February is Black History Month, and we invite you to learn about the story and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black pilots in the US military who bravely fought during World War II. Their story is brought to life in Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan’s play, Fly, produced on the Rock in 2015.

Friend of Equality, Welcome to #BlackFutureMonth, Equality North Carolina’s month-long celebration of Blackness and Black Americans who are collectively transforming the future of American life. Last week we featured our beloved Vice President Kamala Harris, who has pushed the boundaries of representation for women of color and broken glass ceilings throughout her entire career. Today, we’re honoring one of the South’s newest U.S. senators to enter the halls of power and shift the course of history in this country, Senator Raphael Warnock. The legacy of Senator Warnock is built upon a rich history of Black community organizing throughout the state of Georgia. Warnock has deep roots within his home state, having served as Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His meteoric rise in Georgia politics was framed by activism efforts to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. In many ways, Warnock’s win is the story of a new, progressive South — a version of the South that’s always been here, but obfuscated by the dual forces of voter suppression and gerrymandering. Warnock is the first Black person to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate and the first Black Democrat elected to a senate seat by a former state of the Confederacy. Warnock’s win over Kelly Loeffler was the result of years of tireless organizing in the state of Georgia, led by groups like Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight Action in the effort to fight voter suppression and mobilize communities of color. At Equality North Carolina, we’re fighting this same battle every single day in our own state to elevate and support diverse political voices in the face of an oppressive General Assembly. Will you support our grassroots efforts to mobilize communities of color to have their voices heard at the ballot box? Without grassroots groups working to mobilize marginalized voters in Georgia, Sen. Warnock would never have been able to win his race this past electoral cycle. ENC is fighting the same fight here in North Carolina — and we can’t do it without your support. For this month only, donations of $35 or more will provide you with an #ENCCrew membership — which gives you insider access to our work and a gorgeous Black Resilience t-shirt!

INTRODUCTION: Congratulations, you’ve finished the 21 Day Challenge! Thank you for participating and making this experience so enriching. We hope you learned something new and deepened your commitment to dismantling racism wherever it shows up in your daily life. Although this session of the Challenge has come to an end, the conversation continues and the work is not over! As we see markers like current unemployment numbers and COVID-19 illness and fatalities on the rise, especially among women in Black and brown communities, we ask you to continue this habit-building series with an additional set of resources to close this session of the challenge. It’s widely known that we are in a recession but why is this one different?

WE CHALLENGE YOU TO…

15 mins
Read our op-ed published recently in the Asheville Citizen-Times. Our nation is experiencing the onset of our first female-led recession– more appropriately, a “Shecession”– which was fueled by disappearing service-sector jobs and a lack of child care options.

10 mins
The U.S. lost 140,000 jobs in December, but according to this CNN article, women accounted for all the job losses.

30 mins
The LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin and YWCA USA partnered on a research paper entitled “America’s Recovery from the 2020 “Shecession”: Building a Female Future of Childcare and Work,” which details how challenges and systemic inequities are contributing to this economic crisis’ and the disproportionate impact on women. The white paper outlines how national and local policymakers have failed to identify women’s economic security concerns, despite overwhelming support among women, around key areas like childcare, equal pay, and fair workplaces. The authors of the report demonstrate the ways the country’s childcare system is failing parents, children, childcare workers, and the American economy, and raise serious concerns about a future of work that will automate women out of the workforce.

What is the 21 Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge?

Many people are becoming newly aware of how systemic racism and violence are impacting people of color. Even if you are new to the conversation, that is OK. Our 21 Day Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Participants who sign up for the Challenge will receive daily tasks via email to help foster their understanding and awareness, with activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, or reflecting on personal experience. If you’ve already completed this challenge with us in the past please know that our challenge is designed to be taken multiple times by selecting different daily challenges in order to expand what you have previously learned. Follow this link for the resources.

One Buncombe Launches Monday

Attention “Gig” Workers! – This grant program will support COVID-19 affected Buncombe County-based small businesses re-open and rehire Living Wage employees. It is designed to support businesses who have had a hard time accessing relief grant capital and will prioritize funding people of color-owned, woman-owned, and sole-proprietor businesses.

The mission of the grant funds is to support COVID-19 affected Buncombe County-based small businesses in their ability to re-open and rehire employees.

The One Buncombe Grant Fund helps small for-profit businesses reopen and rehire staff through grants. Please note that funds are limited and not all who apply will be awarded. The eligible grant amount will be based on firm size:

• Up to $2,500 for solopreneurs or single-member organizations
• Up to $5,000 for firms with up to 25 full-time equivalent employees

• Program Timeline

  • February 8: The application window opens
    • All applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered equally. There is no benefit to rushing an application.
  • February 8: Self-scheduled one-on-one application assistance opens
  • February 9:The first webinar will take place at 2 pm
  • February 11:The second webinar will take place at 9:30 am
  • February 26: Technical support around submitting your application will conclude at 5 pm
  • February 28: The application window closes at 11:59 pm

Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) has launched a COVID-19 vaccination waitlist for individuals in the first two phases of the state’s vaccination priority list: adults 65 and older and all health care workers. Individuals can sign up for the waitlist by calling (828) 250-5000 or by going to www.buncombeready.org. As vaccines are received from the state, representatives from the Ready Team will contact individuals on the waitlist via phone to schedule their appointments. We have compiled some frequently asked questions below.

Who can sign up for the waitlist?

Vaccine supplies remain much lower than demand, so waitlist opportunities are only available at this time to those active groups identified by the NCDHHS. If you are over the age of 65 or a health care worker in Buncombe County, you can sign up for the waitlist to receive a COVID vaccine so that you don’t have to keep calling or emailing the department to get an appointment.

The only required information to be added to the waitlist is your name, a reliable way to contact you and that you fall into one of the phases eligible for a vaccine at this time. There is no citizenship status requirements, cost, or insurance information required at any time during the vaccination process.

What happens after I sign up?

Once you are signed up for the waitlist, you will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. The confirmation email should have your waitlist ID number, your name, telephone number and email address. The waitlist ID number is where you fall on the waitlist based on when you signed up for the waitlist.

As we receive vaccine from the state, we open up appointments. We use the waitlist to schedule our appointments. You can call the Ready Team at (828)250-5000 if you have a question about your waitlist confirmation.

When will I be called?

Once we have an available appointment and reach your spot on the waitlist, a member of the Ready Team will notify you by calling you from the number (828)419-0095.

As we move through the waitlist, our staff will make two attempts to reach you using the contact information that you provide. Please make sure this information is correct.

Once we get to your number on the waitlist you will receive a call from the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095 to schedule your appointment.

Joining a CSA (or Community Supported Agriculture) program connects you directly with local farms in your community. ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) offers several events and resources to learn more about CSAs, in which members buy a “share” of a farm’s harvest upfront and receive a weekly box of fresh produce or other farm goods. ASAP will host a virtual CSA Fair on March 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. on Zoom. In addition, Full Share, a free guide listing 60 CSA farms in the Appalachian Grown region, is available now at farmers markets and community centers throughout the region as well as digitally at asapconnections.org/find-local-food/csa.

The virtual CSA Fair will feature farms providing CSAs in Buncombe County and the surrounding region. In addition to traditional produce farms, the fair will include farms with meat and flower CSA programs. The virtual fair will have a similar format as live fairs in the past—a relaxed setting where attendees can talk to farmers about their CSA programs, products, growing practices, and more. Attendees can sign up for CSAs during the fair or follow up with farmers later. The fair is free to attend, but participants do need to register for the event to get a Zoom link.

For farmers, the CSA Fair is a chance to build relationships, even if attendees decide not to purchase a share. “[The customers we meet at the CSA Fair] tend to really want to know the farmer and the food, meaning they are a bit more adventurous when it comes to trying new things,” says K.P. Whaley of Tiny Bridge Farm. “They are interested in knowing how and what we are growing, and really want us to be successful as a farm operation. We may get some customers from the fair and that’s great. But we also start building relationships with future customers.”

Participating farms at press time include Bearwallow Valley Farms, Blazing Star Flowers, Colfax Creek Farm, Creekside Farm, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Olivette Farm, and Tiny Bridge Farm, with more farms to be added before the fair. Check asapconnections.org/events/csa-fair for updates and to register.

ABOUT ASAP (APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT)

ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. To learn more, visit asapconnections.org.

Since 1977, the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. Using a per capita based formula, the program provides funding for the arts in all 100 counties of the state through partnerships with local arts councils.

Funding for the 2020-2021 grant cycle will focus on operating expenses for nonprofit arts organizations. Multicultural organizations will receive priority. To be considered an organization of color, the majority of their board and executive leadership must be people of color. No funding match will be required.

The Grassroots Grant Program is made possible by individual and private contributions to the Asheville Area Arts Council’s—and by the Grassroots Arts Program of North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.

Help shape Asheville by serving on a City board or commission Looking for a way to get involved in local government and play a part in shaping the future of Asheville? Serving on a City of Asheville board or commission is a great place to start. Applications for current vacancies are due on March 1.  Need more information, contact Sarah Terwilliger at [email protected] or 828-259-5839 to be added to the distribution list.

The Buncombe County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board has a vacancy for a resident from District 1. Meetings are currently held virtually at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 12.

Buncombians are the guiding star for Buncombe County Recreation Services. They inform us of how they use parks and what projects we should prioritize. The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board is an extension of that transparency, ensuring a two-way conversation is always happening when it comes to improving equitable access to recreation and enhancing the quality of life in our community.

There is a great amount of diversity among those who use Buncombe County parks and recreation facilities; the ultimate goal is an advisory group that reflects this. The board’s mission statement is: “Advocating for cultural preservation and changing lives through equitable recreation opportunities in public spaces, greenways, and parks.”

For a detailed position description and to apply, click here.

We need your input on naming the new section of greenway in the River Arts District! The proposed name is the Wilma Dykeman Greenway, in honor of the late historian, author and environmental activist Wilma Dykeman. Ms. Dykeman’s influential writings and passion for environmental and social justice helped shape the modern day movement for a cleaner French Broad River and a more vibrant, healthy riverfront. To learn more about Wilma Dykeman and the contributions she has made, click here.

An interactive map of the greenway is available here.

Bo Bartlett, Dominion, 2016, oil on linen, 82 × 100 inches. Courtesy Miles McEnery Gallery, New York. © Bo Bartlett, image courtesy Miles McEnery Gallery, New York.

What could be better than picking up a monthly box of mouthwatering grassfed beef and pasture raised pork from Hickory Nut Gap Farm? Having it delivered directly to your front door, of course. Contactless, COVID-safe home delivery will be coordinated in partnership with Leading Green Distribution. Available ONLY as a three month prepaid subscription. Offered in Large (about 15lbs per month) and Small (about 10lbs per month) sizes to fit the needs of just about any household on a convenient monthly schedule. A selection of 100% Grassfed Beef, Pasture-Raised Pork and Pasture-Raised Chicken Monthly boxes contain (for example): steaks, roasts, sausages, ground meats, whole chicken, chicken breast, pork chops, bacon DISCOUNTED 10% OFF RETAIL Delivered right to your front door within the city limits of Asheville. 3 Month pre-paid subscription – also includes 10% off other Farm Store meat purchases

• Bars
• Meeting, Reception, and Conference Spaces
• Lounges (including tobacco) and Night Clubs
• Indoor areas of Amusement Parks
• Movie Theatres
• Entertainment facilities (e.g., bingo parlors, gaming establishments)
• Sports Arenas and Fields*
• Venues*

• Restaurants
• Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries
• Fitness and Physical Activity Facilities (e.g., gyms, bowling alleys, rock climbing facilities)
• Pools
• Museums and Aquariums
• Retailers
• Outdoor areas of Amusement Parks
• Salons, Personal Care, Tattoo Parlors

Another Cuba Trip! We’re excited to announce we have scheduled a second trip to Cuba for June 22nd – July 1, 2021 In the case of trip cancellation, a full refund or roll over of funds paid to future trips will be offered to all registered participants. Flexible payment plans are available.

Land Conservation Take a tour of our French Broad River Greenways! Running from Hominy Creek Park in West Asheville all the way up to the planned extension through the Town of Woodfin, the Asheville greenway system provides many opportunities for recreation and connection. Special thanks to Connect Buncombe for creating this wonderful video highlighting our growing greenway system.

RGGI (aka REGGIE) is a cooperative effort among 11 Eastern states to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector.  The pact requires polluters to reduce their carbon emissions and buy carbon credits as carbon limits gradually become more strict, speeding up the shift to clean energy. RGGI also generates revenue to help communities hit hardest by pollution from fossil fuels. You can learn more at RGGI.ORG. In March, the N.C. Environmental Management Commission is expected to vote on whether to join RGGI. Governor Cooper can push them to vote YES but he needs to hear from us. The Sierra Club has created an ACTION PAGE with a form that makes it easy to add your personal comments to an email message directed to Governor Cooper

UNC Asheville’s annual tradition is re-imagined in 2021, with a virtual Homecoming Celebration, Feb. 25-28.

Alumni and friends can join in a variety of events, from spirit week activities on social media and Bulldog Athletics on ESPN+ to Zoom toasts and award ceremonies.

Video on Demand * February 7-28, 2021 Earlier this fall, husband and wife team Michael and Brenda Lilly gathered up a few friends and co-workers to create a short film. With the permission of playwright Tom Huey, Brenda worked with director Joshua Russell to adapt The Man in the Bright Nightgown – which she had previously directed in 35below, and which had starred Michael – into a screenplay. And now we get to stream the premiere! PLUS – after the premiere, stick around for a behind the scenes look at how a one-person play was adapted to a three-person film! Or, if you already have plans for Friday, February 5, you can watch the film as Video on Demand! It will be available for viewing February 7-28, 2021 (but you can go ahead and buy your ticket now!) Tickets are $15.00 (plus taxes and fees) either way you choose to watch.