Central APPALACHIA Expedition

Climate Change, Economics, and Community Leadership: Central Appalachia

Locations: NC, VA, WV, TN, KY
For: 15-18 year olds

What are the experiences of people that lead them to work for change?What are people/communities doing that makes them hopeful? How is crisis connected to change? How do local struggles and solutions connect to both crisis and opportunity in global systems? 

Trip Summary:
This summer’s program will focus on learning about the history and roots of environmental justice* movements in Central Appalachia. We’ll do this by hearing perspectives from miners and union organizers, environmentalists and company executives, community activists and politicians, as well as by sharing meals, stories, and homes with people throughout the region. We will learn about the diverse cultural backgrounds of Appalachian communities, the challenges or struggles they may face, and community-based responses, solutions and activism.

Throughout this program, we will learn from and connect the dots between climate change activism, indigenous rights and racial justice movements, and workers’ rights struggles. We will reflect on the ways in which what we learn about in Appalachia is connected to each of our own communities at home.  

Academic Courses Include
U.S. History, Natural Science, Economics and the Environment, Leadership and Change-making

Highlights:

• Listen to the experiences of artists and banjo-makers, activists and politicians, blacksmiths and farmers, students and miners, and hear about their visions for the future.
• Travel with other young people from around the country who care about making change in their communities and the world.
• Learn by being there: dancing at the Carter Family Fold, backpacking in the Appalachian mountains,  spending time at the Highlander Center, exploring an old mine shaft, or participating in open mic night at Gary Bowling's House of Art.
• Hear inspiring stories of community-based change-making, and share inspiration and resources.