alexandria monque ravenel

alexandria monque ravenel is a native New Yorker, born and reared with the southern charms of her native Charlestonian parents who migrated from the South in their early twenties. alexandria made her way south and eventually to Western North Carolina in 2015. As a social entrepreneur, she has founded several businesses, including a Montessori school, a women-focused empowerment bookstore, and a gallery for underground artists.

Now, alexandria is co-owner of Noir Collective AVL, a boutique shop and art gallery in downtown Asheville featuring Black artists and creatives. Noir was founded by her brilliant child, Ajax Ravenel, who started their first small business at age six.

alexandria also spends time as a co-lead for a women's spirituality group and offers educational support for families. She brings her skills as a facilitator and educator to Collaborative Organizing, a private social justice firm, and to her position at YMI Cultural Center as the coordinator for equity partnerships. Through it all, she draws strength and inspiration by marveling at the bold choices of her two children and the community care of close family and friends. Her eldest child, Walter, resides in Atlanta and is an entrepreneur and founder of Boss Locks Media, which focuses on elevating the conversation about the cross section of natural hair and professionalism.

Interview by Michael S. Williams | Photos, videos by Julia Wall

"It's the same all over the South."

"Anything you needed as a Black person" you could find on the Block.

"I can imagine that people were dreaming about how to build something like a community center [for Black people]."

"Black folks led, brown folks supported ... and white folks lined the street as a barrier, so that we could walk freely and peacefully."

"By the time we figure it out this way ... they've made a new way. The system keeps changing itself."

"You will not forget. You cannot forget."

"I want to talk about how people, Black people, were thriving in this area."

"We couldn't exist without all of that history — the good, the not so good."

"I don't think that we were at a time where white folks were dreaming up these ideas on building beautiful buildings for Black people."

"It's hard to remember that we are bright and powerful people when the world around you is saying otherwise."

"When [Asheville residents] set our minds to doing something that makes sense, people show up."

"...my job is to come in and to sit and wait and be instructed, and when given permission to share an idea and see if it’s gonna fly."

"I want to use what I've got in order to make the change that's necessary."

"Know the system. Expose the system."

alexandria monque ravenel

Joseph Anthony Pearson

Angel Redmond