The Hood Huggers Ecosystem is a connected network of community-based projects that merge creativity, sustainability, and economic opportunity.
The Hood Huggers Foundation provides pathways to opportunity through Workforce Development programs that guide youth from career exploration to community leadership, and is developing Blue Note Junction, a community resilience hub integrating affordable housing, entrepreneurship, cultural venues, and green spaces.
Our Mission
Restoring the grassroots regenerative well-being of our communities using the arts, environment, and social enterprise.
Our Vision
Creating a culture of sustainability that is inclusive and just, celebrating the six months of work and six months of play philosophy, leading to a balanced life of meaningful work, joyful rest, and shared prosperity.
Our Core Values
Integrity – We act with honesty, accountability, and consistency in all we do
Creativity – We innovate, adapt, and imagine new possibilities for change
Celebration – We honor joy, culture, and milestones as essential to our work
Community – We center people, place, and shared purpose in every decision
Collaboration – We build strong partnerships rooted in trust, equity, and mutual respect
The Hood Huggers Story
How did we get here?
In 2001, DeWayne Barton and Safi Mahaba returned to Asheville's Burton Street neighborhood and started with what they could do: clean up a neglected lot and plant a garden. That simple act of care became the Peace Gardens & Market, then Hood Tours, then Hood Huggers Foundation, and now Blue Note Junction – each step building on the belief that communities hold the power to heal and restore themselves.
Meet the Team
-
M.Z. Yehudah, Ph.D.
HOOD HUGGERS FOUNDATION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR -
Laura Bernhein
HOOD HUGGERS FOUNDATION
COMMUNICATION + MARKETING DIRECTOR -
Amanda Zenishek
HOOD HUGGERS FOUNDATION
YOUTHBUILD CASE MANAGER -
Carla Guevara
HOOD HUGGERS FOUNDATION
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR -
Safi Martin
HOOD HUGGERS FOUNDATION
CO-FOUNDER / DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR -
DeWayne Barton
HOOD HUGGERS FOUNDATION
CO-FOUNDER / BOARD CHAIR
The CAP Framework
The CAP Framework is a regenerative model designed to foster community-driven development in historically African American neighborhoods.
By combining art, environment, and social enterprise, the CAP Framework ensures that communities have the tools and resources they need to lead their own revitalization.
Contact Hood Huggers Foundation
We look forward to hearing from you!
Email
connect@hoodhuggersfoundation.org
Phone
(828) 419-0743