From Brokenness to Belonging: Dr. Ben Williamson and the Community Cure for Poverty

Jan 6

12 Baskets Café Meal Service © Brody Hartman

On a cold, grey afternoon, I found myself in the welcoming warmth of 12 Baskets Café. I had spent half the day sipping coffee, meeting community members, and taking photos*. As the lunch service wrapped up and volunteers packed away the remaining food, a couple rushed into the café, visibly distressed.

The man's voice was frantic as he called out, "My wife and I are starving." His words were a stark reminder of the urgency of hunger, and their condition left no doubt. Without hesitation, the volunteer staff quietly unwrapped food containers, offering the couple as much as they needed. There were no questions, judgment, or fluster about the cafe being closed—just a quiet act of compassion and care. As I waited to interview Ben Williamson for this Portrait of Purpose, I wondered about how many thousands of moments like this flowed through the humble community café.

* All photos of community members are taken with permission. Many folks would rather maintain anonymity for a variety of reasons.

Asheville Poverty Initiative

Asheville Poverty Initiative (API) was founded in 2011 to address resource gaps and foster deeper community connections. Dr. Ben Williamson, now the Executive Director, brings a deeply personal perspective shaped by his transformative journey. Under his leadership, API continues its mission to dismantle stereotypes about poverty and create spaces for dignity and mutual care, fostering individual growth and collective impact.

History of 12 Baskets Café

12 Baskets Café began in 2015 with a simple yet impactful idea: rescue surplus food and share it with the community. Founding Executive Director Rev. Shannon Spencer launched the café by setting up tables and freezers wherever space was available, eventually creating a permanent home in West Asheville to serve meals and foster connection. Today, 12 Baskets Café is a by-donation community conversation café using 100% rescued food served by a waitstaff of fellow community members. The café operates every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, offering meals alongside coffee and conversation.

Each year, 12 Baskets Café rescues over 150,000 pounds of surplus food, serving thousands of meals to community members. Additionally, API’s Realities of Poverty program has engaged over 500 participants in experiential learning, fostering empathy and understanding of systemic challenges.

Ben’s Journey to Asheville Poverty Initiative

Dr. Ben Williamson’s path from personal struggle to leading Asheville Poverty Initiative (API) underscores the transformative power of community-driven care.

His early life was marked by challenges, including a turbulent upbringing shaped by alcoholism and dependency, leading to struggles with substance abuse. “I grew up in a volatile household,” Ben recalls. “There was trauma, dependency, and eventually my own substance abuse. By 24, I found myself locked up for a nonviolent drug felony.” After his release, Ben began mandated community service with East Alabama AIDS Outreach, an experience that profoundly shaped his sense of purpose.

Working at East Alabama AIDS Outreach exposed Ben to profound human suffering and resilience. “It shook me to the core,” he reflects. “I wasn’t healed yet, but I learned what it meant to be of service. I learned to get out of myself and see a bigger world. I remember taking patients on errands—to the grocery store, to pick up prescriptions,” he shares. “It was eye-opening to see how difficult everyday tasks were for these individuals. They were navigating so many barriers with such grace.” The organization operated out of a modest space, but the impact it had was enormous. “It wasn’t a fancy office; it was just a desk and a storeroom. But what we were doing there mattered deeply,” Ben says. “I saw how unsupported people could be, and it made me question our societal priorities. That time pushed me to wrestle with questions like, ‘What do we value as a society? What am I going to do with my life?’” Reflecting on this experience, Ben continues,

“I was still broken in many ways—still using and making dangerous decisions. But being of service planted a seed in me. It broke me open in the best way, forcing me to access my emotions.”

Ben Williamson in the kitchen of 12 Baskets Café. ©Brody Hartman

He also acknowledges how his father’s journey with rehab influenced his understanding of resilience and the cycles of dependency. “I went to meetings with my dad in high school and swore it would never be me. But then it was. That experience gave me empathy I carry to this day.”

This marked the beginning of Ben’s life of service, a journey through education, three degrees, nonprofit leadership, and ultimately to Asheville Poverty Initiative. Ben reflects, “Ever since then, I’ve been in various service roles, growing into leadership positions. With the support, encouragement, and empowerment of others, I gained the confidence to stand on my own and serve more effectively.” His journey included volunteering with organizations, working with mentors, and spending over 20 years in education before transitioning to nonprofit leadership.

“I wasn’t looking for employment when I came to API,” he shares, “but the role of Executive Director felt like the culmination of all my experiences—a chance to align my work with a mission I deeply believe in.” Looking back, Ben says, “I’ve had 49 years of practice making mistakes, and I’m grateful to be in a place that offers grace for growth.” 

“I saw how unsupported people could be, and it made me question our societal priorities. That time pushed me to wrestle with questions like, ‘What do we value as a society? What am I going to do with my life?’”

Ben offering a community member an opportunity to step into a leadership role for the afternoon.

A Thread of Purpose

For Ben, purpose is not an abstract concept but a lived experience. “Purpose is about being of service to others, supporting and empowering them, and helping remove obstacles so they can thrive," he shares. “It’s about seeing the beauty even in the broken parts and creating spaces for connection and opportunity. That’s sacred and special.” This belief in purpose is what drives API’s programs and underpins its focus on mutual care and shared humanity.

As an educator, Ben often brought his students to API, introducing them to Poverty Walks and 12 Baskets Café. “I wanted them to see the real world behind the curtain of privilege,” he explains. These moments bridged gaps in understanding, fostering empathy in future generations. Ben also brought his daughters to 12 Baskets Café, allowing them to witness the power of community and connection firsthand. “It was important for them to see a space where everyone is treated with dignity and mutual respect,” Ben shares.

As an administrator, he extended this philosophy further by encouraging his teachers to participate in Poverty Walks. “I wanted them to gain a more comprehensive understanding of our city and county, the issues that were behind the curtain that many of them didn’t see. Having an organization employing people with lived experience to share their stories—that’s invaluable.” Ben recounts how these walks allowed participants to, quite literally, walk in the shoes of those navigating homelessness, searching for resources, and trying to secure basic necessities such as housing, food, bathrooms and warmth.

Ben reflects on the broader role of spaces like 12 Baskets Café in fostering community and meaningful relationships. “We are losing a lot of what it is to be human,” he shares. “Places like this help us reconnect and feel what we’ve been missing.” He describes 12 Baskets as a “third place” for people without access to traditional community hubs. “It’s a place for those who don’t go to church, aren’t welcome in coffee shops, or don’t have a nine-to-five job. It becomes their place,” he explains.

Ben highlights a writing group at 12 Baskets as one example of its transformational power. “There are 25 people outside in the garden right now, sharing their creative works with friends and strangers. It’s beautiful and empowering,” he says. Led by a UNCA professor who volunteers weekly, the program offers participants professional guidance in creative writing. This professor, an accomplished writer with experience in publishing anthologies and performing spoken word at festivals, donates their time every Friday to help the group hone their craft. “It’s just one small example of the incredible gifts this space offers,”

Donna, the long-time kitchen coordinator of 12 Baskets Café. © Brody Hartman

Mutuality and Community Impact

At the heart of API’s work is mutuality, the understanding that dignity and care flow in all directions. Ben reflects, “I selfishly serve because I’m being served in return.” He elaborates, “There are people who are financially resourced but experience a poverty of spirit, purpose, fulfillment, or community. At the same time, there are those who may be financially under-resourced but are rich in talent, wisdom, happiness, and connection. We have so much to learn from and share with each other. That’s the whole concept of mutuality that we celebrate and lift up at API and 12 Baskets. And I think we model it—it’s not just a word in a brochure for us. It’s real.”

Ben and a patron discussing a meeting with FEMA.

This ethos is evident in the stories of community members who have found belonging and transformation at 12 Baskets Café.

Jacob, for instance, a long time patron, stayed nine hours with a stranger at an emergency facility experiencing a mental health crisis. His extraordinary grace and patience embodied API’s ethos of mutual care. “Jacob’s presence wasn’t just an act of charity; it was a profound expression of humanity, showing how connection can make a tangible difference,” Ben reflects.

Aaron, a former patron of 12 Baskets, exemplifies the transformational power of mutual care. "Aaron came to us in recovery after battling addiction, and criminal justice challenges" Ben explains. "He started as a patron, then began volunteering, bringing with him years of experience managing high-end restaurants. We saw his potential immediately." After a rigorous hiring process, Aaron joined the team part-time and has since become a full-time leader. "His journey shows what’s possible when we invest in people and believe in their potential," Ben says.

Another poignant example is a man who lost his home in a flood and ended up living in a storage unit while working two jobs. "He was honest about his situation with FEMA, which unfortunately led to his eviction from the storage facility," Ben explains. "It’s a stark reminder of how thin the line is between stability and crisis. He adds, "I'm confident we’ll have our friend in a place, a real place that’s not a shelter and isn’t a storage unit or a tent. If he hadn’t been at 12 Baskets, and if we hadn’t been there, I don’t know that that would happen."

These stories illustrate the profound impact of a community built on mutual care and understanding, showing how spaces like 12 Baskets can transform lives and create lasting change.

Aaron, 12 Baskets Café Program Coordinator taking a break from service with Tia.

Jacob, a long-time community member of API. © Brody Hartman

Ben Williamson with portraits of 12 Baskets Community

A Vision for Economic Justice

Ben’s leadership at API reflects a broader vision for economic justice rooted in connection and empathy. “Community cures poverty,” Ben says. Programs like 12 Baskets Café and Poverty Walks are at the heart of this vision, creating spaces where individuals break down stereotypes and build genuine relationships. Ben envisions API continuing to model mutuality and connection as a transformative force for economic justice.

“The more we can see each other as full human beings, the more we can dismantle the barriers that keep people trapped in cycles of poverty.

It’s not just about financial support; it’s about belonging and empowerment,” he explains. Looking ahead, Ben hopes to deepen API’s programs to reach even more communities, fostering spaces that prioritize dignity, care and shared humanity.

Impressions and Faces of 12 Baskets Café

Spending time with this community expanded my perspective on the nature of purpose. Whether it’s the volunteers who find meaning and reciprocity in serving others, a patron navigating the moment-to-moment realities of survival in the company of a caring community, or those who have been with API for a while and now serve as Poverty Educators in the classroom, purpose is lived in countless, impactful ways.

Jacob, a big-hearted, talented singer-songwriter, has experienced incarceration, lives out of his car, and shares his music with the community. I took these photos the day before he was to perform on a local radio program in Asheville. © Brody Hartman