Asheville, we are grieving.

This is a message from your Black and Brown Mountain Town podcast hosts, Philip and Paulina.

What happened in our city, Asheville, NC, this past week has left families broken and a whole community shaken. These were somebody’s children. Somebody’s brother. Somebody’s friend. Behind every headline is a mother who will never hear that voice again.

Please keep these families in your hearts and in your prayers. Don’t scroll past. Say their names in your prayer closet. Check on the people around you who are hurting, because trauma travels through a community long after the news trucks leave.

If you are able to give, here is how you can help:

For funeral expenses: donations can be made online to My Daddy Taught Me That at https://mydaddytaughtmethat.org/donate/ - please indicate that your gift is for funeral expenses so it gets directed to the families.

Meal trains have also been set up. You can contribute here:

Keanti’s Meal Train: https://mealtrain.com/3rmd60

Sharika’s Meal Train: https://mealtrain.com/oevkmd

Whatever you can do, do it. A meal. A dollar. A prayer.

Grace and peace,

Philip, Paulina, Gilbert, and Rome - The Black & Brown Mountain Town Team

YOU DON’T HAVE TO CARRY IT ALONE

If today's conversation brought something up for you, know that you don't have to carry it by yourself.

If it feels safe to do so, consider reaching out to someone you trust; a friend, family member, neighbor, faith leader, therapist, or another supportive person in your community. Sometimes simply letting someone know you're struggling can be an important first step.

If you don't know who to reach out to, or you need support right now, the resources below are available.

IF YOU NEED IMMEDIATE SUPPORT

Emergency

• Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
• If the emergency involves a mental health crisis, you can ask the dispatcher if a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer or other specially trained crisis responder is available. Availability varies by community, but CIT-trained officers have additional training in responding to behavioral health crises.
• Or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• Call or text 988 (available 24/7)
• Español: Press 2 when calling or text AYUDA to 988.
• You do not need insurance, identification, or immigration documents to contact 988. Most people who reach out are connected with a trained crisis counselor, and the vast majority of conversations are resolved without involving emergency services.

Crisis Text Line

• Text HOME to 741741
• Español: Text AYUDA to 741741

BlackLine

• Call 800-604-5841
• Peer support centered on Black, Black LGBTQ+, and Black femme communities while welcoming BIPOC callers.

The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ young people)

• Call 866-488-7386
• Text START to 678-678

Trans Lifeline

• Call 877-565-8860
• Peer support run by trans people, for trans and questioning people.

LGBT National Hotline

• Call 888-843-4564

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA RESOURCES

View From Here WNC

Looking for other mental health resources? View From Here WNC connects people across Western North Carolina with local mental health services, crisis resources, and wellness organizations by county.

https://www.wnchn.org/view-from-here-wnc-mental-health/

Mobile Crisis Management

888-573-1006

A mobile crisis team can come to you if you're experiencing a behavioral health crisis and need in-person support.

Behavioral Health Crisis Center (C3)

356 Biltmore Ave.

Asheville, NC 28801

Walk-in behavioral health crisis services for adults experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.