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!
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.
