Advocacy and Access for Health Parity Through Hope
- Mount Zion Community Development, Inc. (MZCD) has engaged in the fight for social justice and racial equity for Black/African Americans for over 20 years in Buncombe County, NC. Our organization was formed by the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, a historic Black church located in downtown Asheville. One focus of the Church was to organize our communities to re-build after urban renewal projects destroyed our neighborhood, known as “the Block.” We are proud of our role as a catalyst to help revitalize many Black-owned businesses, homes, and community organizations to once again thrive and prosper in Asheville.
- We have also pioneered local programs that support maternal and child health for Black women and their families. We know that infant and maternal mortality rates disproportionately impact Black infants and mothers. In Buncombe County, Black infants are twice as likely to die before their first birthday than white infants. To address this racial health disparity, we partnered with mothers to support them to advocate for themselves and their babies health during pregnancy, delivery, and the first two years of their child’s life. Our programs’ results have been recognized by the National Community Initiative Model to Eliminate Health Disparities, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the NC Child Fatality Task Force.
- Additionally, we have helped prevent unplanned pregnancies for Black teenagers in particular, and teens of all races generally, through Project EMPOWER. We partnered with Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools to implement evidence-based programs that reduced teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. These are just a few examples of our historic work to support Black/African Americans. We are committed to continuing our legacy of advocating for social justice and racial equity initiatives that support the health of Black women, children, and their families in particular, and all races generally over the long term.
Our Story in Pictures: Mount Zion Community Development, Inc.'s Journey to Make a Difference
What We Do
Together, We Create Change
Mount Zion Community Development, Inc.
47 Eagle St., Asheville, NC 28801
Mount Zion Community Development, Inc. was founded by Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Asheville, (formerly Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church) under the visionary leadership of it's Pastor, President Dr. John H. Grant.
Copyright © 2025, Mount Zion Community Development, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.