Announcing the Launch of Blue Ridge Collaborative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – (Charlotte, North Carolina and Chapel Hill, North Carolina) October 2, 2025 – Parklife founder & CEO Brian Castle and longtime collaborator and historian Annie Newton have announced the launch of Blue Ridge Collaborative (BRC), a nonprofit organization funding and producing creative projects that promote arts, culture, and education.

At its core, BRC seeks to shine light on stories that have often been overlooked or pushed to the margins. These narratives have the power to challenge assumptions, reshape conversations, and build more inclusive, empathetic communities.

BRC grew out of years of collaboration between Castle and Newton, as well as their respective teams, including projects such as Common Ground in Orange County, an America 250 NC–funded initiative with Indigenous Memories that explored the hidden histories of Indigenous and enslaved communities in North Carolina. Their teams first collaborated on Telling the Full Story, a North Carolina Governor’s Award-winning work that highlighted the historic contributions of the Black and Indigenous communities in North Carolina.

Newton will serve as the organization’s Executive Director, while Castle will serve on the inaugural Board of Directors.

“Through these projects, it became clear that there is no shortage of meaningful narratives waiting to be told,” said Newton, who will serve as Founder & Executive Director of BRC. “What’s often missing are the resources and platforms to bring them to life. That’s what Blue Ridge Collaborative is here to provide.”

Castle stated: “I’m so honored to be building this with Annie and an incredible group of some of my favorite people. This work allows us to realize new opportunities for creators and communities to lead the way in how those stories are shared. This work builds our legacy and feeds our souls as creatives, and BRC means we can do more of this crucial work.”

Blue Ridge Collaborative begins with the story. From there, the organization determines the best way to bring it into the world—whether through a film, podcast, book, exhibit, or another creative medium.

As a nonprofit, BRC is uniquely positioned to directly support creators by securing grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships, as well as providing the production resources, and platforms to amplify their work. The Blue Ridge Collaborative portfolio will highlight projects that not only inform and inspire but also spark dialogue about culture and shared history.

The organization is guided by a diverse board of directors whose expertise spans the arts, education, and community leadership. Joining Castle on the inaugural board for BRC are George Baker (Highland Park, TX), Camila Correa Bourdeau (Dallas, TX), Amanda Boyd (Durham, NC), Jessica Green (Apex, North Carolina), Kevin Jones (Brentwood, TN), Freddie Parker (Haw River, North Carolina), and Ashley Sharp (Dallas, TX).

The launch of Blue Ridge Collaborative reflects a shared belief: great stories don’t tell themselves. They require vision, resources, and champions willing to push beyond the expected.

“We aim to make Blue Ridge Collaborative a platform for progress,” said Newton. “Together, we can change the narrative by ensuring that important, overlooked stories have the chance to be heard and to make an impact. As a vehicle for social entrepreneurship, BRC will look to scale its project portfolio and related impact year after year.”

“I’m proud to support this new initiative, one that aligns with my mission of advancing entrepreneurship, social innovation, and thought leadership while promoting inclusion and sustainability,” added Castle. “BRC provides us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow our work with Annie and an amazing team we’ve worked with through our 16-year history and beyond.”

For more information about Blue Ridge Collaborative, please visit www.blueridgecollaborative.org or contact:

Brian Castle 

brian@blueridgecollaborative.org 

+1 (919) 360-9690