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From YouTube: Equity & Engagement Committee – April 13, 2023
Description
Regular meeting of the Asheville City Council's Equity & Engagement Committee.
Access the agenda and other meeting materials at the City of Asheville website: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-committees/equity-and-engagement-committee/
Participate before and during the meeting on our public engagement hub: https://www.publicinput.com/i2446
B
Good
afternoon
I'm
Shanika
Smith
I'm,
the
chair
of
the
equity
and
engagement
committee,
I'd
like
to
welcome
you
to
a
special
meeting
for
strategic
partnership.
Grant
applicant
presentations,
all
council
members
and
applicants
are
participating.
Virtually
we
are
streaming
live
on
the
virtual
engagement
Hub,
which
is
accessible
through
the
virtual
engagement
Hub
link
on
the
front
page
of
the
city's
website.
We
also
have
the
option
for
the
public
to
listen,
live
by
phone
by
dialing.
B
B
Each
project
presentation
will
be
three
minutes:
applicants
staff
will
notify
you
when
you
have
30
seconds
left
and
have
reached
your
time
limit
during
today's
meeting.
Presenters
will
not
take
questions
from
committee
members.
Nor
will
there
be
public
comment.
Staff
will
introduce
each
presenter
by
the
organization
name
presenters.
Please
make
sure
that
your
microphone
is
muted
and
your
camera
is
off
until
you
hear
staff
call
your
organization
name
again.
This
is
a
special
meeting
for
applicant
presentations.
B
D
Thank
you
great,
so,
for
today's
meeting
staff
I
will
introduce
each
organization
as
you're
coming
up.
Katie
Nam
will
provide
a
a
time
notice,
30
seconds
before
your
time
is
up
and
we'll
introduce
each
organization
by
the
organization
name
like
we
mentioned,
and
we're
asking
all
of
the
attendees
of
this
meeting
to
keep
your
microphone
muted
unless
you're
presenting
and
also
for
the
attendees,
keep
your
cameras
off
until
you
are
ready
to
present
council
members.
D
Of
course
you
can
leave
your
cameras
on
and
we'll
go
from
there
so
I
think
we're
ready
to
get
started.
We
had
a
slight
change
in
order,
so
we're
going
to
get
started
with
Partners
Unlimited.
E
Go
all
right:
how's
everybody
doing
I'm
here
with
Anderson
Davis,
our
program,
executive,
director
and
I'm
Sally,
Graves
program
manager
and
academic
support
person.
E
Our
program
has
been
around
since
1997
and
what
we
do
is
support
at
risk
youth
who
have
been
suspended
from
their
home
school.
We
provide
academic
support
online
learning.
We
also
provide
job
interviews,
reviews
for
them
and
we've
added
a
very
important
component
to
this
program
and
that's
our
peer
support,
specialist
and
he's
a
certified
person
dealing
with
drugs
and
addiction,
and
we
found
that
in
the
reading,
we've
had
so
many
deaths
in
the
community
around
drugs
that
we
thought
this
would
be
a
vital
part
of
our
program.
B
E
E
and
my
credentials
are:
I
came
from
Asheville
high
school
as
assistant
principal
I,
also
taught
at
a
B
Tech
for
10
years,
so
I've
been
here
doing
that
and
what
I
do
is
when
we
get
a
student
referral.
I
will
take
the
referral
to
the
high
school
and
find
out
exactly
how
we
can
support
this
student.
So
that's
very
important.
We
only
give
them
what
they
need
and
once
they
come,
we
go
from
there.
Our
success
rate.
E
Over
the
years
we've
had
more
than
200
students
come
through
our
program
and
usually
95
percent
graduate
with
their
class.
When
students
cannot
graduate
with
their
class
to
kind
of
get
them,
they
get
a
little
put
back
as
far
as
being
in
school
because
they
don't
want
to
see
their
friends
graduate
and
they're
still
in
the
ninth
grade
or
the
10th
grade
or
whatever.
So
if
we
can
keep
them
on
track
academically,
we
found
that
we
have
more
success.
I
also
will
visit
the
homes
If.
E
A
A
we're
on
10
wooded
acres
in
the
city
of
Asheville.
Our
program
is
focused
around
three
core
components,
so
students
have
a
literacy
component.
We
follow
the
kitslit
literacy
curriculum,
which
is
a
curriculum
built
off
a
storybook
each
week
that
the
kids
follow
and
then
there's
math
Music
Arts
games
and
cooking
projects.
Things
like
that
that
develop
off
of
the
story.
There's
a
stem
and
service
curriculum
that
is
built
around
our
community
garden.
Our
community
garden
has
been
in
place
for
15
years
now
so
much
so.
A
It's
so
well
established
that
we
have
fruit,
trees
that
are
bearing
fruit.
At
this
point,
the
kids
in
the
service
learning
component.
They
take
the
produce
from
the
garden
to
local
food
banks
to
our
own
mobile
markets
and
they
get
to
distribute
that
out
in
the
community
and
give
back
to
their
Community,
and
the
curriculum
is
a
year-round
Common,
Core
Curriculum
that
focuses
on
stem
and
conservation,
there's
also
an
outdoor
leadership
curriculum.
So
on
the
facility
we
have
a
climbing
wall,
we
have
a
low
ropes
course.
A
A
One
of
the
things
about
this
program
is
not
a
whole
lot
of
people
know
about
it.
Even
though
we've
been
out
here
since
1970,
we
don't
do
a
whole
lot
of
marketing.
So
it's
it
sort
of
flies
under
the
radar,
but
we
have
currently
300
families
on
the
waiting
list
for
the
program.
So
what
we
want
to
do
with
the
funding
is
reserve
spots
for
students
who
would
otherwise
miss
the
opportunity
to
enroll
in
these
programs.
A
Students
who
do
not
have
transportation
home
at
the
end
of
the
day,
we
have
the
opportunity
to
transport
kids.
We
have
buses
and
students
who
do
not
qualify
for
Child
Care,
Subsidy
vouchers
due
to
issues
of
citizenship
or
issues
of
employment.
So
you
have
30
seconds
left
and
we
also
want
to
make
sure
that
we
are
serving
students
that
wouldn't
qualify
for
scholarship
in
programs
that
were
have
a
work
requirement,
so
we
would
work
with
schools
for
a
referral
of
the
most
needy
students
who
are
not
doing
anything
after
school.
G
This
is
evidenced
by
the
data
we're
collecting
in
the
youthful
hand
after
school
and
summer
Jump
Start
programs
using
tools
such
as
M
Class
reports,
the
hegarty
phonemic
awareness
assessment,
the
hegerty
kindergarten,
Baseline
phonemic
awareness
assessment
and
the
bridges
for
math
intervention
assessments.
We're
able
to
show
that
our
Rising
kindergarten
through
fifth
grade
students
all
demonstrate
academic
and
social
growth
across
the
school
year.
G
Many
performing
at
or
well
above
grade
level
by
the
Year's
End
we
mitigate
the
summer
Slide
by
continued
academic
support
across
the
summer
months,
providing
additional
targeted
academic
support
and
programming
in
stem
and
social
emotional
learning
groups.
This
excellence
in
programming
is
led
by
a
curriculum
Specialists
from
Asheville
City
Schools,
who
teach
literacy
and
math
Monday
through
Friday
during
the
school
year
and
across
the
summer,
using
fundations
for
reading
and
bridges
for
math
aligning
with
City
schools
curricula.
G
In
the
summer
of
2020,
we
launched
our
Workforce
Readiness
program
employing
students
aged
15
to
19
living
in
low-income
housing.
Our
teen
employees
are
trained
by
the
curriculum
specialist
to
tutor
in
foundations
and
bridges
and
work
in
our
eight-week
summer
program
across
and
across
the
school
year.
The
teams
gain
income
and
invaluable
life
skills
through
financial
literacy
and
resume
building
courses
provided
by
Executives
at
Bank
of
America
and
Merrill
Lynch
self-care
health
and
hygiene
courses
provided
by
medical
staff
for
Mountain,
Area,
Pediatrics
and
trust-based
relational
intervention.
G
Practitioners
teens
assess
their
life
skills,
knowledge
through
KC
life
skills
assessment,
along
with
personal
goal,
setting
one-on-one
mentoring
and
reassessments
to
evaluate
progress
towards
their
goals.
Students
are
introduced
to
larger
social
networks
through
special
presentations
and
opportunities
for
scholarships
and
shadowships,
which
would
otherwise
be
unavailable
to
them.
Since
2020
we've
employed,
52,
Youth
and
surrounded
them
with
support
for
successful
employment,
including
the
provision
of
workplace,
attire,
Transportation
securing
necessary
documents
such
as
state
IDs
and
assisting
them
in
opening
bank
accounts.
D
G
And
the
expansion
of
the
eight-week
summer,
Jumpstart
program
to
two
sites,
the
current
location
in
Hillcrest
in
the
second
location
in
Maplecrest.
Additionally,
funds
will
be
used
to
support
our
reading
and
math
Specialists
as
they
instruct
the
children
in
the
youthful
hand,
program
building
a
solid
foundation
in
early
literacy
and
math,
which
are
essential
as
we
work
together
to
successfully
close
the
opportunity.
Gap.
Thank
you
for
this
grant
opportunity.
D
I
All
right,
good
afternoon,
it's
great
to
see
everybody
I'm
Diana
Sierra
CEO
at
the
YWCA
at
Asheville.
The
YWCA
has
been
serving
the
Asheville
Community
since
1907..
Our
mission
is
to
eliminate
racism,
Empower
women
and
promote
peace,
Justice
freedom
and
dignity
for
all.
We're
here
to
talk
about
a
new
program
called
lightapath.
This
was
previously
a
separate
501c3
nonprofit
that
came
to
the
YW
during
the
thick
of
the
pandemic
and
asked
for
us
to
acquire
them
to
become
an
official
program
of
the
YW.
I
Just
in
July
of
2022,
they
became
a
an
official
program
of
the
YW
lidopath
Works
to
do
trauma-informed,
mindfulness
movement
programming
in
the
community,
pushing
into
communities
and
spaces
where
folks
might
otherwise
not
have
access
to
such
programming,
such
as
sites
and
Justice
centers,
we're
currently
in
the
women's
correctional
facility,
Buncombe,
County
jail
and
working
to
get
back
into
some
different
recovery
centers.
This
funding
would
be
to
support
us
expanding
to
serve
youth.
I
J
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
Edwina.
Smith
I
am
the
new
light
of
path
coordinator
and
this
getting
this
grant
will
help
us
to
grow
our
expansion
into
Asheville
and
also
helping
us
to
assist
I'm.
Sorry,
our
youth
with
Mental
Health
crisis.
We
have
seen
that
suicide
and
also
mental
health
issues
have
increased
over
the
nation,
but
also
on
Asheville,
so
we're
looking
to
partner
with
other
community
opportunities
in
the
community
to
support
Asheville,
High
Asheville,
Middle
School
other
entities
that
are
dealing
with
youth
and
also
expand
our
youth
population.
Here
at
the
YWCA.
I
I'll
just
add
that
we
know
during
the
pandemic
that
Mental
Health
crisis
has
gone
up.
We've
had
local
youth
suicides.
We
also
know
the
impact
that
that
racism,
poverty
violence
has
had,
especially
during
the
pandemic
on
our
youth,
and
so
we're
really
passionate
and
excited
about
bringing
light.
A
path.
Programming
to
youth,
this
particular
Grant
would
serve
would
help
us
serve
at
least
a
hundred
Youth
and
partner
schools.
I
Thank
you,
and
this
will
allow
us
to
teach
you
self-regulation
strategies
to
reduce
stress
and
increase
Wellness.
We
believe
that
the
YW
is
primed
to
Leverage,
The,
Partnerships
and
relationships
that
we
have
in
order
to
create
a
replicable
and
scalable
program,
and
with
that
I
want
to.
Thank
you
for
your
consideration.
Thank
you.
D
K
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
Bobby
Mason
Alma
Atkins
is
we're
both
board
members,
so
I'll
start
out
and
I'll.
Let
give
her
a
time
to
to
get
back
to
to
tell
us
more
about
what
we're
going
to
do.
The
program
was
started
with
a
vision
in
2009
by
Pastor
Spencer
Hardaway,
when
we
saw
that
there
was
a
deed
that
we
could
find
a
way
for
inexpensive
summer
camp
and
after
school,
because
the
cost
is
rising
was
so
high
that
people
could
not
afford
to
do
that.
As
we
ventured
into
that.
K
We
realized
that
our
youth
were
missing.
Young
people
were
missing
in
in
math
and
reading
and
in
those
areas
that
we
decided
that
we're
going
to
have
a
summer
summer
program
that
we
would
integrate
those
things
into
our
program.
So
on
Mondays
and
went
through
Wednesday,
we
do
have
the
math
and
we
do
have
arts
and
crafts
and
we
do
have
reading
and
we
realized
that
it
started
at
a
possibly
a
younger
age.
K
So
we
did
last
year
we
Endeavor
to
use
Pre-K,
because
we
realized
that
we
had
some
kids
that
had
never
been
to
school
before
and
by
the
time
they
got
into
kindergarten
or
first
grade
that
they
may
be
behind
some.
Well
with
all
of
that,
we
still
keep
our
costs
down
to
maybe
25
a
week
for
each
child
and
we
have
a
sliding
scale
if
there's
multiple
children-
and
we
also
give
scholarships
so
I'll-
let
Ms
Alma
finish
up.
K
H
You
good
afternoon,
my
name
is
Alma
Atkins
and
I
want
to
give
you
a
little
bit
of
overview
about
our
mission
and
vision
for
project
lighting
up
in
general
project.
Lighten
up
captures
the
imagination
and
curiosity
of
young
people
by
providing
opportunities
for
them
to
explore
academic
skills
to
create
positive
and
powerful,
powerful
solutions
to
issues
impact
in
their
lives.
While
instructing
Asheville's
youth
on
how
to
improve
their
educational
status,
they
we
want
them
to
become
agents
of
social
change,
take
action
in
their
Community
with
projects
and
carry
positive
messages
to
their
peers.
H
We
are
also
a
crime
and
gang
prevention
program,
but
also
we
provide
an
enrichment
extension
to
educational
opportunities
for
our
students.
We
believe
that
if
you
challenge
young
people
to
develop
their
own
solutions,
they
will
respond
with
energy
imagination,
commitment
and
action.
We
accomplish
this
Mission
through
a
variety
of
30
seconds
left
of
staying
programs.
H
K
We
thank
you
all
for
exploration.
Excuse
me
for
this.
For
this,
we
need
it,
because
most
of
everything
has
gone
up
so
much
and
we
have
a
transportation
problem
so
to
get
this
grant
would
mean
a
lot
for
us
to
keep
with
our
program
and
thank
you
again
thank.
H
L
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
kadata
Wynn
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
Asheville
Peak
Academy,
a
charter
school
here
in
Asheville
North
Carolina
I,
like
to
start
with
our
mission,
which
is
through
Dynamic,
culturally
relevant
instruction
and
Limitless
expectations.
Students
at
Peak
will
be
empowered
with
academic
Excellence
character
traits
and
the
love
of
learning
necessary
to
become
lifelong
Scholars
leaders
and
Community
stewards.
Essentially,
the
goal
for
Asheville
Peak
Academy
is
with
the
right
resources
we'd
like
to
see
the
opportunity
and
achievement
Gap
close
within
our
school
Community.
L
A
couple
of
Statistics
I'd
like
to
share
is
that
80
percent
of
the
achievement
Gap
right
now
is
it
consists
of
black
and
brown
students.
90
of
our
student
population
is
represented
represented
in
the
achievement.
Gap
most
who
reside
in
housing
are
low-income
communities
to
put
our
student
to
staff
ratio
in
perspective.
40
of
Peaks
current
staff
are
representative
of
our
student
population.
However,
only
16
percent
of
those
staff
are
our
Educators,
so
only
16
of
our
Educators
or
educators
of
color.
L
With
this
opportunity,
the
teacher
representation
has
the
potential
to
grow
from
16
to
54
percent
it
it
takes
a
village
initiative.
Focuses
on
providing
access
to
educational
opportunities
through
culturally
relevant,
rigorous
curriculum
taught
by
highly
qualified
and
relatable
Educators
right
now
we
serve
91
students
next
year
our
roster
already
holds
209
interested
Scholars
and
families
that
want
to
attend
Peak.
That's
almost
that's
more
than
doubling
the
enrollment
rate
right
now.
L
We
also
have
13
highly
qualified
Educators
who
apply
to
work
at
Peak
and
moved
to
Asheville
North
Carolina,
if
selected
our
project
and
if
our
project
is
funded,
100
percent
will
have
the
resources
needed
to
retain
10
of
the
13
interested
Educators,
with
the
abilities
to
address
the
high
cost
of
living
here
in
Asheville
and
re
with
relocation,
stipends
competitive
incentive
packages
and
supporting
housing
deposits,
we
found
that
it's
either
65
per
family
member's
head
or
first
and
last
month,
rents,
which
can
be
over
three
thousand
dollars
per
family.
L
D
Yeah
that
they
called
earlier
so
they
might
still
be
having
technical
difficulties.
D
M
M
The
gap
program
is
in
response
to
the
the
achievement
Gap
that
was
reported
in
the
May
in
the
news
in
early
February,
where
it
showed
that
out
of
a
hundred
black
students,
only
approximately
10
students
were
proficient
in
math
and
out
of
100
black
students.
Only
about
15
to
16
students
were
provision
in
Reading.
However,
there's
a
bigger
picture,
the
bigger
picture
is
that
America
ranked
21st
in
the
world
in
overall
education
out
of
79
countries
on
the
planet,
and
we
attribute
we
appreciate.
M
The
stem
role
model
gap
program
offers
a
exhibit
of
posters
well
presented
in
the
National
City
schools
in
the
county,
schools
of
stem
role,
models
to
inspire
students
to
achieve
higher
academic
goals
and
to
make
them
lifelong
Learners.
I
myself
was
blessed
to
have
intellectual
Role
Models
throughout
my
school
school
years
and,
as
a
result,
I
majored
in
computer
science.
So
I
am
benefit
a
stem
role
model
myself.
M
This
program
will
serve
if
once
we
get
the
grant
we'll
be
able
to
serve
all
the
all
nine
Asheville
City
schools
and
all
44
County
Schools
will
be
working
closely
with
the
school
boards
of
the
actual
City
schools
and
the
county
schools
to
do
these
installations.
We
will
also
complement
these
installations
with
promotions
and
advertising
and
handouts
to
the
students
to
encourage
them
to
celebrate
these
stem
Role
Models.
M
One
of
the
role
models
that
we
will
highlight
is
Marion
Marion
croak.
She
was
invented.
She
was
inducted
into
the
inventors
Hall
of
Fame
and
she
invented
the
voice
over
Internet
Protocol,
which
makes
this
Zoom
call
possible
30
seconds
left,
and
there
are
several
others
like
the
woman
who
invented
GPS.
M
All
of
us
use
GPS
every
day,
but
she's
not
celebrated
in
the
school
systems,
so
the
grant
reaction
for
is
it
will
will
provide
the
product,
the
installation
and
promotions
necessary,
and
it
comes
out
to
be
about
975
dollars
per
school
for
52
schools
that
includes
product
installation
and
promotions.
We
need
to
give
our
students
more
than
the
role
models
they
have
today
right
now,
the
only
Role
Models
they
have
of
mass
murderers,
crooked
politicians
and
and
rappers
and
gangsters.
M
D
Thank
you,
Mr
Matt.
That
is
our
time
now
and
up
next
we
have
free
to
succeed.
N
N
N
We
work
in
closing
the
race-based
opportunity
Gap
by
supporting
and
training
Our
Community
Partners
like
chosen
Pods
at
the
Arthur
R
Eddington
Center,
as
well
as
children,
first
communities
and
schools,
literacy
together,
Peak
and
just
various
other
Community
Partners.
We
recently
did
a
training
with
trudstone
Missionary,
Baptist,
Church,
Verner
and
Duncan
partnership
for
children.
In
the
past
year,
we've
trained
over
300
community
members,
Partners
staffs
volunteers,
tutors
in
the
same
curriculum
that
is
being
used
in
Buncombe
County
and
Asheville
City
Schools.
N
N
We're
hoping
to
train
an
additional
250
local
community
members
and
continue
the
expansion
of
our
training
program
with
the
receivable
of
these
grants.
Funds.
D
O
O
O
The
art
distinguishes
itself
from
others,
as
we
provide
wraparound,
Services
person-centered
services
to
the
clients,
families
and
caregivers
that
support
the
person.
Our
organizational
structure
is
intentionally
small
to
keep
overhead
costs
low,
to
ensure
the
majority
of
the
funds
go
directly
to
Services.
Since
we
are
not
a
Medicaid
agency,
donations
fundraising
and
grants
support
our
programs.
O
We
do
provide
a
small
summer
program
where
children
can
go
that
are
traditionally
not
accepted
in
other
camp
programs
because
of
Behavioral
challenges.
We
also
provide
summer
camp
scholarships
for
special
specialized
summer
camp.
We
have
supported
parents
and
school
programs
from
the
beginning.
We
provide
IEP
supports
all
needs
for
iPads
laptops,
tutors,
mentors,
respite
care
specialized,
some
accounts
and
transportation.
We
provide
therapeutic
needs,
social
skills,
behavior
training
support.
O
One
of
our
main
focuses
at
the
moment,
is
also
with
fetal
alcohol
training
to
Providers
and
to
parents
and
agencies,
because
we
have
found
that
acetyl
alcohol
is
one
of
the
Prime
problems
with
people
that
are
imprisoned
or
run
into
trouble
with
the
law.
So
we
are
working
hard
with
that.
Our
request
for
help
with
school
issues,
IEPs
and
other
issues
within
the
school
has
doubled
since
covid
the
bullying
and
the
lack
of
Engagement
for
children
has
just
surpassed
all
of
our
thoughts.
O
That
would
happen
and
our
primary
focus
will
be
providing
support,
services
and
resources
that
will
increase
the
opportunity
for
the
members
of
the
idd
community,
caregivers
to
gain
skills
to
live
30
seconds,
learn,
work
and
play
to
realize
their
Highest
Potential.
We
have
been
working
with
the
educational
system
with
our
health
and
wellness
prior
to
covet
in
both
school
systems,
and
our
early
childhood
is
our
Focus
to
ensure
that
all
our
children
receive
the
same
education
and
support
as
other
children
in
the
community.
We
hope
that
that
you
will
consider
us
for
this
grant.
D
P
Hello,
thank
you
all
for
having
us
today.
My
name
is
Michael
Hayes
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
your
military
health,
wellness
and
Justice
Collective
and
I'm
here
to
present
about
the
hope
for
the
future
program,
which
is
our
youth-led
summer
program,
I,
also
after
school
program.
We're
asking
for
funds
to
support
the
hope
for
the
future
program.
P
I
work
at
center
around
being
trauma,
informed,
residency
focus
and
the
centers
around
the
hope
of
the
future
program,
specifically
centers
around
those
young
people
who
are
in
low-income
to
Modern
income
housing
who
go
to
City
and
County
schools
are
the.
The
purpose
of
our
program
is
to
is
to
address
the
behavior
issues
of
the
mental
health
issues
of
behavioral
health
issues
of
our
young
people
by
addressing
the
trauma
that
actually
happens
to
a
lot
of
them.
P
If
you
look
at
the
adverse
how
to
experience
survey,
it
shows
that
most
traumas
that
Avatar
young
people
happens
in
the
home
around
the
community.
So
what
we
do
is
we
address
those
we're
not
only
only
address
them,
but
we
address
them
in
a
way
that
helps
our
young
people
understand
the
language
so
that
they
can
be
peers
to
their
other
peers
that
are,
that
might
not
have
that
same
support.
P
So
we're
developing
a
system
of
support
through
what
we
do
from
community
members
with
the
trainings
that
we
have
to
train
our
young
people,
with
with
peer
support
being
evidence-based
to
to
be
peers
to
their
peers.
That
understand
what
trauma-informed
practices
look
like
our
goal
is
to
support.
P
We
had
80
kids
last
summer
this
summer,
we're
looking
to
have
more
children
to
get
them
the
training
that
they
need,
so
that
it
can
actually
have
a
benefit
that
the
benefiting
factors
when
they
get
back
to
school,
they're,
more
inclined
to
be
more
active
in
their
school
work,
their
homework
to
participate
in
school,
because
now
they
don't
have
to
go
to
school.
With
all
of
these
worries,
and
all
of
this
trauma
that's
on
them
because
they
go
through
what
we
call
unpacking
sessions,
they
understand
what
Brazilians
it
looks
like.
P
So
it
actually
helps
the
the
opportunity
Gap,
because
now
our
children
are
who
were
failing
last
year
are
now
having
passing
grades
less
behavioral
issues,
and
we
just
really
want
the
opportunity
to
just
spread
what
we're
doing
to
other
other
communities
right
now,
we're
at
Arrow,
Middle,
School,
Francis
Delaney,
we're
looking
to
spread
to
students
at
Reynolds,
Middle,
School
and
Reynolds
High
School
and
Erwin
High
School.
P
So
the
impact
of
the
program
is
not
only
at
your
Moses,
so
the
impact
can
spread
throughout
the
the
the
other
accounting
school
systems
as
well
as
communities.
The
best
part
that
I
can.
The
one
part
that
I
really
want
to
harp
on
is
that
what
are
working
with
Urban
middle
school
students,
where
the
risk
ratio
was
5,
30.
P
Black
and
brown
students
to
get
in
trouble
I
says
high
school
suspension
now.
That
number
is
down
to
less
than
three
percent,
with
with
the
work
that
we're
doing
with
the
students
in
that
particular
school
and
that's
what
we
hope
to
be
able
to
present
throughout
the
whole
summer
with
other
students
in
other
places.
Q
Hello,
I
am
Aaron
Hartley.
The
education
director
here
at
Leaf,
Global
arts,
in
the
heart
of
downtown
Asheville
part
of
our
mission,
is
connecting
cultures
through
music
and
arts
education.
We
have
classes
in
Art,
Theater,
music,
culture,
dance
and
more.
Our
Center
here
opened
in
2020
and
it's
an
extension
of
our
Leaf
schools
and
streets
program
that
began
in
2004..
These
schools
and
streets
has
served
over
80
000
youth,
40
percent
of
our
students.
More
than
40
percent
of
our
students
identify
as
bipoc
and
more
than
50
percent
are
economically
disadvantaged.
Q
We're
asking
for
your
support
to
help
eliminate
any
Financial
barriers
to
any
child
receiving
Global
Arts
education
here
at
our
downtown
location.
We
know
that
study
after
study
has
shown
that
Arts
education
has
improved
graduation
rates
and
test
scores
and
social
emotional
learning
for
students.
We're
asking
that
you
help
us
address
the
opportunity
Gap
by
funding
four
different
elements
of
our
Arts
education
here
at
Leaf
global
those
four
elements
are
field
trips,
summer
camps
classes
and
lessons
and
professional
development
for
teachers
and
I'll.
Tell
you
a
little
bit
about
each
of
those.
Q
We
have
field
trips.
That
brings
groups
of
students
from
schools
and
community
centers.
We
work
with
some
new
partners
and
some
very
long-standing
Partners,
many
of
which
are
on
this
call
here,
which
is
awesome
all
of
our
field.
Trips
are
completely
customizable,
you
know
we
offer
dance,
music,
theater,
art
culture
and
we
can
connect
to
the
North
Carolina
curriculum
standards
with
each
class.
Q
We
have
seven
summer
camps
running
full
days
in
the
summer.
Themes
include
celebrating
diversity,
cultural
connections,
songwriting
and
recording
West,
African,
drumming
visual
art,
Hip-Hop
Hip-Hop,
dance,
black
history
and
the
Arts
and
more
we
offer
classes
and
lessons
here
at
Leaf.
Q
This
leads
to
opportunities
for
students
to
explore
instruments
from
around
the
world
downstairs
in
our
space
we
have
a
thing
called
the
instrument,
petting
zoo,
that
has
over
100
instruments
that
students
can
just
touch
and
work.
With
from
these
class
opportunities,
we
have
student,
we
have
student
groups,
multi-instrumental
student
groups
that
kids
can
join
that
get
to
perform
in
locations
around
town.
Q
I
have
a
couple.
You
know
we
have
seen.
We
have
30
seconds
left
all
right,
so
a
couple
of
quotes
from
parents,
then
I
think
my
child
is
displaying
Independence
and
confidence
that
she's
never
displayed
before
these
opportunities
have
given
my
child
the
strength
to
do
things
she
wouldn't
usually
do
pushing
her
out
of
her
element
and
giving
her
a
new
outlook
on
things
and,
last
but
not
least,
we're
asking
for
help
for
funding
Leaf
as
a
professional
development.
Q
We
have
a
teacher,
quoting
that
I
believe
was.
Thank
you.
R
Yes,
my
name
is
Dwayne,
Bond,
know
what
Hood
Huggers
International
and
we're
trying
to
create
a
culture,
sustainability,
that's
inclusive
and
just
using
the
Arts,
the
environment
and
social
Enterprise,
and
we
base
our
program
out
of
the
neighborhood
and
we
try
to
engage
in
young
people
around
things,
that's
happening
in
and
around
their
Community
from
Community
Gardens
to
housing
renovations
to
solar,
and
we
also
want
to
introduce
them
to
financial
management.
R
We
also
pay
them
to
to
do
this
work
in
and
around
the
community
we're
running
about
three
llc's.
So
what
we're
trying
to
do
is
match?
Have
young
people
experiment
with
the
the
leaders
in
these
different
businesses
we're
we're
running,
and
so
we
match
them
up
with
a
mentor
to
try
to
build
their
self-confidence
and
just
open
their
imagination
about
what
they
can
do,
not
only
in
their
Community
but
for
themselves
as
a
future
entrepreneur.
R
You
know
in
this
model
now
we're
operating
under
this
cap
model
that
we've
developed
and
when
we
developed
this
model
over
20
years
of
doing
work
in
and
around
the
city.
R
We
created
this
cat
model
where
it
Maps
neighborhood
residents
to
provide
some
additional
capacity
and
support
for
the
young
people
in
the
community
is
designed
to
con
then
connect
to
the
school
system
so
that
we
create
momentum
in
the
neighborhood
that
then
connects
to
the
school
and
then
from
the
schools
it
flips
to
different
entrepreneurs
and
businesses
in
and
around
the
neighborhood
or
around
the
community.
R
So
the
goal
is:
have
you
have
this
these
three,
this
momentum,
that's
based
in
the
neighborhood
that
then
supports
young
people
in
the
school
and
then
helps
create
that
pipeline
for
them
to
be
successful
and
either
work
or
entrepreneurship.
R
R
Now
we
embarking
on
a
new
project
in
the
community
designed
to
show
young
people
how
you
can
be
a
developer,
not
only
a
person
that
picks
weeds
in
a
garden,
but
I
actually
build
a
project
in
your
neighborhood
that
you
would
use
in
the
future.
D
Thank
you.
We
have
open
doors
Asheville
up
next
and
ycl
training
programs
on
Deck
afterwards,.
F
Hi,
my
name
is
Jasmine
Middleton
and
I'm.
The
head
of
sustainability
at
open
doors,
Asheville
I've,
been
a
part
of
the
organization
since
2011
and
the
organization
has
been
around
since
2009.
I've
been
in
the
capacity
of
a
board
member
and
for
the
past
and
as
a
student
in
the
past
two
years,
I've
been
in
the
leadership
position.
F
We
know
that
the
pandemic
has
had
a
devastating
and
lasting
impact
on
our
students,
but
the
history
of
racial
inequity
has
had
an
even
longer
impact.
We
prioritize
black
and
brown
children
living
below
the
poverty
line
paid
through
college
and
on
to
graduate
school,
as
these
are
the
students
who
are
most
impacted
by
the
societal
and
educational
inequities.
F
We
understand
that
our
schools
are
short
on
resources
and
that's
why
we're
stepping
in
open
doors
as
an
additional
layer
of
support
to
what
schools
can
provide
in
order
to
respond
to
our
students
needs
much
sooner.
Our
goal
is
not
to
serve
every
student,
but
to
serve
each
and
every
student
deeply.
We
receive
referrals
directly
from
our
families
from
their
friends
and
close
communities.
F
Many
of
the
agencies
here
are
our
partners
and
are
all
a
piece
of
the
puzzle
to
close
the
gap
between
our
students,
performance
and
their
potential
of
the
students
that
we
work
with
61st.
65
percent
of
them
have
a
suspected
or
diagnosed
learning
difference
and
out
of
that
65
percent.
Only
nine
percent
has
been
identified
by
the
schools
without
additional
advocacy
and
intervention.
Our
students
would
likely
be
falling
through
the
cracks
we
get.
F
Our
students
life-changing
psycho-educational
assessments
to
identify
those
learning
differences
and
provide
accommodations
that
can
be
used
at
school
and
at
home
our
summer
in
academics.
Director
who
is
also
professionally
trained,
whose
salary
we
have
requested
in
this
grant
would
help
us
provide
more
school-based,
advocacy,
professional
and
peer-to-peer
training
after
school
and
summer
enrichment
to
help
prevent
summerslide
in
college
prep
and
support.
F
We
are
unique
and
different
because
of
our
immense
depth
of
service
and
our
long-term
relationships
with
our
students
and
Families.
We
work
with
outstanding
local
steam
program
and
partners
to
avoid
replication
of
services.
Open
doors
is
whole.
Child
and
holistic
approach
is
research
and
evidence-based
and
it
works.
F
We
break
down
barriers
by
collaborating
with
our
students
and
families
to
develop
individualized
service
plans
for
each
student
and
we
provide
Education
Services,
supported
by
a
scaffold
of
family
sustainability
programs
such
as
Transportation
food
support,
financial
literacy
and
housing.
For
example,
last
year
we
drove
over
25
000
miles
to
support
our
students
getting
to
and
from
their
tutoring
and
enrichments
30
seconds
left.
F
We
know
that
this
program
is
expensive,
but
our
children
are
just
as
deserving
of
this
investment
as
any
other
resource
family,
as
our
grant
shows
open
to
our
students
have
higher
high
school
graduation
rates,
higher
College,
enrollment
and
higher
college
graduation
rates
than
our
local
and
National
peers.
Your
dollars
will
be
leveraged
by
our
strong
donor
base
that
will
make
a
huge
difference
in
academic,
emotional,
Financial,
Health
and
Civic
outcomes
for
our
students
and
their
families
for
generations
to
come.
Thank
you.
D
S
All
right
watch
your
training
program
creates
bridges
for
Asheville,
Area
Youth
and
their
families
to
overcome
gaps
and
disparity
through
advocacy,
educational
programming,
social
and
emotional
support
and
enrichment
opportunities.
We
seek
to
understand
the
evolving
needs
of
the
community.
We
serve,
earn
their
trust
and
offer
tools
to
support
their
self-regulation,
self-advocacy
and
academic
success
so
watch
your
training
programs
have
been
serving
black
and
brown
communities
and
low-wealth
communities.
Since
2014.,
we
have
three
primary
programs
through
which
we
do
this,
and
all
of
these
are
in
the
grant
proposal
that
we
have
submitted.
S
First,
we
complete
an
eight
to
nine
week
summer
program
every
summer,
and
during
that
summer
program
we
do
two
hours
of
academics
daily
and
then
the
rest
of
the
summer
we
are
working
on.
Arts
stems
projects
and
other
regular
summer
activities.
We
use
the
same
assessments
that
actual
City
and
Buncombe
County
use
in
terms
of
reading
and
math,
looking
at
foundations,
assessments
also
days
and
dibles
assessments
to
make
sure
that
we
are
online
or
in
line
with
the
same
processes
that
are
being
used
within
the
school
systems.
S
We
currently
have
an
mou
with
actual
City
and
with
Buncombe
County
Schools,
so
that
we
have
our
second
component
of
programming,
which
is
which
is
advocacy.
So
we
have
employees
through
ytl
that
go
into
Asheville
City
schools
and
Buncombe
County
Schools
to
support
our
students
that
are
most
heavily
impacted
by
educational
inequities.
They
are
able
to
go
into
the
classrooms
they
meet
with
teachers,
they
connect
teachers
and
parents
and
create
a
team
approach
for
getting
the
resources
needed
for
all
of
our
all
of
our
children.
S
In
addition
to
the
advocacy,
we
also
run
a
34-week
after-school
program.
Our
programming
starts
at
2
40
and
ends
at
six
every
day,
Monday
through
Friday.
Through
that
programming.
We
also
offer
tutoring
in
the
after
school
and
clubs
and
other
enrichment
activities.
For
example,
this
past
week
our
kids
started
going
to
UNCA
to
swim
on
Monday,
Wednesdays
and
Fridays.
So
we
tried
to
give
our
students
opportunities
to
do
things
that
one
either
they
haven't
done
before
or
two
that
they
haven't
done
enough
of
so
getting
them.
S
Outdoors
hiking
horseback,
riding
going
to
places
like
fired
up
and
I
can't
just
lost
the
name
of
the
craft
place
in
the
river
Arts
District,
where
they're
able
to
create
crafts
and
experience
things
that
they
don't
do
on
a
regular
basis.
So
ytl
is
very
intentional
about
how
we
work
30
seconds,
left,
making
sure
that
we
are
inviting
parents
into
programming
as
often
as
we
possibly
can.
It
is
our
goal
to
reach
every
kid
that
we
are
in
contact
with
on
a
deep
level,
not
just
being
here
for
one
summer
or
one
after
school
program.
S
D
Thank
you
and
if
you're
just
now
joining
us
welcome,
if
you
please
turn
off
your
camera
until
it's
your
200
up.
Next
we
have
children,
first
communities
and
schools,
and
on
Deck
we
have
Asheville
Museum
of
Science.
T
Good
afternoon
I'm
Natasha
AB
Waters,
the
executive
director
with
Children
First
communities
and
schools,
and
we
are
before
you
today
to
ask
for
funding
for
our
community-based
after
school
and
summer
enrichment
program.
Our
organization
has
been
in
the
community
for
over
40
years,
and
our
mission
is
to
empower
children
and
their
families
to
reach
their
full
potential
through
advocacy,
education
and
services
and
as
communities
and
schools.
We
surround
students
for
the
community
of
support,
empowering
them
to
stay
in
school
and
achieve
in
life
and
I
have
with
me
today.
T
Blythe
Byrne,
our
director
of
community
supports,
is
going
to
speak
more
about
the
details
of
the
programming.
Thank
you.
U
U
We
also
give
them
experiences
that
they
generally
would
not
be
provided
due
to
their
economic
status
or
other
barriers
that
we
work
with
our
Community
Partners
and,
as
so
many
have
said
here
already
so
many
great
partners
that
we
work
with
to
make
sure
that
we
are
not
duplicating
Services
Horse
Sense,
Leaf
arterial
Collective
reads
to
succeed
all
great
partners
that
help
to
give
our
students,
academic
and
wonderful
social
experiences
after
school
program.
Our
after
school
program
that
is
conducted
is
conducted
inside
our
affordable
housing
communities.
U
We
strive
to
meet
the
students
and
their
families
where
they
are,
as
transportation
is
often
times
a
a
burden
to
our
families.
It
has
been
mentioned
before
several
times
here
today,
so
we
want
to
make
sure
that
we
are
working
towards
equity,
for
our
students
and
their
families
through
bridging
that
opportunity,
Gap
by
providing
that
academic
support
by
providing
those
unique
experiences
by
providing
that
social,
emotional
support
mentoring.
V
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
a
science
letter,
illiteracy,
director
at
Asheville
Museum
of
Science.
As
most
of
you
know,
Amos
is
located
in
the
heart
of
downtown
and
we
are
a
small
science
museum
that
unique,
uniquely
serves
both
locals
and
visitors
to
Asheville,
both
young
and
young,
at
heart.
In
my
short
time
with
you
today,
I
wanted
to
identify
three
points
of
focus.
V
One,
to
tell
you
a
little
bit
more
about
us
two
to
briefly
describe
our
ask
with
this
particular
Grant
proposal
and
three
provide
an
example
of
how
we've
piloted
a
special
program
in
the
museum.
Already
that
directly
reflects
how
we
envision
utilizing
this
type
of
funding,
source
and
the
positive
outcomes
and
Reflections,
we
could
incorporate
moving
forward
Who
We
Are.
Our
mission
at
Amos
is
to
be
the
home
for
experiential
science.
Learning,
Discovery
and
exploration.
Amos
strives
to
spark
the
imagination
and
Foster
lifelong
curiosity.
V
We
like
to
consider
ourselves
small
But
Mighty,
serving
over
sixty
thousand
guests
last
year,
as
we
not
only
welcome
Museum
guests,
but
also
offer
extensive
inquiry-based
stem
programming
through
field
trips,
Outreach
camps
after
school
programs,
internships
and
other
unique
Community.
Partnerships
museums
have
the
power
to
unite
communities
through
their
shared
history
and
learning.
They
cannot
do
it
alone
and
must
be
in
partnership
with
local
leaders
and
Community
Partners.
V
We
know
that
museums
and
science
centers
play
a
crucial
role
in
emotional
well-being,
economic
prosperity
and
sustainability,
and
it's
worth
investing
in
museum
infrastructure
that
directly
facilitates
local
interests,
Sparks
systemic
equity
and
supports
employee
expenditure
impacts.
Amos's
proposal
is
based
on
an
extremely
successful
program
and
evaluation
data
that
work
for
our
community
new
partners
and
our
results
driven.
V
So
what's
our
ask?
We
want
to
increase
internal
capacity
and
sustainability
of
a
proven
and
successful
stem
education
model
by
right-sizing
our
teacher
to
staff.
Our
teacher
to
student
ratios
and
offering
a
living
wage
to
these
leaders
are
Educators
in
their
industry.
In
an
effort
to
deliver
expert
design,
stem
programming
Amos
hopes
to
retain
and
grow
our
current
Education
team
in
an
effort
to
meet
the
needs
and
demands
for
stem
education
programming,
specifically
in
the
areas
of
field
trips,
Outreach
partner,
engagements
and
Museum
exploration.
V
We
want
to
carry
out
Outreach
programming
that
promotes
interest
in
stem
by
removing
access
barriers
to
the
museum
by
meeting
folks
where
they
are
already
and
providing
engaging
Science
Education
and
strengthening
existing
Outreach
initiatives
at
Learning,
Centers
and
classrooms
within
our
community
partners.
Partners,
like
many
of
you,
are
here
today,
the
YMCA
open
doors,
Verner
Early,
Learning,
Center
and
many
more
finally
I'd
like
to
leave
you
with
a
specific
example
of
successful
model
that
we
would
love
to
have
the
funding
incorporate
into
our
future
programs
at
Amos.
V
We
are
fortunate
enough
to
discuss
all
to
have
some
special
allocated
funding
to
offer
a
pilot
program
to
third
grade
classrooms.
This
was
especially
unique
because
we
worked
closely
with
the
district
to
create
a
problem-based
learning
and
professional
development
curriculum
based
off
their
written
wisdom,
Ela
curriculum
and
also
met
science
standards.
We
had
overwhelmingly
positive
feedback
from
teachers
and
students,
but
we
learned
a
couple
things
one
to
develop
this
type
of
program.
It
takes
a
lot
of
time.
It
takes
a
lot
of
Staff
Manpower.
D
W
Hi,
thank
you.
So
my
name
is
Robin
Frazier
and
I
have
with
me
Sergio
Fernandez
at
Aspire.
We
have
been
in
operation
for
a
little
over
21
years.
The
program
we're
requesting
funds
for
is
our
vocational
skills
programming,
both
kids
at
work
and
the
connection
program.
Both
of
these
are
year-round
program
with
rolling
admissions
we
do
provide
transportation
to
and
from
because
we
know
that
is
often
a
barrier
to
youth
coming
to
the
program.
I
also
wanted
to
point
out
that
our
staff
are
representative
of
the
population
we
serve.
W
We
are
very
diverse
from
lgbtq
plus
to
being
both
racially
and
culturally
diverse.
Many
and
I
would
say
most
of
our
staff
have
come
from
poverty
and
or
hardship
and
are
able
to
model
to
the
students.
The
ability
to
overcome
and
succeed.
Youth
will
participate
in
stem-oriented
activities
through
the
culinary
arts,
our
music
audio
production
and
our
cinematography
classes
to
capture
their
interest
and
Inspire
future
career.
Your
past,
while
also
strengthening
Educational
Concepts,
to
close
that
achievement.
W
Gap
the
target
population
is
at-risk
city
of
Asheville
youth
between
the
ages
of
12
and
18,
from
low
to
moderate
income.
Households.
The
Buncombe
County
riska
needs
assessment
committee
identified
a
number
of
risk
need
factors
in
youth
referred
to
court
services
that
our
program
addresses
such
as
substance
abuse,
behavioral
issues
and
assaultive
behavior,
both
in
and
out
of
school
low
to
moderate
income
youth,
particularly
those
of
color,
have
disproportionate
represented
representation
in
the
juvenile
justice
system
and
in
Behavior
referrals
in
the
school
system.
W
I
think
it's
pretty
well
established
that
school
suspensions
are
linked
to
lower
academic
success
and
lower
rates
of
high
school
graduation.
Our
program
is
experienced
in
engaging
these
youth
effectively
to
help
them
to
both
develop
the
soft
skills
to
Aid
them
in
working
well
with
others
and
by
using
Hands-On
learning
to
spark
their
interests
and
what
they
want
to
do
in
the
future.
W
Culinary
arts
integration
is
a
highly
flexible
and
engaging
project-based
learning
activity
ideal
for
stem
focused
education,
the
stem
goals
for
collaboration,
inquiry
and
logical
reasoning,
mesh
well
with
the
culinary
arts
and
with
cinematography.
All
of
our
learning
is
Project
based
and
designed
to
prepare
the
youth
for
employment,
higher
education
and
or
business
ownership.
So
let
me
give
you
a
couple
of
examples.
There
are
several
interactive
stem
cooking
activities
which
we
are
currently
doing
so.
W
So
both
of
our
programs
are
heavily
focused
on
the
stem
components
of
science,
technology,
engineering
and
Mathematics.
And
lastly,
our
staff
also
assists
youth
with
internship
and
or
job
placement
to
further
their
skills
once
they
complete
the
program.
So
Aspire
wants
to
thank
you
for
this
opportunity.
D
X
Actually,
what
we're
trying
to
do
is
create
a
holistic
learning
environment
through
academics,
social
learning,
emotional
learning
and
physical
learning,
and
we
do
this
not
only
for
our
students,
but
also
for
our
families.
Some
of
the
partners
that
have
helped
in
creating
the
academic
piece
for
our
students
and
our
families
and
we'll
talk
a
little
bit
more
about
that.
Our
UNCA
as
well
UNC,
Asheville,
Mars,
Hill
College,
reaches
to
see
literacy
together,
welcome
partnership
for
children
and
then
our
social,
emotional
learning
environment.
X
That's
the
name
of
it
circle
of
security
workshops
that
we
provide
for
the
families,
and
so
with
that
lead
I'm,
going
to
have
Jasmine
bright,
to
talk
more
about
how
we
are
developing
The,
Village
project
and
inclusive
of
the
academic,
the
social,
emotional
and
Workforce
Development
piece.
Y
The
project
is
a
multi-faceted
project,
of
course,
that,
like
Miss
CeCe
said
we
do
academic,
social
and
emotional
learning
and
we're
also
focusing
on
Workforce
Development
this
year
within
that
piece,
and
so
over
the
past
year
we've
been
able
to
serve
125
students.
It
will
be
132
by
the
end
of
the
school
year.
We've
also
been
able
to
support
20
families
directly
by
providing
them
with
the
resources
they
needed
to
not
only
help
their
children
inside
the
school
program
inside
of
our
programs,
but
also
help
the
children
at
home.
Y
We've
partnered
with
re
circle
of
security
and
reconnect
resource
for
resilience,
they're
providing
programs
for
my
parents
that
will
allow
them
to
not
only
understand
their
children
better
in
the
school
setting,
but
understand
them
better
at
home
and
connect
those
pieces
together
at
home,
and
we
are
looking
forward
to
this
even
more
funding
to
help
extend
this
program
in
the
future.
Thank
you,
foreign.
D
County
partnership
for
children,
followed
by
chosen
pods
that
will
be
on
deck.
Z
There
we
go
hi
I'm,
Tasha,
Lewis
I'm,
the
Workforce
Development
director
for
Buncombe
partnership
for
children
and
I
also
have
my
assistant
executive
director
on
here
as
well.
Caroline
Rodier,
I'm,
not
sure
if
she's
going
to
get
on
camera,
but
if
Carolina,
if
I
forget
something,
please
let
me
know
because
I
get
nervous
and
I
just
start
going
and
rambling,
so
the
workforce,
The
Early,
Childhood,
Workforce
Development
program
is
ending
its
fifth
year
here
in
the
Asheville
City
Welcome
County
area.
Z
This
program
was
created
out
of
idea
out
of
Community
a
community
Forum
from
parents,
teachers,
Center
directors
here
in
the
area
and,
as
we
all
know,
there's
a
child
care
crisis
and
there's
an
even
bigger
Child
Care
crisis.
After
the
the
the
pandemic
in
the
pandemic,
still
continuing
to
grow
to
go.
Z
Z
Here
in
the
area,
they
go
through
a
training
series,
training
Series,
where
it
is
the
trainings
consist
of
the
requirements
from
the
state
child
care
agencies,
and
we
are
able
to
pay
living
wage
stipend
based
on
just
economics,
Buncombe
County,
living
wage
rate
and
we've
been
very,
very
fortunate
to
be
able
to
Accurate
funds
to
help
with
other
and
other
needs
from
participants
who
come
through
the
program.
Z
Our
program
is
on
its
second
year
of
being
bilingual,
and
so
we
partner
with
the
Salt
Lake
to
translate
all
of
our
trainings
all
of
our
documents.
Z
Z
Centers,
as
as
we
all
know,
the
CT
The
Early
Childhood
CTE
program
at
Asheville,
City
Schools
is
no
longer
exists
existing,
and
so
we
know
that
we
need
to
get
back
into
the
actual
City
Schools
to
catch
those
individuals
who
are
interested
in
the
early
childhood
field
and
make
sure
that
they
have
an
Avenue
in
order
to
continue
their
education
continue
their
education
in
that
field,
because
there
is
a
dire
need
for
Early,
Childhood,
Educators
and
so.
G
Z
A
former
childhood
educator.
We
know
that
it's
super
important
we've
been
able
to
duplicate
this
program
and
consult
with
Henderson
County
Transylvania
southwestern
region
and
the
Charlotte
Mecklenburg
County,
and
so
we
would
appreciate
as
much
funding
as
possible
to
continue
because,
as
this
program
grows,
it
gets
more
and
more
expensive
and
especially
with
the
living
wage
Gap,
that
a
lot
of
our
participants
have.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
we're
providing
them
with
all
the
services
that
we
can.
Thank
you.
AA
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
Shonda
Jackson
I'm,
the
director
of
Resident
support
services
at
the
Asheville
housing
authority
and
founder
of
positive
opportunities,
develop
success
now
known
as
chosen.
Pies
chosen
pies
is
a
free
after
school
and
summer
program
that
is
unique
in
that
it
is
primarily
LED
and
operated
by
residents
who
live
in
our
actual
housing
communities.
Our
goal
is
to
provide
a
familiar
environment
with
well-trained
relatable
staff
who
live
in
the
children's
communities
and
possess
lived
experiences
that
will
cultivate
authentic,
meaningful
relationships
with
children
and
their
families.
AA
Live,
learn,
grow,
Thrive
and
give
back
is
the
chosen
past
motto.
We
give
our
children,
families
and
staff
the
opportunity
to
grow
in
a
welcome
environment
that
activates
everyone's
giftings
and
talents
for
each
child
and
staff
member
to
support
them
in
reaching
their
fullest
potential.
Our
hope
is
that
this
will
translate
to
one
day
those
same
students
reaching
back
into
our
community
to
provide
those
opportunities.
We
uphold
high
standards
for
Children
and
Families
by
demonstrating
consistency
and
accountability.
AA
We
believe
this
will
ultimately
result
in
academic
growth,
personal
success
and
eventually
eliminate
the
race-based
opportunity,
gaps
that
exist
in
education,
housing,
income
and
working
life
conditions
for
all
people
of
color
chosen
pods
serve
students,
kindergarten
through
college.
The
reason
I
say
college
is
because,
once
our
students
reach
ninth
grade,
they
become
youth
impact
worth
Junior
youth
impact
workers
when
they
graduate
from
high
school.
We
allow
those
graduates
to
come
back
Christmas
spring
and
summer
breaks
to
continue
working
with
the
younger
students.
AA
100
of
our
staff
identifies
black
98
of
the
students
attended
our
after
school
and
summer
programs
identify
as
black
95
percent
of
those
students
live
in
public
housing
or
receive
rental
assistance
through
Section
8.,
the
average.
The
income
for
families
in
residing
in
our
housing
communities
is
less
than
eight
thousand
dollars
a
year.
With
that
said,
thanks
to
our
partnership
with
chosen,
students
receive
snack
and
dinner
daily
through
the
school
year
and
they
receive
breakfast
snacks,
lunch
and
dinner
in
the
summer.
We
also
provide
transportation
from
school
and
Home
in
the
evenings.
AA
In
partnership
with
Reed
to
succeed,
we
ensure
our
students,
growth,
foundational
reading
and
writing
skills
to
counter
the
effects
of
the
achievement
Gap
together
through
lessons
with
reading
teachers,
literacy,
tutors,
access
to
culturally
responsive
books
and
family
reading
events,
we
have
grown
a
community-powered
culture
of
learning.
This
grant
will
allow
us
to
purchase
an
assessment
tool
which
will
allow
us
to
monitor
students
growth
throughout
the
school
year,
including
the
summer
months.
It
will
also
allow
us
to
continue
all
the
great
work
currently
going
on,
as
well
as
provide
additional
experiential
opportunities.
AA
Students
benefit
students
benefit
as
they
participate
in
unique
experiences
that
build
on
their
learning.
Most
importantly,
these
experiences
pique
the
interest
of
Young
Learners
a
key
factor
in
children's
motivation
to
learn
in
ways
that
are
relevant,
meaningful
and
connect
topics
and
ideas
learned
in
the
classroom
to
the
real
world.
Thank
you.
AB
Hey
there,
everyone
first
just
gratitude
to
the
council,
members
and
the
committee
for
the
review
process
a
lot
of
application
of
this
tough
job,
don't
interview
y'all,
my
name
is
Seiko
Coleman
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
artavia
collective.
We
were
initially
founded
in
2011
under
the
name
Asheville
writers,
in
the
schools.
We
just
recently
changed
our
name
primarily
because
the
work
that
we
are
doing
is
a
lot
more
expansive
than
simply
writing
it
in
the
schools.
AB
Our
work
focus
is
on
building
relationships
through
arts
and
culture
activities
and
then,
particularly
particularly,
we
use
a
a
model
which
we
call
an
artist
residency
program
and
what
that
does
is
connect
artists
of
color,
with
opportunities
to
do
residencies
in
school
and
Community
settings,
and
while
on
the
onset,
this
work
looks
like
things
like
photography,
programs
or
writing
programs
or
Visual
Arts.
The
real
impact
is
in
the
relationships
that
are
made
between
the
young
people
and
the
adults
who
Mentor
them.
AB
We
really
believe
in
a
concept
known
as
radical
healing,
which
is
a
philosophy
that
espouses
that,
in
order
for
by
pocket
youth
to
thrive,
the
three
things
that
are
needed:
the
ability
to
have
healthy
relationships
with
peers
and
adults,
the
ability
to
have
a
strong
racial
identity
and
the
ability
to
have
a
social
Consciousness,
so
they
can
be
connected
to
what's
going
on
in
their
Community.
Our
vision
is
to
really
create
an
ecosystem
that
welcomes
and
incentivizes
bipart
youth
not
only
to
be
engaged
in
the
community,
but
to
remain
in
the
community.
AB
In
the
year
2022
last
year
we
provided
more
than
400
hours
of
programming
between
our
various
artists
residencies,
and
these
took
place
in
various
locations
ranging
from
our
own
in-house
word
on
the
street
program
to
locations
are
like
Claxton.
We
did
a
residency
there.
We've
worked
with
ytl
we've
worked
with
the
grant
Center
a
good,
strong
partnership
with
Parks
and
Rec.
We've
worked
in
silsa,
the
Shiloh
Community
Center,
and
we
reached
about
200
youth
in
our
programs
last
year
through
the
work
that
we
did
and
31
different
artist.
AB
Mentors
of
color
were
paid
to
engage
in
this
work,
so
we're
seeking
funding
to
continue
doing
a
good
work.
We're
excited
we're
looking
to
grow
the
opportunities
and
connections
that
we
have
in
community
and
we're
thankful
for
the
opportunity
to
present
our
work
and
be
considered
for
funding.
Thank
you
very
much.
AC
Am
the
executive
director
of
my
daddy
taught
me
that
the
founder
of
KL
training
Solutions
we're
a
later
to
be
here
today,
and
thank
you
again
for
having
us,
and
so,
if
you
don't
know
anything
about,
my
daddy
taught
me
that
we
are
mentoring
program
here
at
the
aggressions
organization,
in
the
greater
Asheville
we've
been
operating
for
almost
11
years
now
we
started
in
2012.,
mentoring,
job
training,
great
tracking,
you
name
it
be
able
to
provide
unique
and
authentic
relationships
and
training
for
our
youth
right,
and
so
what
we're
asking
for
today
is
being
able
to
support
several
of
our
programs,
and
so
in
2020
we
made
national.
AC
We
got
national
attention
from
CNN
or
starting
a
summer
school.
So
when
everybody
was
at
home,
you
know
on
the
doing
the
learning
from
the
computers
and
not
being
able
to
be
in
school.
AC
We
partnered
with
the
absolutely
School
Foundation
to
bring
in
four
teachers
to
teach
20
of
our
students
on
site,
and
so
three
days
a
week
four
hours
a
day,
we
had
our
students
there
at
our
location
and
the
reason
we
made
the
national
news
is
because
we
paid
our
youth
at
the
time
ten
dollars
an
hour
for
you
know,
10
to
12
hours
a
week.
This
was
never
heard
of
of
paying
kids
to
go
to
school,
and
this
was
a.
AC
This
was
also
done
because
of
our
job
training
component,
that
we
had
we're
asking
to
support
our
job
training
program
with
our
youth.
Our
job
training
program
not
only
provides
job
training
for
our
youth.
It
allows
them
to
have
unique
skills
and
partner
with
carpenters,
electricians,
painters,
computer
coding,
you
name
it
being
able
to
put
them
in
those
positions
to
not
only
learn
and
grow,
but
to
have
those
skills
readily
available
to
them.
Also
in
2021
we
partnered
with
Asheville
City
Schools
to
be
in
the
school
system.
AC
So
myself,
along
with
six
other
men,
we
chaperone
actual
High
Asheville
middle
North,
Star
The,
Learning
Academy
over
at
the
Eddington
Center
and
Paul
Fletcher
in
the
school,
making
sure
the
kids
have
what
they
need:
supporting
the
academic
academic
professionals,
the
teachers,
the
administration
being
able
to
bridge
that
gap
between
the
helpers
they
got
between.
You
know
our
school
professionals
and
our
youth,
but
being
able
to
make
sure
that
our
youth
have
a
voice
within
our
school
system.
AC
We
offer
an
array
of
services
for
our
youth
but
being
able
to
support
that
as
well.
We
also
want
to
be
able
to
help
you
have
30
seconds
left.
Thank
you.
We
also
want
to
be
able
to
help
with
our
ambassador
program
and
so
everyone
who's
going
through
them.
My
daddy
taught
me
that
program.
If
you've
been
in
this
program,
five
plus
years,
you
become
an
ambassador.
So
we
work
with.
We
have
several
programs
ages
5
through
19,
but
when
you
age
out
of
our
program,
you
can
become
an
ambassador.
AC
We
have
two
ambassadors
at
Asheville
at
Claxton,
Elementary
working
with
the
school
and
one
in
Hall
Fletcher,
but
we
really
thank
you.
We
really
appreciate
the
opportunity.
Thank
you
very
much.
D
I
so
they
joined
earlier
only
one
minute
to
see
if
they
are
able
to.
D
I
can
hop
on
and
provide
that
information,
so
our
evaluation
process,
we
have
eight
evaluators.
They
have
been
working
on
reviewing
each
of
the
applications
and
using
a
scoring
rubric
and
scoring
sheet.
We've
worked
with
our
office
of
data
and
performance
to
build
those
spreadsheets
and
compile
the
scores.
D
We
will
be
meeting
later
on
this
afternoon
to
finalize
recommendations
and
those
recommendations
will
be
presented
next
week
at
the
equity
and
engagement
committee
meeting.
D
So
at
that
meeting,
we'll
present
to
you
all
the
considerations
for
the
upcoming
Grant
year,
and
then
we
will
receive
your
feedback
and
make
any
adjustments
as
needed.
Pending
the
approval
of
the
committee,
we
will
take
the
recommendations,
the
final
recommendations
to
full
Council
on
April
25th.
G
B
You
Rachel
I'm,
not
sure
that
I
saw
him
rejoin
I'm
wondering
if
we
should
wait
a
little
while
or
because
he
was
on
a
little
bit
earlier.
Did
someone
try
to
reach
out?
Yes.
D
Okay,
I
apologize,
but
unfortunately,
I
am
not
able
to
connect
with
him
at
this
time.
He
may
have
scheduling
difficulty
so
that
he
is
our
last
applicant,
so
we
are
wrapped
up
with
applications
or
the
presentations
for
today
and
we
will
follow
up
and
present
to
the
equity
and
engagement
committee
on
Tuesday.
B
Okay,
thank
you
to
everybody
who
applied
this
is
this
is
a
good
thing,
I
heard
so
many
great
programs
and
I
love
the
direction
that
we're
going
this
community
is
very
should
be
grateful
to
have
all
of
these
work
and
focus
on
our
children
and
families.
C
Kim
I'll
just
Echo
the
gratitude
for
the
time
and
energy
that
folks
took
out
of
the
day
to
help
us
deeply
understand
the
work
that
you're
doing
on
the
ground.