Juneteenth Freedom Festival

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. The day was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

All County offices will be closed Friday, June 17 in observance of Juneteenth. “Pausing for the holiday will help raise awareness about the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States,” the county wrote in a statement. “Formally recognizing Juneteenth is also a major step in acknowledging diversity and inclusion gaps we are actively seeking to address. Equity is one of Buncombe County’s primary core values, and Buncombe County is honored to commemorate this important date in history.”

The Juneteenth of Asheville Freedom Festival will take place 11am to 10pm on  Saturday, June 18, at Pack Square in Downtown Asheville. There will be a parade, vendors, food trucks, art, music, live performances, and so much more. We encourage you all to come out and enjoy the celebration!

Participate in the #WEAAD615 Challenge!

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day -- June 15 --  caps the end of World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, which runs each year from Mother's Day to Father's Day. Buncombe County Health and Human Services and community partners will host an in-person event on June 15th at Carrier Park. The event, which will run from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, will feature information about resources and services for older adults and caregivers. 

In addition to this fun event, you can join in on the #WEAAD615 challenge on your favorite social media platforms! Here is how to get in on the challenge: 

Post 6 facts about elder abuse, reply 1 thing you can do to prevent elder abuse, then tag 5 friends in your post. Don’t forget to use #WEAAD615! Here are some ready-to-use posts to get you started:

Choose 6 Facts About Elder Abuse:

• 1 in 10 Americans age 60+ have experienced #ElderAbuse.
• #ElderAbuse is underreported.
• For every 1 case of #ElderAbuse reported, 44 cases are not.
• 1 in 14 cases of #ElderAbuse come to the attention of authorities.
• Lack of #CommunitySupports increases risk of abuse.
• Isolation is a risk factor of #ElderAbuse.
• The costs of #ElderAbuse are high for the affected individuals and society alike.
• #ElderAbuse reduces older people’s participation in the life of our communities.
• Abuse creates healthcare and legal costs, which are often shouldered by public programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
• #ElderAbuse costs survivors billions of dollars each year.
• The annual loss by survivors of #FinancialAbuse is estimated to be  between $2.6 billion and $36.5 billion.
• #ElderAbuse is associated with increased rates of hospitalization in the community population.

Choose 1 Thing You Can Do:

• Learn the signs of elder abuse and neglect.
• Learn how we can collectively solve the issue of elder abuse.
• Learn how we can all age well and reduce abuse with community programs and services.
• Spread the word with friends and family members.
• Spread the word about essential community supports like law enforcement, community centers, and public transportation
• Spread the word about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day #WEAAD
• Reach out and prevent isolation.
• Reach out to congregation leaders to give a talk about elder abuse.
• Call or visit older loved ones regularly.
• Provide respite breaks for caregivers.
• Learn more about #AdultProectiveServices and #LTCOmbudsmen
• Volunteer to be a friendly visitor.

Use #WEAAD615 and Tag 5 of Your Friends on Social Media! 

To learn more, look here, here, and here. 

If you are concerned that a friend, neighbor, or loved one is experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation, call Buncombe County Adult Protective Services (828) 250-5800 anytime, day or night. No appointment is needed. 

"Stories with the Elders" at this weekend's GRINDfest 2022

Hidden within this weekend's packed schedule at GRINDfest 2022 is an opportunity for Age-Friendly Buncombe that is not to be missed.   

GRINDfest is a free, four-day event that celebrates the success of Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Asheville. The block-party-style event will take place during the weekend of May 27-30 at 8 River Arts Place, the home of Black Wall Street AVL. This City-owned property is leased to Black Wall Street (BWS) for $1/year as a hub for Black Business and tourism.  

GRINDfest 2022 will be a weekend full of music, games, live performances, food, local vendors, plus learning employment, and partnership opportunities. The goal of the festival is to highlight the progress made by people of color while also connecting folks in the community.   

Last year, GRINDfest drew over 4000 attendees from 19 states. This year, over 30 sponsors will join together to celebrate this amazingly diverse and entertaining event and showcase:   

• World-renowned Slutty Vegan, a Black, woman-owned vegan food truck recently featured in Essence Magazine 
• Curated Beer Garden by Highland Brewing   
• Opportunity Tent featuring incentives, career development programs, grants, scholarships, and  funding resources for businesses  
• Food Trucks  
• DJ Battle  
• Poetry Slam  
• Drag Show 
• Outdoor Games  
• Greater Asheville Cook-off (wings, chili, and BBQ categories); card games, and so much more!   

All that sounds super fun and exciting! But, hidden amidst all the fun is what we feel sure is the BEST PART: Stories with the Elders.   

Stories with the Elders will take place on Saturday, May 28 inside Black Wall Street, at 8 River Arts Place, and will feature the following:  

11:00 am Conversations with the Elders  

Maybe you want to come inside and talk with the elders. Local Asheville legends will be seated and conversing with us inside Black Wall Street AVL. Sit at the feet of people who have been there and do that. They've seen how our community has changed, but they hold the treasure-our history. Local seniors from Asheville will be telling stories all day inside the building. Come learn and honor the local history of Asheville. 

 

2:00 pm Urban Renewal  

Urban Renewal decimated the Black Business District in Southside Asheville. Come learn from the local historian, Ms. Priscilla, what happened and what we can do to make sure it doesn't happen again. 

 

3:00 pm Southside  

George Bush came to sit in her living room and learn about Asheville. She was a contributing writer for the Asheville Citizen-Times. She's as glamorous as they come and still a lady! Come and learn from Mrs. Barbara Pagan what the Southside used to be and how it used to feel in Asheville. 

 

4:00 pm Stevens-Lee  

The Castle on the Hill was the only black high school in Western North Carolina. People from all over the region came to learn from high school teachers who were trained to be college professors. Come hear the stories about how it was to learn with and from black people. 

 

Black Wall Street AVL is the outreach program GRIND, LLC - Asheville's first Black-Owned Coffee Shop (with great coffee, btw). BWS helps increase the revenue of entrepreneurs and prepares them for engagement with larger business development programs in Western North Carolina.  Entrepreneurship is the quickest way for historically marginalized people to establish personal wealth, and entrepreneurs transform communities.

 Fueled by the continued growth of the niche and affinity tourism industry in Asheville, this event will serve as an opportunity for Black, Indigenous, and other Women of Color (BIPoC)-owned businesses to connect and engage in commerce with visitors coming to enjoy the unique products, services, and experiences found here in Asheville. While the River Arts District is expanding, it is important for GRINDfest organizers and attendees to reflect on the legacy of this neighborhood. The District was the previous home to AFRAM Corporation, the largest Black-Owned Business in Asheville's history. GRINDfest attendees can view the historical building as it still stands adjacent to Black Wall Street AVL at 8 River Arts Place. 

We hope you will check out GRINDfest 2022, but especially we hope you will enjoy Stories with the Elders. 

Age My Way : What's Your Way? People Are Asking.

Age My Way is this year's theme for Older Americans Month, May 2022. Last week we told you about a survey that AARP Age My Way NC is conducting. This survey is for North Carolinians age 45+ and addresses various "domains of livability" (see image below); domains that make up a community. In order for us to imagine aging in place, or better, aging in community, we need to consider the quality of each such domain in our actual communities. The Age My Way NC Survey is designed for and about our communities. "It will help those that support the aging community be better informed on the types of needs and challenges they face." 

For Age-Friendly Buncombe County our leaders have already committed to supporting the aging community in many tangible ways. In 2017, the Commissioners supported the County in joining the WHO/AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. The County added $500,000 on top of the $1,500,000+ in Home and Community Care Block Grant funds for Aging Services in 2022.  Work is underway to bring the vision of an Active Aging Center to life in Buncombe County. We continue to grow our age-friendly "big tent" to include new working groups and initiatives addressing many of the domains of livability. Evidence abounds that Buncombe County is hard at work becoming "an age-friendly community where older adults are safe, well, and engaged."

In addition to completing the Age My Way NC survey to help community leaders, service providers, and others continue preparing to meet your aging in place needs, here's another opportunity for you to weigh in:

Jewish Family Services of WNC (JFS), with support from Dogwood Health Trust, is undertaking a project to explore one particular model for aging in place -- a membership program that would help its members stay connected with others, volunteer to assist others, receive referrals to and support from agencies and service providers, and get other needs met. The project is conducting a survey of people age 50+ who reside in Buncombe, Henderson, or other area WNC counties and who identify as a member of the Jewish community. If you meet this description, please complete their survey, linked here. 

You may be familiar with aging in place membership models that are organized around a neighborhood, such as the Beacon Hill Village. Well, the JFS project is exploring whether an affinity group, in this case those of a particular faith group rather than a group within physical proximity to one another, may be a viable approach to a membership aging in place model for Western North Carolina. 

So, as you continue to envision our Age-Friendly Community, what features of it will best allow you to Age Your Way? Tell us! Both surveys are linked again here:

Age My Way NC Survey

JFS Aging in Place Survey

Age My Way! Happy Older Americans Month!

As you may know, the month of May is Older Americans Month, and the theme this year is Age My Way! 

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens led to designating May as ‘Senior Citizens Month,’ the prelude to ‘Older Americans Month.’

Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country. Every President since Kennedy has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other such activities.
 

Age My Way NC is surveying people 45 plus across the state of North Carolina to identify priorities such as safe and walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate at home in community life. Approximately 1.7 million North Carolinians are age 65 or older and that number is growing. By 2030, fully one-in-five will be older than 65 and for the first time ever, North Carolina will be comprised more of older adults than children. This is already true for Buncombe County, and by 2030 nearly one in four of us in Buncombe County will be older than 65.

We encourage you to share this information with your communities and help them understand the importance of such a survey.  It will help those that support the aging community be better informed on the types of needs and challenges they face.  The survey can be found here: https://survey.cmix.com/69C2ABE3/G10DF6LT/en-US

 

Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and SilverArts Promote Health, Wellness, and Creativity

 

With ample opportunities for community members 50 years of age and better, the schedule for Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and SilverArts includes six weeks of competitions, demonstrations, and fellowship to exercise the mind and body. The event is one of 53 officially-sanctioned local participants in North Carolina Senior Games, the largest senior Olympic program in the nation. 

Select categories preview during Celebrate Seniors Week from March 28-April 1. Senior Games and SilverArts competitions take place from April 4-May 14 at locations throughout Buncombe County with all events welcoming spectators. There is no fee to participate and online registration is open through April 1 at ncseniorgames.org.

“Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and SilverArts,” according to Colt Miller, Asheville Parks & Recreation Athletics Coordinator. “As people live longer and more actively, it’s great to see so many participants in their prime show off skills. At the core, the games and arts celebrate the creativity, dedication, and pride of older adults in our community.”

Sports include bowling, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, putt-putt, cycling, track and field, archery, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, basketball shooting, racquetball, shuffleboard, mini golf, tennis, and table tennis. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.

SilverArts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), Contemporary, and Cheerleading. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Highlights include:

• Celebrate Seniors Week
• March 28, 10 a.m.-noon: Softball and football toss at Montford Park baseball field
• March 29, 3-5 p.m.: Pickleball at Murphy-Oakley Park
• March 30, 10 a.m.-noon: Crafts at Senior Opportunity Community Center
• March 31, 3-5 p.m.: Track and field at Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
• April 1, 10 a.m.-noon: Shuffleboard at Harvest House Community Center

• Opening Ceremonies: April 7 at 3 p.m. at Murphy-Oakley Community Center

• Swimming and Aquatics: April 23 at Buncombe County Schools Aquatic Center

• Track and Field: April 30 at Asheville High School

• Pickleball: May 7 at Murphy-Oakley Park

Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and SilverArts is a partnership between Asheville Parks & Recreation and Asheville City Schools, Black Mountain Parks & Recreation, Buncombe County Schools, Buncombe County Public Libraries, Buncombe County Recreation Services, Humana, and YMCA of Western North Carolina.

Aging in Place in Buncombe County: This week on PBS North Carolina's ncIMPACT

What are your plans for aging in place? Is your home set up to support you if and as your needs change? Are you connected to friends and family who you can turn to for help? Do you know what community and health-based services are available for you (some at no charge)?

To live safely, independently and comfortably in community requires quality housing AND access to health, social & economic resources, and social connections, as well as policies and infrastructure that support these resources. Thriving as you age also requires planning for the unexpected. Inevitably, function and ability change over time. However, you can prepare to maximize your well-being, regardless of your level of means.

Age-Friendly Buncombe County's Housing Options for Aging in Place (HOAP) working group includes members with expertise and years of experience in health, aging, social services, planning, housing and design. Together they are committed to educating others about "the why," "the what," and "the how" related to aging in place.

And (drumroll, please) HOAP will be featured on this week's episode of #ncIMPACT!

Tune in on Friday, March 11 at 7:30 PM on PBS North Carolina. This episode will also be available for streaming beginning March 11: https://ncimpact.sog.unc.edu/our-media/our-show/.

Only Connect – It’s National Mentoring Month

In his novel, Howard’s End, E. M. Forster calls on us to invest our best selves, our greatest energy, into our personal relationships. Perhaps the book’s most famous lines, indeed the book’s epigraph, is “Only Connect!” Scholars note that Forster wrote Howard’s End at the turn of the 20th century and that in this and other writings, he seems keenly aware of the notion that technological advance is at the expense of authentic human connection.   

As we enter year three of the pandemic, we need connection more than ever. The very actions that protect us from Covid, masks and social distancing, are compounding feelings of isolation and loneliness. We all -- children, adolescents, young adults, middle-aged, and older adults -- are experiencing increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and grief.   

January is National Mentoring Month. It is a time to promote and celebrate the power of mentoring and its impact on people of all ages. It is well known that both having a mentor and being a mentor can profoundly affect well-being, satisfaction, and success. Mentors can be older or younger than mentees. Mentoring can take place in schools and colleges, in the workplace, in neighborhoods and in virtual spaces. Mentoring can be formal, or informal.   

Regardless of your age or life stage, consider becoming or seeking a mentor. Here are a few local leads:  

Youth

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC selects and matches mentors with children facing adversity and provide ongoing activities, training and support services for both families and volunteers to foster a successful match relationship and a lasting connection. 
• Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools  As a volunteer, you are an important part of the school community. When you become a volunteer, your work takes on special significance -- though you are not part of the staff, you share the same responsibilities that paid staff are held to while engaged with students.  School volunteers may be parents or community members.  Volunteers can be utilized in a variety of situations in schools, ranging from one time only to monthly, weekly or daily commitments. They may provide tutorial help, monitor lunchrooms, staff libraries and supervise playgrounds. Volunteers may assist the classroom teacher and the clerical staff. They may answer telephones, type or file. They might share a special skill, occupation, or talent with the students.  
• My Daddy Taught Me That (MDTMT) is a nonprofit agency providing mentoring programs that support the development, uplift, and education of middle and high school males in the greater Asheville area. The mission of My Daddy Taught Me That is to assist in developing young males into righteous, respectable, and responsible men through empowerment, education, and support. MDTMT’s vision is that every young male can become a positive, productive individual in the community while knowing from example what it means to be a MAN.  

   Veterans

• Support Veterans Going to College - A-B Tech's Vet's Cafe. We are seeking volunteers to help support our Veteran's Cafe. A-B Tech recognizes that student military veterans benefit significantly from fellowship and networking with their peers. To meet this need, the College created the Vet's Cafe, a supportive gathering place where students can relax, network, connect with resources, use a computer and enjoy complimentary coffee or pre-packaged snack.  
• Buncombe County Veterans Court. Mentors in our program must be veterans who have one year of sobriety, are compassionate, and have a desire to help others. The role of the Volunteer Peer Mentor is to act as a confidential coast, guide, role model, advocate, and support persona s the participant progresses through the Veterans Treatment Court process. Experiences in other courts show that veterans are likely to respond more favorably toward another veteran rather than someone who did not share a similar experience.   

   Workforce

• The Venture Asheville mentorship program supports Asheville startups across multiple industries including mobile & web technologies, IT, digital media, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology. Mentors are experienced entrepreneurs and executives. Mentors have experience in creating and/or building companies and often have deep functional experience. 
• Asheville SCORE volunteer business counselors offer small business advice, business seminars, leadership coaching, organizational development, business plan consulting, sales training and business mentoring to help you create a feasible, long term business strategy. SCORE volunteers are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help existing local businesses and entrepreneurs starting a business succeed. 

There are surely many other opportunities to find or become a mentor. I encourage you to reminisce about a particularly special mentor you have had in your life. Consider those you have mentored or are mentoring presently. Look into new mentorship options. Only, connect.