PRESS RELEASE
Asheville, NC – Leadership Asheville Class of 2012 is sponsoring a community event on May 17, 2012 to explore learning opportunities for children after the traditional school day in Asheville and Buncombe County. “Seeds of Tomorrow” will host leaders from education, social services, government, recreation, the arts, literacy, other children’s advocacy groups, parents and community volunteers to examine ways to enrich children’s lives after school. The event is free of charge and will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Highsmith University Union on the UNC Asheville campus.

“Seeds of Tomorrow” will welcome Keynote Speaker Candy Markman, planning director of the Mayor’s After School Initiatives in Nashville, Tenn. Ms. Markman launched the city’s After Zone Alliance, a city-wide network of afterschool zones for Metro Schools’ high-risk middle school students. This private-public partnership serves 450 high-need middle school students across 19 programs.

After the keynote address, agency leaders are invited to select from among six morning breakout sessions to explore topics of interest. Sessions include business engagement, fundraising models and challenges, volunteerism, finding and filling gaps in after-school learning, agency issues and more. Afternoon sessions for the entire community will focus on mentoring, the value of bookmobiles, community involvement and the impact of out-of-school learning. The day will conclude with an agency showcase in Alumni Hall, featuring student performances in dance, music, readings and more. At 4 p.m., participants can enjoy a social hour with live music, snacks and networking.

Registration is free and open to the public. A complimentary lunch will be available to all those who register by May 10. For more information and to register for “Seeds of Tomorrow,” please call Leadership Asheville at (828) 348-0673 or by email at programs@leadershipasheville.org.

Leadership Asheville is dedicated to enhancing community leadership by developing, connecting, and mobilizing citizens throughout the region. Leadership Asheville is made possible through the generous support of its Contributing Partners: The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, The University of North Carolina at Asheville, Volvo Construction Equipment North America, The Van Winkle Law Firm, Mission Health System, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Wells Fargo, Morosani & Associates, Blueprints for Business, TD Bank, WCQS, and Asheville Radio Group.

For more information on the organization, visit the Leadership Asheville website at http://www.leadershipasheville.org.