Among Asheville’s oft-cited strengths are its reputation for tolerance, open-mindedness, creativity, optimism, entrepreneurial zest, quirkiness and a rich confluence of subcultures — and the three panelists at “Asheville’s Direction” agreed they would like to preserve those qualities — as city growth skyrockets — during a July 21 breakfast meeting at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel in downtown Asheville.

Their vision for Asheville’s future also included equality and opportunity for all. The discussion touched on themes of culture, creativity, community and inclusivity — and how their collaboration could achieve equal opportunity in the future.

The sold-out program, which drew about 225 people  — standing-room-only — ran for about an hour. it was moderated by Jim Stokely, president of the Wilma Dykeman Legacy.

The three panelists were Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, UNC Asheville Chancellor Mary K. Grant and Bill Dean, chief executive office of The Collider (billed as an incubator of high-tech businesses). Time constrains limited the panelists to fielding only a handful of questions from the crowd.

The program was the second of three panel discussions on various topics in the Leadership Asheville Summer Buzz Breakfast Series. 

Each panelist spoke specifically on his or her vision of Asheville and how their different their different sectors — government, education and business — intersect with the city to achieve that vision.

“I think that the future, if we do it right, will provide more opportunity for everyone,” Manheimer said during the panel discussion. “I think we risk a growing chasm between those who have and those who have not... Ideally, the future will be a place that provides more equity, more opportunity for all.”

Agreeing with Manheimer’s ideas on opportunity, community and culture, Grant emphasized the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors.

“We need to be doing this work in partnerships,” Grant said. “No longer can we have parallel tracks that don’t connect. That doesn’t work. We will only grow stronger the more that we do. Partnerships and collaboration are easy to talk about, but difficult to do — and you have to find the right ones.”

What’s more, Grant said she sees the aforementioned collaboration as the key to bridging the economic gap in Asheville and that she expects UNCA to be an influential partner closing that divide.

“I think that’s both a challenge and an opportunity, and that’s where education can play a huge difference, and that’s where community partners can play a huge difference,” Grant said. “We have to make sure that we are reaching into neighborhoods that often get left behind and saying, ‘Education is for you. Education is your future.’ I think that’s one of the opportunities — the university working with the city, working with all of you, that’s where we can have complicated conversations. We have to make sure — as we are planning the best future for all of us — it really is for all of us.”

In addition, Grant discussed UNCA’s broad approach to the challenge of equal opportunity, including access to affordable eduation, connections to internships and numerous community initiatives.

Grant said UNCA’s heavy involvement in the community is a strong influence in the development of the city and, ultimately, in creating opportunities for all.

Manheimer said that she also believes that education is key in closing disparities, and aims to foster collaborations between the city and the education system.

Manheimer specifically referenced the city’s backing of CAYLA, a program at Asheville High that places students with summer internships and scholarships, and the city’s support of after-school programs.

Afterward, Manheimer told the local news media that a personal focus is fostering a relationship between the city and the Housing Authority in an effort to provide affordable and sustainable housing.

“Housing and jobs is where the city can do the most,” Manheimer said. “But the city alone cannot do it. It will take everyone taking part, and it will take the private sector coming to the table, too.

Meanwhile, Dean said that “the educational component is a key, no matter what you try to do in the future... The Collider, if you will, is an innovation place.” He noted that it will serve as a “catalyst where development can occur and where private sector and business development can come together. So that knowledge base as a center of exchange is going to be very important to us” to continue building the high-tech sector.