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Government Alliance on Race and Equity

The Government Alliance on Race and Equity is a national network working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all.

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Home>Asheville, North Carolina

SouthCore Member

Asheville, North Carolina

 

Asheville, located in Western North Carolina, is the eleventh largest city in the state with a population of 89,121 (U.S. Census est. July, 2016).  The city government has a history of implementing racial and economic policies and practices which has resulted in racial segregation, disparities in income and education indicators and tense relationships between city government and residents.

In January 2016, Asheville City Council created a 20-year vision for the city. This Council vision reflects Asheville’s unique character and the aspirations for the community. Council plans to use the vision as a guide when developing policies and priorities. Asheville Vision 2036 includes a diverse community working toward equity and inclusion:

“Asheville is an inclusive, diverse community. We define diversity broadly, including but not limited to all races, ages, sexual orientations, gender identification, socio-economic backgrounds, and cultural beliefs. We have created a fair and balanced society where everyone can participate and has the opportunity to fulfill their potential because they have access to healthy, affordable food, transportation, quality education, and living wage jobs. Asheville promotes and supports minority business as a means of strengthening our local economy. We use a racial equity lens to review and achieve our city’s strategic goals in health, education, housing, and economic mobility. “

In an effort to create a framework, develop resources, and achieve meaningful progress towards this component of the Vision, the Fiscal Year 2017 budget included funding for the development of diversity and equity initiatives.  The development of such efforts includes evaluation of the City’s efforts to equitably engage with and deliver services to the community and will include areas of study such as representation on boards and commissions, public input opportunities, and contracting and infrastructure investments.

Asheville hired an Equity and Inclusion Manager July 2017 who is responsible for designing and leading an equity and inclusion initiative which will integrate existing programs and practices into a coordinated citywide effort toward achieving equity.  The Equity & Inclusion Manager will also create and seek opportunities for engaging and partnering with residents, community groups, and community organizations to advance racial equity.

Participating in GARE will support the work in the city of Asheville and those who lead and implement the work to eliminate disparities and pursue and equitable and inclusive city in Western North Carolina.

Kimberlee Archie has worked in nonprofits, public administration and higher education for twenty years. She has operated as a consultant for nonprofit agencies, small business, and community-based groups to add capacity and conduct training and learning opportunities on subject matter including strategic planning, cultural competence, inclusive outreach, workforce development, and youth development. Currently she is the Equity and Inclusion Manager for the City of Asheville, leading and coordinating the city government’s effort to developing an equity and inclusion initiative that will operationalize an equity lens into city wide policy, programs and budget decisions to advance and support equitable service delivery to the community.

News from Asheville, North Carolina


September 19, 2019

The City of Asheville hosts site visit for four equity leaders from four southern jurisdictions!

In August, the City of Asheville hosted four equity leaders from four southern jurisdictions for the day. The visit was an opportunity for learning, sharing and getting up close and personal with the Office of Equity and Inclusion to experience first hand how we advance racial equity in Western North Carolina. The Office of EquityREAD MORE > Read More


September 19, 2019

The People Behind the Movement: Kimberlee Archie

Who are the people leading the movement for racial equity in government? We have interviewed practitioners across the country who are working to advance more racially equitable governance in their own communities. Some are working from the inside to change institutional practice. Others are organizing communities on the outside to apply political pressure and keepREAD MORE > Read More


July 9, 2019

City of Asheville earns GIS award for racial equity mapping project!

The City of Asheville was recently awarded the North Carolina G. Herbert Stout Award for Visionary Use of GIS in support of the City’s Mapping Racial Equity project. Asheville was recognized during the 2019 N.C. GIS Conference in Winston-Salem. City Council officials received the award during their May 14 meeting. GIS is a geographic informationREAD MORE > Read More


February 11, 2019

Creating and Sustaining a Racial Equity Core Team: Members Discuss Challenges, Successes and Key Insights

Race Forward recently launched the Racial Equity Core Team guide, which provides jurisdictions and organizations with the tools and strategies to establish and scale a cross-departmental Core Team. As a special GARE Webinar, Terry Keleher, Director of Strategic Innovation of Race Forward, and Gordon Goodwin, GARE Midwest Region Project Manager, spoke with three GARE MembersREAD MORE > Read More


September 8, 2017

GARE Welcomes its Newest Member: The City of Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, located in Western North Carolina, is the eleventh largest city in the state with a population of 89,121 (U.S. Census est. July, 2016). The city government has a history of implementing racial and economic policies and practices which has resulted in racial segregation, disparities in income and education indicators and tense relationships between cityREAD MORE > Read More


Primary Sidebar

Participating Jurisdictions: Asheville, North CarolinaBegan Racial Equity Work: Getting Started in 2016 Population: Small (up to 100,000) Region: South Number of Employees: 1001 – 4000Form of Government: City


Demographics

White:
African American:
Asian:
Hispanic:
American Indian & Alaska Native:
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander:
Multi-Racial:
Total Population:


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Government Alliance on Race & Equity
For information about membership, contact gare@raceforward.org.

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GARE is a joint project of the new Race Forward and the Haas Institute for a Fair & Inclusive Society.© 2023 Government Alliance on Race and Equity

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