Make sure you’re tapping into your full potential by being in the know about what’s going on in your community. The best way to level up your awareness is listening to Buncombe County’s Tapped In: A Half-Hour to Empower. Cohost ZaKiya Bell-Rogers says there’s nothing better than getting your local information straight from the source. “We are focused on making sure our community has access to the most up-to-date information in a timely manner. It’s a show that brings the County to the community in a comfortable setting,” explains ZaKiya. The award-winning show’s other cohost Leonard Jones says beyond being enlightening, Tapped In is must-listen entertainment. “It not only informs, but will have you laughing, engaged, and wanting more. It allows for the resources, programs, and initiatives of the County to be more personal,” says Leonard. “You never know who you may hear from. Guests include everyone from County Manager Avril Pinder to frontline staff and even community members.”
In 2023, Tapped In covered a wide array of community-relevant topics from weatherizing your homes to information on Homeowner Grants and discussed important issues such as the opioid crisis in Black communities and an ongoing series on the Community Reparations Commission. “2023 was an amazing year and the reparations series was great, but I always love it when Library Special Collections Manager Katherine Cutshall comes to the station. She provides a fresh look on the County’s history, is an amazing storyteller, and you can tell she really enjoys her job,” notes ZaKiya. And while numerous subjects were covered in 2023, for Leonard it all comes back to the five-part series on the Reparations Commission. “I loved doing the reparations series last summer where we were able to highlight and discuss each of the five impact focus areas with their own 30-minute shows, which allowed the community to hear about the progress of this important work. The show really allows us to inform the community about many of the equity efforts the County has implemented,” says Leonard.
So, who can you look forward to hearing in 2024? Buncombe County has some significant events and initiatives on deck for the year, and you can bet Tapped In will keep you informed. “We started the year off with Procurement Manager Ron Venturella to highlight the County’s new vendor and supplier portal. When we solicit for competitive proposals or bids, the portal will directly reach out to historically underutilize vendors such as those who have self-identified as woman- or minority-owned businesses,” explains Leonard. Also on the horizon for 2024 are important topics such as the upcoming property revaluation process, the Parks & Recreation Mater Plan, affordable housing, Reparation Commission recommendations, the 2024 election, and more. “The 2024 calendar is starting to fill up with some wonderful topics,” exclaims ZaKiya. So make sure to go straight to the source to get tapped in to all things Buncombe County.
Get Tapped In
Now that you know how to be in the know, here’s how you can tune in to Tapped In. You can listen on WRES-FM 100.7 every other Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Or listen to Tapped In on your on schedule and catch up on previous episodes via the following platforms: