The Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville (RSAA) and Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) are partnering to support long-term recovery efforts in WNC while bringing reparative justice to a historic West Asheville church.
The former West Asheville Presbyterian Church at 690 Haywood Rd. will become the future headquarters of RSAA, to aid the organization’s mission of advancing reparative justice and community healing.
RSAA obtained the West Asheville property at the end of January when the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, the original stewards of the building, conveyed the nearly 16,000-sqft property to the nonprofit at no cost. The building sits on property that was once home to the Black congregation of Wilson’s Chapel AME Church.
Pastor at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and co-chair of the Presbytery of WNC’s Administrative Commission, Marcia Mount Shoop, explained that discriminatory practices forced the sale of Wilson’s Chapel in the 1920s. “The more we learned about these things, the more we realized that our Presbytery should not be who was deciding the future of this land,” she said. That was when the commission found RSAA as a partner, creating “a list of shared values around what we believed this land could be and should be.”
RSAA’s Executive Director Torre Garrison said plans for the space remain flexible, but it will serve as a community space and resource distribution center. However, before any of these plans take shape, the building is in need of some upgrades, which is where MDS comes in.
Nonprofits joining forces
MDS volunteers will provide the labor and materials to renovate much of the church, then use the new living quarters to house volunteers as they continue their work to rebuild homes and private bridges for residents throughout WNC affected by Helene.
Garrison explained that the partnership with MDS formed quickly, as both groups sprang into action at the onset of recovery efforts.
“This partnership is more than bricks and mortar — it’s about building trust, healing communities, and ensuring that recovery efforts are rooted in equity,” she said. Garrison emphasized that the cohabited space is intended to foster collaboration, encouraging community among one another.
MDS intends to house about 40 volunteers at a time between bunks and bedrooms inside the former church building and in several RVs located in the building’s parking lot. Many volunteers arrive for one or four-week programs, but some stay longer to aid with rebuilding efforts.
Both RSAA and MDS are aiming to have the facility ready to house volunteers by the beginning of October, with construction work ramping up this month. In the meantime, RSAA will open up the back lot to the public for a Juneteenth event — check social media for more details.
To help see the renovation through, people can donate or volunteer with beautification projects like flower planting — just sign up for volunteering updates from RSAA and follow the organization on social media.
