Thrive Asheville brings together local community advocates, policymakers, and professionals from diverse fields and backgrounds to find equitable solutions to our city’s toughest challenges. We connect some of Asheville's smartest problem-solvers with research and tools they may not have the budget or capacity to easily access on their own. Then we design the best community solutions together so that all in our city can thrive.
We collaborate with local residents and leaders from diverse perspectives to understand our city’s challenges, forge new relationships, and act on the best solutions together.
Asheville is a place where all thrive—we share in the beauty and prosperity of our city because we are equitable, sustainable, and connected.
Thrive Asheville is made up of people from communities across Asheville. We work together cross-culturally, and cross-racially, and with other groups to make Asheville better for all.
Thrive’s approach is place-based, meaning that we understand the issues, interconnections and relationships in Asheville and coordinate action and investment to improve the quality of life for our community.
Thrive applies an equity lens to our work, and engages with those most impacted on our issues.
We envision a transformed community and we work for change that significantly improves life conditions for local residents.
Thrive brings people together with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to engage in deep connection, understand complex problems, and identify shared solutions – accomplished by building trust over time.
We find new strategies for moving the community forward, in order to create greater equity and address systemic and interrelated challenges.
By operating in a way that is open, trustworthy and inclusive, Thrive helps bridge differences and builds a stronger, more unified community.
Thrive Asheville welcomes Executive Director Ryan Smolar, a nationally recognized leader in innovative, sustainable and equitable community development.
Thrive Asheville Board Chair Kim McGuire said Smolar will bring a new perspective and expertise to local initiatives. “Ryan has worked for nearly two decades building diverse local coalitions and public-private partnerships. He also has led training that has strengthened communities across the country,” she said. “Ryan deeply values Asheville’s history and culture and can help our leaders and residents work together to address our challenges.”
Smolar has led the PlacemakingUS learning network and directed the Santa Ana, California historic district where he assisted local arts, culture, health and small business projects. Through his national and local leadership, Smolar brings a robust toolkit to assist community-driven efforts. His work has been funded by national and state-level philanthropies including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the California Endowment, municipalities, arts commissions, business councils, educational institutions, neighborhood and visitor associations.
Kate has worked at the intersection of community development, education, and equity throughout her career. She has led nonprofit organizations for more than 18 years. Kate believes that the collective impact approach to organizing and steering community energy towards meaningful goals can move the needle on issues we care about in Buncombe County.
Iris is a Buncombe native and health education specialist. She combines her passion for our city with a knack for customer service and experience in community education to build and maintain strong relationships with our landlord partners. She joins us from Homeward Bound, where she connected some of our County's most vulnerable residents to stable, long-term housing. Iris believes our community's housing challenges are solvable when we bring everyone on board.
Kristal has been a tenant navigator with Thrive Asheville since 2022. She is deeply passionate about the community and is dedicated to supporting tenants in the private rental market. She learns and understands individuals' barriers and challenges and actively connects them to community resources. Based on data and feedback, she improves the program and creates a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
Kelly’s role as Community Development Coordinator is to interpret and share Thrive’s mission, vision, and work with the community. Formerly a small business owner with a focus on communication and branding, Kelly brings her experience and skill to Thrive’s work. She is a writer, a mother, and a passionate community supporter, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Conflict Management and Resolution with a focus on understanding how communities and policy makers can engage in generating sustainable solutions to support growth and change.
2024 - 2025 Board of Directors:
Matt Allen, Land of the Sky Assoc. of Realtors (LOTSAR), • Larry Crosby, Foundry Hotel • Tiffany DeBellot, Center for Participatory Change • David Feingold , Public Radio Executive, ret. • George Glackin, Hatch AVL • J Hackett, Black Wall Street AVL/Grind Coffee Shop • Holly Jones, NC DOJ • Kim McGuire, McGuire Consulting, ret. • Pete Perez, Executive and Community Arts, ret. • Missy Sherburne, Education and Technology • Lisa Gay Hall • Nonprofit Executive, Legal Sector • Patrick Fitzsimmons, Mayor of Weaverville • Justice Rogers, Federal Law Enforcement (ret.); Community Arts
Additionally, Thrive Asheville has several other community-led working groups, formed in support of specific initiatives.
Our working partners include Asheville Housing Authority, Buncombe County, WNC Superheroes, Children First/CIS, City of Asheville, and Pisgah Legal Services.
