Plateau Magazine June-July 2023
This issue we feature women entrepreneurs with locally run businesses and cowgirls who are protecting local animals. We also highlight protecting the land and fields that are important for bees and butterflies pollination. And for the foodies, check out our feature on the Highlands Tavern. Get outdoors with this issue, with our interview on legendary hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis.
This issue we feature women entrepreneurs with locally run businesses and cowgirls who are protecting local animals. We also highlight protecting the land and fields that are important for bees and butterflies pollination. And for the foodies, check out our feature on the Highlands Tavern. Get outdoors with this issue, with our interview on legendary hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis.
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southern drawl<br />
in and passion for ethnobiology, the scientific<br />
study of dynamic relationships among<br />
peoples, biota and environments. “But I<br />
quickly realized that jobs for ethnobiologists<br />
may be hard to find,” laughs Mitchell,<br />
“so I decided to focus more on studying<br />
and understanding people and how they<br />
live their lives.”<br />
She headed to the University of Georgia<br />
(UGA) to earn her master’s degree in<br />
social work (MSW) and stumbled upon a<br />
new program the department was offering—nonprofit<br />
management. “I had never<br />
heard of nonprofit management, but I<br />
was immediately drawn to it because it<br />
involved a combination of all the things I<br />
was interested in and felt I could be good<br />
at, like marketing, fundraising, psychology,<br />
strategic planning and legal issues. I<br />
couldn’t believe I could have a career that<br />
included all of my interests.”<br />
She took the skills she developed at UGA<br />
and moved into various leadership roles at<br />
Mission Health, Nantahala Health Foundation<br />
and the Highlands Cashiers Health<br />
Foundation as Associate Director. “I learned<br />
58 | The<strong>Plateau</strong>Mag.com<br />
so much and really enjoyed working with<br />
Rhonda Oakley (Director of Operations),<br />
Robin Tindall (CEO and Executive Director)<br />
and the HCHF Board of Directors.”<br />
One of the biggest surprises Mitchell<br />
has experienced at The Village Green is<br />
the level of engagement from the community,<br />
long-time friends and supporters, to<br />
just people coming through town. “Many<br />
people don’t realize we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit<br />
park system that receives no regional,<br />
state or federal funding.” The Village<br />
Green relies solely on the generosity of the<br />
community and gladly accepts donations of<br />
time, talent, and treasure, so they can continue<br />
to offer the programming and events<br />
that bring the community together.<br />
Funding sources also include the money<br />
raised from a main fundraiser The Village<br />
Green puts on every other year. This year will<br />
be the Joy Garden Tour – Beauty Beyond the<br />
Bend. The mid-<strong>July</strong> tour will be of four exquisite<br />
gardens on display along the historic 107<br />
corridor and the Zachary Tolbert Heirloom<br />
Garden. Tickets for the tour can be purchased<br />
online at villagegreencashiersnc.com.<br />
One of the cornerstones of The Village<br />
Green is Lewis Hall, a 5,400 sq. ft. beautifully<br />
designed space used year-round for<br />
civic, cultural and educational offerings<br />
and as a private event space. Former Board<br />
Chair Sue Lewis and her husband, Bill,<br />
made a generous donation of $500,000,<br />
erasing the debt for Lewis Hall.<br />
“To maintain the grounds here at The<br />
Village Green and bring the community<br />
free events and programs, we focus on<br />
breaking even, operationally,” explains<br />
Mitchell. “The Lewises’ incredible generosity<br />
allowed us to strategically focus on<br />
operations and capital improvements.”<br />
One trait you can’t help but notice when<br />
spending time with Mitchell is her immense<br />
gratitude not only for leaders she<br />
has worked with, but for the many community<br />
volunteers, her co-worker (yes, that is<br />
singular) and the board of directors of The<br />
Village Green.<br />
“There is such a sense of pride in this<br />
community and support of events. So much<br />
work goes into planning the events with<br />
only two actual staff members, but the<br />
support from the board, volunteers and<br />
committees is amazing.<br />
I’m thankful for so many people, particularly<br />
Shelby Batchelor, our community<br />
event and volunteer coordinator. She is<br />
kind, even-keeled and dedicated, and I<br />
cherish her and her abilities.”<br />
Even the landscaping crew who maintains<br />
The Village Green takes personal<br />
pride in the space. “We know we are not<br />
just a client,” says Mitchell, when talking<br />
about Nathan Stewart-Payne and his crew<br />
at Double Springs Landscaping, who have<br />
maintained the park for 10 years.<br />
Mitchell says the Cashiers community<br />
has changed a lot just since 2021 when she<br />
took the helm, mostly due to COVID-19<br />
and the real estate boom. “My job is to<br />
advance a strategic vision for The Village<br />
Green, while planning for sustainability,<br />
budgeting, fundraising and engaging donors<br />
and volunteers.”<br />
It’s a big job, and Mitchell is a realist,<br />
but she says she “teeters on the optimistic<br />
side.” She says that has its drawbacks, but<br />
I think most people who engage with her<br />
know her attitude is one of her greatest<br />
gifts to our community. P<br />
(Above:) Ashlie Mitchell, ED of the Village<br />
Green, on the Village Green Commons.
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