Three years after the inception of the City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, an internal assessment looks at the work conducted by the department and opportunities for improvement. At their March 9 meeting, Internal Auditor Patricia Rosenberg presented the Equity and Inclusion Assessment findings to Asheville City Council. The assessment began as a request from Black [...]
Work sessions scheduled It’s budget season for the City of Asheville. From March through June, City Council will work with City staff to review budget options, aligning Council and community priorities with available funding. The City’s operating budget must be passed by July 1. The discussions leading up to the final budget happen during budget work sessions, meetings [...]
The City of Asheville is pleased to announce the recipients of Asheville racial healing mini-grants. This is the second year funding has been made available. The City received 29 applications and selected nine. The mini-grants represent a total community investment of $40,000. The following organizations will receive funding: Operation Gateway (Collaborative project: Workforce Development/YMI Cultural Center and [...]
Asheville residents can look upon the new year with optimism. Together, we’ve weathered a pandemic and a vaccine will be available this year. Even so, the City of Asheville’s response to COVID-19 will continue in the new year, in coordination with the state of North Carolina and Buncombe County. Residents can look forward to advances in [...]
From the start, City Manager Debra Campbell said Asheville’s 30/60/90 Day Plan was only the beginning and would serve as a foundation for a more holistic approach to incorporating racial equity into City operations. At the Dec. 8 City Council meeting, she unveiled the next step and it is intended to be a step that [...]
The Office of Equity and Inclusion application for racial healing grants for local nonprofits are now available. This is the second year of funding, and like last year, the grant amount up to $4,999 aims to support existing projects in Asheville that promote racial healing, reconciliation, and/or transformation in Asheville communities. The [...]
By Nia Davis Asheville Office of Equity and Inclusion Did you know November is Native American Heritage Month? Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions of Native people. As we spend everyday on stolen land, let’s reflect on the importance of uplifting [...]
At their Oct. 27 meeting, Asheville City Council adopted a new race and gender-conscious policy. Why have this policy Small businesses are the backbone of the Asheville economy. The vast majority of local employers are small private firms, and many are minority-, women-, and veteran-owned. Strengthening opportunities for small and diverse businesses strengthens [...]
Advancing racial equity and social justice consists of many efforts working in concert with each other to promote larger societal change. This is not a one-off effort, nor the sole work of one department. It’s a team effort that has to be blended into all City of Asheville departments, folded into our mission to provide [...]
Welcome to Hispanic Heritage Month. The celebration of Hispanic Heritage is “marked” from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15. I could go into some more historical information or talk about some of the Latinx greats like Selena, Frida Kahlo, Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, etc. but because Hispanic Heritage should be celebrated every day of the year, I want to use this opportunity to talk about our collective survival. Let me tell you what I mean by that but first, do you know where your food comes from?
As we return to school during these unprecedented times, I can't help but reflect on the life-changing events of 2020. As a young person witnessing history, I think about how this moment will be taught to future generations. I also think about how my generation has been taught about history.
Reparations has long been a hot-button topic that even the mention of it brings impassioned jubilation, overwhelming concern, or somewhere in between. The conversation around reparations isn’t new; in fact the idea of atoning for the sins of slavery has been around since the Civil War.
In June of every year, Pride Month is celebrated by the LGBTQIA+ community across the country. While Pride is a celebration of visibility, equality, and self-affirmation; it is necessary to remember that Pride commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots. The first Pride was a protest against police brutality and oppression.
The City of Asheville is glad to announce the recipients of the first Asheville racial healing mini-grants. The City received 34 applications, of those eight were selected. The intent of the racial healing grants are to invest in projects already established in the community. The mini-grants represent a total community investment of almost $40,000.
In support of Asheville City Council’s Vision 2036 of an equitable and diverse community, the Office of Equity and Inclusion is launching a mini grant program to support existing projects in Asheville that promote racial healing, reconciliation, and/or transformation in Asheville communities.
The City of Asheville was recently awarded the North Carolina G. Herbert Stout Award for Visionary Use of GIS in support of the City’s Mapping Racial Equity project. Asheville was recognized during the 2019 N.C. GIS Conference in Winston-Salem. City Council officials received the award during their May 14 meeting.
The results of Asheville’s recent Disparity Study on the City’s contracting for fiscal years 2012 through 2017 are in. Presentations on these results will be provided to Council’s Planning & Economic Development Committee and to full City Council at their Nov. 27 meeting.