James Vester Miller Park Celebration

The celebration of James Vester Miller’s life and legacy was held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at 477 N. Louisiana Avenue.

The ceremony officially named the park, unveiled a historical marker, and honored members of the Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition and Andrea Clark. In addition to the presentation, attendees enjoyed food and performances by Ballet Folklorico Raíces and the John R. Hayes High Steppin’ Majorettes and Drum Corps.

The park is named after James Vester Miller (1860-1940), one of the most important black builders in western North Carolina and a significant part of the Emma community’s history. His story is featured on the new historical marker in the park. His granddaughter, Andrea Clark, generously advised La Esperanza on the content for the marker.

“Andrea has spent so much time in our community, driving around with us, walking around with us, making sure we understand the history of every street and every home,” said Andrea Golden, co-director of PODER Emma.

The Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition consists of neighborhoods that have historically faced racially discriminatory practices and/or who also face current displacement. Asheville-Buncombe Community Land Trust, Burton Street Community Association, East End/Valley Street Neighborhood Association, PODER Emma Community Ownership, Shiloh Community Association, and Southside Rising are working together to ensure community-led development in their neighborhoods, prevent harmful development, and find solutions that support legacy residents to remain in their neighborhoods.

“What we’ve been able to do by coming together and being united is to let the city and the county know that these legacy neighborhoods are a vital part of the Asheville community, and they need to be respected and protected,” Sekou Coleman, of Southside Rising, said.

La Esperanza Real Estate Cooperative was formed as a strategy to resist displacement in the face of gentrification in Emma. Leveraging collective wisdom, resources, and power, residents and supporters cooperatively steward properties for the benefit of our community. The creation of community-owned infrastructure helps to ensure that legacy neighbors can remain and thrive. James Vester Miller Park is one of three properties owned by the cooperative.

“The reason why we’re here, why we do what we do, is we don’t want people to come and push us out of places that should belong to our community, and that’s why we are going to keep fighting,” Patty Guerra, president of La Esperanza, told the assembled crowd. (She spoke in Spanish while Golden interpreted in English.) “We’re going to keep fighting so our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren can stay in this community because this is a safe place for us.”

For more information about La Esperanza, go to laesperanza.coop.