February 11 - March 6
Community Play Benefits Homeward Bound of Asheville

Nearly 100 actors and performers have volunteered to create a spectacular community play to benefit Homeward Bound of Asheville. The extravaganza, called Always Expect Miracles, is the first production of Homeward Bound’s newly-formed community performance project, Just Home in the Mountains (www.justhome.org).
The production will be performed on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Saturday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Performances take place at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Tickets are on sale now at the Pack Place Education, Arts, and Science Center (828) 257-4500, with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit Homeward Bound of Asheville.

February 16 & March 2
Buncombe County Commissioners Meeting

The Commissioners meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 30 Valley Street in downtown Asheville. The Board will hear general public comment at the end of the meeting during the designated public comment period. For more information, contact the Clerk at (828) 250-4105 or e-mail her at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wednesday, February 17
Reading by Affrilachian Poet Frank X Walker

UNC Asheville will host a reading by Affrilachian poet Frank X Walker at 7 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s Humanities Lecture Hall. “Affrilachian,” a term coined by Walker, refers to an African American who lives in Appalachia, and challenges the idea of a homogeneous all-white landscape in the Appalachian region. The event is free and open to the public.
Walker, a native of Danville, Kentucky, created the term “Affrilachian” when he realized the definition for Appalachian included only white residents of the Appalachian mountains. The term now appears in the Oxford American Dictionary, and the Encyclopedia of Appalachia.
Walker has lectured, conducted workshops, read poetry, and exhibited at more than 300 national conferences and universities. He holds a master’s degree in writing from Spalding University, and is a founding member of the Affrilachian Poets. He is the author of four poetry collections, including When Winter Come: the Ascension of York, Black Box, Buffalo Dance: the Journey of York, and Affrilachia. Walker is also the editor and publisher of PLUCK! the Journal of Affrilachian Art & Culture.
This event is co-sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Honors Program, Phi Eta Sigma, and the Office of the Provost.
For more information, contact event coordinator Holly Iglesias at (828) 350-4562 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tuesday, February 23
Financial Education Series: Your Money Matters

This monthly meeting is held on the last Tuesday of each month at YMI Cultural Center, 39 S. Market Street, from 6 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by YMI Cultural Center, Money Concepts, and ABIPA. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call the ABIPA office at (828) 251-8364.

February 23 & March 9
Asheville City Council Meeting

Asheville City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 5 p.m. in the Council Chamber located on the second floor of City Hall. The meeting agenda is posted at 3 p.m. the Friday before the meeting date.

Sunday, February 28
Free Christ Meditation Teleconference Call

8 to 9 p.m. The Christ Meditation is offered to anyone who wishes to experience blessings for greater oneness with their Christ presence. Contact Mary & Barry at (828) 338-0042 or visit www.thechristsoul.com.

Every Wednesday
ReStorying Community Course

Through the use of oral histories, analysis of documents, and reflection on the theory and practice of civic engagement and community building, the “Restorying Community Class Project” course examines the nature of power, politics and memory in community.
The focus of the course is on the meanings of home place, and the impact of Urban Renewal and highway development on neighborhoods and the lives of African Americans living in Asheville. Community folk and civic leaders are welcome to class to tell their stories. ReStorying Community class will meet at the YMI Cultural Center every Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. For more information contact Ken Betsalel, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Through March 28
Come and Discover Your Memories with “Juke Joint!”

“Juke Joint” is a dynamic, interactive, traveling installation depicting “Little’s Grocery” in the late 1960s. It’s a room-size installation made of love and squalor, and brings to life a past that was “oh, too familiar” and endearing to many of us. The exhibit has traveled to more than a dozen venues throughout the United States. In 2003 “Juke Joint” traveled to the Smithsonian Arts & Industries Gallery where more than 305,000 visitors experienced the exhibit. On display at the YMI Cultural Center. For more information call (828) 252-4614 or visit www.ymicc.org.