Calendar of Events

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding. 

Applications due by:

• November 30, 2023
• January 30, 2024
• March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

An adaptation of Homer’s epic masterpiece into an evening of theater at its best: intimate, incisive, and urgent. The war in Troy is over – and the Poet saw it all. Back from the frontlines, he spins a tale of unquenchable rage, disputatious gods, and grieving widows. Telling the story of the war, like the war itself, both seduces and ravages the Poet; it emboldens, burdens, and threatens to overwhelm him. An Iliad weaves humanity’s unshakable attraction to warfare with the music of the muses, capturing the contradictory conditions of glory and violence with spellbinding modernity.

Enjoy tales of growing up in extended and multi-generational families with Ashley McGee Whittle & Sherry Lovett. Sponsored by the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and Weaverville Center for Creative & Healthy Living

— The Magnetic Theatre presents: The Dummies Guide to
Murdering Your Husband (if you were going to…but you’re not) by Nathan Johnson, directed by
Mark Jones, with dramaturgy by Katie Jones. The reading stars Eric Martinez, Alex Parsons, and
Jason Phillips.
The Dummies Guide to Murdering Your Husband follows a pair of filthy rich and disgruntled
husbands who escape for a romantic getaway in a remote mountain cabin. Little do they
know…each has hatched a plot to murder the other!

PHONE RINGS, DOOR CHIMES, IN COMES COMPANY.

Winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, COMPANY “strikes like a lightning bolt. It’s brilliantly conceived and funny as hell” (Variety).  Three-time Tony^® Award-winning director Marianne Elliott (War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America) helms this revelatory new production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s groundbreaking musical comedy, at once boldly sophisticated, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious.

It’s Bobbie’s 35^th birthday party, and all her friends keep asking, Why isn’t she married? Why can’t she find the right man and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family? As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married, and being alive in the 21^st-century could drive a person crazy.

COMPANY features Sondheim’s award-winning songs “You Could Drive a Person Crazy,” “The Ladies Who Lunch,” “Side by Side by Side” and the iconic “Being Alive”. Let’s all drink to that!

“Dazzling! So vibrant, so alive!” – Hollywood Reporter

“GLORIOUSLY TRANSFORMATIVE. A GODSEND.” – The New York Times

“HANDS DOWN THE BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE SEASON!” – New York Post

Official Website

To assist college students in securing financial aid, Blue
Ridge Community College will host FAFSA Day on January 27 from 9 a.m. to noon in the
Sink Building on the Henderson County Campus.
“All students are encouraged to join us for in-person assistance with their 2024-25
FAFSA,” said Jon Grunder, Blue Ridge’s director of financial aid. “We are here to make
the process as smooth as possible and help students understand their options.”
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form completed by current and
prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student
financial aid. This aid includes various grants, loans, and work-study funding. The
application is also part of Blue Ridge Community College’s process for awarding local
financial aid packages.
“This application is the door to numerous options for financial assistance, including
scholarships through Blue Ridge Community College,” said Grunder.
This year’s FAFSA is expected to be simpler for students to complete. The 2024-25
FAFSA rollout from December reflects the updates from the FAFSA Simplification Act,
which according to the official Federal Student Aid website significantly overhauled the
processes and systems used to award federal student aid. These changes begin with the
2024-25 award year.
Completing the FAFSA is also a requirement of the new Next NC scholarship program
which provides funding that students do not need to repay. According to the College
Foundation of North Carolina website, Next NC “is a financial aid program that helps most
North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue higher education by
fully covering tuition and fees at any community college.”
Those who wish to attend FAFSA Day at Blue Ridge Community College or another North
Carolina site can register at www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/fafsa-day/.
For questions, Blue Ridge’s Financial Aid office can be contacted at
[email protected].
###
About Blue Ridge Community College Blue Ridge Community College is a two-year, post-secondary institution that elevates the
educational experience to prepare students for 21st-century success in the workplace or
at four-year colleges and universities. Providing real-life, affordable, and accessible
education, the College offers more than 200 degrees, diplomas, and certificates; more
than 200 online courses; and fast-tracked job training

Nonpartisan Voter Outreach Canvass-January 27, 2024-11:30 am -1:30 pm.

WNC Votes, a nonpartisan voter outreach coalition, will hold its first canvass of the 2024 election season on Saturday, January 27 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Join us and help get out the vote for the March 5 primary—and make a real difference! Nonpartisan door-to-door canvassing is one of the most effective ways to increase voting and engagement among sporadic voters.

No experience needed! We go out in pairs, and each canvass provides training, all materials, and support throughout.

Registration required—exact location provided upon registration.
Register: https://bit.ly/canvass-jan27

WNC Votes includes committed individuals and local nonprofits: YWCA of Asheville, Poor People’s Campaign NC – Western Region, Just Economics WNC, Asheville Food and Beverage United, and Indivisible AVL.

PHONE RINGS, DOOR CHIMES, IN COMES COMPANY.

Winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, COMPANY “strikes like a lightning bolt. It’s brilliantly conceived and funny as hell” (Variety).  Three-time Tony^® Award-winning director Marianne Elliott (War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America) helms this revelatory new production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s groundbreaking musical comedy, at once boldly sophisticated, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious.

It’s Bobbie’s 35^th birthday party, and all her friends keep asking, Why isn’t she married? Why can’t she find the right man and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family? As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married, and being alive in the 21^st-century could drive a person crazy.

COMPANY features Sondheim’s award-winning songs “You Could Drive a Person Crazy,” “The Ladies Who Lunch,” “Side by Side by Side” and the iconic “Being Alive”. Let’s all drink to that!

“Dazzling! So vibrant, so alive!” – Hollywood Reporter

“GLORIOUSLY TRANSFORMATIVE. A GODSEND.” – The New York Times

“HANDS DOWN THE BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE SEASON!” – New York Post

Official Website

Enjoy a 3-Course dinner (see options below), from Chef Ryan Kline of Jargon, then sit back and let Doc astound you with his magical talent and unique style during his show entitled “Magic Show No. One”!  Doc Docherty has performed in many notable places such as the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, and the Chicago Magic Lounge.

Doors will open at 5pm for a cocktail hour, then guests will be seated for a 6pm dinner.  Then…the magic will begin following our dinner service.

“The Commissioning” featuring

Christian Hip Hop Artist KB “Kevin Burgess”

This. Will. Be. Transformative! Come and experience a Jesus Movement that will impact the upstate in a historic way. This event exists to gather, mobilize, and empower our generation into their purpose! We believe this monumental event coming Jan 27th of 2024 will be a catalyst to reach not only the upstate but the world with the gospel. No matter where you’re in life, we want you here!

If you’re reading this, we want you to know that this event is not just a one-night moment. We’re inviting your generation into an extraordinary journey that we think will surprise you and compel you. People from all around the upstate and the world will be attending this night for many reasons.

– KB, Evangelist Jacob Ebersole, World Harvest Inc, Jesus Youth, and many other ministries, churches, missions organizations will be represented here. This is a collaboration and a gathering to respond to the need of the Upstate, the Nation, and the World.

– We believe thousands will literally be set on mission right there at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. Not simply because this will be an amazing event, but because of what we will be offering you after. Young people and old will have an opportunity to partner with us on a global scale. Get your tickets fast!

– After the event in the lobby, you will have an opportunity to meet the leaders of this initiative. More importantly there will be a team present to greet you, speak with you about details, what your heart cry is, and to pray with you. Right there in the lobby you will have the opportunity to partner with World Harvest initiatives going on not just in the Upstate, but globally.

About World Harvest Inc.

World Harvest is a global missions movement set to reach every continent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Founded by Evangelist Jacob Ebersole, who is actually from the upstate of SC – World Harvest has witnessed hundreds of thousands attend their crusades around the world. A few years ago the Herald Journey did a full story on Ebersole’s ministry which ended up on the front page of Sunday’s paper. This year, due to the impact of their campaigns, the story continues and his crusades have went viral on CBN, Christian Post, Charisma, and many more. Jacob’s heart cry has never been about social media, but about global impact. With that said, people are beginning to hear and wonder how they can be a part of this Jesus Movement as this is just the beginning.

About KB

KB for His Glory Alone! “To me, resistance carries with it a certain posture,” KB says. “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”Three studio releases in and KB is at his creative zenith. For years, the Tampa native has been something of an outlier in hip-hop, firmly placing a thumb print on the game while invoking the power of spiritual conviction. His lyricism is impassioned and astute, and he won’t be bent against his will. Given his commanding presence and consistent output, it comes as no surprise that the world has taken notice. The track “100” from the EP of the same name, took home the Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Song of the Year in 2014. And his last LP, 2015’s Tomorrow We Live, garnered both critical and commercial acclaim, earning a Stellar Award nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year and debuting on the Billboard charts as the No.1 Christian Album and the No. 4 Rap Album overall.

Now — with the world in a social and political frenzy—KB is redefining what rebellion truly means. Today We Rebel, his third full-length album with Reach Records, is an exercise in zeal and imagination. No-frills, no filler. Just raw, uncut transparency through and through. KB follows his artistic impulses to great effect, lending his take on terms that are dominating the cultural conversation.

About Jesus Youth

From small beginnings, Jesus Youth has been focused on building an army! Established in 2022, many of the youth in Spartanburg came together to be the youth of this generation! Joining forces, putting aside differences, and uniting  under the name of Jesus, with strategic development, counsel, and leadership, what has been built up, will forever continue to affect the youth and generations to come!! What we see here is a move of God that cannot be stopped, the transformation of lives that cannot be denied, and the call to Christ that sounds to every age, race, and ethnicity. With Love in the center, Jesus Youth is pressing forward to win many souls for the kingdom of God! Not only do we focus on saving the lost, a revival is needed for the saved! Come join us for this night of being commissioned into the harvest that has been worked on for so long!

For more information and all other general inquiries about this event, please follow the link below to contact a member of World Harvest Inc.

WORLD HARVEST

An adaptation of Homer’s epic masterpiece into an evening of theater at its best: intimate, incisive, and urgent. The war in Troy is over – and the Poet saw it all. Back from the frontlines, he spins a tale of unquenchable rage, disputatious gods, and grieving widows. Telling the story of the war, like the war itself, both seduces and ravages the Poet; it emboldens, burdens, and threatens to overwhelm him. An Iliad weaves humanity’s unshakable attraction to warfare with the music of the muses, capturing the contradictory conditions of glory and violence with spellbinding modernity.

An evening of celebrating and lifting trans talent and joy! This is an open mic for transgender people, all are welcome to attend.

Modelface Comedy and Lauren Jones Comedy are teaming up to bring the Trans Talent Show to Asheville!

Join us on Janurary 27th for an evening of celebrating and lifting trans talent and joy! This is an open mic for transgender people. Trans people are able to go on stage and perform any and all talents and art forms. A screen will be available for those that need it. Art, music, improv, comedy, spoken word, etc.
10% of tickets and donations will be donated to a local Trans organization!

Performers will be given a video tape and professional photography of their set.

ISO volunteers! If interested in volunteering, please reach out via DM!

WHERE: Different Wrld – 701 Haywood Rd Suite 101, Asheville, NC 28806

WHEN: January 27th 2024

SCHEDULE:
7PM Doors open / Social Block(Great networking opportunity! Make friends!)

8PM Show begins

11PM Anticipated End

11:30PM Hard Stop

TICKETS: $20, pay what you can. No one turned away due to lack of funds, no questions asked.
Pay in advance on eventbrite to save your seat.
We will take Cash, Card, PayPal and Venmo at the door
10% of tickets and donations will be donated to a local Trans organization!

SIGNUP Between 6PM to 8PM at the ticket table. Order will be ‘bucket style’ (randomized). Priority given to people who have not performed the show before. BIPOC trans people can pick their spot (don’t have to wait to be drawn from the bucket). Sets will be either 4 minutes or 5 minutes depending on the amount of signups.

ACCESSIBILITY: Expect large crowds. Venue is accessible however getting on and off the stage might take assistance.
Greenroom in not accessible

RSVP: on Eventbrite or email [email protected] with questions

— The Magnetic Theatre presents: The Dummies Guide to
Murdering Your Husband (if you were going to…but you’re not) by Nathan Johnson, directed by
Mark Jones, with dramaturgy by Katie Jones. The reading stars Eric Martinez, Alex Parsons, and
Jason Phillips.
The Dummies Guide to Murdering Your Husband follows a pair of filthy rich and disgruntled
husbands who escape for a romantic getaway in a remote mountain cabin. Little do they
know…each has hatched a plot to murder the other!

Sigal Music Museum’s current special exhibition, Worlds Apart: Musical Instruments from Secular to Sacred, highlights items from the JoAnn and Frank Edwinn Collection, which hails from all over the world. Showing November 2023 – May 2024, Worlds Apart uses a diverse range of historical instruments, objects, and visuals to bring together musical narratives from seemingly disparate parts of the globe.

Worlds Apart: Musical Instruments from Secular to Sacred aims to increase public access to historical instruments from around the world and improve visitors’ understanding of musical traditions at the global level. Expanding beyond the typical parameters of the Western musical canon, Worlds Apart seeks to expose audiences to musical instruments and customs that are often overlooked or exotified. The instruments and other exhibit materials will offer visitors new perspectives on global music and a chance to consider how music is used for prayer and leisure in cultures around the world. By celebrating these stories, the museum intends to further its mission to collect and preserve historical musical instruments, objects, and information, which engage and enrich people of all ages through exhibits, performances, and experiential programs.

Displaying various objects from the JoAnn and Frank Edwinn Collection, Worlds Apart: Musical Instruments from Secular to Sacred focuses on international musical instruments and cultures, celebrating rites and traditions with ancient histories and contemporary legacies. Frank Edwinn, a successful basso in the mid-20th century, studied and toured internationally, eventually settling in North Carolina, where he taught music at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Throughout his life, he purchased various objects from around the world, aiming to expose students, and himself, to the wide and wonderful world of musical instruments. This impressive collection occupies a unique position for educating audiences unfamiliar with the vast scope of global music.

And, UNCA’s Ramsey Library Special Collections is now processing the Edwinn’s papers and a few recordings that will be accessible next semester!

An adaptation of Homer’s epic masterpiece into an evening of theater at its best: intimate, incisive, and urgent. The war in Troy is over – and the Poet saw it all. Back from the frontlines, he spins a tale of unquenchable rage, disputatious gods, and grieving widows. Telling the story of the war, like the war itself, both seduces and ravages the Poet; it emboldens, burdens, and threatens to overwhelm him. An Iliad weaves humanity’s unshakable attraction to warfare with the music of the muses, capturing the contradictory conditions of glory and violence with spellbinding modernity.