
Mike Wiley at the YMI - Changing Same
A sobering historical performance recounts the 1944 killing of Black soldier Booker T. Spicely after a bus-seat dispute under Jim Crow laws. Expect a story-driven, community-minded night of reflection on racial injustice and public memory.
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A gripping historical drama recounts the 1944 killing of Black soldier Booker T. Spicely after a Jim Crow bus-seat dispute, confronting racism, accountability, and memory. Staged at the YMI Cultural Center in downtown Asheville.

A gripping historical drama recounts the 1944 killing of Black soldier Booker T. Spicely after a Jim Crow bus-seat dispute, confronting racism, accountability, and memory. Staged at the YMI Cultural Center in downtown Asheville.
A gripping historical drama recounts the 1944 killing of Black soldier Booker T. Spicely after a Jim Crow bus-seat dispute, confronting racism, accountability, and memory. Staged at the YMI Cultural Center in downtown Asheville.

A powerful one person theatrical performance blending spoken word storytelling with Black history and social justice themes. Held at a cultural center for an evening that sparks conversation, reflection, and community learning.

A powerful one person theatrical performance blending spoken word storytelling with Black history and social justice themes. Held at a cultural center for an evening that sparks conversation, reflection, and community learning.
A powerful one person theatrical performance blending spoken word storytelling with Black history and social justice themes. Held at a cultural center for an evening that sparks conversation, reflection, and community learning.

Community-centered book discussion exploring literature that centers the voices, histories, and futures of the African Diaspora. Hosted by YMI’s Director of Community Engagement in a culturally rooted, dialogue-forward setting.

Community-centered book discussion exploring literature that centers the voices, histories, and futures of the African Diaspora. Hosted by YMI’s Director of Community Engagement in a culturally rooted, dialogue-forward setting.
Community-centered book discussion exploring literature that centers the voices, histories, and futures of the African Diaspora. Hosted by YMI’s Director of Community Engagement in a culturally rooted, dialogue-forward setting.

A thoughtful conversation examines racism as both a structural problem and a moral or spiritual challenge, asking how institutional reform and transformed perspectives can advance racial justice.

A thoughtful conversation examines racism as both a structural problem and a moral or spiritual challenge, asking how institutional reform and transformed perspectives can advance racial justice.
A thoughtful conversation examines racism as both a structural problem and a moral or spiritual challenge, asking how institutional reform and transformed perspectives can advance racial justice.

A playful whodunit stage mystery spins family secrets, suspicious alibis, and comedic twists in a community arts-center setting. Pay what you can admission makes it an accessible, all-ages night of theatrical sleuthing.

A playful whodunit stage mystery spins family secrets, suspicious alibis, and comedic twists in a community arts-center setting. Pay what you can admission makes it an accessible, all-ages night of theatrical sleuthing.
A playful whodunit stage mystery spins family secrets, suspicious alibis, and comedic twists in a community arts-center setting. Pay what you can admission makes it an accessible, all-ages night of theatrical sleuthing.

A documentary screening followed by community discussion creates space to explore voting and civic participation, reflect on the film’s themes, and exchange perspectives in a conversation-centered setting.

A documentary screening followed by community discussion creates space to explore voting and civic participation, reflect on the film’s themes, and exchange perspectives in a conversation-centered setting.
A documentary screening followed by community discussion creates space to explore voting and civic participation, reflect on the film’s themes, and exchange perspectives in a conversation-centered setting.
Raw, honest contemporary theater in an intimate arts center setting, presented as the North Carolina premiere of Benjamin Boucvalt’s work. Expect a captivating evening built around emotionally direct storytelling and stage-driven performance.
Raw, honest contemporary theater in an intimate arts center setting, presented as the North Carolina premiere of Benjamin Boucvalt’s work. Expect a captivating evening built around emotionally direct storytelling and stage-driven performance.
Raw, honest contemporary theater in an intimate arts center setting, presented as the North Carolina premiere of Benjamin Boucvalt’s work. Expect a captivating evening built around emotionally direct storytelling and stage-driven performance.

A tense stage drama that probes faith, authority, and moral certainty through sharp dialogue and escalating confrontations. Expect an intimate community-theater atmosphere with emotionally charged performances and post-show conversation potential.

A tense stage drama that probes faith, authority, and moral certainty through sharp dialogue and escalating confrontations. Expect an intimate community-theater atmosphere with emotionally charged performances and post-show conversation potential.
A tense stage drama that probes faith, authority, and moral certainty through sharp dialogue and escalating confrontations. Expect an intimate community-theater atmosphere with emotionally charged performances and post-show conversation potential.

An evening of live storytelling that blends theatrical performance with an intimate conversation and Q&A. Expect vivid personal narratives, cultural heritage themes, and community-centered discussion in a small community-center setting.

An evening of live storytelling that blends theatrical performance with an intimate conversation and Q&A. Expect vivid personal narratives, cultural heritage themes, and community-centered discussion in a small community-center setting.
An evening of live storytelling that blends theatrical performance with an intimate conversation and Q&A. Expect vivid personal narratives, cultural heritage themes, and community-centered discussion in a small community-center setting.

After-dark cemetery walk blends local history with theatrical encounters as costumed figures step out of the shadows. Stories link Thomas Wolfe’s writings to real Asheville inspirations and other notable Ashevillians at Riverside Cemetery.

After-dark cemetery walk blends local history with theatrical encounters as costumed figures step out of the shadows. Stories link Thomas Wolfe’s writings to real Asheville inspirations and other notable Ashevillians at Riverside Cemetery.
After-dark cemetery walk blends local history with theatrical encounters as costumed figures step out of the shadows. Stories link Thomas Wolfe’s writings to real Asheville inspirations and other notable Ashevillians at Riverside Cemetery.

Independent documentary screening paired with a Southern Circuit filmmaker conversation, centering the American Pachuco style movement and its cultural legacy. Expect a museum auditorium atmosphere with context-rich discussion on identity, history, and representation.

Independent documentary screening paired with a Southern Circuit filmmaker conversation, centering the American Pachuco style movement and its cultural legacy. Expect a museum auditorium atmosphere with context-rich discussion on identity, history, and representation.
Independent documentary screening paired with a Southern Circuit filmmaker conversation, centering the American Pachuco style movement and its cultural legacy. Expect a museum auditorium atmosphere with context-rich discussion on identity, history, and representation.
A historian-led walking excursion through downtown Asheville that spotlights local history, architecture, and key stories from the city’s past. Meet at a bar and coffee shop for an early-evening, small-group stroll with plenty of context and Q&A.
A historian-led walking excursion through downtown Asheville that spotlights local history, architecture, and key stories from the city’s past. Meet at a bar and coffee shop for an early-evening, small-group stroll with plenty of context and Q&A.
A historian-led walking excursion through downtown Asheville that spotlights local history, architecture, and key stories from the city’s past. Meet at a bar and coffee shop for an early-evening, small-group stroll with plenty of context and Q&A.

A live storytelling bash where spoken-word tales and personal narratives come alive in an intimate, seated listening space. Expect a community-minded night of laughter, reflection, and folk tradition with welcoming all-ages energy.

A live storytelling bash where spoken-word tales and personal narratives come alive in an intimate, seated listening space. Expect a community-minded night of laughter, reflection, and folk tradition with welcoming all-ages energy.
A live storytelling bash where spoken-word tales and personal narratives come alive in an intimate, seated listening space. Expect a community-minded night of laughter, reflection, and folk tradition with welcoming all-ages energy.
Hard-hitting hip hop set led by a Brooklyn MC known for razor-sharp lyricism, socially conscious storytelling, and politically charged bars. Late-night club energy with support from madmikelives and a crowd-ready call-and-response vibe.
Hard-hitting hip hop set led by a Brooklyn MC known for razor-sharp lyricism, socially conscious storytelling, and politically charged bars. Late-night club energy with support from madmikelives and a crowd-ready call-and-response vibe.
Hard-hitting hip hop set led by a Brooklyn MC known for razor-sharp lyricism, socially conscious storytelling, and politically charged bars. Late-night club energy with support from madmikelives and a crowd-ready call-and-response vibe.

Independent Southern filmmaking takes the spotlight with a screening of “They Dream” as part of the Southern Circuit Tour. Expect an art-museum cinema vibe with context on regional storytelling and post-film discussion.

Independent Southern filmmaking takes the spotlight with a screening of “They Dream” as part of the Southern Circuit Tour. Expect an art-museum cinema vibe with context on regional storytelling and post-film discussion.
Independent Southern filmmaking takes the spotlight with a screening of “They Dream” as part of the Southern Circuit Tour. Expect an art-museum cinema vibe with context on regional storytelling and post-film discussion.

Original songs accompanied by guitar, resonator, banjo, and dobro trace a North Carolina Union loyalist’s perilous Civil War journey, interwoven with readings from her journal and a story of Southern resistance.

Original songs accompanied by guitar, resonator, banjo, and dobro trace a North Carolina Union loyalist’s perilous Civil War journey, interwoven with readings from her journal and a story of Southern resistance.
Original songs accompanied by guitar, resonator, banjo, and dobro trace a North Carolina Union loyalist’s perilous Civil War journey, interwoven with readings from her journal and a story of Southern resistance.

A community book discussion of Morningside examines the 1979 Greensboro Massacre and North Carolina history, prompting reflection on racial and social equity, civic responsibility, and building a more inclusive society.

A community book discussion of Morningside examines the 1979 Greensboro Massacre and North Carolina history, prompting reflection on racial and social equity, civic responsibility, and building a more inclusive society.
A community book discussion of Morningside examines the 1979 Greensboro Massacre and North Carolina history, prompting reflection on racial and social equity, civic responsibility, and building a more inclusive society.

Competitive live storytelling slam where selected tellers share true, personal stories onstage with theatrical lighting and a lively audience. Expect laugh out loud moments, heartfelt twists, and community judging in a downtown performing arts hall.

Competitive live storytelling slam where selected tellers share true, personal stories onstage with theatrical lighting and a lively audience. Expect laugh out loud moments, heartfelt twists, and community judging in a downtown performing arts hall.
Competitive live storytelling slam where selected tellers share true, personal stories onstage with theatrical lighting and a lively audience. Expect laugh out loud moments, heartfelt twists, and community judging in a downtown performing arts hall.
Contagious Asheville-bred funk with bold horn hits and sassy, self-possessed grooves inspired by the band’s Funk Life era. Expect a high-energy, sweat-on-the-dancefloor set with Hustle Souls bringing extra soul-driven punch.
Contagious Asheville-bred funk with bold horn hits and sassy, self-possessed grooves inspired by the band’s Funk Life era. Expect a high-energy, sweat-on-the-dancefloor set with Hustle Souls bringing extra soul-driven punch.
Contagious Asheville-bred funk with bold horn hits and sassy, self-possessed grooves inspired by the band’s Funk Life era. Expect a high-energy, sweat-on-the-dancefloor set with Hustle Souls bringing extra soul-driven punch.

A playful stage adaptation of the beloved Frog and Toad stories, with colorful costumes, simple songs, and gentle humor geared to young audiences. Expect a daytime matinee vibe ideal for families and first-time theatergoers.

A playful stage adaptation of the beloved Frog and Toad stories, with colorful costumes, simple songs, and gentle humor geared to young audiences. Expect a daytime matinee vibe ideal for families and first-time theatergoers.
A playful stage adaptation of the beloved Frog and Toad stories, with colorful costumes, simple songs, and gentle humor geared to young audiences. Expect a daytime matinee vibe ideal for families and first-time theatergoers.