April 2026

The Arc Connection

Spring is a season of growth, renewal, and connection—and here at The Arc of Buncombe County, that spirit is in full bloom.

We are excited to be building momentum toward one of our most joyful events of the year: Spring Fling, happening on May 20th from 6–9 PM at Highland Brewing. This event has quickly become a favorite in our community, and for good reason. It’s an evening of fun, connection, and purpose.

Tickets are $40, and proceeds support camp scholarships, respite opportunities, and vital programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). These are not just any camps—they are thoughtfully designed to nurture, engage, and celebrate children with diverse needs, creating spaces where participants can truly thrive.

Equally important, these programs provide respite for families and caregivers. That time to rest, recharge, and breathe is not a luxury—it is essential. Supporting caregivers is a vital part of strengthening our entire community, and we are proud that Spring Fling helps make that possible.

In April, we are also leaning into the power of education and partnership. We are honored to collaborate with Operation Gateway, Sistas Caring 4 Sistas, Voices of Affrilachia, and Advocate Collaborate Educate, to host a Lunch & Learn titled “Education Reduces Stigma.- Empower Through Knowledge.” This event will focus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and the importance of awareness, prevention, response, and understanding.

Join us on April 16th from 11:30 AM–1:00 PM at AmeriHealth to learn, connect, and be part of the conversation. If you’re interested in attending, please sign up HERE!

Finally, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Hunter Hometown Foundation for honoring The Arc. Their recognition and support mean so much to our organization and to the individuals and families we serve every day.

Thank you for being part of this community—one that shows up, learns together, and lifts each other up.

With appreciation,

Linda McDaniel, Executive Director

The Arc Celebrates Historic Merger
Strengthening Disability Services in WNC

The Arc is excited to celebrate the merger of Irene Wortham Center and Liberty Corner Enterprises, a meaningful step forward in strengthening support for individuals with developmental disabilities across Western North Carolina. With more than 100 years of combined service, this transition enhances a shared commitment to a full “life-cycle of care,” ensuring individuals and families continue to receive compassionate, high-quality support. We are encouraged by this unified vision and the continuity of leadership that will guide this next chapter.

Client Spotlight: The Prosper Jones Family

We are so proud to share that one of our incredible families, the Prosper Jones family, was recently featured in the Asheville Citizen Times. Their story highlights the journey of finding their footing as a family and connecting with vital resources in our community.

Take a moment to read their inspiring story and celebrate this family.

As Lora shared so beautifully:

“I absolutely love The Arc. From helping install alarms for elopement to summer camp, The Arc has been a continuous support for our family. Being on the spectrum is hard, and being a parent of a child on the spectrum comes with many challenges. The peace of mind knowing The Arc understands our situation—words cannot express my gratitude.”
— The Prosper Jones Family

In addition, The Arc of Buncombe County was honored to assist their family with the down payment on their new home—an exciting milestone and a meaningful step forward.

Supporting families like theirs every step of the way is at the heart of our mission.

👉 Read the full article HERE!

At The Arc of Buncombe County, we often talk about the power of partnership—and the role of “change agents” in building a more inclusive, supportive community. Recently, we connected with Phillip Cooper, Founder and Chief Change Agent of Operation Gateway, to learn more about his work and shared vision.

Operation Gateway serves individuals and families impacted by incarceration, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders. Their work focuses on reducing stigma, expanding access to critical resources, and equipping communities with the tools and training needed to be part of the solution. What makes their approach especially powerful is that it’s led by individuals with lived experience—people doing the work every day because they’ve walked the path themselves.

Phillip’s leadership is rooted in firsthand experience. After working within the system and experiencing its challenges and trauma, he realized that meaningful change couldn’t happen from within alone. Instead, he has focused on grassroots efforts that improve access, amplify voices, and create real pathways to support for those often overlooked.

For Phillip, being a “change agent” means sacrificing to fight for the underdog. Having once been the underdog himself, he now works to hold systems accountable and ensure that people are not left out, overlooked, or silenced. This perspective strongly aligns with The Arc’s mission to advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

He is especially excited about the partnership between Operation Gateway and The Arc of Buncombe County, grounded in a shared commitment to reducing stigma through education. Like The Arc, Phillip believes education is a powerful pathway to change and sees this collaboration as an opportunity to amplify The Arc’s voice while strengthening community impact.

Together, we are building something bigger than any one organization—an ecosystem of support, advocacy, and opportunity. As Phillip reminds us, “Healed people heal people.” And together, we’re working to create a community where everyone has the chance to thrive.