We Learn Better Together
Juneteenth and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
Many COA staff have opted to join the Office of Equity & Inclusion for weekly Lunch & Learns about heritage months and important dates throughout 2022. During the month of June, we celebrated both Juneteenth and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.
Staff watched this video during the Juneteenth Lunch & Learn to understand more about the historical significance of a holiday which has been celebrated since 1865 yet has only been recognized as a federal holiday since 2021. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people on a plantation in Galveston, TX finally received the news they were free (two years after the Emancipation Proclamation). Juneteenth is the celebration of this freedom. Learn more by listening in on this interview with OEI Training Consultant Marcus Kirkman and What's Up AVL? 100.7 WRES FM.
In another Lunch & Learn, staff also celebrated and learned about Pride Month. We discussed LGBTQ+ history timeline (dating back to 1828), accomplishments, and the movement. We also discussed the meaning of the Pride flags and the historic moment of the Stonewall Riot.
OEI Outreach
Photo: Chamber of Commerce after-hours networking.
June has graced us with amazing weather. And now that in-person meetings are happening, our office took advantage of the weather to greet some smiling faces. We attended several community events, including the Aging Provider Networking Event, Asheville Business Advisory Council Luncheon, and the Chamber Of Commerce Annual Meeting, just to name a few. We love to show up to listen, learn and talk equity with as many people as possible.
Building meaningful relationships is foundational to creating equity. It requires us to listen to what others care about. Our goal is to build relationships that can help guide our efforts in creating a culture of trust between the city and community. While all conversations aren't easy, we do believe they are necessary. We are thankful for successful outreach efforts in June and we are equally excited about making an impact in July. July, here we come!
GARE NC Learning Network
The City of Asheville is a member of the Government Alliance on Race & Equity (GARE). GARE is a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all.
The Office of Equity & Inclusion and several other departments have committed to participating in GARE’s North Carolina Learning Community. During our monthly cohort calls with GARE and other NC governments, we are learning about GARE’s Racial Equity Toolkit and how we can use it to advance racially equitable outcomes in Asheville.
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