Classes
THRIVE Appalachia helps youth explore their gifts and talents, cultivate new skills, and connect with exciting opportunities in high-quality classes with
professionals in their field. Teens chose the 25 different class series we'll be offering in 2025.
Social Entrepreneurship Projects
THRIVE Appalachia Ice Cream, Soup, and Scones at Tulsi Rose Tea & Cream
THRIVE Appalachia is celebrating its second year partnering with Tulsi Rose Tea & Cream. In 2024, THRIVE teens made and sold over 300 gallons of ice cream wholesale to Tulsi Rose. Our 10 flavors feature local ingredients including award-winning chocolate chips from French Broad Chocolate, honey from Cane Branch Honey, coffee from Burnsville Roasters, and berries from TRACTOR Food and Farms. After taking a winter break, THRIVE ice cream will be available again starting Feb 28th! And on April 10th, Tulsi Rose will have the grand opening of their two-story sit down ice cream parlor and tea room! In addition to ice cream, THRIVE teens will be making an on-going supply of homemade soup and scones.
Kid's Cafe
For the third year, THRIVE Appalachia is delighted to partner
with TRACTOR Food and Farms and Reconciliation House on our
Kid's Cafe Project. TRACTOR makes it possible for us to source produce from local farms, then our teens prepare them in
The Reconciliation House Commercial for our monthly KIds Cafe. For 2025, teens have chosen to feature:
Mexican, Ethiopian, Greek, Japanese, Thai, and Italian cuisine.
Appalachian Good Wool Project
THRIVE Appalachia is thrilled to be partnering with sheep and alpaca farmers in our local fibershed, including Wellspring Farm (Burnsville, NC), Knolveston Farm (Spruce Pine, NC) and Black Sheep Farm (Leesburg, VA). THRIVE Appalachia purchased wool from these local farmers, had it spun at Green Mountain Spinnery, and woven at Thistle Hill Weavers into their signature wool fabric. Teens then sew them into elegant, upscale women's jackets.
Organic Cotton Women's Clothing Line
New in 2025!
Teens are designing and sewing an organic, US-grown cotton line of women's blouses, pants, and duster jackets. The fabric is sourced from Tuscarora Mills (Bedford, PA).
To honor of the power of our local rivers during Hurricane Helene, teens are calling this "The Blue Line" and will be using natural indigo blue dye in their designs.
Shed Building Project
THRIVE is partnering with the Yancey County Child Collaborative to apply the skills teens have been learning in their carpentry classes to build two custom sheds for a Yancey County Family. This project is made possible by
apprenticeships
THRIVE Appalachia connects youth with life-changing, apprenticeships, working with master craftspeople and world-class artists. Youth that are at least 16 years of age are eligible for paid apprenticeships.
