41st Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast 2022

proudly supports the 41st Annual

Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

Continuing the journey with our community to promote diversity, ensure health equity, and achieve Dr. King’s dream.

COMMEMORATES DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

Eddie Glaude Jr. FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE

Thursday, January 20 • 7 p.m. • Zoom Author, political commentator, public intellectual, and passionate educator Eddie Glaude Jr. examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings include Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America, and New York Times bestseller Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own.

For more info about MLK commemorative events at UNC Asheville, visit unca.edu/events

City of Asheville Office of the Mayor P.O. Box 7148 Asheville, NC 28802 Phone: (828) 259-5600 www.ashevillenc.gov

January 17, 2022

Good morning, Welcome to the 41st Annual Prayer Breakfast for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the life and teachings of Dr. King. This event highlights the values of courage, compassion, dignity, humility, and service taught through Dr. King’s leadership. He called for social justice and asked that we bridge differences and come together in unity. This morning, we have an opportunity to do just that: listen, lend a hand, and build a better community. I hope we all take a moment this morning to reflect on the living legacy of Dr. King.

Dr. King’s work impacted many aspects of our society and his message is more pertinent than ever before. While tremendous social progress has been made, hard work still remains ahead of us as we work towards racial equity and justice. Thank you for being a part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that Dr. King’s dream of peace, equality, and freedom for all is attained in Asheville and throughout our nation.

Sincerely,

Esther E. Manheimer Mayor

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Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chairman

District 1

District 2

District 3

Brownie Newman

Terri Wells Al Whitesides

Jasmine Beach-Ferrara Amanda Edwards

Robert Pressley Parker Sloan

Good morning. On behalf of the Buncombe County Commissioners, I want to welcome you to the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast. We come together during a time that our country is still in recovery from the COVID pandemic. While this has been a period of great challenge, there are opportunities to build a stronger community.

Buncombe County is investing in our future by growing the number of high quality and affordable Pre-K and Early Childhood Education classes, so all our kids can have a strong foundation as they enter school and so parents can afford to participate in the workforce.

We are investing in growing and expanding women and minority owned businesses in our community. Many people start businesses by borrowing funds from friends and family to get the new business off the ground. But that is not an option for many people who live in lower wealth neighborhoods whose friends and family members are themselves living paycheck to paycheck. To address this problem, the county is creating new low-interest loan funds and equity funds to provide capital to aspiring and existing minority business owners who traditional banks often do not work with.

During the pandemic, many partners came together to reduce the jail population in Buncombe County. Through this process, we learned that it is possible to reduce the jail population in a safe way. Although the number of arrests happening in our community has not increased, the jail population has started to grow again due to the way our judicial system works. We need to work together again with our district attorney, public defender’s office, judges and public safety officials to safely reduce the jail population. The United States has more people incarcerated per capita than most all other countries in the world. The people of our Buncombe County want to see their tax dollars invested in our schools, health care and infrastructure, not on building or expanding our jails.

I want to thank everyone who has worked hard and sacrificed this year to keep our community safe. If you know someone who has not yet been vaccinated, please encourage them to do so.

Please get your booster shot if you have not already done so.

Thank you all for participating in the Martin Luther King Jr Prayer Breakfast this year. On behalf of the County Commission, we look forward to working with you to help translate the vision of Dr. King into the life of our community this year and for years to come.

Sincerely, Brownie Newman, Chairman, Buncombe County Commission 200 College Street, Room 316 – Asheville, NC 28801 p. 828.250-250.4001 f. 828.250.6076

buncombecounty.org 4

E X PAN D I NG The Possibilities As a non-profit organization, Givens helps older adults from all walks of life experience their retirement dreams. From Life Plan Communities like Givens Estates and Highland Farms, to affordable senior housing at Gerber Park and Great Laurels, Givens is committed to offering quality housing and life enriching experiences. For those who do not live at one of our communities, Givens LifeMinistries provides health and wellness outreach assistance across our greater region.

GivensCommunities.org 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC | (828) 274-4800 Improving Lives through communities, services and outreach.

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Table of Contents Committee Greeting History of the MLK Association 2022 Schedule of Events Prayer Breakfast Program Keynote Speaker Profile Peace March & Rally Program Candlelight Service Program Community Partners and Sponsors Patrons Board of Directors Celebration Committee Index of Advertisers

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 2022 Celebration Committee Greeting

Welcome to Asheville’s 41st Annual Prayer Breakfast and celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and work! We are thrilled that you decided to join us once again this year.

The Souvenir Journal reflects the support and dedication of thousands of community members, businesses, institutions, and nonprofit organizations who believe in Dr. King’s vision of an America, and a world in which justice, equality, and love will prevail over injustice, prejudice, and hate. This still unfinished business continues to bring us together today and throughout the year.

The Celebration Committee wishes we could gather in-person this year but decided against doing so based on the ongoing risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage everyone to remain vigilant so we can gather together in January 2023.

Until that time, please follow the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mlkasheville) to keep up with everything that we are doing. You can also visit our website (www.mlkasheville.org).

Thank you for your continued support!

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The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County

Brief History The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County (the Association) sponsors one of the most successful and admired Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration events in the southeast (second only to Atlanta’s dinner in number of attendees). Since 1982, the Association has brought elected and appointed officials, major civil rights figures, journalists, and other leaders and opinion-makers to address the “Beloved” Asheville community.

Keynote speakers in recent years have included Civil Rights Movement leaders Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Ms. Dorothy Cotton, and Ernest Green; journalists and commentators Donna Brazile, Juan Williams, Michel Martin, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, and Leonard Pitts, Jr.; and such public officials as Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm, Adam Clayton Powell, IV, and Dr. Mary Frances Berry.

The first breakfast was a small event held at the Montford Community Center in 1982. Mrs. Oralene Simmons, Director of the Montford Community Center at the time, worked for the Asheville Parks & Recreation Department. She seized the opportunity to invite friends, colleagues, and the public to attend a breakfast in honor of Dr. King. Her close friend Phyllis Sherrill arrived early that morning and asked, “What can I do to help?” Mrs. Sherrill was quickly at work in the kitchen preparing breakfasts to serve the unexpected dozens of people who turned up.

Within a few years, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast attendance outgrew the Montford Community Center and quickly reached capacity at the Asheville Civic Center. The Breakfast attracted close to 2,000 people annually for more than a dozen years. But after being forced to share space with a seasonal ice skating rink, which cut available seats by half, and facing the enviable problem of having more attendees than seats available, in 2000 the committee, still under the auspices of Asheville’s Parks Department, moved the Breakfast to the historic Grove Park Inn & Resort, where it stayed through 2014. Since then, the event has taken place at the Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Asheville.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County was officially established as a private, nonprofit organization in the state of North Carolina, in 2003. Its board of directors appoints celebration committees each year to plan and organize the Prayer Breakfast, Youth Celebration, Candlelight Service, and Peace March & Rally.

The work of the Association has been expanded beyond its annual Prayer Breakfast, Youth Celebration (Scholarship Awards), and Candlelight Service (Community Service Awards), and Peace March & Rally to include year-round programming through its Community Outreach Providing Empowerment (COPE) Initiative. The COPE Initiative focuses on empowering residents living in Asheville and Buncombe County through educational outreach, workshops, seminars, and special events.

In 2018, the Association’s Board, in conjunction with local organizations, formed the Buncombe Community Remembrance Project, as part of the Equal Justice Initiative to recognize individuals “of record” lynched in Buncombe County after the Civil War. The Association continues to promote the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through its social, racial, and equity outreach programs.

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2022 Schedule of Events

41 Years of Commemorating Dr. King’s Dream and Legacy (Events will be released on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association’s YouTube Channel throughout the week.)

Saturday, January 15

Prayer Breakfast “GIVE US THE BALLOT BOX, THE URGENCY OF NOW!” Keynote Speaker Marcia Johnson-Blanco, Co-director of the Lawyers’ Committee’s Voting Rights Project

Sunday, January 16

“Service to the Beloved Community” • • •

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Welcome, Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons, President, Martin Luther King, Jr. Association Martin Luther King, Jr. Areas of Focus, Dr. Joseph Fox, Vice-President, Martin Luther King, Jr. Association Introduction to the Service Project and Beloved Asheville Video

2022 Schedule of Events

41 Years of Commemorating Dr. King’s Dream and Legacy (Events will be released on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association’s YouTube Channel throughout the week.)

Monday, January 17 Peace March and Rally “State of Affairs”

Opening Welcome, Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons Greetings, Dr. Joseph Fox, Chair, Peace March and Rally Greetings from the City of Asheville and Buncombe County Understanding the Protest, Jonathan McCoy, Board Member, Martin Luther King, Jr. Association, and the Director of the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (CDEI), Mars Hill University Protest Art Video in Partnership with the Asheville Area Arts Council Online Virtual March

Monday, January 17

Candlelight Service “Honoring Community Leaders” Keynote Speaker, Venerable Rev. Brenda Gilbert Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of WNC

Tuesday, January 18

Community Action Videos

Wednesday, January 19 Closing Celebration “Call to Action”

Opening Welcome & Call to Action, Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons Partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, and Closing Ceremony, Dr. Joseph Fox

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Celebrating Forty One Years of Commemorating Dr. King’s Dream and Legacy The 41st Annual Prayer Breakfast Saturday, January 15, 2022 Morning Music by MLK Prayer Breakfast Choir

Vocalists

Kimberly Collins, Kevin Collins, Ki’era Gash, LaVette McDaniel, Sheila Wray, Kimika Sanders Keyboard, Terry Letman Vocal Director, Stephen Blount

PROGRAM

Welcome

Dr. Michael Dempsey, Master of Ceremonies

Dean and Director Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville Lenoir-Rhyne University

Invocation

Rev. Dr. Dena B. Whalen

Vicar –Church of the Advocate (The Red Door for Homeless and Jobless) Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina

Hold On, Change is Coming arranged by Sounds of Blackness Greetings

Kevin Collins

The Honorable Esther Manheimer Mayor, City of Asheville

Greetings Recognition of Scholarships Award Honorees

The Honorable Brownie Newman

Chairman, Buncombe County Commission

Dr. Michael Dempsey

Precious Lord (You’ve Got a Friend) arranged by Aretha Franklin Recognition of MLK Association Board and Celebration Committee

Ki’era Gash

Dr. Oralene Graves Simmons

Introduction of the Keynote Speaker

Jonathan McCoy

Keynote Address

Marcia Johnson-Blanco

Co-Director of the Lawyers’ Committee’s Voting Rights Project

We Shall Overcome arranged by Bishop Paul Morton & the Full Gospel Baptist Mass Choir Benediction Pastor Joseph Hackett New Mount Olive Baptist Church

Anthem-Let there be Peace on Earth arranged by Ricky Dillard 11

Kimberly Collins

Marcia F. Johnson-Blanco Co-Director, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Marcia Johnson-Blanco is the Co-director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Voting Rights Project. The Lawyers’ Committee was founded in 1963 when President John Kennedy called members of the private bar to the White House and asked for their help in the fight for civil rights. An outcome of that meeting was the creation of the Lawyers’ Committee. Today, Marcia co-directs the organization’s Voting Rights Project, its largest programmatic unit. As Co-director, she manages the Project’s programmatic and advocacy portfolios which include overseeing the work of Election Protection, the nation’s largest non-partisan voter protection coalition; promoting engagement in the census and the redistricting process; researching the history of discrimination in voting; advocating for the restoration of the full protections of the Voting Rights Act and promoting national and state-based electoral reform legislation that ensure access to the ballot; and advocating for the restoration of voting rights for those with felony convictions.

Marcia began her career as a voting rights lawyer when she joined the Lawyers’ Committee in 2004 to be part of the team organizing the first Election Protection Program during a Presidential Election. The Election Protection coalition was created in 2001 following the 2000 Presidential Election when politicians or election officials made changes to election laws that suppressed the vote of people of color. Since 2004, Marcia has been working with national and state partners to educate voters about their voting rights; build programs to provide real time help so that voters can cast ballots that will be counted; and provides support to litigation that challenges suppressive laws or practices. Since 2005, she has organized two national commissions that researched and documented the record of discrimination in voting. This research has been part of the record used by Congress to support the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006. And, since 2013, it has been used to support the call for legislation to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. Additionally, she served on and supported litigation teams defending the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act. Marcia also coordinates the Lawyer’s Committee’s international human rights initiatives including monitoring U.S. compliance with its treaty obligations under the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Marcia is a national speaker on voting rights. She has testified before Congress and has appeared in national media discussing voting rights challenges and solutions. She is featured in the international documentary, Democracy Maybe, a series exploring the challenges faced by democracies across the globe.

Marcia received her Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law and her Bachelor of Science in Linguistics from Georgetown University.

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Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace March and Rally Monday, January 17, 2022 “State of Affairs”

Events to be released on YouTube during the week of the Dr. King Holiday Celebration.

Opening Welcome

Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves

Greetings

Dr. Joseph Fox

Chair, Peace March and Rally

Greetings from the City of Asheville and Buncombe County

Understanding the Protest Jonathan McCoy

Board Member, Martin Luther King, Jr. Association, and the Director of the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (CDEI), Mars Hill University

Protest Art Video in Partnership with Asheville Area Arts Council Online Virtual March Service Project: Beloved Asheville

Committee Members Dr. Joseph Fox, Chair Aisha Adams Rev. Brent LaPrince Edwards Vanessa Funderburk Dr. Sarah Himmelheber Dr. Jeff Keith Jonathan McCoy Jennifer Nehlsen Brandon Priester Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons Sarah Sparboe Thornburg Dr. Cristina Viera

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2022 Candlelight Service

Monday January 17, 2022 at 6pm Trinity Episcopal Church 60 Church Street, Asheville

Keynote Speaker The Venerable Rev. Brenda Gilbert Archdeacon Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Awards: Winners to be announced

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Sponsors and Community Partners 2022 Sponsors Platinum

Biltmore Co. Deerfield Givens Communities Mission Health UNC Asheville

Gold

AB Tech Explore Asheville United Way

Silver

Warren Wilson College

Bronze

Christ School Community Foundation of WNC Lenoir Rhyne University Mars Hill University

Community Partners

We are grateful to our community partners and sponsors for their generous support!

The Cre8tive Team/24-6 Design & Print Aisha Adams Media Asheville Area Arts Council Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Buncombe County Commission City of Asheville Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Dogwood Health Trust Equal Justice Initative Fox Management Consulting Enterprises Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance Lenoir-Rhyne University Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville Van Winkle Law Firm Wilma Dykeman Legacy 15

*Cityscape photograph by Andre Daughtery of Pro16 Productions

Patrons Loveeta Baker Maggie Ullman Berthiaume Blackbaud Giving Fund Mr. & Mrs. Burgin Jane Childress Dr. Elizabeth Colton Helen Cox Pamela Culp Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Dektor Dr. Michael Dempsey Melissa Drennan Mignon Durham Woody Eisenberg Vivian Ellner Emiko Flynn Vanessa Funderburk Dr. Joseph Fox David Gantt Law Office Randee Goodstadt Alice Helms David King Elizabeth Kostova Land of Sky Regional Council Emily Rogstad Jewelry Ron Layne Florence Mallett Mr. & Mrs. Martin Mann Michelle & Jessica Martin Amanda Maxwell Julie Mayfield Joseph McGuire

Jonathan McCoy Minigowin Fund Jennifer Nehlsen Margaret Newell Virginia Pett Lindsay Prather Beth Rhatigan Darryl Rhymes Marilyn Rosenberg Andrea Rosal Robin Sanchez & David Miller Katherine Schofield Dr. Oralene Simmons Mary Stairs & George Peery Ben F. Streets, III David H. Streets Matthew D. Streets Dr. Monique Taylor Sarah Thornburg Jill Totman Terry Van Duyn Alexa Verink MaryAnne Watjen Kelley Webb Adreinne Weir Betsy White Patricia & David Williamson BJ Winchester & Steve Woodsmall Evelyn Zebro

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Celebration Committee 2022 Aisha Adams Dr. Elizabeth Colton* Dr. Michael Dempsey* Rev. Brent La Prince Edwards Dr. Joseph Fox* Vanessa Funderburk* Dr. Sarah Himmelheber Dr. Jeff Keith David King* Elizabeth Kostova Jonathan McCoy* Rosanna Mulcahy Jennifer Nehlsen* Brandon Priester Darryl Rhymes* Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons* Dr. Monique Taylor* Sarah Sparboe Thornburg* Dr. Cristina Viera Dr. Sharon West

* indicates members of the Board of Directors

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Board of Directors

Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons

Founder and President, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County

Dr. Joseph Fox

President & CEO, Fox Management Consulting Enterprises, LLC Vice President, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County Chair, Buncombe County Community Remembrance Project Chair, Peace March & Rally

Dr. Monique Taylor

Owner, Taylor Tax & Accounting Services Treasurer, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County

Dr. Michael Dempsey

Dean and Director, Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville, Lenoir-Rhyne University Secretary, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County Chair, Scholarship Awards Committee

Jennifer Nehlsen

Regional Administrator, NC Guardian ad Litem Chair, Communications & Public Relations Committee Assistant Secretary, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County

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Board of Directors (continued)

Dr. Elizabeth Colton

President, Colton Diplomacy & Global Collaboration Diplomat & Journalist in Residence at Warren Wilson College Chair, Candlelight Service Award Ceremony

Jonathan McCoy

Director, Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Mars Hill University Chair, Community Outreach Providing Empowerment (COPE)

Darryl Rhymes Director, Employment and Employee Relations, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Chair, Prayer Breakfast

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Board of Directors (continued)

Vanessa Funderburk

Retired, Mission Hospital

David King

Former Commissioner, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners

Sarah Sparboe Thornburg

Attorney, McGuire Wood & Bissette Law Firm

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Index of Advertisers The 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luter King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast A-B Tech - page 32 ABCCM - page 23 ABIPA - page 24 ACLU WNC - page 54 All Souls Counseling - page 30 Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce - page 42 Asheville City (Ad) - page 51 Asheville City Business Inclusion Office/Econ Dev Team - page 50 Asheville City (Letter) - page 3 Asheville City Schools Foundation - page 58 Asheville Fire Department - page 35 Asheville Friends Meeting - page 54 Asheville Greenworks - page 53 Asheville Housing Authority - page 37 Baha’i Community of Asheville - page 59 Biltmore Company - back cover Black Wall Street AVL - page 44 Brandi Nichole Child Development Ctr. - page 43 Brumit Restaurant Group/Arby’s - page 30 Buncombe County Democratic Party -22 Buncombe County (Letter) -page 4 Buncombe County Schools - page 17 Buncombe County Special Collections-Pack Library - page 31 Carol King & Associates - page 47 Central United Methodist Church - page 54 Chestnut & Corner Kitchen - page 26 Christ School - page 28 CIBO (Council of Independent Business Owners) - page 62 Colton, Liz (Colton Diplomacy & Global Collaboration) - page 49 Community Foundation of WNC - page 52 Deerfield Retirement Community - page 66 Delta House Life Development - page 60 Delta Sigma Theta - Avl Alumnae Chapter - page 62 Dogwood Health Trust -page 48 Dotson-Smith Family - page 62 Eliada Homes - page 40 Ellison, Eugene - page 54

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Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville - page 62 Explore Asheville - page 34 Evergreen Charter School - page 27 First Citizens Bank - page 47 Fox Management - page 65 Givens Communities - page 5 Harry’s on the Hill - page 46 Healthcare for All - page 38 Homeward Bound - page 28 HomeTrust Bank - page 45 LEAF - page 40 Let’s Explore Africa - page 47 Lenoir-Rhyne University - page 38 Mars Hill University - page 57 McGuire Wood Bissette - page 35 Mission Health - Inside front cover Mountain Bizworks - page 41 Mountain True - page 61 NAMI WC - page 29 OnTrack Financial Services - page 29 Pisgah Legal Services - page 30 Self-Help Credit Union - page 33 Shiloh Community Assoc./EW Pearson Project Collab - page 55 St. Mary’s Episcopal - page 28 Take Me Back to Harlem - page 27 The ARC of Buncombe - page 25 The Cre8tive Team - page 25 The Links - page 41 Trinity Episcopal Church - page 56 Trinity-Church of the Advocate - page 56 UNC Asheville - front page United Way of Asheville and BC - page 39 Urban News - page 27 Van Winkle Law Firm - page 25 Warren Wilson College - page 42 Weinhaus - page 53 Wholesale Glass & Mirror - page 59 Williams, Todd - page 40 WNC Human Resources Assoc. - page 63 YMCA - page 36

Congratulations to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County,

a regional leader in promoting and honoring diversity, on their 41 years of service to our community.

The Buncombe County Democratic Party shares Dr. King’s values of social justice and equity and is dedicated to supporting the programs of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County.

Buncombe County Democratic Party A Community for Everyone

Buncombedems.org • info@buncombedems.org

@BuncombeDems 22

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

—Martin Luther King Jr.

Not just help for a day, but for life.

Supported by your donations, volunteering and over 289 church partners, ABCCM is committed to assisting anyone in need regardless of race, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability. ABCCM proudly supports Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

What are you called to do?

To get involved with one of our ministries: Medical, Jail, Crisis Center, Veteran’s Restoration Quarters, Veteran’s Services of the Carolinas, and Transformation Village.

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visit www.abccm.org

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"Our lives begin to end the day we become

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Art you can eat is just around the Corner.

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“The time is always right to do what is right.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Proud Supporter of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, Inc.

info@theurbannews.com

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•

828-253-5585

•

www.theurbannews.com

“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.”

- MLK Jr.

Sign up for a “See the Hope Tour” to learn how you can get involved with Homeward Bound’s mission to end homelessness in our region.

www.homewardboundwnc.org/tour

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NAMI Western Carolina is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization with more than 1,100 affiliates nationwide dedicated to improving lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Free Support – Offered Online

Connection Support Group – Meeting twice monthly, this group is for those living with a mental illness and emphasizes moving forward, learning coping skills, sharing experiences and HOPE. Family/Caregiver Support Group – For family members and loved ones of those living with a mental illness. Offered twice monthly.

Anxiety Support Group – For anyone having difficulty managing stress. Meets twice monthly.

Contact our office to register for any of the support groups or classes.

Education

Family-to-Family – Free 8-week online course for families/ caregivers of persons with serious mental illness.

In Our Own Voice – Public presentations by individuals who have lived experience with mental illness.

Bridges of Hope – Course taught by trained volunteers to help faith communities provide healing and hope to people and families impacted by mental health issues.

NAMI Basics OnDemand – A free online six-session class for parents of children and adolescents with mental health issues.

NAMI Homefront Online – A free online six-session program for families, caregivers and friends of military service members and veterans with mental health conditions.

All NAMI programs are free of charge. We rely on memberships, donations, and grants for our revenue.

NAMI Western Carolina

356 Biltmore Ave., Suite 207, Asheville, NC 28801 Office Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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Ready to Buy a Home?

We offer free Homebuyer Counseling.

Not Yet? But Want Help With Credit?

We offer free Credit Building Counseling, too.

Call us at 255-5166 to get started. Or visit www.ontrackwnc.org All counseling done on Zoom or phone.

OnTrack WNC is WNC’s trusted, non-profit source for financial education and counseling.

Rewrite Your Financial Story!

TM & © 2021, ARBY’S IP HOLDER, LLC

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr. Pisgah Legal Services seeks to pursue justice by providing free legal assistance and advocacy to help low-income people in Western North Carolina meet their basic needs and improve their lives.

Standing for Justice and Dignity • www.pisgahlegal.org

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LOCAL HISTORY LIVES HERE Discover and share western North Carolina history in the Carolina Record Shop at Buncombe County Special Collections.

101 Biltmore Avenue was the home of Skateland skating rink in 1962, Biltmore Lanes bowling alley in 1964-65, Jade Smith Cabaret Club in 1967-70, and a night club named The Orange Peel in 1974 through 1978. According to donor Patricia Babb, The Orange Peel was "the place to be" for young African Americans during the 1970's.

Lower Level Pack Memorial Library 67 Haywood St. Asheville, NC 28806 828-250-4740 · @avlhistory packnc@buncombecounty.org

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“Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King’s legacy lives on through our RISE (Respect, Integrity and Support and Equity for everyone) program. A-B Tech is committed to providing opportunities for our community,

Scholarships

Support

• 100 Men and Women Scholarship

• Hazel Fox Business Plan Competition for

• Lacy T. Haith and James V. Miller Endowed Scholarship

Non-majority Entrepreneurs • Multicultural Student Leadership Academy

• Osborne M. Hart Endowed Scholarship

• Minority Male Success Initiative Grant

• Pride in Technical Education Scholarship

Community

• Roberta Manley Memorial Endowed Scholarship • Sam Barnes Minority Scholarship

• WRES 100.7 FM “No Limits” Radio Show • YWCA Stand Against Racism • The Urban News

• Shapiro-Green Endowed Scholarship

For more information, visit: abtech.edu or call (828) 398-7900 ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA • (828) 398-7900 • ABTECH.EDU

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ESTABLISHED IN

self-help.org 800.966.7353

1983

ASHEVILLE (SOUTH) 1911 Hendersonville Road

OPERATING

38 BRANCHES BREVARD 40 Forest Gate Drive

SERVING MORE THAN

89,000 MEMBERS Congratulations to the MLK Association of Asheville and Buncombe County on 41 years of service!

ASHEVILLE 391 S. French Broad Avenue

HENDERSONVILLE 855 Spartanburg Highway

HOME LOANS SMALL BUSINESS LOANS TERM CERTIFICATES FINANCIAL COUNSELING

Our mission is to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity for all.

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Dear Friends of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County, Since 1982, 1982 our community has gathered elected and appointed officials, major civil rights figures, journalists, and other leaders and opinion-makers to celebrate the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through the years, the Prayer Breakfast has grown into one of the most successful and admired Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration events in the southeast.

Celeb Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority is honored to support your dedication to preserving and advancing the legacy of Dr. King through building meaningful alliances, convening forums and promoting the development of character, integrity, leadership, and scholarship of young people We are committed to funding the community-led development of the African-American Heritage Trail for residents and guests to follow, embrace and understand important Black stories in our community, including unsung heroes, underrecognized achievements and contributions to this place we call home.

Deliver Balanced Recovery & Sustainable Growth

Encourage Safe & Responsible Travel

Engage & Invite More Diverse Audiences

Promote & Support Asheville’s Creative Spirit

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DETERMINED.

We honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and those in our community who have made sacrifices in the march toward justice. mwblawyers.com 828.254.8800

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“Power properly understood is nothing but the ability to achieve purpose. It is the strength required to bring about social, political, and economic change.”

—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The YMCA is committed to empowering youth, improving health and well-being, and inspiring action in and across communities. We believe we can build a better us together, starting with equity in the workplace. Whether you're looking for your first job or considering a career change, you can make a difference with the Y.

» ymcawnc.org/careers «

YMCA OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

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On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, Staff and Residents of the

Asheville Housing Authority, We take this time to honor the Vision, Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His commitment to changing the lives of people left an indelible mark on this city, state and nation that cannot be erased. His work, though difficult, proved to be significant, valiant and transformational. His dreams moved us to action!

Board of Commissioners: Tilman Jackson-Chairman, Jennifer Pickering - Vice Chairman, Gene Bell - Member, Gene Freeman - Member, Roy Harris - Member, Amy Kemp - Member, and Reginald Robinson - Member David Nash - Executive Officer Tara Irby - Chief Operating Officer

Asheville Housing Authority’s mission is to provide safe, quality, and affordable housing, to expand available resources, and to collaborate with the community to create opportunities for resident selfsufficiency and economic independence.

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Lenoir-Rhyne University proudly embraces the legacy of

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lr.edu/Asheville 38

Dr. King called on each of us to be our best selves, to look beyond our self-interest and, instead, act on behalf of our collective interest.

At the heart of the words LIVE UNITED is the belief that we all have a stake in each other’s success, we have a responsibility to care for one another, and we are stronger when everyone belongs and everyone thrives.

As United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County marks its centennial year, we are tremendously proud of what we have accomplished as a community. And we also recognize that becoming the best version of ourselves will require us to show up in new ways and ensure that the voices and wisdom of marginalized and BIPOC communities are centered in this work.

What will our Next 100 look like? We don't have all the answers but one thing is certain, our future will be co-created alongside those most impacted by the poverty and injustice we hope to eliminate.

LEARN MORE 39

UnitedWayABC.org/ WeAreOne

TODD WILLIAMS DISTRICT ATTORNEY

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Paid for by Williams for DA

Caring for Western North Carolina's most vulnerable children and youth since 1903.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King!

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From dreamer to entrepreneur.

Get the resources you need to create the business you love at Mountain BizWorks.

MEET THE DREAMER

Visit our website to learn how Tim Green put his best foot forward and founded Sole82. mountainbizworks.org

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

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Martin Luther King Jr.

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is the local champion for a balanced, thriving economy.

We believe that together, we are more.

That’s why we’re collaborating with businesses and community members to expand economic opportunity.

Our People’s Community & Inclusion program grants Chamber memberships and business resources to BIPOCowned businesses. Inclusive Hiring Partners connects people and families facing significant employment barriers with career opportunities in high-demand industries with the goal of increasing workforce participation and job retention for populations in our community who have been socially and economically disconnected from generational prosperity of our region.

The Asheville Chamber is honored to support The 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration.

We invite you to learn more about these and other initiatives at: www.ashevillechamber.org/dei

Economic Development & Research Advocacy & Policy Events & Education Marketing & Sponsorship Live & Visit

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“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

10 Woodfin Street Asheville, NC 28801 828.254.8144 45

201218-729713923

–

On the road to equality, we salute the man who refused to yield.

Buick ~ GMC

The employees of Harry’s Buick ~ GMC proudly celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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firstcitizens.com

Forever strong.

Forever First. ®

Choose a bank you can count on to help you look after your money. And your future.

Member FDIC

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Whatever affects one directly,

affects all indirectly.

I can never be what I ought to be

until you are what

you ought to be.

- DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Dogwood Health Trust wants to help create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all (no exceptions).

D O G W O O D H E A LT H T R U S T. O R G 48

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS 41 ST ANNIVERSARY to the MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., ASSOCIATION OF ASHEVILLE & BUNCOMBE COUNTY

—— Colton —— Diplomacy & Global Collaboration As an early, active member of Asheville’s ASCORE six decades ago, I learned as a student the importance of reaching across divisions and finding ways to collaborate with people of all backgrounds, in order to work together for social justice and accomplish lasting change. In that spirit I continue to applaud and appreciate the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association, and its founder, Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons, for 40 years of “Keeping Hope in Challenging Times.”

- L iz Colton

ElizabEth (liz) Colton,Ph.D. PRESIDENT-COLTON DIPLOMACY & GLOBAL COLLABORATION DIPLOMAT & JOURNALIST IN RESIDENCE AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE PROFESSOR OF DIPLOMACY WITH UNITAR & COLLABORATIVE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES’ GLOBAL ONLINE COURSES

www.facebook.com/ElizabethOvertonColton www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-colton/ on Twitter @liz_colton www.elizabethcolton.com lizcolton@yahoo.com colton.diplomacy@gmail.com This page as tribute to the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. is also given in behalf of the loving memory of my parents: Marie Watters Colton (1922-2018), a recipient of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Association Community Service Award in 2018, & Henry Elliott Colton (1921-2011), both longtime leaders & diplomats for equality & social justice.

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DIVERSITY: A great return on investment

“It’s allMinority right toBusiness tell a man to lift himself The Program is by his own bootstraps, but it is cruel jest of the City of Asheville’s to part say to a bootless man that economic he ought to liftdevelopment himself by his own bootstraps.” initiative to support

participation in public contracting by

~~~ Martin Luther King Jr.

minorities and women.

The Economic Development Division is part of the City’s The Program assists Community & Economic with additional Development Department.

outreach to your

The Division works to drive company forinbidding economic prosperity Asheville.

It manages Outdoor Special opportunities.

Events, Business Inclusion, Real Estate, business resource support.

For more information, contact us at: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CITY OF ASHEVILLE Angelica Driver CITYNikki OFReid ASHEVILLE Department Director

nreid@ashevillenc.gov

Business Services Admin & Special Support to the Business Inclusion Office

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC adriver@ashevillenc.gov 28802 EMAIL: rmulcahy@ashevillenc.gov Rosanna Fox Mulcahy Ellen McKinnon PHONE:Real(828) (hablamos español) Business Inclusion Manager Estate 259-8050 Coordinator WEBSITE: AshevilleNC.gov/MinorityBusinessProgram emckinnon@ashevillenc.gov

rmulcahy@ashevillenc.gov

Jon Fillman Community Event Manager jfillman@ashevillenc.gov

Rachel Taylor Economic Development Specialist rtaylor@ashevillenc.gov

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COA Commemorates MLK Day 2.pdf

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11/19/21

4:56 PM

“Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better.”

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Nonprofits make us hopeful. w w w. c f w n c . o rg Photo by Travis Bordley

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A congratulatory toast to the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast

86 Patton Avenue www.weinhaus.com

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828-254-6453 mail@weinhaus.com

WE THE PEOPLE

Asheville Friends Meeting (Quakers) Honors and Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC 28804 307-800-1604 ~ www.ashevillefriends.org

Since 1965, the ACLU of North Carolina has been our state’s guardian of liberty – working in courts, the General Assembly, and communities to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties for all North Carolinians.

We aim to preserve and extend constitutionally guaranteed rights to people who have historically been denied their rights on the basis of race. We acknowledge the limits of constitutional protections in addressing the ongoing injustices that inflict nearly indescribable harm to communities of color. Working in coalition with partners across the state, we

Please join us for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Candlelight Service.

Monday, January 17, 2021 at 6:00 p. m.

challenge racially biased law enforcement practices, voting restrictions, and other measures that disproportionately target communities of color for discrimination.

Today, in pursuit of a world free of policies and practices that condemn racially minoritized people (those whose needs and lives are devalued because of their race) to premature death, we combat racism in the criminal justice system, ensure that constitutional

We welcome everyone without exception, and we affirm that all individuals are persons of sacred worth.

rights are not denied on the basis of race, and seek to educate and empower the public on a variety of issues, including racism’s role in creating and maintaining the carceral state.

27 Church Street Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-3316 www.centralumc.org

Learn more and contact us at acluofnorthcarolina.org

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Burton Street Community Association ∙ East End Community Association ∙ Shiloh Community Association & Project Lighten Up

TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH Keeping the dream alive in downtown Asheville Trinity Church is a nurturing Christian community providing opportunities for worship, spiritual growth, and commitment in a supportive and open atmosphere.

Explore Faith • Embrace Community • Expect a Difference

“Without love, there is no reason to know anyone, for love will in the end connect us to our neighbors, our children and our hearts” Martin Luther King, Jr. Trinity Episcopal Church + 60 Church St. + Downtown Asheville + trinityasheville.org + 828-253-9361

THE RED DOOR

Church of the Advocate Where strangers become neighbors and neighbors become friends.

Worship on Sundays at 1:30 pm Hot Lunch at 2:30 pm All are Welcome Nourishing Mind, Body & Spirit Since 1997 60 Church Street + Downtown Asheville + reddooravl.org + 828-253-9361

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Mars Hill University and the

MHU Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion honor the life and legacy of Photos: top, right: President Tony Floyd and Alumna Oralene Simmons; Top, left and below: Scenes from the Black Lives Matter Demonstration on campus in 2020.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and support the work of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County, founded and led by MHU alumna Oralene Simmons.

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 57

Our mission is to collaborate with our community to do

whatever it takes for all ACS students to thrive.

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.”

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

GRANTS TO EDUCATORS

FUNDING INNOVATION AND INSPIRING CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM

IN REAL LIFE AFTER-SCHOOL

ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO LEARN AND GROW IN A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

SUPPORTING GRADUATES AS THEY DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS AND REALIZE THEIR DREAMS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE

BLACK EDUCATOR EXCELLENCE

PROVIDING TUITION SUPPORT TO ACS FACULTY AND STAFF AS THEY COMPLETE ADVANCED DEGREES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND LICENSURES

TEACHING ARTISTS IN RESIDENCY

PROVIDING CLASSROOM OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN ARTS EDUCATION

RACIAL EQUITY AMBASSADORS

CULTIVATING SYSTEMIC CHANGE THROUGH YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND TRAININGS

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

SUPPORTING ACS FAMILIES WITH CRITICAL RESOURCES THROUGH SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS

DREAM TEAM INTERNSHIPS

FUNDING INTERNSHIPS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

ALUMNI CENTER

BRIDGING OUR ACS ALUMNI WITH THEIR ALMA MATER AND PROVIDING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN INTERGENERATIONAL CLASSES

T O L E A R N M O R E A B O U T O U R W O R K , P L E A S E V I S I T W W W. A C S F . O R G .

P.O. BOX 3196 ASHEVILLE, NC 28802 / (828) 350-6174 / ACSF@ACSF.ORG

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Wholesale Glass & Mirror Company “Everyone’s Glass Needs”

Commercial

Residential

Automotive

Storefronts

Shower Doors & Mirrors

Foreign & Domestic

Storefront Maintenance

Table Tops

Insurance Claims

Curtain Wall

Glass Shelves

Heavy Equipment

Plexiglass 419 Haywood Road

(828) 254-8665

Asheville, NC 28806

Fax (828) 254-4511 Email: wgmavl@gmail.com

Website: wholesaleglassandmirrornc.com

24-Hour Emergency Service 59

Shirley Walker Whitesides, President and CEO

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All Life is Interrelated As Dr. King said, “What affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.” These words ring as true now as they did when Dr. King gave his Christmas Eve sermon in 1967. What denigrates one community, denigrates us all. What uplifts one community, elevates all.

We are the Creation Care Alliance. Our mission is an expression of our love of God and creation, inspired by Dr. King’s lasting legacy of faith and solidarity. By engaging hearts and minds through ecological education, service, and advocacy, we seek to uplift our neighbors, enhance our communities’ resilience to climate change, and fight environmental injustice.

We foster lasting interfaith connections and communitybased solutions rooted in intersectionality, solidarity, partnership, and reciprocity.

Let us know how we can support you.

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Sarah Ogletree Director, Creation Care Alliance sarah@creationcarealliance.org creationcarealliance.org

creationcare alliance

a program of MountainTrue

2.25 x 4.75

The Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville congratulates the MLK Association for 41 years of honoring Dr. King

Members of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville: • work for equality, justice, and equity for all people • work in our community, giving our time and support to those in need and organizations that serve them • work for peace in our relationships, our homes, our community, our world

CIBO is proud to support the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast

• work to change oppressive systems • challenge ourselves and our community to live more ethical, meaningful lives Join us via Zoom each Sunday at 2:30 p.m. On the first Sunday for Colloquy, the third Sunday for our Platform Meeting, and the second and fourth for a casual Sunday gathering.

All are welcome!

EHSAsheville@gmail.com www.EHSAsheville.org 828-687-7759

Council of Independent Business Owners, Inc. PO Box 3215 Asheville, NC 28802 828-254-2426

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Fox Management Consulting Enterprises, LLC Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Congratulations for Continuing the Dream!”

“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” ― Martin Luther King, Jr. Fox Management Consulting Enterprises Promotes Dr. King’s Principles by Providing: • • • •

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Audits Business and Entrepreneurship Coaching Strategic Planning

www.foxmgt.com JosephLFox1@gmail.com 828.421.7580 65

With most of life’s little daily worries taken care of, you’re free to focus on your total health – body, mind and spirit. The beautiful setting, wonderful new friends, and newly discovered interests keep you engaged, active and happy!

Call to schedule a visit and discover a holistic approach to a joy-filled retirement at Deerfield.

Asheville, North Carolina 800-284-1531

deer fieldwnc.org

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In

honor of the

41st AnnuAl

Dr. M ArtIn luther KIng, Jr. CoMMeMorAtIon

We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership in support of this event that brings diverse citizens and community leaders together in honor of Dr. King’s legacy.

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