SCA President Recognized as the 2024 Ella Baker Brilliance Award Recipient

The Tzedek Brilliance Awards celebrate the impact of Asheville change makers.

““The Brilliance Awards are a meaningful way to honor individuals who dedicate their efforts to uplifting their communities. Recognizing honorees like Ms. Sophie and Julio, who embody the values of Ella Baker and Pauli Murray, highlights the importance of behind-the-scenes work and the interconnectedness of social justice issues,” states Tzedek Executive Director Libby Kyles. “Ms. Sophie’s commitment to supporting her community reflects Ella Baker’s belief in grassroots organizing and collective action, while Julio’s role as a connector aligns with Pauli Murray’s advocacy for intersectionality. Their contributions are vital in fostering a more equitable society. It’s inspiring to see such dedication and sacrifice for the greater good happening in our community!””

“In my work, I am guided by 1st Peter 4:10: ‘Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s Grace in its various forms,’” explains Dixon. “In this light, I try to serve mankind for the improvement of my community, state, and nation by sharing my time, energy, and resources.”

Born and raised in Asheville’s historically Black Stumptown neighborhood, Ms. Sophie Dixon has devoted her life to community development and empowerment. After graduating from Shaw University in 1985 with a Business Management and Accounting degree, she enjoyed a 35-year career as a Customer Service Manager at Tycos/Welch Allyn, Inc. Retiring to focus full-time on community social justice, she hasn’t slowed down since.

A dedicated member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church for over 65 years, she served as Treasurer of its Community Development Corporation, empowering impacted people of color to address social health disparities through multi-sector collaborations. Additionally, Ms. Sophie was the first female president of the Asheville-Buncombe County National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter, played an instrumental part in preserving the YMI Cultural Center, and co-founded the Empowerment Resource Center of Asheville & Buncombe County Inc., home to WRES 100.7 FM radio station, which uplifts communities of color through tailored programming.

At 87, this “community mother” remains a tireless advocate, volunteer, and mentor with a solution-driven approach. Her accolades include the 2019 Asheville City Council Volunteer of the Year Award and the 2022 Rosa Parks Award. Ms. Sophie is the president of the Shiloh Community Association, a WNC Bridge Foundation grantee, and volunteers full-time at the Empowerment Resource Center/WRES, ensuring future generations receive the inspiration and information needed to inherit a thriving community.

Featured in the Urban News Decemebr 2023

Check out a link to our featured page in the Urban News.

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A quote in the article by Mrs. Sophie Dixon, SCA President

It has been a wonderful year! We thank God for the opportunity to work with the EW Pearson Project Collaborative, our Asheville partners, and Shiloh residents. This year the Shiloh Community Association (SCA) was blessed to celebrate our 23rd Anniversary as a community organization.

Shiloh Shop Online Marketplace is Open for Business

The Shiloh Community Association invites the public to visit the Shiloh Shop, an online marketplace, supporting the mission of the association, “Building on the Legacy, Embracing the Future”. The shop is offering wares for the Shiloh Community and beyond. A project that has been made possible through community support and with funding through a Human Services Grant from The Community Foundation of WNC. 

The e-commerce space is an online portal that has the intent of reaching out to other small micro-businesses to join in on the fun. A core function of the grant funding is to award funds to organizations that provide help for economically-disadvantaged individuals in the region. The online space has been built with a vision to work for the residents of the Shiloh Community as a platform to sell goods created by the community residents.  

Small business and social business are the foundation of traditional African American communities. Prior to the February 2023 release of the Shiloh Shop the association has offered many of the wares you will see online, at the Roadside Stand. A physical shop, that has products available quarterly on Shiloh Garden Days and has provided a modest amount of additional revenue for the organization over the past six years. SCA’s Roadside Stand was built in the spring of 2017 and opened for business in July of 2017. In 2018 SCA expanded it’s audience to include Shiloh’s branded merchandise on display. The association also began accepting credit cards through an online platform. 

Visit the online shop and you will find old favorites and new items too. Shiloh logos are the star on items like the coffee mug and the 2022 edition of a printed canvas market bag by BOB 24/6 of Pembrook Florida. Neighbors can show their support for the association by waving a Shiloh Flag, designed by, Jacqueline Thompson highlighting the associations tag line “Building on the Legacy, Embracing the Future.” Friends of the neighborhood are invited to support the organization too. People from Asheville at large would revel in the Shiloh Community Association Cookbook recipes that come from descendants of Shiloh and find delight in the stories that accompany the food that we experience today with our neighbors at many community events throughout the year. 

Asheville residents and beyond can visit the online shop at the association’s website, shilohnc.org/shiloh-shop. The shop is open 24 hours and ships nationwide. Asheville residents can even schedule a time to meet for local pick up and save on shipping! 

City of Asheville seeks resident input for Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget development

Deadline to comment March 3, 2023!

The City of Asheville wants to hear from you! We are kicking off our Fiscal Year 2023-24 (FY24, which runs July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024) budget development process by seeking feedback from the community.