Press release from the Explore Asheville:
Starting tomorrow, June 3, at 6 p.m., the City of Asheville will host a speaker series as part of the City’s process to deliver community reparations for Black Asheville. Sponsored in part by Explore Asheville, the series will take place over three evenings this month at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in downtown Asheville and the public is invited to attend.
The Information Sharing & Truth Telling Speaker Series is Phase 1 of the City of Asheville’s process to deliver community reparations for Black Asheville. This series will feature local and national speakers who will come together to share information and facilitated discussions with community members about past policies and practices, present trends and disparities and future initiatives to:
Reparations Speaker Series
Provide a better understanding of policy impacts and where those impacts occurred
Identify and understand current disparities and areas that need focus
Identify barriers to addressing generational wealth
Inspire our community to identify collaborative opportunities to create a more equitable Asheville
Dr. Darin Waters, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Associate Professor of History at UNC Asheville and co-host of the “Waters and Harvey Radio Show” and podcast will serve as moderator.Topics & Speakers
‘PAST POLICIES & PRACTICES’
Thursday, June 3 | 6 – 8 p.m.
Panelists:Dr. William Turner, Co-author of the book Blacks in Appalachia; former Chair, Dept. of Social Sciences, Winston Salem State University.
James E. Ferguson II, Civil Rights Attorney
Sasha Mitchell, Family and Community Historian
‘PRESENT TRENDS & DISPARITIES’
Thursday, June 10 | 6 – 8 p.m.
Panelists:Rinku Sen, Executive Director of the Narrative Initiative
Dr. Dwight Mullen, Professor Emeriti, UNC Asheville
Jorge Redmond, Assistant District Attorney, Buncombe County
Dr. Marcus Harvey, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, UNC Asheville
‘FUTURE INITIATIVES’
Thursday, June 17 | 6 – 8 p.m.
Panelists:Tracey Greene-Washington, President, Indigo Innovation Group
Lakesha McDay, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant
Robert Thomas, Racial Justice Coalition Community Liaison
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