This fall, an international animal rights organization spearheaded a campaign to stop a small Western North Carolina permaculture school from hosting its annual home-butchering workshop.
Batterin’ ram
ASHEVILLE
Warren Wilson undergrads, inmates come together in the classroom
Warren Wilson College has partnered with the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women to bring the innovative Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program to the correctional center. For inmate and undergrad alike, Inside-Out provides the chance to gain self-knowledge, grapple with the systemic issues of the penal system and learn from one another.
Letter: Allowing thoughtful political discourse
“This is not only informative, but by making such nuanced positions and groups more public, it gives citizens permission to embrace and express nuanced and thoughtful political positions rather than always choosing one of only two mostly illusory and contrived sides.”
Native Thanksgiving: History, distance from culture influence Cherokee foodways
Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians talk about Thanksgiving and indigenous food culture.
Black Star Line Brewing Co. deals with racist comments, vandalism, death threats
Threats against the Hendersonville brewery, WNC’s first owned by a black, queer woman, have been countered by support from community allies.
Local activists strive for social change
In Western North Carolina, homegrown activists of all stripes are working to effect change among an increasingly divided populace, drawing on historical ideals and using new technologies to spread their messages. Xpress reached out to local activists from across the political spectrum to share their motivations, challenges and techniques.
Road to recovery: WNC addresses food waste with a regional summit
The recent Regional Food Waste Summit at Warren Wilson College provided a forum for Western North Carolina nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions and individuals to hash out the realities of the local food waste conundrum.
Letter: Locked out at Duke rate public hearing
“Was this directive legal, keeping the public out of a public meeting at a county building? From now on, let’s be vigilant. Let’s make sure our public officials keep public meetings open to the public.”
Letter: Stop threats against local sustainability school
“The vegans have raised their battle flags against Wild Abundance, Asheville’s local permaculture, natural-building and primitive-skills school. The abusive nightmare that we survived last fall with our newborn has returned with even more ‘fire and fury.'”
Letter: Offer input on Community Bill of Rights
“When it comes to protecting our land, air and water, the people of Asheville need a law that guarantees our rights.”
Conference ties African-American past with future
The African Americans in WNC and Southern Appalachia Conference returns to Asheville for its fourth year Thursday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 21. Originally organized to highlight research on the historical African-American presence in the region, the conference is broadening its scope this year with the theme, “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”
Wildlife officials and advocates talk trash — and bears
Municipal officials, wildlife experts and WNC residents talk bear-resistant trash cans, bird feeders and educational initiatives designed to protect citizens and wildlife living in close proximity to each other.
WNC residents, officials gather to discuss railroads’ future
Community and business representatives from across the rail industry gathered in Asheville on Sept. 22 for the Railroads & Regional Economic Development Conference. Organized by the WNC Rail Committee, the conference revealed some hints of how railroads may adapt to changing times.
Montreat conference explores aesthetics in activism
Through exploring the role of art and aesthetics in social activism, the Radical Beauty conference — a new event hosted by the Montreat Conference Center from Monday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 12 — offers an alternative approach to promoting cultural change.
McHenry speaks
Asheville, N.C.
Letter: How to talk about climate change
“On Sept. 30, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the UNCA Student Environmental Center are hosting a workshop titled Constructive Communication & Engagement on Climate Change. It will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the UNCA Brown Hall, Room 218.”
Letter: Support a clean, green energy grid
“We need to actively support a clean, green energy grid — and only a clean, green energy grid — throughout our state and throughout the world.”
Cleaned out
Asheville, N.C.
Open Streets Asheville: Shape Your City
The streets of downtown Asheville were free of cars on Sept. 17 — but that doesn’t mean they were quiet. Open Streets Asheville returned for its second year, filling the roadways with people and activities, including art, dance, sports and music.
Flight of fantasy
Asheville, N.C.