Conscious Party Web Extra: “Celebration of Life”

What: “Celebration of Life,” a Nia jam and craft fair benefiting Women At Risk
Where: Odyssey Community School, 90 Zillicoa St., in Asheville’s Montford neighborhood
When: Sunday, Dec. 5, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. ($10 for adults/$5 for students. Info: www.niacarolina.com or www.odysseycommunity.org)
Why: At Nia Carolina’s upcoming jam—a free-flowing/fusion-fitness technique that combines elements of yoga, dance and martial arts—organizers hope that the community will “come together, dance, have fun and make a difference,” as expressed in the press release.

Certified Nia instructors will be on hand to guide participants through the jam, for which live music will be performed by Wild Bodema, Asheville’s own “Wild Women Who Drum” collective. There will also be local crafts for sale, face painting, a raffle and a door-prize give-away. All proceeds from the jam support Western Carolinians for Criminal Justice’s Women At Risk program and services, which works to “break the cycle of abuse and wrong choices that lead to criminal activity,” as stated on www.wccj.org/womenatrisk.html.

“Celebration of Life is,” as the press release continues, “the latest fundraising effort by Nia instructors to harness support of the community to benefit local organizations in need. Almost ninety-percent of WCCJ graduates successfully stay out of jail and complete probation. Women At Risk is a proven treatment alternative offering a safe, nurturing environment in which their clients can receive counseling and substance abuse treatment, earn their GED, attend AA meetings and share life experiences.”

Come out and dance this Sunday and support a worthy cause!

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About Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt
Aiyanna grew up on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. She was educated at The Cambridge School of Weston, Sarah Lawrence College, and Oxford University. Aiyanna lives in Asheville, North Carolina where she proudly works for Mountain Xpress, the city’s independent local newspaper.

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