Barbara Smith speaks with Xpress about her work as a Girl Scout over the last eight decades, her recent lifetime achievement award and her favorite Girl Scout cookie.
Author: LA Bourgeois
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Q&A: Local advocate discusses the role of hope
Jade McWilliams, a Western North Carolina autistic advocate, artist and speaker, discusses their recent Empowering Hope Award and their ongoing advocacy work.
Q&A: Veteran Matthew Bacoate shares his passion for the Skyview Golf Tournament
Xpress recently caught up with U.S. Army veteran Matthew Bacoate about his continued interest in golf, the importance of Skyview Golf Association and how his military service informs who he is today.
Q&A: Appalachian Trail Chaplain discusses her long trek ahead
Xpress chats with Rachel Ahrens about her role as Appalachian Trail Chaplain.
Q&A: Pig farmer pivots by inviting glampers to the farm
Xpress sits down with Catherine Topel to discuss how her interest in pork chops turned into a pig farm and what it has been like welcoming campers onto the property.
Q&A: Waterfall enthusiast shares hot spots and photography tips
Xpress chats with Thomas Mabry — waterfall enthusiast and photographer — about the best outdoor places to visit in WNC.
Q&A with Safi Martin on gardening, social justice and life as an introvert
Xpress speaks with Safi Martin about her behind-the-scenes role as COO of Hood Huggers International, how she balances business and home-life while working with her spouse and Blue Note Junction — a new project the couple is launching to teach people in historically marginalized communities how to grow their own businesses.
Q&A: Marissa Percoco discusses earth skills and the perks of nonprofit status
Xpress speaks with Marissa Percoco, executive director of Firefly Gathering, to learn more about the organization’s new nonprofit status, the inspiration to attain it and some of the pitfalls aspiring nonprofits should aim to avoid.
Q&A with Debbie Welch, North Carolina Big Sister of the Year
Xpress sits down with Debbie Welch to discuss her 2022 award and the joys of being a Big Sister.
Q&A: Kelly Shanafelt offers tips and insights on launching a nonprofit
In a conversation with Xpress, Kelly Shanafelt explains the day-to-day of a nonprofit consultant and offers advice for new and established nonprofits, alike.
Q&A: Ashley Featherstone of Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency
Growing up in Hendersonville, Ashley Featherstone assumed she would move away for work. “I was always told that you could never find a job here,” she recalls. “There are [fewer] jobs here than there are in places like Atlanta and Charlotte. But I just decided that I was going to find a job.” And she […]
Q&A: Joe Hollis, founder of Mountain Gardens
Joe Hollis’ whole life is Mountain Gardens, a botanical garden in Western North Carolina that he has cultivated over 50 years. Hollis focuses on growing useful plants, especially medicinal herbs and perennial vegetables, and passing along his plant wisdom to students and apprentices. Workshops, seeds and bare root plant sales support Hollis and his garden. […]
Q&A with Karin Rogers, interim director of the National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center
Whether by hiking the debris flow pathway of a landslide or reading arcane scientific articles, Karin Rogers dedicates herself to understanding complex scientific data so she can translate that information for ordinary people to understand.
Q&A: Leeann Shearouse shares her love of birds and tulips
Master falconer Leeann Shearouse discusses her rescue work and love of tulips.
Q&A with Marta Alcalá-Williams, winner of social justice award
Having lived in Asheville for over 30 years, Marta Alcalá-Williams says it was a unique experience to hear others community leaders highlight her body of work. “Sometimes when you’re in it, you don’t have time to see it,” she says. “That was a very humbling experience.”