Blog

Summer LABS Highlight

Our partnerships with people and organizations across Asheville are a pivotal part of our programming, and this summer was no exception. 

With our program at full capacity, serving rising 1st through 9th graders, I wanted to build something distinct for our two oldest grades; programming that would spark their curiosity as they step into the next chapter of their education and their lives.

That goal, paired with my love of collaborating across the community, became Summer LABS.  I connected our students with more than a dozen community partners across two-week sessions, each built around a different theme: Medical/First Responders and Food Entrepreneurship, STEAM and Music, Sports and Cosmetology. Students chose the track that interested them most. 

In the Medical/First Responders session, students worked with MAHEC's Simulation Lab team on emergency response situations. Leslie Council, MAHEC's Director of Health Careers, came to speak with them about building a career in healthcare as a differently abled person. To end the session, they had a hands-on tour at the Firefighter/EMT Academy at A-B Tech Woodfin that included learning about rescue scenarios, competitions and more.

The focus on Food Entrepreneurship took them behind the scenes at Poppy Popcorn, where founder Ginger Frank led a tour of the production facility. Emily Baron, owner of Asheville Kitchen, taught a hands-on lesson making Vietnamese spring rolls. And Blue Ridge Food Ventures, at the WNC Farmers Market, showed how they help local small businesses by providing kitchen space to develop menu items for catering, food trucks, and more.

The second session was a choice between STEAM or Music.  The STEAM section introduced students to visual artist Cleaster Cotton leading a tour through Asheville’s River Arts District meeting artists and discussing what they discovered. They created unique mixed media pieces at my studio - Ginger Huebner Art, and had a tour and had a stimulating discussion with Scott and Chad at Harding Huebner Architects. They worked with the UNCA Skillset STEAM Studio team and got a tour of their amazing workshop space.  The Music section was a full and focused time working with Virtuous Music writing, design, and creating a song and music video.  

The final session brought basketball training with Will Johnson of Thrill Skills Academy, where students learned about all of the layers of training for those moments on the court, as well as played in multiple scrimmages. The other option was learning about cosmetology Sharquie Jones, from Legends Beauty and Barbershop and Beaute’ by Quie! She engaged students in hands-on skills for the most common hairstyles in this generation - mannequins, irons, dryers, and more - as well as what it takes to become a licensed cosmetologist.

Watching it all come together was a joy, and I'm proud of what our students took away from all of the different experiences. We're deeply grateful to every partner who gave them their time, their workspaces, and their expertise. As the school year unfolds, we look forward to building new partnerships that will grow Summer LABS next year, and eventually open doors to internships and jobs for our graduates as they move through high school.

The Gift of Giving

Volunteering at Horizons has been a life-changing experience for me and I am so thankful to have done it. Working with these young, amazing children has taught me so much and helped me grow into a better person in so many ways. No matter whether I am aiding the kids in literacy, helping them share with each other, or watching them as they pass their swim tests, there is always an atmosphere of caring and making positive differences that is wonderfully inspiring and touching.

Throughout my life, I have always wanted to help the world around me and make it a better place. So when I learned about Horizons and discovered I could start volunteering in seventh grade, I was very excited – but also nervous – for the opportunity. I had been assigned to the rising first graders and a number of challenges in my first couple of days made my experience draining.  As the week continued however, I began connecting more closely with each child and as I got to know and work with each of them, something magical happened and lit up my world. Everything began changing for me as I saw the kids learning and blossoming emotionally and academically, and when they all beamed with joy after reading their first book together, I glimpsed the countless miracles they all were and knew I wanted to do all I could to nurture and assist them.

As that first Summer came to an end, I felt myself filled with emotions and memories. The bond Horizons had formed for me and them was more than a mentor to a student, it was like we had become family. Every child had done so much and grown emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually and I was so proud of all of them and grateful to have been able to play a role in their development. As these hard-working, growing ACORNS became SPROUTS at Horizons’ graduation I cried tears of joy for each of them, for their accomplishments in-and-out of class, and for the year of waiting before I could have the privilege of working with them again.

Looking back now, with another summer having passed and the kids having grown another year older, I find myself reflecting on all the experiences of Horizons, and the ways it has affected me and them. They have learned and grown so much in the time I have known them through this program, and while I have given them my time and knowledge and care, it feels like they have given me something even greater. They gave me the discovery, ability, and joy that is to be found in supporting and helping other people and have shown me meaning in life. I feel anyone could enjoy and benefit from working with Horizons and would recommend it to everyone. For my part, I am full of gratitude to have been a Horizons volunteer and a part of these children' s journeys and hope that I have made and will make many more positive impacts on these students in summers to come.