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-Joseph Jamison
For the first three days of August, over 160 volunteers at Harrah’s Cherokee Center’s warehouse sorted and packed over 2,300 backpacks. By the end of the three days, dozens of rows of elementary and middle school backpacks were waiting to be picked up by one of our School Supply Drive distributors.
Asheville, NC—Even now, in 2022, women and particularly women of color continue to make significantly less than white male counterparts in the workforce, across all industries. In fact on August 3, as communities across the country mark Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we know that Black women earn 58 cents for every dollar paid to a white, non-Hispanic man. Women as a whole earn an average of $.73 for every dollar.
Across the street from our home office at 50 S. French Broad Avenue, is Aston Park; a small public park with sweet views of our beautiful mountains and the gorgeous mural that Jenny Pickens is painting on the side of our building. It is also where we chose to celebrate with you, our supporters, partners, and neighbors.
"I am having so much fun watching my grandchildren run around and dance. Thank you for including us."
What an incredible day of service! Thank you to our good friends at Duke Energy for coming out and helping us improve and enhance our curb appeal at United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County's Community Services Building. We are also very grateful for the 300 snack packs that this group put together. Because of their hard work, hungry bellies served by the Housing Authority of Asheville, Mediation Center, and Youthful Hand in the Hillcrest Community are full.
Earlier this month, in a crowd of 3500 people, from 50 states and six countries, Asheville City Schools Foundation (ACSF) and Laura Elliot of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County were recognized by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) for their work on behalf of local students at the National Community Schools And Family Engagement Conference in Los Angeles.
The first of its kind in Asheville City Schools, on May 2, 2022, Asheville Middle School launched its School-Based Health Center. The outcome of work conducted in collaboration between United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MAHEC, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, Buncombe County Schools, and Asheville City Schools, with Blue Ridge Health providing the services, these clinics bring much-needed health services to students directly in the schools they attend.
Joining in fellowship with like-minded individuals, listening to and learning from each other, finding common ground, and implementing strategies for the betterment of our community. These ideals define what it means to be involved in a United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) Affinity Group.
When met with the brutality that we are witnessing in our world, in our own neighborhoods, grocery stores, and elementary classrooms, it is hard to know what to say or what to do.
We must honor the lives lost. We must grieve. Question. Be angry.
But we can't allow ourselves to become numb. Or give in to the darkness. Or let it swallow our ability to reach out to another.
We must take action.
