Asheville, North Carolina / What's Up AVL!

Host Sam Parada and Meredith Friedheim, Neighborhood Services Specialist for the City of Asheville’s Communication and Public Engagement Department, welcome Elizabeth Likis-Werle and Jaik Smith, members of the Neighborhood Advisory Committee, to talk about all of the fun activities that will take place at the upcoming Festival of Neighborhoods on September 30! Bring your friends and family to eat good food, win prizes, listen to live music, and get to know your Asheville neighbors!

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In this episode of What's Up Asheville, Sam Parada hosts Rachel Taylor, Economic Development Division Manager, to talk about the City's upcoming vendor outreach event to connect minority and women-owned businesses, as well as the Mountain Community Capital Fund, which serves to offer financial loans to local entrepreneurs.

Mountain Community Capital Fund: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/community-economic-development/business-inclusion/mountain-community-capital-fund-information-page/

Bidding opportunities: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/purchasing/bids/

Jessica Hughes, with the City of Asheville’s Communication and Public Engagement Department, joins host Sam Parada as they sit back and talk about City projects happening now in Stormwater, Public Works, Development Services, and Transportation.

On this episode of What’s Up AVL!, Sam Parada hosts Kelley Klope and Jeremy Brooks from the Asheville Fire Department to talk about the Citizens Fire Academy and how to public can participate.

Do you know what the City of Asheville's Boards and Commissions are and how you can participate? Sarah Gross and Jerri Goldberg from the City Manager's Office join host Sam Parada on this episode of What's Up AVL! to tell you all about City Boards and Commissions!

Host Sam Parada welcomes the summer season with Shana Kriewall and Zach Stewart from the City of Asheville's Parks and Recreation Department. They discuss the many programs and activities that Parks & Rec offers throughout summer!

Host Sam Parada’s guests are Lucy Crown, Transportation Planning Manager, and Anna Sexton, Urban Planner, with the City of Asheville’s Transportation Department. Lucy and Anna discuss the many advantages of the City’s College Patton Bike Lane Project.

The City is currently seeking public input on the Project design. The survey can be found at: https://publicinput.com/m8313

For more information, please visit the City’s College Patton Bike Lane Project web page at:
https://www.ashevillenc.gov/projects/college-patton-bike-lane-project/

Lucy and Anna also discuss AVL Unpaved, an initiative to build a network of multi-use unpaved trails to connect residents and visitors with one another, their natural environment, and their city.

For more information, please visit the City’s AVL Unpaved web page at:
https://www.ashevillenc.gov/projects/avl-unpaved/

The City of Asheville's Neighborhood Matching Grants applications are open! Host Sam Parada sits down with Communication and Public Engagement Department members, Kristina Israel, Community Engagement Manager, and Meredith Friedheim, Neighborhood Services Specialist, to go over the benefits of the Neighborhood Matching Grants and how to apply for them.

Host Sam Parada sits down with Ricardo Tapia-Basurto, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville's Communication and Public Engagement Department, to talk about his new position with the City and the importance of language accessibility.

Host Sam Parada talks with Alex Miller, Waste Reduction Program Manager for the City of Asheville’s Sanitation Division, and Sophia Bonilla, Special Projects Coordinator for the Public Works Department. Alex discusses the City’s projects to reduce solid waste through recycling, composting, and overall prevention, partnerships with the Sustainability Department including leaf collection and the City’s plan to reduce single-use plastics, new recycling drop-off locations, and the AVLCollects app. Sophia discusses her work with the Public Works Department and the many different services it offers through its divisions of Street Maintenance, Stormwater, Sanitation, Fleet, and Asset Management.

December 14, 2022
Host Sam Parada talks with the Asheville Nature Center's Director, Chris Gentile, to learn about the many activities and things to learn when you visit the Nature Center.

November 9, 2022
Host Sam Parada discusses the many different aspects of the City’s Historic Preservation Program with Alexandra Cole, Urban Planner III with the City of Asheville’s Planning and Urban Design Department.

October 26, 2022
Lauren Abe, Human Resources Manager for the City of Asheville, joins host Sam Parada as they discuss professional development, their time working for the City, and the flexibility the City offers to employees.

October 11, 2022
Host Sam Parada sits with Kiera Bulan to discuss food scrap drop-off locations, the food policy action plan, and climate justice. Learn how to avoid food waste with the City of Asheville's Sustainability Program Manager.

September 22, 2022
Host Sam Parada sits down with Christin King, Recreation Program Leader for the City of Asheville’s Parks and Recreation Department, to talk about all the resources and activities offered at the Grove Street Center.

September 28, 2022
Host Sam Parada joins Chris Bubenik, Recreation Communications Manager for the City of Asheville’s Parks and Recreation Department, to discuss the many activities and events hosted by Parks and Recreation during the month of October.

This week in What's Up AVL!, host Sam Parada talks with Alex Mitchiner, Workforce Development Programs Coordinator for the City of Asheville. Alex works very closely with the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), a program for high schoolers to gain valuable work experiences and opportunities that will stay with them for life. Listen in and learn more about CAYLA!

In this episode of What's Up AVL!, host Sam Parada discusses the topic of Asheville's clean water with Brenna Cook, Compliance Manager with Water Resources. As August is Water Quality Month, tune in to learn how Asheville keeps its water clean and hear some tips on how to keep it cleaner in your homes.

On this episode of What's Up AVL!, host Sam Parada introduces his colleague, Kristina Israel, Community Engagement Manager for the City of Asheville, as they discuss Neighborhood Matching Grants and how the City can help you finance your neighborhood project.

July 11, 2022
Sam Parada, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville, discusses Art in the Heart, the new Pack Square Plaza Visioning and Improvements project with Stephanie Dahl, Urban Design and Place Strategies Division Manager, and Karli Stephenson, Urban Designer for the City.

Sam Parada, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville, talks with Dawa Hitch, the City's Director of Communication and Public Engagement, about "Your Voice, Your Choice," a tool to better engage with Asheville’s communities. Dawa explains how "Your Voice, Your Choice" will be a critical resource for guiding and shaping the City’s efforts to honor the diverse and inclusive spirit of Asheville.

June 17, 2022

Sam Parada, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville, discusses the history and importance of Juneteenth with Marcus Kirkman, the City's Equity and Inclusion Consultant. Marcus explains the history of Juneteenth, as well as the impact of the holiday.

Ricardo Basurto, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville, discusses solar panels and renewable energy in Asheville with the City's Sustainability Director, Bridget Herring. Ricardo also introduces What's Up AVL!'s new host to the show, Sam Parada, Communication Specialist with the City's Communication and Public Engagement Department.

Ricardo Basurto, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville, discusses National Public Works Week with Greg Shuler, Director of the Public Works Department, and Sofia Bonilla, Coordinator of Special Projects with Public Works.

April 27, 2022

Ricardo Basurto, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville, discusses City of Asheville intern projects with Ruth Dahl and Erick Mendez, graduates of Western Carolina University. Ruth and Erick worked on Capstone Projects at the Community and Economic Development Department at the City of Asheville.

WRES, 100.7 FM website: https://wresfm.com/

Ricardo's profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-t/

April 13, 2022

Ricardo Basurto, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville, discusses the Asheville Fire Department and its programs with Kelley Klope, Public Information Officer for AFD.

WRES, 100.7 FM website: https://wresfm.com/

Ricardo's profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-t/

Kelley Klope email: kklope@ashevillenc.gov

Asheville Fire Department website: www.ashevillenc.gov/department/fire/

March 30, 2022
 
Ricardo Basurto, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville, discusses the Stormwater Division and its functions with Russ Davis, Interim Stormwater Division Manager at Public Works.

WRES, 100.7 FM website: https://wresfm.com/

Ricardo's profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-t-basurto/ 

Russ Davis email: rdavis3@ashevillenc.gov

Stormwater website: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/public-works/stormwater-services-utility/

March 16, 2022

Ricardo Basurto, Communication Specialist with the City of Asheville's Communication and Public Engagement Department, discusses the City's Close The GAP Planning Process with Lucy Crown, Urban Planner II with the Transportation Department.

Ashley Traynum-Carson, Communications Specialist with the City of Asheville, discusses the Reparations initiative in Asheville with Brenda Mills, Director of the City's Equity and Inclusion Department.