The Asheville City Schools Foundation is hosting a TEDx-style event that invites the community to reimagine public education not simply as a system but as the heartbeat of our democracy and a source of collective power. “ED Talks: Education Is Freedom” will center the voices of educators and students through powerful talks alongside music, performance, and multimedia experiences created by Asheville City Schools students. Learn more and register here.
Buncombe County Special Collections at Pack Memorial Library is hosting Black Stories in Census Tract 2, a curated multimedia exhibit. It illuminates the social, cultural, and historical impact of Asheville’s historic Black neighborhoods. The exhibition will be on display at Buncombe County Special Collections (BCSC) within Pack Memorial Library through April 21, 2026, and a special closing event will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at 5 p.m. Learn more.
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont is looking for a dedicated, full-time Camp Ranger. The Camp Ranger is responsible for the year-round maintenance, security, and safety of all buildings, grounds, and equipment. As the “face of the camp,” they will act as a host to volunteers, families, and staff, fostering a positive, safe, and inclusive outdoor experience. Apply here.
The Internal Revenue Service(IRS) is hosting a free webinar titled “Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill: Individual Tax Provisions” on Tuesday, March 3 at 2 p.m. It will discuss the individual tax provisions enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the rules governing the no-tax-on-tips provision and the no-tax-on-overtime provision. There will also be a live Q&A session. Learn more and register here.
Literacy Together will be hosting the 17th Annual Authors for Literacy Fundraiser, featuring NY Times bestselling author Margot Lee Shetterly. She is the author of Hidden Figures, which was a top book of 2016 for both TIME and Publisher’s Weekly, a USA Today bestseller, and a #1 (instant) New York Times bestseller. The event will take place at the A-B Tech Conference Center on Thursday, April 30, and starts at 6:30 p.m. Learn more.
Morgan Stanley is offering a 12-week virtual, instructor-facilitated learning experience called the Morgan Stanley Small Business Academy. It promises to help small businesses grow and improve by leveraging their competitive advantage, differentiating themselves in the procurement process, strengthening their business knowledge, and building their professional network. The experience is also followed by yearlong mentorship program. Applications are open until Friday March 6th, 2026, and the final cohort selection date will be Friday April 16th, 2026. Learn more and apply here.
OnTrack WNC is excited to announce Fund the Future, its upcoming annual event. This year, they’ll gather at Highland Brewing on April 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to celebrate their community and the life-changing impact of financial empowerment across Western North Carolina. Food will be provided by Cecilia’s Kitchen, and all proceeds go toward OnTrack WNC’s programs and services. Learn more.
The Wake Forest University Center for Private Business is hosting Dr. William T. Lewis for a talk on “Lessons in Resilience Every Leader Can Learn” on March 26 at the UNCA Sherrill Center. The talk will focus on the 7 Behaviors of Resilient Leadership—a framework grounded in hard-earned lessons from business owners who’ve weathered some of the toughest storms. Learn more and register here.
New & Noteworthy
Asheville restaurants Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ and Luminosa were recently chosen as two of USA Today’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year. The list of 39 restaurants was compiled by food writers across the country. Learn more.
The Blue Ridge Craft Trails, an initiative of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, will attend American Craft Made Baltimore from February 20-22, 2026, in Baltimore, MD. The event features roughly 400 artists from across the country selling their handcrafted art and making connections. The Blue Ridge Craft Trails’ community booth will include three artists, each representing the crafts from the Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills: Kwadwo Som-Pimpong, a woodworking artist from Clyde; Ann Hord-Heatherly, a mixed-media figurative from Weaverville; and Melinda Lawton, a jewelry maker from Hendersonville.
Last week, the Buncombe County Government sent letters to about 5,400 Buncombe County voters were sent a letter encouraging residents to update their voter information. This is part of ongoing efforts by the State Board to maintain accurate and current voter rolls. Crucially, receiving this letter does not affect your ability to vote your registration status. If you do not respond to the letter, you’ll be asked to update your information at your polling place.
Black Mountain restaurant The Foothills Grange is set to be featured on the popular food TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” hosted by Guy Fieri. It will appear on the episode titled “Hot Dogs, Hot Knots, and Hot Ramen” airing on February 27 at 9 p.m. The restaurant is owned by husband and wife Casey and Amanda McKissick, who are also founders of the butcher shop Foothills Local Meats and Hell or High Water restaurant in Black Mountain. Learn more.
Mars Hill University students recently joined their counterparts from 17 other private colleges across North Carolina for the 15th Ethics Bowl, exploring the topic of ethics in leadership. Hosted by North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), the event was held February 6–7, 2026, at the North Carolina Legislative Complex in Raleigh. The Mars Hill team won one match and lost close matches to three eventual semifinalist teams.
UNC Asheville Senior Lecturer of Mass Communication Michael Gouge has been named a 2026 Faculty Champion by the Center for Community News (CCN) at the University of Vermont. Gouge is among 150 journalism educators nationwide honored for building and sustaining university-led reporting programs that serve communities facing shrinking local news coverage
Governor Josh Stein recently appointed three Western North Carolina community members to advise him on a variety of matters. Highland Brewing Company owner Leah Wong Ashburn will serve as an at-large member on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC Recovery. Keynon Lake, founder of an Asheville-based program My Daddy Taught Me That and a Child Protective Services social worker for 20 years, is serving on the Juvenile Justice Planning Committee and the Gang Prevention and Intervention Taskforce. Catrina Buchanan, a mother of a young child with disabilities and a pediatric medical assistant in Graham County, will provide advice to the North Carolina Interagency Coordinating Council for Children from Birth to Five with Disabilities.
Community Input
The Asheville Downtown Association has opened up a new public survey about the state of downtown, and they want your feedback. The organization, which seeks to improve the experience of people “working, living, and exploring in downtown Asheville.” The survey asks questions about safety, cleanliness, and travel; it should take 10-15 minutes to complete. Take the survey.
Buncombe County’s Early Childhood Education & Development Committee (ECE) wants to hear about your experiences with local childcare and support for parents with young children. This survey is geared toward parents and families with children aged five and younger in Buncombe County. The survey is open now through March 20. Take the survey.
The City of Asheville is moving forward with a sidewalk restoration project on North Lexington Avenue aimed at improving pedestrian safety and accessibility. Lexington Avenue is widely recognized for its unique character supported by its iconic brick paver sidewalks, but it also suffers from significant wear. The City invites the public to attend an upcoming informational engagement session on Thursday, February 26. Learn more.
Explore Asheville recently posted its 2026 Partner Survey. If you’re a partner, your responses will directly inform how it prioritizes partnership programs, resources, and engagement. If you take the survey, you can opt in for $50 gift card to a local travel and hospitality business of your choice. Take the survey.