Throughout our 25th year (July 31, 2019, through July 29, 2020), some of the ways Xpress has worked to support our community include:
- The 25th Best of WNC Reader’s Choice Awards came out in two massive August issues totaling 288 pages. A few weeks later, our 164-page stand-alone pocket guide hit the streets.
- On Aug. 15, Best of WNC winners and friends celebrated local business and community at a bash held in Highland Brewing Co.’s meadow.
- In partnership with Asheville Grown Business Alliance, we published and distributed the 2020 GoLocal Guide, a directory to over 500 independent local businesses.
- The fifth year of our community fundraising campaign, GiveLocal, generated $178,804 in total impact for local nonprofits.
- On Feb. 5, nine candidates for Asheville City Council faced off at a primary voter forum hosted by Xpress, answering questions submitted and inspired by Xpress readers. (avl.mx/7q3)
- On Feb. 27, the N.C. Press Association awarded Xpress first place in Community Coverage and second place in General Excellence for the state’s largest community newspapers.
- We launched an upgraded weekly email newsletter and added specialty newsletters for the 2020 elections and tracking the coronavirus pandemic; over 12,000 readers have signed up for these new offerings.
- The Google News Initiative awarded Xpress funding for nine stories on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on underrepresented or marginalized groups in our coverage area.
A few of the hundreds of stories published throughout the year included:
- A profile of Rebecca Ryan, a futurist and consultant who led the development of strategic plans for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and the Asheville-Buncombe Economic Development Coalition. (avl.mx/6s3)
- A ride-along to Washington, D.C., with 93 local veterans and event volunteers participating in Blue Ridge Honor Flight, a nonprofit initiative that gives former service members an all-expenses-paid trip to visit monuments built in their honor. (avl.mx/6sb)
- Three print voter guides (published Feb. 12, Feb. 19 and Feb. 26) to help local residents sort through the choices on primary ballots.
- An in-depth tour of the Buncombe County Detention Facility. (avl.mx/6s1)
- A report on new research into the history and impact of urban renewal in Asheville, including a poignant illustration commissioned from artist Jade Young. (avl.mx/7q4)
- An early glimpse of the challenges that faced local long-term care facilities as COVID-19 entered Western North Carolina. (avl.mx/7q5)
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.