10/23 - Courtney Kelly, By Little Media

In this blog, the case is made for why education matters for the health and wellness of individuals and a larger community and the tangible ways that we all can do our part to ensure that ALL children have access to the support they need to succeed. Interviews include Laura Elliot, talking about the power and promise of Community Schools, and Jodi Grant, Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance. 

WLOS -- October 4, 2023

United Way staff members joined hundreds of other community volunteers to help rebuild the former Jones Park. Our staff has a personal connection to this new park, renamed to honor the life of Candace Pickens. Candace was the cousin of Tor White-Garrison, a former co-worker, and the niece of Jenny Pickens, the muralist who created the installation on our building. 

Asheville Area Focus Podcast -- 10/23

Asheville Citizen-Times July 31,2023

The nonprofit has held a school supply drive for 17 years. In that time, it's given out over 23,000 backpacks to students in the community, Audrey Blackburn, volunteer engagement manager at United Way told the Citizen-Times. "We work with teachers and school administrators, and we've got our own community school coordinators, and they helped us look at last year's supply list and through their best guess came up with what they think will be needed this year," Blackburn said.

BlainesWorld Podcast 7/18/2023

Big thanks to Blaine Greenfield for taking the time to interview Audrey Blackburn, our Volunteer Engagement Manager. Audrey shares how United Way mobilizes the power of community through volunteerism and talks about some of our signature experiences. Also, Blaine is just wonderful - he believes in the power of good and people and positivity.  Watch them here on YouTube. 

Mountain XPress--May 12

What started as a summer camp for youth, HOPE (Healing our Past Experiences) 4 the Future has evolved into a full-blown after-school program. Run by UMOJA Health, Wellness and Justice Collective, a United for Youth partner, the program incorporates a regular podcast whereby youth are empowered to unpack and discuss issues that are important to them. Youth-to-youth discussions range from individual accomplishments to bullying, and violence prevention.

Mountain XPress--March 14

In addition to navigating the daily trials of being a teenager, today's youth also face other challenges, one being social media. Read what our own Jocelin Rosas, Erwin Middle's Community School Coordinator has to say about this and other issues.

Read the full Q&A

Asheville Citizen-Times-- March 12

A guest opinion piece by retired Buncombe County Schools Associate Superintendent and current United Way Board Chair, Susanne Swanger, and United Way President and CEO, Dan Leroy. Ensuring our youth graduate from high school college, career, and community ready will take all of us working together.

Mountain Xpress-- May 30