Join us for an evening of multi-disciplinary stories, art, and performance — all while celebrating the power of community. Story Parlor’s "AVL Revue" series is a bi-monthly showcase spotlighting local creative businesses/initiatives and their efforts to add to the fabric of the arts and culture scene here in Asheville.
In honor of Black History and Futures Month, this Revue features some of Asheville’s Black-led organizations and groups. We invite the organization, and they invite the participating artist!
Featuring….
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Black Wall Street is dedicated to starting, growing, and expanding black businesses, owners and networks, and revitalizing the Black Wall Street.
More info at: https://blackwallstreetavl.com/about-us
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Presenting Ricardo Tejeda and Tyler Lewis
Originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL, Ricardo Tejeda is an experienced graphic designer, photographer, printer, and writer based in Asheville, NC. With almost two decades under his belt in various creative industries, he started his company, Show And Tale Creative, in 2021. While his design work finds its identity in type-focused minimalism and leans into political and social commentary, Ricardo's photography allows him to explore his passion for the outdoors through landscape photography and genuine human connections through his portrait work. He combines this wealth of knowledge into blog writing for his website.
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Tyler Lewis, born on October 22, 2003 in Newark, New Jersey. From a young age, he displayed an adventurous spirit and drive to accomplish great things. Despite facing various trials in his life, he has found a way to empower others to live a life filled with purpose and meaning. As a young black Entrepreneur and Author, Tyler's passion lies in sharing the knowledge and wisdom he has acquired through his life experiences and studies in Mindset, Self-Development, and Purpose.
In his recent book "Word to Self," Tyler highlights the significance of a healthy mindset and how it can positively impact our lives. He believes that our thoughts and words shape our destiny and that a positive outlook is key to a fulfilling life. As a proud member of the Black Wall Street cohort in Asheville, Tyler has made a lasting impact in his community by encouraging critical thinking and promoting a wealth-oriented mindset.
Tyler is also a charismatic public speaker, sharing his message of hope and positivity with audiences of all ages. He has a deep appreciation for the value of life and wants to inspire others to live life to the fullest. With the support of his mentors, Bruce Waller and J Hackett, Tyler has learned to confidently live in his purpose and is now on a mission to change mindsets all over the world.
Tyler has big aspirations, and plans to write more books and become a world-renowned speaker, spreading his message of hope and positivity to audiences far and wide. Join Tyler on his journey and discover how to lead a life filled with purpose and meaning.
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The Racial Justice Coalition is a broad-based alliance of individuals and organizations committed to addressing systemic racism and state-sanctioned violence against Black people and those most impacted by poverty, criminalization, and mass incarceration. Through grassroots-led organizing and community collaborations, the RJC seeks to achieve and sustain deep equity by building power in those who are historically underrepresented, dismantling policies and institutions that uphold racism, and reimagining a community where justice exists for all people.
More info at: https://www.rjcavl.org
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Presenting… Nostalgianoid
Mike Holmes is a Black multidisciplinary artist from Asheville, NC. Since obtaining a bachelor’s in Psychology at East Carolina University, they became involved in various music scenes in the Asheville area while honing their photography skills in the skateboard community and in commercial avenues. Mike’s passion for music is indicated through the amount of knowledge they have gained researching various genres, focusing on indigenous music and music of the African Diaspora.
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The North Carolina Association of Black Storytellers, Inc., NCABS, promotes and perpetuates the art of Black Storytelling, an art form that embodies the history and cultures of Africans and African Americans, especially those in North Carolina.
NCABS preserves, protects, and passes on the historical truths, folklore, legends, myths, and fables important to African American traditions.
NCABS members represent the entire state of North Carolina. They hail from the Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks, and enjoy many professions. They are teachers, ministers, parents, musicians, drummers, librarians, flight attendants, students and even retirees! The group frequently performs around the state at schools and local public librarians for Juneteenth and Kwanzaa, at festivals, conferences and symposiums, and for civic celebrations and family events.
http://www.ncabstellers.org
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NCABS will be represented by local storyteller, Roy Harris.
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Slay the Mic's mission is to celebrate culture, community, and creativity by amplifying and empowering voices from local artists, activists, and by providing new, old, underground, and mainstream Hip-Hop and RnB music in the Asheville community.
Slay the Mic has expanded to create STM Multimedia. STM Multimedia is a Black, female-owned social enterprise that fills a unique niche through targeted digital distribution, production, and creation services which are paired with community engagement and edutainment. Our audience is engaged through a 365/ 24/7 digital radio station, an interactive creative content studio, multimedia services, and an active social media platform/radio show Slay the Mic, both of which feature R&B and Hip-Hop music. Radio is a central way that we engage in the community. We build on that success through our work with clients on their video and podcast needs. We believe in the power of creativity and culture to create new possibilities.
The STM Multimedia creative content studio and radio platform. Community Engagement is the heartbeat of the station. It is essential to actively connect with the community by providing contests, being present and supporting other community events, hosting programs that align with the mission of the station.We are here to serve our community–to listen, to provide a space and tools to help tell stories, and to create social impact. We are using radio to develop stronger neighborhoods. Slay the Mic radio group, our definition of community engagement is working collaboratively to discover, understand, and voice community needs, concerns, and aspirations. The process of community commitment helps us discover, develop, and report the stories that impactand inspire. It is how we securely in-sure that the voices in these communities are as diverse as our society. These stories are woven into our landscape, our culture, and our personal connections, often in ways we are not aware. Slay the Mic Radio group provides avenues of outreach into the community by hosting events to build community connections.
More info at: https://slaythemic.com
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Presenting… Virtuous
Virtuous is a singer/song-writer/rapper born and raised in Salisbury NC, and currently residing in Asheville NC. The Mountain XPress, describes her music in this way: “optimistic and danceable one minute, groovy and dripping with swag the next, and then roll you right into church before you realize you’re there”. Her genre of music can be categorized as hiphop/soul although Virtuous Music incorporates many other styles and influences. Virtuous has released 6 projects and tours nationally to spread a message of faith, hope, love and identity to listeners of all ages and backgrounds.
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YMICC’s mission is to promote cultural preservation and elevate Black Excellence through community engagement, advocacy, leadership development and economic justice. YMI offers opportunities in Workforce Development, Healthy Lifestyles, Home Ownership, Business Incubation, and more. YMICC is in the midst of a capital campaign to restore their historic building in order to expand their programming, and bring new technology to the archive room, the Gallery, and event spaces. Noir Collective AVL, a retail boutique and art gallery located @ YMI is the collaborative enterprise that offers Black businesses and creatives a place to bring their wares to market.
Read about their history and the capital campaign here: https://www.ymiculturalcenter.org/capital-campaign
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/YMICulturalCenter/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ymiculturalcenter/
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Presenting…
Lady Be aka Robyn Baxter
As an ARTIST Be has exhibited her work in Malcolm X Grass Movement Black August art exhibit at Brecht Forum (2009). Her ongoing art projects Maasai & I initial exhibit held at Black Ink Tattoo Parlor & Art Gallery (Aug 2011), and Daddies & Daughters held at NAMA (National American Music Association) in June 2012. Her live art venues include the SOURCE magazines, Source 360 event, and the 2014 NYC debut of the World Natural Hair, Health, & Beauty Expo by the Taaliah Waajid company. She has an Associates degree in Fine Arts from Fashion Institute of Technology (Sp. 2013) and Bachelors’ in Fine Arts from Hunter College (2016)
In SPOKEN WORD, Be has performed at the Taaliah Waajid World Natural Hair, Health, & Beauty Expo (2015-2016), more than 3 years at Harlem Week with Unveiled Unlocked collective, Harlem School of the Arts (2016), A Salute to the Black Woman at the Schomburg Center presented by Schomburg Corporation (March 2018), & IAAF (International African Art Festival) at Commodore Barry Park, BK NY under the Brooklyn Magic Festival (Pure Magic Parties) (July 2018). Her debut poetry book, “The Hood is Gonna Love This” was released Dec 2016. The ebook is available as of April 2017