Our Home Base | The Industrial Commons
TOSS is a program of The Industrial Commons.
Based in Morganton, The Industrial Commons founds and scales employee-owned social enterprises and industrial cooperatives supporting frontline workers to build a new southern working class that erases the inequities of generational poverty and builds an economy and future for all.
Our Team | Action Shots
Melody | Future-Choral Master & Language Learning Guru
Melody Castro Mora is a starting Art Connoisseur who lives in Morganton NC. With an extensive understanding of many different cultures, Melody strives to understand, explore, and share the stories of the various cultures that flourish here in Morganton. In the future, Melody will attend Western Piedmont Community College to pursue Cosmetology and Sign Language Interpreting. Through these venues, Melody plans to use her skills to spread awareness and tell stories that are not expressed through verbal means.
Our Interns | Alumni Love
Our Founders | Cheerleaders Emeritus
Kathryn Ervin
Co-Founder and Community Organizer
Hannah Thrower
Co-Founder
Kirksey Lowther
Co-Founder
Our Community
Founding Board of Directors
July 2019 - October 2021
Dr. Erica Damman, PhD
Dr. Melinda Davis, Ph.D.
Dr. Paul Gratton, PhD
Erin Mishoe
Hannah Thrower (Vice President, Treasurer)
Kara Jones
Kathryn Ervin (President)
Khamkay Inthavong (Student Ambassador)
Kirksey Lowther (Secretary)
Laura McNeely, M.Ed, CPXP
Martha Whitfield
Michael Berley
Samuel Kuehnert (Student Ambassador)
Partners
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Little Guatemala
Burke County Literacy Council
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Western NC Workers Center
Burke County Public Library
Fonta Flora Brewery
Diversity and Inclusion Committee, of Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge (CHS Blue Ridge)
Poe Mill Achievement Center
Inkind Donations
The Outreach Center
Kristin Steiner
LGM Plumbing
Robbin Ervin
Obie Ferguson
Sponsors
Anne Ervin
Ben and Libba Belton
Beth Bailey
Bill Steiner
Chris and Leanne Brittain
Darren and Treasure Lathan
David and Colleen Bennett
David Ervin
Erin and Stewart Mishoe
Florence Regional Arts Alliance
Ginny Erwin
Grace Episcopal Foundation
Greater Lake City Artists' Guild
Huffman Cornwell Foundation
Jann & Mary Bailey-Kropelnicki
Jean VanNoppen
Jen and Michael Fulenwider
Jim and Iris Toner
John and Amber Gannt
Juanita Epley
Julia and Richard Mode
Julia Mode
Kathleen Chapman
Kristin Steiner
Lake City Partnership Council
Laura and Scott Mulwee
Main Street Office
Matt and Christen Robeson
Michael Berley
Nancy Albers
National Philanthropic Trust
North Carolina Arts Council
North Carolina Museum of Art
Paul, Andy & Spence Rosebrock
Robbin Ervin
Saddleback Visual Arts
Sandra, Mark, Charlie and Camm Bennett
Shane and Julie Cross
Susie Graham
The Community Foundation of WNC
Thomas and Hailey Best
Tracy and Amy Jones
Tran and Marilyn Gordley
Trent and Sheri Toner
Trinity Fellows Academy
Walmart Foundation
William and Catherine Bell
William and Tara Mode
William K. and Delores S. Brehm
Vendors
Little Guatemala
Queens Catering
Our Volunteers
Aaron Ambroso
Annie Wilten
Andrew Collins
Alice Roth
Amandalyn Lovewell
Armour Christine
Ann Yanti Supriyadi
Ana De Los Reyes
Barb Bonner
Bruce Roth
Brennen Lieske
Bianca Eason
Clark Ervin
Chris Armstrong
Diane Blocker
Diana Pitta Long
Dayon Royster
Debra Homestead
Edna Daniel
Evelyn Montes
Evelyn Guthrie
Gilkey Nikky
Hannah Thrower
Jose Lozano
Jan Stephanides
Jan Huculak Abby
John Moises Webb
Jacob Parker
Joe Voorhies
John Pearce
Janine Shannon
Judy Marcon
Katherine Leith
Kerry Alexander
Kirksey Lowther
Lance Jost
Lilyana Lee
Luke Ervin
Leah Ervin
Lauren Collins
Lydia Kuehnert
Maria Marin
Michael Lowther
Morgan Malone
Melissa Bayes
Mercy Koyongian
Nicky Augustson
Pamla Manazer
Paula Long
Peter Homestead
Ruth Anne Ervin
Samuel Kuehnert
Sophia Soo Hyun
Susie Graham
Sara Kurtz
Shelley Leith
Susan Barth
Tracy Scott
Vojta Safranek
Yoon Wurrfell
Wayne Bayes
