Happy St. Patrick's Day from 12 Baskets Café!
The grocery/pantry is open and we have an abundance of green veggies today!
Pictured here is some of our amazing crew decked out in their green!
Meet our Community Monday
Today we introduce you to Betsy, a long time supporter and former board member of 12 Baskets Café. Betsy is always willing to lend a hand and do anything asked of her. Just last week she brought us some much needed coffee mugs from Homeward Bound of WNC. This is just one of MANY examples of how Betsy helps us keep the Café running.
Meet our Community Monday
Asheville Poverty Initiative has always thrived through the power of community. Each and every person who participates makes our programming beautiful.
Kitchen Mama Donna, our Notorious KMD, can take the heat not only in the kitchen but with high degrees in lab science and nutrition, as well extensive studies in the culinary arts. Donna has lived in Bucks county Pennsylvania and Philadelphia but she chose to settle in Asheville because she loves the mountains and the people.
Meet our Community Monday
Meet Anne, to know her is to love her. She has been a friend of 12 Baskets Café since the beginning. Anne knows everyone who walks through the door and brings a positive attitude to all. We are so thankful for everything she brings to our loving community.
Whole Foods Beef, Bean and Veggie Chili
Introducing a new segment, "The 12 Baskets Cook Book" where we spotlight a recipe from one of our amazing food partners.
Since it has been so cold here in Asheville, we are featuring a chili recipe from @wholefoods . You can find this and other yummy recipes at https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes.
Serves 6 -- Time 40 min
Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef
1 large yellow onion diced
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups beef broth
2 cups diced fresh or frozen bell peppers
1 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
2 cans no-salt added beans
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 green onions sliced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
Method
In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat.
Add beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon until browned, about 5 minutes.
Add onion and garlic and cook until onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
Stir in chili powder and cumin.
Add broth, bell peppers, corn, beans and tomato paste.
Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, covered, until the flavors blend, 20 to 25 minutes.
Garnish with green onions and cilantro before serving.
Spring 2022 News - Emily's Goodbye
Spring is in full swing, and just as there are new blooms and new growth all around us, so is API growing and thriving in new and changing ways. You will see below that Emily Fox, one of our Co-Directors, is announcing her resignation.
Read moreIn Memoriam:
The Asheville Poverty Initiative family extends our thoughts and prayers to the family of Queen Mother, Ms. Maggie Belle Gladden, who passed away on Friday, November 19th. Queen Mother was instrumental in getting our 12 Baskets Café program started with our founder, Rev. Dr. Shannon Spencer. A vital part in not only our community, but the greater Asheville community as well, Queen Mother was an inspiration and light to everyone she met. Our community will miss her smile, laughter and presence. Rest well dear one!
Click this link to watch a video recording of Queen Mother's service on November 29, 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iORMyM47bDg
API Announces Co-Directors!
API’s Co Directors Melva Lowry (left) and Emily Fox (right)
API’s board of directors is proud to announce that Melva Lowry will join Emily Fox to serve as Asheville Poverty Initiative’s co-directors. Melva will begin her work officially on August 10.
Following the departure in January of beloved founder of API Shannon Spencer, the board adopted a co-director model and began an extensive search for a leader to complement Emily Fox. We believe Melva and Emily are the right team to lead API in its mission to dismantle stereotypes, reduce fear, and empower hope. While both will share primary executive functions through a close working relationship, Emily (MSW) will take the lead in our Realities of Poverty educational programming, provide community-based social work support for the 12 Baskets Café community, as well as supervise social work field internships. Melva (MDiv) will serve as the program lead of 12 Baskets Café, provide pastoral support for those seeking spiritual care in the Café community, as well as supervise Young Adult Volunteer interns through Hands and Feet of Asheville.
An ordained Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Melva has completed three theological degrees from PC(USA) affiliated seminaries. Her desire to work in the not-for-profit sector has been her focus throughout her educational career. She sees her call to ministry as outside the church walls, and she brings to API an understanding that “everyone just wants to be seen and heard.” With a passion for youth and young adults, Melva is a gifted preacher and writer, and serves on the editorial board for Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice. She most recently served as a Hands and Feet Fellow at The Center in Baltimore, a faith-based nonprofit committed to education and justice, and is a founding board member of Bridge of Hope (Greater Baltimore area).
Emily is a self-proclaimed macro (communities and organizations) social work nerd who has worked with API for four years and is excited to grow into the role of co-director. Since moving to Asheville in 2014, she has worked in food security, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and domestic violence fields. She currently serves on the board of directors for Loving Food Resources, a food and item pantry for people living with HIV/AIDS, and the Social Work Advisory Board for Warren Wilson College.
More biographical information about the API staff can be found here: https://www.ashevillepovertyinitiative.org/who
With the challenges we have faced over the past 16 months, we are also extremely grateful for the continued leadership of Donna Earnshaw (12 Baskets Café kitchen coordinator) and Klari Farzley (program coordinator) who are continuing their work with API. We are also grateful for your support for our mission, allowing us to continue to serve the community in important ways. Stay tuned for updates about opportunities to welcome our co-directors, as well as news about the operations of 12 Baskets Café and our educational programs.
API Board Members:
TJ Amos, MA
Samantha Gonzalez-Block
Missy Harris
Phil Leonard, Treasurer
Michael Poulos, Chair
Kimberleigh Wells
Betsy Wilson, Secretary
API Hiring Committee:
Emily Fox
Phil Leonard
Anne Leventer
Michael Poulos
Kimberleigh Wells
Update from the Board: The Search for a Co-Director - Michael Poulos, API Board Chair
Over the last several months I have also come to realize that the API/12 Baskets community has never been about one person. If Shannon taught us anything, it is the power of community and the abundance we all share. I have witnessed how our community (volunteers, companions, and staff) continues to show up for one another as we carry on our mission of radical hospitality and transformative education.
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