How I use Technology to Create Music
  • February 24:  Violins to Bagpipes and Beyond: All about Musical Instruments
Read more
Categories: Art & Craft Education Music
Tanglewood Youth Theatre Classes: Theatre Dance and Movement
Feb 24 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

Taught by Alexa Hibbert
Ages 9-12
Feb 10-Mar 31, 2022 | Thursdays

And a 5-6-7-8! Have you ever wanted to feel confident in a dance audition or learn awesome choreography to your favorite musical numbers? In this class students will learn basic dance styles used in musical theatre and how to act through their dancing. This course will help dancers prepare to ace an audition and pick up choreography quickly and efficiently. Tuition will be $175.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available.

Read more
Categories: Education Family Fun Theatre
Do I Need an Online eCommerce Presence?
Feb 24 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
online

No cost due to sponsor support

We will explore the features of well-known e-commerce sites such as an eBay Store, Shopify website, Amazon.com, and Etsy as well as creating your own website as an online store.

  • One way to expand your small business is to sell products online.
  • Developing a revenue stream from online sales is an easy way for small businesses to increase their profits.
  • Learn what sites work best to sell your product or service.

At the end of this session, you will be able to understand whether:

  1. You need to sell online and what are the risks and costs.
  2. Have an understanding of your online store options such as an eBay Store, Amazon web store, Shopify, Etsy, or your own website.
  3. Understand the differences between platforms and determine what is right for your business.

​

Speaker(s): Nick Hawks

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info forthcoming

Read more
Categories: Business and Networking Education
Seafood + Oyster Class
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Chop Shop Butchery

Seafood & Oyster Class

Understanding how to source better seafood and prepare it at home is a valuable skill for anyone looking to improve the quality and taste of their fish at home!

In this two-hour class our seafood wizard, Rob Jones, will teach you the secrets of buying, preparing, and cooking some of the most amazing fish from our coastal waters.

 

What to Expect:

  • MIX & MINGLE: Before we go into the cut room, you’ll get to sample local and house-made charcuterie and sip on beer from a local brewery (TBD) or a glass of wine while mingling with other students in the class.
  • FILET, DEBONE & PREP: Next, we’ll head into the cut room. (Dress warmly — it’s chilly in there!) Rob will show you how to filet, gut and debone a fish. You’ll get to practice hands-on while working alongside other students in the class.
  • During the class, you’ll learn about the different tools used in fish butchery to maximize yield and provide the best value for the whole fish. We’ll also discuss how to prepare and cook different types of fish.

Where does our seafood come from?

We work closely with Abundant Seafood from Charleston, Inland Seafood and Low Country Shellfish Company to get the freshest, most sustainably-caught seafood in the Southeast.

Read more
Categories: Education Food & Drink
Tanglewood Youth Theatre Classes: Intermediate Theatre Dance and Movement
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

Taught by Alexa Hibbert
Ages 13-18
Feb 10-Mar 31, 2022 | Thursdays 

This class is for more advanced movers and dancers and will cover Musical Theatre Dance styles through the years. This course will also help dancers prepare for and feel confident in dance auditions, pick up choreography quickly and efficiently. Come dance with us! Tuition will be $175.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available.

Read more
Categories: Education Family Fun Theatre
Western Regional SBCN and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems: virtual series on enhancing your farming business
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
online

Kickoff 2022 with the Western Regional SBCN and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems as we present a virtual series on enhancing your farming business. Convenient online classes for you to attend and hear from speakers with information, tips, and more. Registration is FREE!

Join us at 6 pm on Thursdays, January through March, to hear from EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems. We encourage you to take this time to engage with fellow agribusinesses, entrepreneurs and resource providers while learning new skills and the power of collaboration along the way.

Kickoff 2022 with the Western Regional SBCN and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems as we present a virtual series on enhancing your farming business. Convenient online classes for you to attend and hear from speakers with information, tips, and more. Registration is FREE!

Join us at 6 pm on Thursdays, January through March, to hear from EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems. We encourage you to take this time to engage with fellow agribusinesses, entrepreneurs and resource providers while learning new skills and the power of collaboration along the way.

January 20- Online Farm Taxes Explained: Property, Equipment and Sales. Dive deeper into farm taxes as they pertain to the many different sides of your farming business. Ask a local farmer about their experience navigating taxes and learn some tips of your own.
January 27- Online Sales Platforms for Direct to Consumer Sales: There are many choices to consider! Hear what works for some regional farmers and determine which platform may be a good fit for your operation.
February 3- Agritourism in Southwestern NC Trends and Storytelling: NCSU researchers spent a year learning from regional providers. What are their findings and recommendations? February 10- Airbnb, HipCamp and Harvest Host: Exploring farm visit options for lodging on your farm. Hear farmer success stories
February 17- Using Social Media to Promote your Farm Business: Facebook, Insta, and Twitter how to get followers and keep them!
February 24- Liability for On Farm Visits: Protect your visitors, your farm and home.
March 10- Making Value Added Products at Home: Regulations for a Home Certified Kitchen & Marketing Options
March 17- Food Safety: Good practices and Regulations for the farm
and market
March 24- Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Management: Services and Cost Share for your Farming Operations

Read more
Categories: Education Garden
WNCHA History Hour: The Buncombe County Remembrance Project with Dr. Joseph Fox
Feb 24 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
online

WNCHA History Hour - The Buncombe County Remembrance Project

“The Buncombe Community Remembrance Project: Acknowledging, Remembering, and Honoring Lynching Victims” discusses the personal and community trauma inflicted on individuals of color after the Civil War, the Equal Justice Initiative’s research related to lynchings, and the three lynchings “of record” that occurred in Buncombe County, NC. Additional discussions will focus on the process of honoring individuals that were lynched, the partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, specific related projects, and the installation of three historical markers in Buncombe County.

 

About the Speaker:

 

Dr. Joseph Fox is the owner of Fox Management Consulting Enterprises, LLC. He possesses an Ed.D. and an M.B.A. from Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, and a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC. Dr. Fox also possesses the Professional in Human Resources Management (PHR) National Certification, Global Achieve Leadership Training Certification, and the Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) Certification.

 

Dr. Joseph Fox is a life-long educator, mentor, and community advocate. He has advocated for students of a darker hue for more than 30 years in his role as a community college instructor, as well as his role as a former Department Chair of Business Administration at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. While still employed at A-B Tech, he founded the Minority Male Mentoring Program, that later became the Minority Students Leadership Academy, and now the Multicultural Student Leadership Academy. Upon retiring from the NC Community College System, Dr. Fox established, in memory of his mother, the Hazel Fox Minority Student Entrepreneurship Scholarship in which several scholarships were awarded to nonmajority Entrepreneurship students. The Scholarship was established to encourage individuals of a darker hue to view entrepreneurship as a viable option for wealth creation. Individuals that had been negatively impacted by the Criminal Justice System were encouraged to become “job creators” when they faced difficulty seeking employment. Upon the phasing out of the Entrepreneurship Degree by A-B Tech, Dr. Fox established the Hazel Fox Minority Business Plan Competition in which $11,000 was awarded recently to several local start-ups and existing businesses owned by nonmajority entrepreneurs. Dr. Fox is the recent recipient of several awards including the Summit Award given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Western North Carolina Chapter, during the 2021 National Philanthropy Awards Ceremony, the Black Business Trailblazer Award, presented to him during the 2021 Grindfest, and both the 2022 Community Humanitarian Award and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Community Service Award, given by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County. Previous awards received include a Thermal Belt Friendship Council Service Award for his work pertaining to race relations, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 7th Episcopal District Bishop’s “Empowering Us to Help Us” Award for outstanding service and contributions to the church and community.

 

Dr. Fox is the outgoing Vice President of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, a Wilma Dykeman Board Member, and a Carolina Small Business Development Fund Board Member. He currently serves on the Food-Security Reparations Coalition, and he is a recent appointee to the Advisory Committee for the African American Heritage Trail Project. In his hometown of Tryon, NC, Dr. Fox serves on the Eastside Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and is Vice President of the Roseland Community Center Board of Directors. Dr. Fox is also a former President of the Thermal Belt Friendship Council. He has been the Chair of the Asheville Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace March and Rally Committee for a number of years, and he Chairs the Buncombe Community Remembrance Project in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, to recognize, honor, and celebrate the three individuals “of record” that were lynched in Buncombe County.

Tickets: This event is free, though a $10 donation is suggested. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise. Donations for this event are also shared with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County.

Viewing: Registrants will receive a Zoom link with which to view the program. It will also be recorded and later available on our website.

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Friday, February 25, 2022
— NURTURING CHILDREN — BLACK HISTORY MONTH READING LIST
Feb 25 all-day
online

It is our hope that the many accomplishments that Black people have made, and continue to make in this country, are celebrated every day of the year as Black history IS American History. Beyond that, we challenge everyone to consider, not just the momentous, exceptional, or singular figures but to truly celebrate Blackness. Visit our blog post designed with our partners at Read2Suceed that includes a children’s reading list of both historic characters and Black characters to add to your child’s library.
Read more
Categories: Community Education Family Fun
Asheville City’s Homeless Initiative: Point-In-Time Count Dashboard Launch
Feb 25 all-day
online
homelessness
Point-In-Time Count

Point in Time (PIT) Count Dashboard and Web Page Available on the City of Asheville Website

 

2021 Point in Time (PIT) count data is now available on the City of Asheville website.  The PIT data is displayed via dashboard, and presents numbers on those experiencing homelessness, either in emergency shelter, transitional housing or who are unsheltered. The 2022 Point in Time Count happened on January 25, and this dashboard will be updated with the new data later in the spring.

 

Each year, the City of Asheville, in collaboration with a number of local organizations that focus on housing insecurity, collects data on the people in our community that are experiencing homelessness in the annual Point in Time (PIT) count. The data collected are aggregated, with identifying information removed, and then are reported to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which requires that all communities that receive HUD funding to address homelessness conduct an annual PIT Count. This count is a one night “snapshot” that, when taken each year, can provide an overview of the population and trends over time.

 

“Understanding who is homeless in our community and what their needs are is essential in the work of ending homelessness.  We’re excited to partner with the Office of Data and Performance to share this information with the community so that stakeholders can be empowered with the data we all need to develop strategies that move the needle on homelessness,” stated Emily Ball, Homeless Services System Performance Lead for the City of Asheville.

 

The dashboard displays information on homeless Asheville residents broken down by sheltered status and race. Visitors to the webpage can explore the data further by clicking the link at the bottom of the dashboard, which navigates to a spreadsheet where the data is broken down by gender, ethnicity, and veteran’s status, as well as the number of people who are chronically homeless in our community. The dashboard is a collaborative effort between the City’s Homeless Initiative in the Community and Economic Development department and the Office of Data & Performance in IT Services.

The PIT Dashboard and information regarding its findings are located on the City of Asheville’s website.  For more information on the City’s Homeless Initiative, contact Brian Huskey ([email protected]) or Emily Ball ([email protected]). For information on affordable housing, emergency housing, rental assistance or down payment assistance, or to learn how to assist our homeless community, please call 211. The service is free, confidential and available in any language.

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Black HERSTORY Month
Feb 25 all-day
online

#BlackHerstoryMonth is this month! 🎉 The perspectives of #BlackFeminists have consistently transformed the fights for gender equity and racial justice to ensure we can continue to build a world of equity, justice, and freedom for all. That’s why, all month, we’re celebrating Black feminism and centering the work of powerful Black sheroes past and present doing the critical intersectional work to #EliminateRacism and #EmpowerWomen. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram all month long as we center the unsung legacy of Black feminism: from Jane Crow to Intersectionality.
Read more
Categories: Community Education
GIVE + GROW LEAF Membership
Feb 25 all-day
online

Read more
Categories: Art & Craft Community Education Family Fun Music
History @ Home – Visit Virtually Western North Carolina Historical Association
Feb 25 all-day
online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
Deep Dive into Archives is a living exhibit shining a light on the individuals who were once enslaved at the Smith-McDowell House through primary documentation.

 

 

 
Douglas Ellington: Asheville’s Boomtown Architect presents a look at Ellington’s iconic Asheville creations along with other buildings he completed throughout his career in other cities.
HillBilly Land explores the power, prevalence, and persistence of the hillbilly stereotype from the days of its beginnings in the late 19th century to the present day.
In 1918 vs 2020, we take an in-depth look at the 1918 influenza epidemic in Western North Carolina through newspaper clippings, advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and oral history and place the events of 1918 into context with our present-day response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more
Categories: Community Education
Student Poetry Contest – “Ambition”
Feb 25 all-day
online

January through April

Actors performing Sandburg's works on stageActors portray characters from Carl Sandburg’s Rootabaga Story “Three Boys with Jugs of Molasses and Secret Ambitions.”

NPS Photo

Educators in grades 3-12 are invited to submit original poems written by their students in February. The poems will be judged and winners announced in April. Find the 2022 Poetry Contest Information and submission guidelines here. The theme “Ambition” is from one of Carl Sandburg’s Rootabaga Stories, to celebrate it’s 100th year of being published. “An ambition…creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, ‘Come and find me, come and find me.”

Students are invited to submit a poem to Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site’s annual Student Poetry Contest. The contest encourages youth to explore writing their own poetry, and is open to students nationwide!

Submissions are accepted from grades 3-12 and must be postmarked by March 1, 2022. See below for submission rules.

Winners will be notified by April 8, 2022, and will be invited to participate in a special virtual program on April 22.

2022 Contest Rules

Theme – “Ambition”
Carl Sandburg wrote millions of words reflecting on the American experience of the 20th century. Though his words often focused on war, labor, and social injustice, as a father of three, he also wrote imaginative, zany, and fantastical children’s stories, called “Rootabaga Stories.” Carl Sandburg’s “Rootabaga Stories” were first published in 1922 and celebrate 100 years of entertaining readers of all ages this year. The theme “Ambition” is from one of these stories. “An ambition…creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, ‘Come and find me, come and find me.” Read the story here.

Poems submitted for the 2022 contest should reflect the theme of “Ambition.” By definition, a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. Or setting goals to achieve success.

Submission Rules

  • Poetry accepted from 3-12th grades only. Poems will be grouped for judging by 3-5th, 6-8th, and 9-12th.
  • Poems must be submitted by a teacher (traditional classroom or homeschool teacher).
  • No more than three poems per class. Teachers with multiple classes, can submit up to three poems per class period.
  • Poem will be judged on its ability to communicate the theme.
  • Poem can be written in any style, but must not exceed one-page in length. No illustrations.
  • Poems must be typed, no handwritten entries, using standard computer fonts, like Times, Arial, etc…
  • Do not place any identifying information (name, school, grade, etc…) on poem sheet, that will go on the accompanying submission form.
  • Submission form must be complete to be accepted:
    • Paperclipped to poem, no staples
    • Must be signed by parent, student and teacher
    • Submissions must be postmarked, faxed, or e-mailed to [email protected], by March 1, 2022. Emailed submissions must be docs, .pdfs or scans. Low resolution pictures of the submission will not be accepted.

Judging
Judges from the literary community will make the decision for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place within each grade category (3-5th, 6-8th, 9-12th).

Poetry Partners
The 2022 Poetry Contest is a result of tremendous community support including the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara, and literary volunteers who serve as judges. Thank you.

Poetry Resources
You may also find curriculum resources to use in the classroom at the park’s website: www.nps.gov/carl/learn/education/index.htm.

Send Submissions to:
Carl Sandburg Home NHS
Attn: Poetry Contest
81 Carl Sandburg Lane
Flat Rock, North Carolina 28731
Fax 828-693-4179
Email: [email protected]

Read more
Categories: Art & Craft Education Family Fun Writing
The 13th Annual Student Food Drive
Feb 25 all-day
online

#MANNAStudentChallenge2022

The past few years, we have been unable to host our annual student food drive due to the pandemic. This year, however, the student food drive and the competition between schools to see who can collect the most food returns!
Throughout the entire month of March, schools will be hosting food drives and competing between each other to see who can donate the most pounds of food to MANNA or their local partner agency. Students can also earn points that will be added to their total score by making financial donations, volunteering at their local partner agency, participating in hunger and nutrition education opportunities and joining us in our #MANNAStudentChallenge2022 TikTok campaign.
To earn points for their school through the #MANNAStudentChallenge2022, students can create TikTok videos that either feature them eating a fruit or vegetable they have never tried before or highlight a recipe that they believe is unique to their family.
At the end of the campaign, we will announce winners for each of our categories: high school, middle school, elementary school, college or university, most improved, rookie of the year and most creative.
If you are interested in having your school participate in MANNA’s Annual Student Food Drive, contact Jake Deuterman.
Read more
Categories: Community Donations Education Family Fun
Tours: Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site
Feb 25 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
The Thomas Wolfe Memorial

Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial

American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)

American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)

Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.

House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.

Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free

Hours of Operation

9:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday – Saturday
Sunday & Monday: CLOSED
Closed State Holidays

Read more
Categories: Tours