"I Pledge Allegiance to Affrilachia"

I am a Black Southerner and my experience, though it defies the white hillbilly stereotype, is assuredly Appalachian.

Being a Black person from Appalachia can be summed up in that old Facebook relationship status: It’s complicated.

Matthieu RodriguezMarch 17, 2019I Pledge Allegiance to Affrilachia

JESSICA TOMASIN

Founder / Executive Director

She is the co-founder of Asheville Music Professionals, a non-profit organization committed to providing education, advocacy, connection and collaboration in the music community.

Matthieu RodriguezFebruary 7, 2019Behind the Scenes, 2019

CRISSA REQUATE

Festival Producer/Creative Director

In 2011, Crissa Requate founded Mason Jar Media, a boutique marketing agency specializing in publicity and radio promotion campaigns for festivals, musicians, and brands.

Matthieu RodriguezFebruary 7, 2019Behind the Scenes, 2019

IZ WEB

Senior Programmer

With a background in writing, filmmaking and the arts, Iz Web’s diverse career has included information architecture, multimedia activist art, theatrical/festival/event production, community organization, and circus arts.

Matthieu RodriguezFebruary 7, 2019Behind the Scenes, 2019

ZAK KILBERG

Film Partner / Head of Programming

Producer Zak Kilberg is the founder of Social Construct Films, which handles the creative development, financing, production and worldwide sales for a slate of feature films and television series.

Matthieu RodriguezFebruary 7, 2019Behind the Scenes, 2019

CBTP Spotlight: Abby Epstein

From acting and producing, to dancing her way into the hearts of television audiences, Emmy Award-winning television host Ricki Lake is a pop culture icon who has built a career on her graciously candid sensibility and her authentic, relatable nature.

Jessica TomasinApril 18, 2018Connect: Beyond the Page, Abby Epstein, WEED THE PEOPLE, Ricki Lake

CBTP Spotlight: Ricki Lake

From acting and producing, to dancing her way into the hearts of television audiences, Emmy Award-winning television host Ricki Lake is a pop culture icon who has built a career on her graciously candid sensibility and her authentic, relatable nature.

Jessica TomasinApril 18, 2018Connect: Beyond the Page, Abby Epstein, WEED THE PEOPLE, Ricki Lake

CBTP Spotlight: Joseph Hudak

Joseph Hudak is a senior editor at Rolling Stone, overseeing the magazine's Nashville office and the Rolling Stone Country website, which covers the country and Americana genres.

Jessica TomasinApril 17, 2018Connect: Beyond the Page, Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone

CAT FLY

Realizing the lack of platforms for Asheville’s up-and-coming filmmakers, they built one from scratch in the form of Cat Fly Film Festival.

CBTP Spotlight: Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia brings to the stage a collection of sounds, stories, and songs steeped in tradition and a devotion to world culture. Intertwining a deep reverence for folk music and a passion for justice, they have made it their life’s work to sing songs that speak to something ancient yet surging with relevance.

Jessica TomasinApril 14, 2018Connect: Beyond the Page, Chloe Smith, Rising Appalachia

CBTP Spotlight: Dayna Reggero, Climate Listening Project

Dayna Reggero is the award-winning director of the Climate Listening Project. Dayna works creatively to cultivate and share hopeful conversations on climate and community through video, film, connections, and collaborations.

Jessica TomasinApril 13, 2018Dayna Regerro, Connect: Beyond the Page