Girls Empowered: Building Confidence And Community

Real change often starts with a simple invitation: come see what’s possible. We open with a clear, data-driven look at Henderson County’s housing market—average prices holding near $545K, roughly 135 sales per month, and tight inventory around 430 active listings—while rates hover in the sixes and sometimes dip into the high fives. That mix creates a rare window where buyers gain breathing room and sellers face less competition, especially ahead of spring. We share how timing, not headlines, should guide your next move and why thoughtful planning beats waiting for a perfect moment.

Then we turn to the heart of the show: United Way’s GEM program—Girls Empowered—led by educator turned program manager, Katy Gash. GEM runs across 10 public schools and at the Boys and Girls Club, centering on fifth and eighth graders during pivotal transitions. The format is simple and powerful: a 10-week after-school program with weekly visits from women leaders—surgeons, firefighters, entrepreneurs, and the mayor—who speak about resilience, confidence, inner beauty, and service. The program culminates in a Women in Leadership tour that blends career exploration with meaningful mentorship. For many students, it’s the first time they can see their future reflected back at them by someone who has walked a similar path.

Katy shares why nominations from teachers and counselors matter, how no student is turned away, and how a grant from Dogwood Health Trust accelerated growth from three sites toward a goal of 12 by 2026. We talk candidly about what it takes to sustain a program that schools wish could run year-round: consistent funding, more mentors, and community partners who want their work to count locally. The throughline is simple—stable homes and empowered students are two sides of the same strong community.

If this conversation moved you, help spread the word. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Want to get involved with GEM or nominate a Hometown Hero? Reach out, volunteer, or donate—and let’s keep the momentum going.

Transcript

Milestone And Market Snapshot

SPEAKER_02 0:00

The George Real Estate Group Radio broadcast is celebrating 10 years on WHKP. The George Real Estate Group is celebrating 10 years on the radio live every Thursday morning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7 FM and AM 1450, and streaming online at WHKP.com. Each Friday morning at 8.45, the George Real Estate Group presents the Hometown Hero Award to someone in our community who goes above and beyond to make our hometown a better place to live. Here's this week's Hometown Hero Show.

SPEAKER_00 0:43

A few great better all the same.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

It's 845, and time now for our Hometown Hero series, brought to you by the George Real Estate Group. And it's Friday morning, and Noah always comes by to visit with us. And it's so good to see you every Friday, Noah, and honor one of our Hometown Hero guests and programs. Today we're honoring a program. So uh we're tickled to death to be here.

SPEAKER_03 1:15

It's a highlight of my week. I know you and Randy, you and I, it's it's amazing the men and women and and students that we get to interview and have conversations with and just shine a light on some amazing uh things happening in our communities.

Henderson County Housing Trends

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Absolutely. Uh it's here if you look for it, and uh and we look for it on this program, and we try to bring uh like we said, we try to pour a cup of kindness on Friday mornings. How's the real estate business this this time of the year?

SPEAKER_03 1:41

It is actually incredible, and uh the perception is I mean, it's fascinating. People say, Oh, you're in real estate, I'm so sorry. No, it it it's it's still happening. In fact, uh in 2025 we had an 8% increase in the number of homes sold in Henderson County compared to 2024. See, and that's even when interest rates were in the sevens. Now the interest rates are in the sixes.

SPEAKER_02 2:02

Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

Buyer And Seller Opportunities Now

SPEAKER_03 2:03

And so for here's just a some quick snapshots. Uh, Henderson County is averaging 135 single-family homes a month selling over the last 12 months. Our average price is about 545, which is holding. It didn't, it didn't really go up, it didn't really go down over the last 24 months. It's held, and that's because of the low inventory levels. I mean, as of uh this this week, there's only some 430 active total homes on the market in Henderson County. So it is it's good for both buyers and sellers. Buyers, because the interest rates are in those low sixes, sometimes they're dipping into the high fives. And then for sellers, you have low competition, little competition. Uh, and if you're waiting for the spring market, I wouldn't, I mean, it's always about what's right for you, right? Time is the time is right when it's right for you, the market's the market. But I mean, you can actually get ahead of the spring market now and now and have less competition as a seller. And we've been actively riding homes, uh putting homes under contract even during these two winter storms that we've had. We've had we've had to cancel some open houses, but we've still had buyers writing contracts and negotiating contracts. And so, again, it's the market's the market, but life happens, therefore, real estate happens. And at the George Real Estate Group, it's a privilege to to facilitate and to advocate and to help our clients navigate through all of those things. You're uh located in Flat Rock, but work all around our region. That's right, Western North Carolina and the upstate. Give us a call, 828-393-0134. We podcast all of our radio shows. We're here every Thursday after the 10 o'clock news, and then uh it's a uh privilege to sponsor the Hometown Hero Series.

SPEAKER_02 3:40

Well, thank you for doing it, and we love having you here on Friday mornings. And uh, we also uh are tickled to death to have Katie Gash with us from the United Way. Good morning, Katie.

SPEAKER_01 3:51

Good morning.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

How are you?

SPEAKER_01 3:52

I'm doing well, thanks, and thank you so much for inviting me here today.

SPEAKER_02 3:56

Oh, it's a pleasure, it's a real pleasure. Uh actually, Noah was the one who recommended.

SPEAKER_01 4:02

Thanks so much, Noah, for having us.

Introducing Today’s Hometown Hero

SPEAKER_03 4:03

Well, of course, I and I personally, my daughter, Lucy, is involved. And if you can tell our listeners about the gym program. Absolutely. My it has been such an impactful program for my daughter, and uh I mean, it's been an amazing experience for her, but I want I I was because of the experience my daughter's had, and again, uh I want to share with our listeners about this incredible program. It's not just at her school. She you're doing this in Henderson County, but let's talk about the United Way's GEM program.

United Way’s Mission And Reach

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Well, absolutely, thank you. Well, before I get started on Gem, I wanted to tell you a little bit more about United Way because United Way has been here for our neighbors since 1953. I only started working at United Way last year, and I had no idea that it had been around for so long. We are a trusted nonprofit that partners with other sectors in our community. We address health and education, financial stability, and basic needs of people in Henderson County. And one of the programs that United Way has, one of their 42 programs, is GEM. And so GEM stands for Girls Empowered. And it is at right now, it's at 10 of our public schools as well as the Boys and Girls Club. And so it's at every single middle school and also at our elementary schools. We really, really want to pour into our fifth grade girls and our eighth grade girls because those are pivotal years in their education as they're leading their schools, but also they're getting ready for a big transition to go to the middle school or to go to the high school. And sometimes they um sometimes that can be overwhelming for them. So we're we're there for them.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

To your point, the United Way has an incredible impact, not only across the country, but here in our county. And and like you said, Jim is one of the many programs. So tell us about your role with Jim.

What GEM Is And Where It Runs

SPEAKER_01 5:51

Sure. So um some of you may know that I was a math teacher at Hendersonville Middle School. I was an eighth-grade math teacher for many, many years. And so I got to see firsthand how Jem impacted the girls who were in my eighth-grade class. And so sometimes society doesn't always tell us that we're brave enough or strong enough or beautiful enough or um ambitious enough. And Gem is a way of empowering our young girls to let them know that they are absolutely brilliant, just as they are. For me, I like to say that we're putting wind in the sails of those who need just a little extra wind. Sometimes we see something in our girls that they don't necessarily see in themselves as yet. So it's an after-school program, it is a 10-week program. We are at five schools in the sum in the spring, five schools in the fall, and we're at the Boys and Girls Club during the summer.

SPEAKER_02 6:40

Incredible. I I can see you to your point, you said the fifth and eighth grade you kind of concentrated. I uh my daughter, when I remember she was in the fifth grade, what a pivotal year that was. It was total day and night.

Why Fifth And Eighth Grade Matter

Mentors, Topics, And Leadership Tour

SPEAKER_01 6:54

It is so important to feel like you are part of a community. And so we have girls who are really involved in athletics, or we have girls who are really involved in um other after-school activities. But gem is for those girls who maybe haven't found their tribus yet, maybe, you know, or maybe they have, but they have something so brilliant to offer to other girls as well. So they just come alongside. The wonderful thing about gym, um, it's called Girl is Girls Empowered. We bring in female leaders from our community, and that is like the centerpiece of what the GEM program is about. So each week, someone different comes in and speaks to the girl on girls on topics such as empowerment or um perseverance or confidence and inner beauty or what it means to reach out and be a part of something bigger than yourself. And then at the end of the 10-week gym program, we go on a women in leadership tour and we go to it's like a field trip, but with um career exploration and just with that mentorship piece involved as well. And so um we've we've had surgeons, we have had jewelers, we have had um firefighters, we have had the mayor, we have had so many different women be a part of our program, and we just thank them so much. And what I realized too, it's not just empowering for our girls to have these amazing women come and speak into their lives, but it's also empowering for the guests who we invite to give back to you. You know how nervous people get speaking in front of a group of eighth-grade girls? I do actually or fifth graders. Um, but I'm telling you, every time the the women are of our community come in and spend time with our girls, they always leave. Uh you know, sometimes have you ever been on a mission trip where you feel like you know what, I came to serve, but I actually was served more.

SPEAKER_03 8:45

It was more of a blessing to to receive I mean you were the one there to to give back, but then they you were blessed more by being there from the people you were there to serve.

SPEAKER_01 8:55

Absolutely, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 8:57

No, we've uh you've done this and your business and me and mine. You you when it's good to teach, it's good to be a teacher. It gets you totally involved in what you've been doing every day for the last 20 years, you know. Absolutely. But r to verbalize it and to show and to and to pass on that enthusiasm.

SPEAKER_01 9:16

Absolutely. When I was in the in the math classroom, I was a better teacher because of the students who I had in front of me. And so for for girls like Lucy, I mean Lucy, if if you've ever well, you've met Lucy. Oh Lucy. She never meets Lucy.

SPEAKER_02 9:31

Of course. Until she took over, too.

Impact Stories And Community Benefits

SPEAKER_01 9:35

Well, just imagine last year we served 92 Lucy's. That's a lot of people. Over 10 schools, and it was just beautiful. And the girls, well, maybe I shouldn't have said that, because Lucy's. Well, everybody's unique. Everyone is unique, you know. But there's still something in common that we all have, you know, that that core within us that just wants to shine. That core within us that just wants to know that we can do what we put our minds to. And that is what the GEM program through United Way and Women United are able to do. Um, really, really blessed by a grant that we received three years ago from Dogwood Health Trust that allowed us to take this program from three schools, and our goal is to bring it to 12 locations. We're at 11 right now. That's amazing. And so we'd like to bring it to at least 12 schools by the end of 2026. But of course, we're always looking for funding and we're always looking for other ways that the community can can get um involved. Um, if you are a lady out there who maybe would like to have an opportunity to come to Bruce Drysdale or to come to Hillendale or to come to Rugby Middle School and and give back some of what you have learned as you have found your way in your career path, we would be so happy to hear from you.

SPEAKER_03 10:46

So I'm curious I'm always I always ask this question to all of our guests who had an impact in your life that caused you to be a that wanted you to put planted that seed for you to desire to be a teacher and then for you to desire to be to doing what you're doing now. Was there someone because I I believe we all have these people that make an impact in our lives. And what you in the leadership and the women are doing with the girls, you are that person for these young ladies. But I'm curious who was that person for you.

Scaling GEM And Funding Needs

SPEAKER_01 11:13

Well, um, I grew up in Barbados, a little island in the Caribbean, and so our school system was um very colonial and very different from what we have here. But I do remember there was a program called um it was called Junior Achievement. And I don't know if it was maybe something that was here as well. It was, yes. Yes, and so therefore, and also do I remember Miss Nelson. She was one of my teachers. I wasn't always the best student. Surprise, surprise. Um but I do remember her patience, her love, her sternness, the way she always spoke um and called us higher. You know, you knew she loved us, but she was tough. Expect had high expectations. Exactly, because she saw something in you that you probably didn't see in yourself. And so um, Miss Nelson, um, thank you for what you did for me way back in Barbados. And I just hope that through this gem program and through all the programs that United Way um is a part of, that we're able to just make our community um a better place. And there's something we like to say, you know, that we're we're better together. You know, we're united, we can do so much. Um, and and that's what we're here for.

SPEAKER_02 12:19

I'm so impressed. I I really am. I I'm super impressed with the person who found you to lead this program. You are perfect for this job.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

I feel like I've found my my spot. I really enjoy it. I absolutely do. And so um, but I'm it's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 12:39

Yes. No, again, it was again my personal experience seeing Lucy's experience with it, and then the the presentation at the school board was incredible, and then um, you know, just the conversations, it's amazing. I I didn't here's a question out of curiosity. Did the ch do the kids get a chance to is it a choice for them to participate, or are teachers nominating the kids to to participate in this?

SPEAKER_01 13:03

Um it is really teachers. Um, teachers, guidance, counselors, um, you know, especially the fourth grade teachers, like at least at the elementary school. So the fourth grade teachers have spent a year with these girls and they can see their potential, they can know the ones that maybe a program like Jem is just what they need to just propel them or to maybe just reinvigorate them or to encourage them where they are. Um, and obviously, if there's a a little girl who maybe wasn't invited, and if she maybe just reaches out and says, Hey, my friend is in this program, do you think I could be as well? We do not turn anyone away at all.

How Girls Join And Who Refers

SPEAKER_02 13:38

That's amazing. Yes. Well, Katie, get us in touch with you and and the uh the Jim group, and just like if anyone's listening, like you said, who wants to know more about it, uh get us in touch with you.

Katie’s Path And Early Influences

SPEAKER_01 13:52

Absolutely. I would definitely say just visit us at our United Way website. Um we have a whole page there that's dedicated to Jim. Um reach out to me personally. Um I don't know if I should 828-582-2422. Um reach out to me personally. I am the GEM manager, and we are always looking for um ways that we can just connect with our community. And certainly, as I said, it is a funded program um through Dogwood Trust, and that funding um graciously and generously brings us through the end of 2026. And we are committed to this program at United Way, and it shall continue and expand, but it can only expand if we have the funding to um to do so. It's quite a feat to run this at 12 schools in a year. Um, and so, but we'd like to have it at every school if possible. And every school says, I wish you wouldn't just do it one semester. I wish we could do it year round. That's one of the things that we always hear. We'd love to do that. So reach out to us, um, visit us on our website at United Way and see how you can get plugged in.

SPEAKER_02 14:57

Girls Empowered, Katie Gash. Noah, what a great guest and a great show this morning.

SPEAKER_03 15:02

And here's a certificate for our hometown hero, and we're just so thankful. And again, I I personally just Lucy's uh it's amazing the difference.

Volunteer, Donate, Get Involved

SPEAKER_02 15:10

Uh well, I appreciate you nominating Katie, and uh, that's the kind of show we do every Friday morning, and we're always looking for these kinds of people in our neighborhood, so get in touch with us if you know someone you'd like to nominate to be a George Real Estate Group, hometown hero. The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat Rock, North Carolina, near Hendersonville in Henderson County. You can find them online at realestatebygreg.com. The George Real Estate Group can be reached at 828-3930134 or stop by their office at 2720 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, North Carolina. Tune in live each week on Thursdays at 1005 a.m. on WHKP 107.7 FM and 1450 A.m. or stream online at WHKP.com or download these podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. The George Real Estate Group brings you the WHKP Hometown Hero Series every Friday morning at 8.45.

SPEAKER_03 16:15

Maybe the house feels a little too big these days. The stairs a little steeper. The pace of life a little too fast. But what if your next move wasn't about letting go? It was about making space for peace, for freedom, for what matters most. At the George Real Estate Group, we understand that real estate isn't just about the house. It's about transitions, timing, and trust. We've helped thousands of families in Western North Carolina make smart, thoughtful moves closer to nature, closer to family, closer to home. So when you're ready to rice-size, simplify, or start fresh, we'll be here. The George Real Estate Group. Local, trusted, proven. Call us today, 828-393-0134. Find us online at realestatebygreg.com because your next chapter deserves to feel just right.