Event: “The Eclectic Lives of Two Asheville Women”

In Celebration of Women’s History Month

Wednesday, March 21, 2018 from 6:00 to 7:00

Pack Memorial Library, Lord Auditorium

Come Hear Ashevillians:

Esther Manheimer

Asheville City Mayor

And

Sheneika Smith

Asheville City Councilwoman

Talk About:

Growing up in Asheville and

Their Lives as Mothers, Professionals & Women

And Why They Decided to Enter Public Service

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the North Carolina Room with help from Mountain Express.

From The Asheville Citizen-Times December 27, 2017:

“ASHEVILLE – It was a year city voters made history, breaking long-standing barriers of race and sex.

That momentous time was 1969.

Nearly half a century ago in one election, Asheville voters picked the first African-American council member and the first woman ever to serve on that body.

The changes happened despite institutional racism and cemented gender roles.” (Ruben J. Dailey was elected as the first African American on Asheville City Council and Barbara C. Keleher was the first woman elected to Asheville City Council.)

“Forty-eight years later, this fall’s election put two African-Americans, an Asian-American and a Jewish mayor on council, making it the most diverse governing body Asheville has ever seen. In another historic first, women became a majority.

Those demographic lines were crossed despite a shrinking African-American population and women continuing to face different burdens than men, said Mayor Esther Manheimer, one of four women on the seven-member council.” Asheville Citizen-Times December 27, 2017.

Post by Zoe Rhine North Carolina Room librarian.