AdventHealth Hendersonville is honored to recognize Meredith Barten, RN, OCN as their new DAISY Award Winner for the compassionate care she provides patients who are battling cancer. Barten is a member of the nursing team at the AdventHealth Hematology Oncology Infusion Services Asheville office. Her teammates are quick to point out that Meredith consistently looks for ways to connect with and make each patient feel treasured. The DAISY Award was created by the family of J. Patrick Barnes in 1999 to thank the nurses who cared for Patrick and for them as he battled an autoimmune disease. Learn more here.
Happenings:
The Asheville Holiday Parade, presented by Bojangles of WNC, will be held in downtown Asheville on Saturday, November 20 beginning at 11 am. The parade features more than 100 entries including marching bands, dance and cheer squads, youth sports, nonprofits and businesses. This year’s parade theme is “Celebrating 75 Years of Memories and Magic.” The Asheville Holiday Parade is produced by the Asheville Downtown Association (ADA), in partnership with the City of Asheville. The ADA will be monitoring Covid-19 trends, consult with local public health and medical officials, and follow any guidelines set forth by the CDC, State of North Carolina, Buncombe County and the City of Asheville. Parade entries include a little something for everyone with decorated floats, adoptable pets from area rescue organizations, the Honored Veterans float, marching bands, performances, and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus. An application for entry in the parade is available here.
Speakeasy Improv is offering two classes at The Magnetic Theatre beginning October 3 & 4. The Speakeasy is designed to use improv for positive change through fast-paced play and collaboration. Teaching the deeper nature of improv, The Speakeasy aims to inspire artists to stay actively engaged in their craft, grow as individuals, and contribute to the growth of their artistic community. The fall course offerings will be “Who Am I?” beginning October 3 and “The Fellowship” beginning October 4. Both classes will take place at 6:30 pm and run for 10 weekly sessions with a break for Halloween. More information about Speakeasy Improv, the curriculum, and enrollment can be found here.
The YMCA of Western North Carolina is now offering virtual diabetes prevention classes at no charge with grant support from North Carolina State University. Morning and evening class options are available starting in October, and more classes will be added over the next year. The Diabetes Prevention Program at the YMCA of WNC is an evidence-based that encourages participants at risk of type 2 diabetes to eat healthier, increase physical activity, and lose a modest amount of weight in a supportive, virtual environment. Registration is now open for several year-long virtual classes. To register for a class or to receive more information, please call 828-652-5903 or click here.
Hire:
Impact Health has announced that Dionne Greenlee-Jones, a seasoned community advocate, has joined the organization as its director of programs. In this role, Greenlee-Jones will be responsible for building strong relationships with the Healthy Opportunities Pilot stakeholder community, facilitating efficient referrals between and among the network of Human Service Organizations (HSOs), and ensuring the quality of service delivery and processes. Prior to joining Impact Health, Greenlee-Jones served as a Resource Development Manager for United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County, as a grant writer and strategic planning consultant, and as a Community Engagement Manager for Unite Us/NCCARE360, the nation’s first statewide coordinated care network serving 23 WNC counties. A passionate advocate for DEI initiatives, Greenlee-Jones is actively involved with several DEI-focused organizations such as the WNC Diversity Engagement Coalition, WNC Health Equity Coalition, WNC Health Network, CoThinkk and Building Bridges of Asheville to name only a few. Learn more about Impact Health here.
Funding:
The Magnetic Theatre has created a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising $15,000 by October 30 to keep the arts nonprofit from shutting down. The past 18 months have been exceptionally challenging for arts communities everywhere and while The Magnetic Theatre has continued producing virtually and in outdoor spaces during the shutdowns, and indoors with enhanced safety protocols since April 2021, these challenges have compounded to threaten the continued existence of the nonprofit company. Now, The Magnetic Theatre is asking for the community’s help to keep creating unique theatrical experiences. Located at 375 Depot Street in Asheville’s River Arts District, The Magnetic Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It has been a home for live performance in Asheville for more than a decade, producing original works, experimental theatre, variety shows, comedy, late-night shows, site-specific performances, and more. Support the GoFundMe campaign here.
Opportunity:
Pisgah Legal Services is seeking a full-time NC licensed attorney to handle poverty law cases in Avery, Madison, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. Legal aid experience preferred. Passion for promoting justice and overcoming barriers facing low-income people, being a creative and zealous staff member and a team player, and a demonstrated commitment to achieving lasting results for clients and low-income communities are all important. By ensuring that the lowest-income people in Western North Carolina have access to holistic services we will increase opportunities for positive outcomes at the individual and community levels. Learn more here.
Pisgah Legal Services seeks a full-time Bilingual Housing Social Worker. This position will partner with attorneys and other staff on Pisgah Legal’s Homelessness Prevention Program to help clients connect with resources to address housing problems and homelessness, as well as other challenges they may face. This position will support the rental financial assistance programs to help our clients stabilize and maintain their housing. Learn more here.
Retirement:
Johnson Price Sprinkle PA has announced the retirement of J. Scott Hughes, CPA. Hughes served as JPS’s Vice President of Assurance Services from 2004 – 2017 and as a JPS Shareholder from 2004 – 2021. Throughout his extensive public accounting career, Hughes provided both taxation and assurance services creating a diverse portfolio from non-profits and governmental entities to retailers, manufacturers, and individuals. Regarding his career, Scott expressed “The most fulfilling part of my career has been the many wonderful relationships developed with both the people I’ve worked with and those I’ve served. It has been an honor to be a part of people’s lives and I’m proud of the work, culture, and relationships created.” In retirement, Scott plans to spend time with his family and time at the coast. JPS thanks Scott for his dedicated service in making positive impacts and wishes him well in retirement. Learn more about JPS here.