CoThinkk supporters and honorees recently came together to celebrate the amazing work and accomplishments of community leaders working across Western North Carolina.
This year’s presentation began with an intentional land acknowledgement that honored the Cherokee peoples, past and present, and then anchored deeply into CoThinkk’s 2023 theme, “Co-conspiratorship and Solidarity—This is Us!”
“This is Us! explicitly partnered with CoThinkk another in a way that centers this work in every aspect of our collective journey,” said Tracey Greene-Washington, CoThinkk founder and author of the recent leadership book Choosing Purposeful Alignment: The Messy Middle of Transformation, as she kicked off the event.
CoThinkk’s Leadership Awards were presented to Bettie Council, Shaunda Jackson, JéWana Grier-McEachin, Cholë Moore, and Thomas Priester. The Ally Awards were presented to Kathey Avery and Stephen Blount. Next Generation Leadership Awards were presented to Imani Bellamy, Julia Darity, and Trinity Barnwell-Thomas.
Additionally, the giving circle honored and rewarded 52 leaders in the form of grants, self-care stipends, and culturally anchored support through their partnership with the Coach Diversity Institute. These funds are given to organizations that accelerate systemic change and shift the narrative of communities of color in Asheville and WNC.
The winners include the following organizations:
- Read to Succeed
- YTL Training Programs
- Stella Stellar Network (Celebrating Stars)
- Solid Ground 59
- Southside United Neighborhood Association
- Museum of the Cherokee People
- Different Wrld
- Language Justice Lunch…
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