A Letter from our Director
Dear Thrive supporters,
I recently sat down with a group of leaders from another region of our state. They identified their reluctance to work together as a stumbling block to addressing the big challenges they face. It made me appreciate how much we are doing right in Buncombe County. Here we have a growing expectation of collaboration that makes creative solutions possible. Our board and staff embrace this approach because we know that a diversity of perspectives is essential to understanding complex challenges and designing meaningful solutions.
An exciting example of collaboration rolled around Asheville for the first time this month. The ArtsAVL Connect Trolley allows riders to hop on and off between downtown and the River Arts District, dispersing visitors to artists’ studios. The ArtsAVL initiative was made possible with lead funding from Explore Asheville, reinvesting tourism dollars to benefit travelers and residents. Reduced traffic and pollution, and increased income for artists and businesses in the RAD? Check and check! This win-win for residents and visitors is the kind of solution we encourage.
In this newsletter, we celebrate leaders who are building bridges and frontline staff who collaborate to serve more clients better. We also have a feature on how some communities manage conflict when working together breaks down.
Let’s keep it moving, Asheville! Working together, we can leverage our abundant assets to help many more people thrive.
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Cheers,
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Thrive’s Board of Directors is a diverse group of community leaders who reflect differing perspectives and expertise.
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Meet our Board Member, Larry Crosby.
Larry is the the general manager of The Foundry Hotel, and board member of Thrive Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority.
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Q: Share your observations about the differences between tourism in Charleston and Asheville?What can we learn here?
A: Charleston has a long history in the tourism industry and is known to be an international city. The mayor did a great job building around that historical structure and expanding it into other industries creating broad-based growth. The community in Charleston embraces the benefits that tourism has brought to the community, and the overall attitude is richer and more supportive. In Asheville, the tensions around tourism are greater with some people who are vehemently against it and some that are completely for the expansion no matter what. I believe there is room to be in the middle.
Q: How are Thrive Asheville and the board of directors strengthening community connections?
A: We connect people with diverse opinions about the issues, and have conversations with people who might not all agree. I am having conversations with everyone–people who support tourism and people who are opposed to tourism. I am gaining a lot of knowledge about things that the tourism industry can do better to support people who are building a livelihood in Asheville. Those are tough conversations, but they are worth it and benefit everyone. Ideally, we could help alleviate the tensions we encounter through the work of connection which is the cornerstone of Thrive.
Q: What Thrive work are you excited about right now?
A: The affordable housing work and mission. It is real work that is exciting and important for our community.
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Buncombe Rental Assistance Collaborative (BRAC) Connects Vulnerable Groups with Housing
BRAC is a collaboration among 6 local agencies: Helpmate, Homeward Bound, Thrive’s Landlord Tenant Partnership, Veterans Affairs, The Housing Authority of the City of Asheville, and WNCAP.
Together we are:
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Sharing best practices with regard to tenant supports
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Planning landlord education events
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Engaging in professional development with frontline workers to deepen the knowledge of those who work directly with tenants and landlords
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Meeting monthly to further develop shared systems
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Referring landlords to organizations whose tenants would be a good match for particular properties
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Reflecting on progress toward placing 100+ households in FRA-accepting units
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The website connects, informs, and engages the community in the BRAC work, and is a vehicle for realizing our shared vision. Bringing more visibility to collaborative members allows for each agency to tell their story and connect with those who need it most. The collaboration is not only serving our collective vision but also supporting each individual organization to THRIVE.
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Thrive and UNC Asheville are partnering to explore Sustainable Tourism by collaborating with staff and students. Check out the work of one student focusing on what Charleston and other innovative communities are doing to address the challenges of tourism.
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For When We Can't Work Together - Livability Courts
By: Casey Feiler, UNC Asheville Senior
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Tourism is a leading industry in Asheville North Carolina, generating 2.6 billion dollars in total visitor spending in 2021. The city is benefiting from tourism's considerable economic benefits and the industry is growing rapidly. As visitation increases, residents may also experience the downsides of tourism, such as increased noise, sound, and waste pollution. For residents experiencing these disturbances in their day to day lives, the need for action is dire. Luckily, new programs have been arising throughout the country entitled “Livability Courts” which give voice to locals’ concerns. Originating in Charleston, South Carolina, livability court was created to address violations related to resident quality of life which can occur between residents, or residents and businesses. Through the formation of a Livability Court in Asheville, resident cases resulting from the effects of the tourism industry, and other challenges related to a growing community, could be given a platform to be addressed.
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Working Together for Positive Outcomes
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Through the Buncombe Rental Assistance Collaborative, a domestic abuse survivor was able to find housing for herself and three children. After three years of homelessness that found her sleeping on couches with her kids, the survivor reached out to our BRAC Partner, Helpmate. Helpmate staff reached out to Francina Edmonds, Landlord Navigator, and she was able to locate a new unit to house the survivor, and Helpmate was able to provide incentives to the landlord to help secure the survivor’s tenancy. The survivor was able to move into a beautiful three bedroom duplex in Asheville. Once the survivor toured the potential home, she called Helpmate in tears saying, "It is so cute, I believe this would be so perfect for my family - I cannot believe my prayers have been answered.” Thanks to the Buncombe Rental Assistance Collaborative, this family found a great housing opportunity.
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