Author Archives: Color of Asheville

The Ripple Effect with Mia Birdsong

Buncombe County Health and Human Services and the Buncombe County Family Justice Center invite you to join us for The Ripple Effect with Mia Birdsong. Mia Birdsong is a family visionary and acclaimed community advocate who speaks about the value of community and self-determination. She is best known for her TED Talk: The story we tell about poverty isn’t true, which has now been watched over 1.5 million times. This is a free event that will be held on April 25th at 6 pm at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Please join us to be a voice in the community conversation on how individual actions can create systemic positive change.

Free parking is available at the Family Justice Center, 35 Woodfin St.

Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be provided.

For more information and to RSVP follow this link: The Ripple Effect.

MLK Inaugural Black & Red Gala


“Join us for an evening of music by Westsound, delicious food, signature drinks and a fundraising auction to benefit the MLK Association of Asheville and Buncombe County programs. It will be an event you do not want to miss.

For the past thirty six years, we have had the pleasure of hosting our annual MLK Peace Breakfast. This year, we are including our Gala to fund and extend outreach into our community. The funds raised will support our Community Outreach Providing Empowerment (COPE) Initiative, which includes educational programming around African American Heritage, African American Entrepreneurship, African American Education Pioneers, our Stand against Racism Programming, and our Juneteenth Celebration.

Help us in our continued efforts to preserve and advance the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by purchasing a ticket or being a sponsor for our inaugural fundraiser.”

Click here for more information. 

Black History Month 2017 at UNC Asheville

MacKenzie-Micah-portraitFrom the UNC Asheville website: 
UNC Asheville will present a variety of special programs in February for Black History Month, including a gospel music performance and lecture, an exhibition by Asheville-based photographer Micah MacKenzie, a discussion on the theme, A Reintroduction: Black Lives Still Matter, and more. The following Black History Month events are free and open to the public:

Feb. 1-26An Expose of Fashion, photography exhibition by Micah MacKenzie – This exhibit opens Black History Month with fashion photos featuring models from Asheville, seeking to capture the lingering legacy of the persons of color who have contributed to the architecture, rhythm and tone of the city. Viewing hours weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with a reception from 5:30-7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith Union Intercultural Center.

Feb. 7Take it Like a Man: The Language of Male Mental Health – This lunch-and-learn discussion will be facilitated by UNC Asheville Director of Student Health and Counseling Jay Cutspec and Catie Beaulieu, counselor. Noon-1 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith Union Intercultural Center.

Feb. 13A Reintroduction: Black Lives Still Matter – This discussion will be facilitated by UNC Asheville Director of the Intercultural Center and Multicultural Student Programs Dahlia Hylton, and by Multicultural Student Programs Staff Intern Briana Joseph. 3:30 p.m. in Highsmith Union Mountain Suites, room 221.

Feb. 15From Allyship to Advocacy: Repurposing Your Privilege – This discussion will be facilitated by UNC Asheville Assistant Professor of Sociology Megan Underhill. 5-6:15 p.m. in Highsmith Union Mountain Suites, room 221.

Feb. 20The Gospel According to the Choir – This performance and discussion of the history and evolution of gospel music in the African-American community will feature Mars Hill University Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Alaysia Black-Hackett and the Mars Hill Gospel Choir. 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in UNC Asheville’s Humanities Lecture Hall.

For more information, contact Dahlia Hylton, director of UNC Asheville’s Intercultural Center and Multicultural Student Programs, at dhylton@unca.edu or 828.251.6577.