“Need makes you find a way to really do the impossible. And in doing so, you find that in fact you are not powerless, that you have it in you to shape your destiny.”
Born and raised in Ecuador, Vivian Bolaños got the chance to visit Texas as an exchange student during high school. Realizing her opportunities would be greater in America, she kept in close contact with her host family and was able to move to the United States, settling in Henderson County in 2000.
“I knew if we came here, we were going to have better choices,” explains Vivian, who attended law school at the University Estatal of Cuenca in Ecuador. “When we moved, we had nothing. My husband and daughter couldn’t speak any English, but people gave us an opportunity and took a chance on us.”
Vivian first worked at Roper Insurance Agency and as a GED instructor for Spanish-speaking students at Blue Ridge Community College. She then became vice president and business development officer for First Bank & Trust Co., where she developed business relationships in the Henderson, Transylvania and Buncombe County banking centers. Today, she is vice president of business banking at First Citizens Bank and focuses on business and commercial lending in the Asheville market.
Along the way, Vivian has become a committed community advocate and volunteer, serving as a board member for the United Way of Henderson County, Safelight, Pardee UNC Health Care and Blue Ridge Community College.
“I feel very privileged that I can be a bridge to connect those in need with someone who can help,” she said. “We live in an incredible community and a very giving community, but there are also so many struggles.”
Asked about her vision for Dogwood Health Trust, she added, “I want us to be the type of organization that people look up to and see that the educated choices and decisions we are making are moving the needle. I want us to collaborate with existing nonprofits who are already working to address the challenges facing our community, so they can be stronger and affect even more families.”
Address:
890 Hendersonville Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
Mailing:
890 Hendersonville Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
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Support programs and networks that reduce deaths, treat addiction, and prevent first use
Help reduce disparities based on race, location, education and income factors
Invest in integrated heath care with seamless connections to supportive services
Support communities that promote healthy living and resiliency and help mitigate the impact of trauma, isolation and stress on individuals and families, especially those experiencing poverty
Support a well-funded, sustainable, competitive entrepreneur and small business ecosystem throughout the region
Help build a regional economic ecosystem that supports increased creation/retention of jobs and business ownership
Help build a skilled workforce with the knowledge and technical abilities to excel in a wide range of industry employment opportunities that provide a competitive, sustainable wage
Source, analyze and share a comprehensive, county-by-county data set that paints a full picture of work readiness, economic development and entrepreneurial needs and opportunities specific to Western North Carolina
Work in tandem with Economic Opportunity Strategic Priority to invest in career readiness at the community college and university levels
Support K-12 learning experiences with the resources and sustainability to provide an excellent academic and social-emotional education, so that all students graduate ready for college or career
Invest in an improved early childhood education ecosystem with the resources and sustainability to provide developmentally appropriate, affordable and accessible education and care to support ages birth to five, so that all children in WNC enter kindergarten ready to learn
Source, analyze and share a comprehensive set of publicly available data that provides a regularly updated, county-by-county picture of access, workforce and student outcomes in early childhood education and K-12 education specific to Western North Carolina
Loans, guarantees, and other financial tools to leverage funding opportunities
Increase affordable housing for lowest-income individuals and families
Support age-appropriate resources in affordable and workforce units, rental and owned
Invest in housing with sustainable supports for physical and mental health and wellbeing
Support healthy and safe revitalizations that work against displacement and gentrification, preserve home ownership and create generational wealth.