Owen Middle Students Learn Entrepreneurship in Spark Tank Project
On May 16th, Owen Middle School students excitedly filled the school cafeteria, holding boxes filled with baked goods, Tupperwares of homemade slime, and circular tubes adorned with bunched hair ties and eyeglass holders with 3D printed beads on the strings. Yes, these were the creative wares made for a class assignment, yet it wasn’t just any regular class assignment. The...Read More
Community School Leaders from North Carolina and Tennessee Gather in Asheville
On May 16, 2019, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County hosted Community School leaders from Durham, Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga, for a day of learning and sharing of best practices. After each leader shared highlights, we had a chance for cross-initiative learning based on the Four Pillars of Community Schools: Collaborative Leadership; Integrated...Read More
Volunteer Spotlight: Malina Blanton, Wells Fargo
“As a branch manager, member of the community and native of the community, I think trying to model what a difference can be made when you give back to the place you live in is important,” shares Malina Blanton of Wells Fargo and United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County leadership giving group member of both Highlands Circle and Women United. “I try to connect the dots for others to see that we...Read More
Highland’s Circle Discussion Recap: The Facts We Don’t Figure, A Conversation About Poverty
On Wednesday, May 8th, members from United Way’s leadership group Highlands Circle met at Lenoir-Rhyne University in a round-table discussion with several local leaders from Asheville Housing Authority, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, and the City of Asheville to discuss common myths around poverty. Bruce Waller, Community School...Read More
Don't Miss the Final Homework Diners of the School Year
With temperatures in the 80’s and end of grade test studying in the works, the final countdown for weekly Homework Diners is taking place before we officially welcome summer. With a Community Market, one-on-one Resume Workshop, College Night, Spark Tank Fair and more, make sure you mark your calendars for upcoming Homework Diners in your community. If you’ve never been, these are free...Read More
Final Notes from David: The Evolution of Community Schools
This is the second blog in a three-part series, crafted from interviews with United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County CEO David Bailey in his final weeks with the organization. These are meant to share memories of his time serving the community while highlighting milestones of the organization through the years. The first interview and blog highlighted the history of our nationally...Read More
Volunteer. It’s Good for Your Health.
We’ve long heard the health benefits that naturally flow out of sharing our time to help one another. Whether it’s helping a neighbor move that oddly shaped dresser, driving a friend to the airport, sharing an afternoon each week at the community center, serving meals to those in need, or lending your expertise to assist with GED classes at a local nonprofit. We can go on listing the countless ways you can...Read More
This is the first in a series of blogs, crafted from interviews with David in his final days as president and CEO of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County.
Reconfiguring Day of Caring during Hurricanes Francis and Ivan-- ‘The Arby’s Effect’
Recently NC 2-1-1 was recognized for our overwhelming response to our fellow citizens in the eastern part of the state during Hurricane Florence. We’ve had some practice. I remember one of the...Read More
The news isn’t good. Only 12 percent of the city’s African-American students in grades three to eight score as “proficient” or higher on end-of-grade exams, compared with 73 percent of white students. Asheville City Schools has the fifth largest racial achievement gap in the nation. A few recent articles in the Asheville Citizen-Times, Carolina Public Press and Mountain Xpress tell the details of this issue. But it is important to acknowledge,...Read More
It is no small thing to do a kindness for another. Each of you in this room has done this time and time again. You’ve made your own gifts of time and treasure and you’ve invited others to join you.
Today we have the privilege of sharing our thanks to a few of the many amazing people and companies we get to spend time with during the year.(To fast forward to any awardees click on a link below)
Community School Partnership of the Year - Brumit...Read More
