This week I’ve been reflecting on how grateful I am that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. saw so clearly a world that didn’t exist yet but that he knew deep in his body and soul was possible. I am feeling profoundly grateful for those who have the stamina and ability to see a vision and […]
Author Archives: ashley
15 Years of Writing Publicly
15 years ago when I started this weblog, the fact that I am easily amazed was more evident in an effervescent and silver-lining kind of way. As a 26 year-old school teacher, it felt totally appropriate at the lunch table one day when a 9-year old student looked up at me with wide eyes of knowing […]
May They STOP and Find Healing
Today is hard. Gentleness and love to all the women and all the souls who are also feeling that. I’m at the laundromat and there is a man that has a t-shirt on that says “Only YES means YES”. It’s striking to me how much it affects my nervous system to see a man walking […]
May we Dismantle Oppressive Behaviors and Embrace Mutuality
A prayer for every person who is devoted to social change that leads to a more just and humane world… May each one of us strengthen or develop our capacities to address tensions and conflict, receive and give feedback, and learn and grow from our encounters… may we stay focused on the goals of change […]
Confronting Racism and Classism
“Hard: Confronting Nazis. Harder: Confronting everyday racism practiced by loved ones, colleagues, and people you share community with. Hardest: Acknowledging and confronting your own racist tendencies. All are necessary if we are serious about ending oppression.” ~ Maurice Moe Mitchell For my own practice, replacing the word racism with classism is also true and important. I’m […]
Qualities of a Powerful Conversation Across Differences
Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to host 42 folks from Charlotte in an Art of Participatory Leadership 1-day taster around questions like: “What might we discover if we take a collective pause and slow down enough to learn together about where we are as a city? What difference do our differences make?” The […]
Professors Who Were Part of Desegregating UNCA Retire
In the summer and fall of 1984, as part of a statewide mandate that the UNC system hire more black professors, Dr.’s Dolly and Dwight Mullen and Dr.’s Charles and Deborah “Dee” James began teaching at UNC Asheville. This year the four are retiring. Here is a great interview and article sharing about their experiences being […]