Hey y'all, 

I am so excited to announce our new series, True Colors of Western North Carolina Business. 👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾 Each week, we'll be highlighting a local minority owned business with profiles that consider the entrepreneurial experience. 

This series has been in the works for a while, and I'm thrilled to have our (virtual) intern and recent Davidson graduate (my alma mater!), Angelina Gurrola, working on it. When we were chatting a few weeks back, Angelina said, "Narratives are people's truths." Those were powerful words (and not just because they proved she was the right person to bring this series to life). It's those words—or the concept of them, at least—that guide every story we write here at Capital at Play, and it's such an honor to help share those truths in every issue, every article, and this new series. 

Until next week,

• A New Citizen  🎧  It's official: Citizen Vinyl is coming to the Citizen-Times building this Sept. The much-anticipated boutique vinyl pressing plant, record store, and bar/cafe (dubbed Session) is the product of veteran music producer Gar Ragland (check out our 2018 profile on the entrepreneur). Other collaborators include Susannah Gebhart of OWL Bakery and Graham House, formerly of Sovereign Remedies. The concept plays homage to Asheville’s historic radio staion WWNC (Wonderful Western North Carolina), once housed in the building’s third floor. Learn more.

• Beer for the Better 🍻  DSSOLVR has joined the #BlackIsBeautiful movement in collaboration with Weathered Souls, Riverbend Malt, and Craftpeak, a collaborative effort within the brewing community and its customers to bring awareness to injustice. 100% of proceeds from DSSOLVR's new imperial stout will support Green Opportunities. Other local breweries participating in the campaign include Burial Brewing Co., Hi-Wire Brewing, Bhramari Brewing, Wicked Weed Brewing, and Zebulon Artisan Ales. (PS: Two of the organizing businesses are local C@P alum: Riverbend Malt House and Craftpeak.)

JOBS

• Our VOICE  📢  is looking for a Human Trafficking Case Manager, Development Director, and an Associate Director. 

• Pisgah Legal Services is looking for a Community Engagement Manager. 👋🏾

• Asheville City Schools is looking for a Payroll Manager. 💵

• CooperRiis Healing Community is looking for an Office Manager. 

• East Fork 🏺 is looking for a Fulfillment Associate. 

• Earth Fare is looking for a Bakery Department Manager.  🥐

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Organic Growers School's Farm Beginnings is a 12-month training session to help beginning farmers clarify their goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building their operation. 👨🏻‍🌾  The early bird deadline is August 1st.

• Focal Point Coworking  🖇 has launched two new memberships: the Virtual Membership, which includes four days of coworking space access per month and membership perks, and the Office On Demand membership, which offers furnished private offices on a nonexclusive basis.

• Tina and Craig Little's Stone Ashe Vineyard is open outside Hendersonville. 🍷  All their vines are cloned from legacy vines in France, and the wines are made in the Bordeaux style by Asheville winemaker Chris Denesha in collaboration with Craig Little.

• A new reading initiative is being launched this summer by UNCA and the Asheville community. 📖  “Relevant, Responsive & Fun Family Literacy Toolkits” distributes books and activities with children who are receiving free summer meals via Asheville City Schools. 

• The Covid Cookbook, a crowdsourced pandemic cookbook that’s raising money for Feeding America, features recipes from around the world and Asheville, like Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies from Old Europe Pastries. 🍪  Grab your digital (or preorder your print) copy here.

• The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) recently approved scholarships totaling $510,250 to 94 WNC students in 57 schools in 21 counties. Learn more about the recipients.

👨🏼‍🎨  Go Global | Tryon Fine Arts Center's Illuminations Through Music and Heritage program kicks off with a virtual show tomorrow, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. The series features students of TFAC's Pacolet Junior Appalachian Musicians and students with the Petra National Trust (PNT) in Jordan. 

🖼  Summer Camp for the Fam | Camp Grier's Family Day & Overnight Camps include (socially distant) activities like canoeing, horseback riding, and zip lining. 

🏃🏾‍♂️  Run Faster | iDaph Events' new Pop-up 5k in the Park will be a socially distanced 5K at Fletcher Park every 2nd and 4th Wednesday through Sept. 

🥁  Live Music | This weekend the Wortham Center Special Events outdoor series continues with live concerts on the top level of the Pack Square Parking Deck: Lyndsay Pruett, Drew Matulich & Matt Purinton on Fri.; Zoe & Cloyd on Sat.; and Josh Goforth on Sun. All shows at 7 p.m.