We’ve heard and are learning the importance of taking next steps to be more diverse and inclusive. We’re ready to move forward—but what are the next steps?

On Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 8 AM – 10:30 AM EST, join the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce for an in-person event, built to inspire, encourage, and support women in business. Three panelists will lead the discussion on diversity, including their perspectives on personal accountability, transparency, intentionality, and resources that personally help them grow and thrive. Words and language matter. Let’s keep the momentum moving toward inclusion in our workplaces and community.

Meet the Panelists:

AISHA ADAMS is an influencer with a heart for community economic development. She champions social change advocates, thought leaders, and courageous disruptors. As founder and CEO of the Aisha Adams Media LLC and partner organization Equity Over Everything, Aisha works to advance equity by closing gaps in entrepreneurship and home ownership in low-resource communities. Aisha’s other ventures include The Asheville View, a daytime-style talk show which addresses “hot button” issues in town, Nappy Thoughts, a personal blog followed by thousands of people on social media, and The Entrepreneurial Accelerator, a business boot-camp tying fledgling businesses to community resources. Aisha earned her bachelor’s degree in English from University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her Master of Science degree in Adult Education from Capella University. Aisha has received the Tzedeck Brilliance Award, the Martin Luther King Award, the WomanUP Woman Entrepreneur Best in Business Award, and the Mountain BizWorks Jane Renfroe Award.

MARTA ALCAVA-WILLIAMS is a Latina woman who has lived, worked, and invested in the Asheville community for the last 30  years. Through her commitment to building deep relationships, and using resources innovatively to build true opportunities, and communicating the equity lens in each of her formal and informal roles, Marta contributes to the work of racial equity/justice and the wellbeing of her community. She is the co-founder of the Marvelous Math Club, an affirmative and collaborative space that focuses on developing leadership skills, building relationships, supporting homework completion, and celebrating math in one of the Asheville Housing Authority (AHA) communities. Marta started a Motheread group in another AHA community seven years ago which has created an amazingly powerful group of black, brown, and white women who uplift one another and are charting new territory on building true multi-racial communities.  Marta is currently Executive Director of Equity for Asheville City Schools. She is on the leadership team for WNC Racial Equity Collaborative, contributes to a number of boards,  and has been a member of the Adverse Childhood Experiences.

TAYLOR BELL is a long-time Asheville resident. Taylor is proud to be an alumni of UNC Asheville after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Management, with a concentration in Business Administration. She co-owns and remains active in a family business with her father. In August 2016, Taylor joined the Colton Groome & Company team and is now the Operations Manager. In 2021, Taylor was awarded the “Rising Star” award from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce WomanUp Committee. Outside of work, Taylor is an active supporter of her community. She is an active participant in organizations such as United Way, an executive committee member at UNCA Asheville’s Our Turn to Play, a volunteer with Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, and a member of the UNC Asheville Department of Management & Accountancy Advisory Board. Taylor enjoys spending time with her husband, Jordan, and loving on her three daughters – Evelyn, Lyla, & Audrey.

Register for this diversity workshop through the Asheville Area Chamber website:

The Workshop Agenda:

• 8:00 – 8:30 am      Start the morning with registration and check-in, and a light breakfast by Celine & Company Catering “On Broadway”
• 8:30 – 9:00 am      Make business connections; build relationships with other attendees
• 9:00 – 10:00 am    Inspirational panel discussion, moderated by Victoria Dunkle of AdventHealth
• 10:00 – 10:30 am  Q&A