United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County has long believed that Live United means fighting for the hopes, dreams, and rights of all people. But for too long, inequity, violence, and racism have been allowed to go unchecked violating the lives of People of Color. This grief is on full display across our nation and here, in our community. That’s why we must act.
But how we act matters.
Our work is to listen to those who have been harmed by systemic racism and a white supremacy culture. Our work is to know when it is time to follow community leadership and when it is time for us to lead. And our work is to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, admit our own failings as individuals and as an organization, in order to create a new path.
This is a path we’ve already started at our United Way and it is the work that we promise to continue to do. But none of us can do this work alone.
Our collective future requires that all of us—as individuals and families, neighborhood groups and faith communities, small businesses and big companies, and schools and governments—commit to fighting racism in all its forms and to choose to truly LIVE UNITED.
A Message From Staff
Resources
By no means a complete list, here are a few suggested next steps to take:
How does this issue relate to our work?
Time Sensitive Opportunities
- Local pastors are holding Prayer in Action: A Gathering of Solidarity for Peace and Justice this Thursday, June 4 at noon. The event will be on Church Street, which will be closed to traffic. Rev. John Grant will open with comments and prayer, with L.C. Ray, Herbert Grant, Tyrone Greenlee and the pastors at Central, First Presbyterian and Trinity Episcopal also involved. Attendees are asked to social distance and wear masks.
- Participate in an Online Protest for Social Justice. This is a 7-day nonviolent livestream initiative happening daily at 7 pm from June 2 - June 8 hosted and organized by The King Center in Atlanta. To attend, use this link: thekingcenter.org/onlineprotest
- Facebook Live event on June 4th with The Brown Bookshelf 7:00 pm EST Kwame Alexander, Jason Reynolds, and Jacqueline Woodson have organized a Kidlit Rally for Black Lives. People around the nation are hurting. This is a time to come together and stand up. Our kids need us, and we are here for them. (School-age kids welcome).
Ongoing Opportunities
- Local training opportunities through the Racial Equity Institute and Building Bridges
- Resources and tips about helping children navigate the images and stories on the news and social media
- Teaching Tolerance has a lot of resources for children and classroom settings
- Read: Racism, Antiracism, And You
