mycelium (n.) - an interwoven network of connective tissue forming the fruiting body of mushrooms; crucial to nutrient absorption and receiving and responding to signals outside the body, and necessary for a healthy ecosystem.

A thoughtful analogy to the threads of healthy social connection that form a thriving interdependent community of people ...

With that in mind, we invite you to join us on Sunday Dec. 7th from 5-8pm at the Blank Space event venue in fabulous West Asheville for an evening of scrumptious local cuisine featuring locally foraged and grown mushrooms, along with conversation about the importance of activating our human mycelial network during these unprecedented times. 

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All proceeds benefit SeekHealing, a local Asheville-based non-profit organization that's addressing the loneliness epidemic through programs that facilitate intentional human connection. All programming is offered 100% free to participants and serve community members who have been most marginalized and disconnected by prevailing systems -- many of whom are losing critical access to behavioral health care services this fall and winter. 

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• The event will feature a 3-course meal curated by local chef AJ Greggson (graduate of Johnson & Wales culinary program, and renowned craftsman of exceptional nosh for over a decade).
• A silent auction and raffle with gifts from local businesses and artisans including art, spa treatments, and more.
• An organizational presentation from co-founder and executive director Jenesis Nicolaisen to highlight achievements and goals for the future moving forward.
• Facilitated connection-based activities to actively experience what SeekHealing offers to the communities, and the effects of meaningful human connection.

Logistics/agenda for the evening:

5:00-5:30pm - Arrival time and mingling. Light refreshments and appetizers will be available.
5:30-6:15pm - Introductions and brief connection practice facilitation to showcase what SeekHealing's programming offers to seekers (a.k.a. participants of our programs)
6:30-7:30pm - Dinner is served, and Jenesis Nicolaisen will give a brief presentation to highlight SeekHealing's momentum and community-led aspirations for the future.
7:30-8:00pm - The sweetness of dessert, and drawing of raffle prizes will commence....last chance to bid on silent auction items! It is also a chance to connect more deeply with the other seekers who are in attendance including SeekHealing's Board of Directors, and other neighbors from your community.

Fare for the evening 

(nearly all dishes accommodate most diet considerations)

Appetizers:

~Smoked Mushroom Pâté served with strong mustard, pickled red onion, fresh horseradish, cornichons, and toast points and GF crackers

~Pickled Mushroom Chip with sweet potato, green strawberry, ramps, white bean hummus, charred walnut, and pomegranate.

~Deviled Eggs perfectly blended and seasoned with shiitake furikake

Salad:

~Bruised Kale Salad w/ dried blueberries, lemon zest, pickled ginger, roasted jalapeno, roasted squash, popped sorghum, nutritional yeast & vegan poppy seed dressing. Blue cheese crumbles and mini sweet potato biscuits on the side.

Dinner:

~Mushroom Delight (even better than Turkish! Features a variety of locally sourced mushrooms including Lion's Mane, King Oyster, Enoki, Shimeji, and more); with roasted flavor-fall vegetable medley and perfectly smashed red russets dolloped with a hearty mushroom gravy. 

Dessert:

~It's a secret!!! 

Parking for the event includes free parking along Haywood Rd or any of the neighborhood side streets. Paid parking is also available across the street from the venue in the church adjacent lot. Our gala will feature a purple and green color theme (our organizational colors), so feel free to add your own fashionable flare to this if it strikes your fancy, but it is not required. 

Questions? Reach out to our event coordinator, Joey@seekhealing.org

Warmly and with gratitude, 

SeekHealing Team