Appalshop: Letcher County, KY (pop. 22,000)
*As a preface to this post and the podcast interview, the day after our interview with Alex, Letcher County was struck by major floods that made national news. Appalshop was flooded and major damage occurred to their facility and archives. It was devastating to learn. The staff and team are okay and are in the process of recovery but their community suffered greatly. What was most admirable about their response was how it was focused on the larger community they serve and not on themselves. They released information both for the community and those outside the community to aid them in navigating the damage and devastation. Do consider supporting them and the Letcher County community:
https://appalshop.org/news/appalachian-flood-support-resources
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In our first podcast (release Friday, August 12th) we interviewed Appalshop Executive Director, Alex Gibson. I am a huge fan of Appalshop and it was deliberate that this organization was the first to be featured on the podcast. They are a perfect model of an organization meeting the needs of their community and establishing significant value to those they serve. They are also unique in that they receive 70% of their operating revenue through grant sources. This means their programs have value to foundations and government that move beyond their locale.
Their mission is to enlist the power of education, media, theater, music, and other arts to:
● document, disseminate, and revitalize the lasting traditions and contemporary creativity of Appalachia;
● tell stories the commercial cultural industries don’t tell, challenging stereotypes with Appalachian voices and visions;
● support communities’ efforts to achieve justice and equity and solve their own problems in their own ways;
● celebrate cultural diversity as a positive social value;
● and participate in regional, national, and global dialogue toward these ends.
Appalshop operates a radio station, a theater, a public art gallery, a record label, an archive, a filmmaking institute, a reproductive justice program, a community development program, and an incredible array of other initiatives, all in a renovated warehouse in downtown Whitesburg, Kentucky.
In 2019 Appalshop installed the largest net-metered renewable energy system in their region and helped community partners install their own. They installed a Letcher County walking trail, supported a music education camp for girls and gender nonconforming teens, and created a community fund for small businesses like Black Sheep Brick Oven Bakery.