Is there such a thing as too much good news to share? Not in our opinion! ACSF programs have all officially begun. This fall, ACSF has planned new artist classroom residencies, welcomed new students to In Real Life (IRL) After-School, hired new interns for our DREAM Team, selected new Racial Equity Ambassadors, AND began our inaugural Black Educator Excellence Cohort!

We are deeply grateful for the support of our friends and partners in making these meaningful opportunities possible for our ACS community.



CAN IRL KICK IT? YES, THEY CAN!
From woodworking to halloween treat-making, IRL fills our students' days with fun, love, safety, growth, and collaboration. Check out the video below to see students in action this fall session!

IRL's very first student podcast was a resounding success and even received honorable mention from NPR in the Youth Podcast Challenge! Click on the microphone below to listen as students explore the field of journalism through creative podcasting.
The DREAM (Dedicated, Responsible, Enthusiastic, After-School, Mentors) Team has doubled in size and now provides stipends and leadership development to 16 high school interns! DREAM Team members lead and support IRL programming while cultivating positive near-peer mentoring relationships with students. Formed in 2019, DREAM is now in its third year and has inspired a similar opportunity for students in Basalt, Colorado!

The 2021-2022 Racial Equity Ambassador Program (REAP) has officially begun! With the generous support of Dogwood Health Trust, REAP expanded from a cohort of 24 to 35 students who are dedicated to increasing cultural competence in their high school classrooms.

Last Friday, REAP students hosted Mike Wiley at AHS where he performed Breach of Peace: Stories of the Freedom Riders in 1961. REAP Students welcomed Mr. Wiley before his performance and facilitated a Q & A session with students.

Next week, REAP will receive an extensive training from the Equity Collaborative for new cohort members regarding how to deliver compelling professional development for their high school educators. In November, all REAP members will attend the Racial Equity Institute's Phase I Groundwater Training. We can't wait to see the impact these dedicated young leaders will have this year.
The Black Educator Excellence Cohort had their first social gathering this past Thursday at Grind Coffee! The BEE program includes tuition and support for 10 current ACS faculty and staff to complete advanced degrees, certifications, and licensures. Funded by a generous contribution from the City of Asheville, BEE bolsters the presence of Black professionals within Asheville City Schools with the aim of improving the lived realities of Black students, families and community members. To learn more about the very first BEE Cohort, check out our recent presentation to City Council below!

It's that time of the year again! ACSF scholarship applications open Monday, November 1st. ACSF awards over $200,000 in scholarship funding each year to Asheville High and SILSA graduates. This month, ACSF Scholarship Coordinator and AHS alumnus, Brandon Whiteside, will be visiting senior classrooms to present more information about how to apply and to answer any questions students might have. Mark your calendars for the 1st and click the button below to view the 2021-2022 catalog!

ACSF is a proud sponsor of the 8th Annual African Americans in WNC and Southern Appalachia Conference! Mark your calendars and don't miss this opportunity to hear from panelists Seth Bellamy, ACSF scholarship recipient and former Racial Equity Ambassador, and Principal Nicole Cush of SILSA.
The question before us is “How do we seize this moment to actionize our beliefs?” ACSF has met the challenges of the last 18 months with creativity, flexibility, and innovation. We know that when we innovate and when we center racial equity in our work, we get push back and we stir up folks who have little interest in an equitable, excellent public school system. Despite the challenges posed by a divisive and politicized climate, ACSF remains steadfast and ardent in our commitment to uplift public education and we remain specifically committed to both centering and supporting racial equity in our local schools.

Thank you for believing in public education and for being willing to put those beliefs into action.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS BUSINESS PARTNERS WHO MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Click here to view a full list of community businesses supporting our students.