Thrive Asheville brings together local community advocates, policymakers, and professionals from diverse fields and backgrounds to find equitable solutions to our city’s toughest challenges. We connect some of Asheville's smartest problem-solvers with research and tools they may not have the budget or capacity to easily access on their own. Then we design the best community solutions together so that all in our city can thrive.
We collaborate with local residents and leaders from diverse perspectives to understand our city’s challenges, forge new relationships, and act on the best solutions together.
Asheville is a place where all thrive—we share in the beauty and prosperity of our city because we are equitable, sustainable, and connected.
Thrive Asheville is made up of people from communities across Asheville. We work together cross-culturally, and cross-racially, and with other groups to make Asheville better for all.
Thrive’s approach is place-based, meaning that we understand the issues, interconnections and relationships in Asheville and coordinate action and investment to improve the quality of life for our community.
Thrive applies an equity lens to our work, and engages with those most impacted on our issues.
We envision a transformed community and we work for change that significantly improves life conditions for local residents.
Thrive brings people together with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to engage in deep connection, understand complex problems, and identify shared solutions – accomplished by building trust over time.
We find new strategies for moving the community forward, in order to create greater equity and address systemic and interrelated challenges.
By operating in a way that is open, trustworthy and inclusive, Thrive helps bridge differences and builds a stronger, more unified community.
In March 2024, Thrive Asheville hired Interim Director Rachel Zink (bio below) to oversee operations while we launch a search for our next executive director. Experienced consultant Greg Walker Wilson will lead our efforts to find Thrive’s future organizational leader.
This change comes following a planned 90-day review with prior executive director Casey Gilbert, with whom it was mutually determined the position is not a fit. Our board and staff are truly grateful for Casey’s contributions during her tenure and wish her well as she returns to her consulting practice.
Although this transition is unexpected, it is one for which we are well prepared. We have an exceptional, strong board and staff and are continuing our needed and innovative programming – led by Thrive Deputy Director Kate Pett (who previously was Thrive’s founding executive director and who will partner closely with our Interim Director). We remain committed to delivering results for our community, including our successful affordable housing initiatives (Landlord Tenant Partnership and Buncombe County Rental Assistance) as well as supporting a newly launched GATE entrepreneurship training for BIPOC people who want to work in the tourism industry.
We are excited about advancing our work as an incubator for community solutions.
Thrive Asheville welcomes Rachel Zink, an experienced local leader who is serving as Thrive Asheville Interim Director during spring-summer 2024. Rachel is the former executive director of Arts for Life and now leads her own consulting firm, Onward Nonprofit, which focuses on organizational capacity and transition. Among other endeavors, Rachel was the founder of the Creative Mornings program in Asheville.
Kate has worked at the intersection of community development, education, and equity throughout her career. She has led nonprofit organizations for more than 18 years. Kate believes that the collective impact approach to organizing and steering community energy towards meaningful goals can move the needle on issues we care about in Buncombe County.
Iris is a Buncombe native and health education specialist. She combines her passion for our city with a knack for customer service and experience in community education to build and maintain strong relationships with our landlord partners. She joins us from Homeward Bound, where she connected some of our County's most vulnerable residents to stable, long-term housing. Iris believes our community's housing challenges are solvable when we bring everyone on board.
Kristal serves as the Tenant Navigator. She has always been passionate about education and community. In 2021 she was a recipient of a scholarship from the Real Estate Apprenticeship Program, designed for members of the BIPOC community. After obtaining her license as a Broker, Kristal focused on educating our community about homeownership. She has partnered with the nonprofit Hola Carolina to provide home-buying information for the community's Spanish speakers. Kristal is a board member of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB)'s WNC Realtists.
Kelly’s role as Community Development Coordinator is to interpret and share Thrive’s mission, vision, and work with the community. Formerly a small business owner with a focus on communication and branding, Kelly brings her experience and skill to Thrive’s work. She is a writer, a mother, and a passionate community supporter, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Conflict Management and Resolution with a focus on understanding how communities and policy makers can engage in generating sustainable solutions to support growth and change.
Former program director and current consultant, Garrett strives to empower community members as they collectively shape an environment where all members can thrive. Prior to joining the Thrive team, Garrett had experience as: an elementary school teacher; community organizer; and systems-change expert for nonprofits. He lives in Asheville with his family, where they enjoy: cooking, biking, hiking, walking in creeks, playing games, and appreciating the beauty of this community.
2023 - 2024 Board of Directors:
Matt Allen, Land of the Sky Assoc. of Realtors (LOTSAR), • Liz Button, Katie Button Restaurants, ret. • Francisco Castelblanco, MAHEC • Larry Crosby, Foundry Hotel • Tiffany DeBellot, Center for Participatory Change • David Feingold , Public Radio Executive, ret. • George Glackin, Hatch AVL • J Hackett, Black Wall Street AVL/Grind Coffee Shop • Holly Jones, NC DOJ • Kim McGuire, McGuire Consulting, ret. • Pete Perez, Executive and Community Arts, ret. • Jay Richardson, Burial Beer • Missy Sherburne, Education and Technology • Adrian Vassallo, Forvis Wealth Advisors
Additionally, Thrive Asheville has several other community-led working groups, formed in support of specific initiatives.
Our working partners include Asheville Housing Authority, Buncombe County, WNC Superheroes, Children First/CIS, City of Asheville, and Pisgah Legal Services.
