Alina Talyad is the visionary director of Nawaya Village; a unique, social-impact company which seeks to flip the script of conventional development, reindigenize real estate, and create a multicultural, intergenerational village which pragmatically catalyzes an empowering and healing culture. She moved to WNC in 2011 from New Orleans, with this main vision in mind.
Alina thrives when working at the intersections connecting food sovereignty, art, culture, people of the diaspora, wellness, ethical entrepreneurship, and magical realism.
An Ancient-Futurist, she values right relations, justice, solutionist-thinking, and joy.
Village Website Soul & Soil Project
IG @nawayavillage @soulandsoilproject
alina talyad
anthony Kealiialoha taylor
Born in Honolulu Hawaii to a Hawaiian 🌺 Chinese mother and father of European decent. Worked in Power Generation for the last 17 years.
Lives in Western North Carolina since 2016.
“I truly wish to be part of a community to encourage growth, connectedness and authenticity in myself and others”
Ben Phan is a filmmaker, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, traveler, and long distance hiker. His work carries a strong message of hope and resilience; his mission is to tell stories that heal and create sustainable community. With a professional understanding of both music and video, the willingness to take creative risks, and an intuitive ability to connect, Ben has a unique ability to create meaningful, story-driven art.
benjamin phan
Chi Young Kim (she/her) is a ritual facilitator dedicated to helping people reclaim relationship with their ancestors, one’s self, and to the larger community of the living Earth toward a deeper sense of purpose and belonging. All her recent ancestors are from Korea and as a Korean American woman, she has learned to bridge multiple cultural realities and identities. Her offerings of ancestral healing, and grief support are grounded, embodied and culturally mindful. She also mentors healing practitioners and therapists by teaching ritual skills that help them deepen their connection to themselves and the more-than-human relations in order to show up more fully for their clients. Connect with Chi Young on her website:
chi young kim
Tiffany, a consummate artisan, holds a B.S. in Fashion and Textiles, and her creative journey has seen her design and showcase garments at prestigious events such as Charleston Fashion Week. Originating from the corporate fashion hub of New York City, Tiffany brought with her a wealth of experience when she returned to her Asheville.
Beyond fashion, her artistic repertoire includes floral arrangements, macramé, knitting, crocheting, fabric dying, and candle making. Presently, Tiffany specializes in crafting custom garments and exquisite bridal wear, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation. Her handmade treasures, a fusion of sophistication and authenticity, grace the digital shelves of Etsy and the stalls of local pop-up markets, inviting discerning clients to experience the allure of her unique creations.
the creatiffany
Eva Peterson was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Chinese culture. She was a social work supervisor in different organizations in Hong Kong before moving to Asheville 7 years ago. Now, Eva is a co-founder of Pop Bubble Tea store. She is trying to use her experience and background to contribute to and enrich this community as well as promote Asian culture.
Eva Peterson
Born in 1966 in eastern Tibetan mountains, to a Nomadic family of herders. Gendun tended 120 yak in servitude to the Chinese government. He witnessed the destruction of Tibetan sacred paintings and statutes and was inspired to seek freedom, learn to paint these sacred works and preserve these beautiful traditions. He left his home at age 13 with no provisions - and walked to Lhasa where he survived homeless for 6 years carving Mani stone. He eventually continued on to Kathmandu, and then Dharmsala, India hoping to see the Dalai Lama.
Gendun was admitted to the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharmsala with a Dalai Lama scholarship to study drawing and Sacred Thangka painting for the next 6 years. In 1992, Gendun was selected by lottery with 1000 other Tibetan families under The Tibetan Refugee Resettlement Program and came to the US. In 2006, Gendun Sakyal became a US citizen. He says he felt like a big rock was lifted from his heart and after a nomadic and homeless life, he had found a real home.
gendun sakyal
Uptempo Gypsy swing-jazz and bossa nova band, one of Ashevilles favorites for 13 years strong!
The Gypsy Swingers will take the stage as the final musical act at the Asian Culture Festival Gala fundraiser event.
the gypsy swingers
Heena Patel is a dynamic multi-hyphenate who shares her gifts with the world as an arts worker, guide for creatives and entrepreneurs, and somatic practitioner.
The founder and Creative Director of MELA Arts Connect, she has spent over 15 years at the intersection of cultural strategy, performance production, and coaching. Her performing arts roles as a producer, agent-manager, mentor, touring musician and dance instructor, consultant, and curator reflect her dedication to nurturing the ecosystem around performing arts of the global majority.
Notable credits as a producer, curator, and performer include the immersive dance experience Garba360, the multidisciplinary stage show Bollywood Boulevard, and desi: NOW, a showcase of hyphenated South Asian identities.
IG @heenaconnects
FB @heenaconnects
Heena Patel
Irrum, a seasoned entrepreneur, has seamlessly woven her passion for business with her dedication to teaching and sharing the powerful practice of Pilates at Westside Acupuncture and Pilates. Discovering her love for Pilates seven years ago, she is now reshaping the landscape of wellness spaces, fueled by the profound physical, mental, and spiritual transformation that Classical Pilates has imparted to her. Born in Pakistan and a long-time resident of Asheville, Irrum, a loving mother, entrepreneur, and activist, has been an integral part of the community for over 25 years. Alongside her former husband, she has navigated the journey of small business ownership since 1998 while raising three children, all of whom are now in their emerging adulthood.
Life as an immigrant in the US brought its share of challenges for Irrum, from feelings of isolation and a yearning for familiarity to the struggle for a sense of community that truly understood her multifaceted identity. This experience, coupled with her children's upbringing in Asheville, propelled Irrum toward a deep engagement in racial equity work. As an activist and co-chair for organizations like Building Bridges, she has been a steadfast advocate for racial equity in schools and other community boards. Irrum steadfastly believes that wellness is a fundamental right, and she is unwaveringly dedicated to making it accessible to all.
irrum Shah
Having grown up in a biracial Chinese American family, Kimberly's love for languages and traditional cultures is infused into her music. After many years overseas, she now calls the Appalachian mountains her home and continues to travel through music.
Drawn especially towards Chinese folk and mountain songs, Kimberly loves exploring the vast array of sounds from this culture. She is working on translating many of them, keeping the songs alive and sharing them in new ways.
IG @kimberlydelaforet
Facebook Kimberly Anne
kimberly dunn
Kris Moon (Jeong Hwa/they/she) is a queer, gender nonconforming, trans-racial, trans-national Korean Polish American adoptee on a path of personal and collective liberation. Kris is also a co-parent to a curious 4 year old, a somatic practitioner, trauma-informed, embodiment-based facilitator, and land steward at Moon Mountain. Jeong Hwa is here to break cycles of intergenerational, historical trauma, build new neural pathways and offer their life as their art. They dream of current and future worlds centered in root healing, cultural reclamation and communal resourcing.
In 2012, Jeong Hwa returned to her ancestral lands after 26 years of separation, reuniting with maternal family and community care rituals, like Kimjang, the making and sharing of kimchi. Weaving together personal narratives, sociopolitical context, and a trauma healing lens with somatic practice and ritual, Kris Moon helps us remember our place in the family of things.
kris moon
La Cuisine is a cultural organization founded by Kimberly Dunn, focused on revitalizing the relationship with food. La Cuisine offers intimate cooking classes as well as monthly Supper Soirées - a fine dining experience with live acoustic accompaniment.
Having grown up in a multicultural family, Kimberly has always loved traditional food cultures. She spent her twenties overseas, taking cooking classes in many parts of Asia and Europe. She is inspired to teach beyond recipes, encompassing the culture and relationship to food that is the foundation of true nourishment.
After living many years overseas, she now calls the Appalachian mountains her home. Dedicated to the education and exchange of multicultural traditions, she continues to travel by sharing food and music.
La Cuisine
Ma Mockingbird is the musical avatar of Alina Talyad, weaving together thought-provoking, whimsical, and soulful lyrics with sounds rooted in world folk, soul, rnb, jazz, and hiphop.
Alina has curated original music off the radar for many years, performing her pieces at special events only. She is most known as the lead vocalist in a swing-jazz + bossa nova band (Gypsy Swingers) and as a community organizer for food sovereignty.
Now it's time to leave the nest, and merge forces as an artist and changemaker, and to share Ma Mockingbird's music as another way to inspire others and reflect the times.
ma mockingbird
Lebanese entrepreneur, Yoga and Acroyoga instructor, Integration coach and founder of Habibi Village acting as a bridge between cultures to facilitate understanding and make direct impact embodying living in a healthy value system in society.
I learned Lebanese Song and Poetry growing up in a Lebanese village, Kfarhim for 21 years. I give thanks to my parents that invited song and gathered singing and dancing as a ritual after dinner with our extended family almost weekly. Those were the moments of great joy in my life and harmonious moments of connection with family and a form of expression. I write Arabic poetry and sing Zajal songs as a passion and a way to connect to my homeland.
Maan Abou Khzam
Mike is the artist + photographer behind Hiraeth Diaries and Jungle Branch, founder of Caravan Art Bazaar, and director of Arts + Events of Soul & Soil Project. His portfolio covers a wide array of works such as commercial, documentary, events, food, nonprofit, portraits, weddings, wildlife, and more. Jungle Branch is a photography project designed to help bridge the gap between various audiences, industries, and the natural world.
As a self proclaimed artist & rebel with a cause, Mike uses his skills of documenting stories to highlight environmental topics from around the globe, with an emphasis on rainforest conservation, and how everything is connected.
Artist Website Caravan Art Bazaar Website
IG @junglebranch + @hiraethdiaries
mike talyad | Jungle branch
Miles Cramer has been working in the tea industry since 2009. In his work, he has traveled to tea gardens throughout East Asia and learned first-hand from tea masters about cultivation, production and tea culture. Miles teaches educational tea workshops and tea meditations throughout the southeast, introducing people to the deep heritage and joy of drinking high quality tea through his company Smiles Tea. He has also worked with Dobra Tea for 13 years managing the Asheville teahouses.
miles cramer
Nibbly Onigiri is a home-made "onigiri" (rice ball) pop-up! Onigiri is a very common everyday food / snack eaten in Japan, a small bundle of rice with various fillings that are savory and tasty. Nibbly Onigiri was started by Eriko (who grew up in Japan eating onigiri) and her partner Nate, when Eriko missed onigiri so much that she decided to offer them in Asheville herself together with Nate.
Nibbly Onigiri brings the kind of home cooked onigiri that Eriko has eaten throughout her life, made by her mother, by friends, by herself, and more recently by her new family member Nate. Flavors offered in the past include ume (pickled plum), tuna mayo, salted sesame, baked soy sauce, baked miso & gochujang, shishito & pimento, chestnut, and more, with vegan and gluten free options. Nibbly Onigiri hopes to add one additional variety to the types of food offered in Asheville, opening dialogues to share different cultures and food within the community.
nibbly onigiri
Q Soemardi is a second generation Indonesian American with over a decade of experience in the service industry.
He is currently managing staff and designing the cocktail program at Neng Jr's, Asheville's first and widely acclaimed Filipino restaurant.
Quinton Soemardi
photo by: Dallas Houston
Rich is an indigenous Montagnard Dega person from Vietnam. When not home in Asheville cultivating a thriving plant collection, Rich is a storyteller, writer, and massage therapy student at WNCSOM. Rich leads the nonprofit Across The Sea Foundation, Inc., which supports indigenous weavers, women, and villagers from his homeland.
Rich’s new venture is Central Highlands Coffee Company, bringing the finest coffee beans grown by indigenous polyculture crop farmers to the US. Rich’s story is featured on DVAN (Diaspora Vietnamese Artists Network), Valley Advocate, Cracked.com, Business Insider, and BBC's The Outlook Podcast.
Rich Enuol
Sherly Moore is a first-generation immigrant with a vibrant cultural mix of Iban, Chinese, and Caucasian heritage. As a dedicated member of the leadership team at NC BIPOC Climbers, she passionately fosters inclusivity and empowerment within the climbing population.
Additionally, she plays a key role in the organizing team of WNC AAPI, working to enhance understanding and unity within the Asian American and Pacific Islander collective. Through her dedication to social justice, empathy, and commitment, Sherly inspires others and drives positive change in her community.
Sherly Moore
Shunyu Huang is a Native Chinese living in Asheville since 2017.
Shunyu was born in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province in 1989. Before getting her Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, She traveled to Tibet, southwest China, and Southeast Asia with her film cameras in search of a connection between different peoples and their homeland.
In Asheville, she has been actively engaging the local communities through storytelling and serving Chinese Tea.
in July 2023, Shunyu collaborated with Story Parlor for A-Month-Long Story/Arts Residency, titled "Memory Quilt".
Learn more at this link.
Shunyu Huang
Tiffany was born in the suburbs outside of Chicago and moved to Asheville when she was 8 years old. She has been in dance classes since she was a toddler. She has choreographed dance performances for weddings and collegiate competitions and has danced professionally and competitively. She lived in New York for 8 years before moving back to Asheville with her husband 2 years ago.
Tiffany is grateful to be part of the WNC AAPI community and excited about the festival and sharing her Punjabi culture to the Asheville area in her performance and bhangra classes held locally at Uphora dance + fitness studio.
Tiffany Saini
Tracy Hopkins, a seasoned professional with a master's in clinical social work and certification as a professional diversity and inclusion coach, boasts an impressive 25-year career in the realm of mental healthcare. Currently, she channels her expertise as a transformational coach and organizational growth consultant at Dare to Rise.
In her role as the founder and lead story chaser, Tracy orchestrates a symphony of connections, trust, and curiosity. Specializing in unleashing the empowerment of individuals and organizations, she weaves a tapestry of individuals in their journey of thriving and organizations on their path to flourishing; all through the foundational principles of inclusion and belonging.
Tracy's approach transcends the conventional; it's an immersive journey where active listening converges with thought-provoking inquiries. By skillfully facilitating deep self-reflection and insight, Tracy guides others in discovering the catalyst for profound personal and professional transformations. Clients under her guidance gain clarity, foster self-awareness, and cultivate empathy as they navigate the intricate landscape of challenges. With Tracy's guidance, personal and organizational expansion becomes not just a goal but a tangible reality, where curiosity becomes the fuel for growth, trust the cornerstone, and connection the conduit to success.
Tracy Hopkins
