Welcome Lara, Farewell to Hannah and Tarence
We welcome Shenandoah Valley resident Lara Mack to the Appalachian Voices team, where she will work toward a clean energy future in Virginia. Lara brings a passion for group facilitation and community organizing to her new position as Virginia Field Organizer in our Charlottesville office. An advocate for environmental and social justice issues for a decade, she considers herself and this work part of the legacy of building power in our communities and fighting oppression in our culture.
Lara is helping to fill the shoes of Hannah Wiegard, who shared her enthusiasm with Appalachian Voices as our Virginia Campaign Coordinator for two and a half years. Hannah campaigned for just policies for solar energy, supported community groups fighting natural gas pipelines and rallied ratepayers to speak out for clean energy and climate justice. She is dedicated to volunteering with environmental organizations in her new home in Charlotte, N.C.
We also bid farewell to former Central Appalachian Field Coordinator Tarence Ray. Tarence brought a passion for environmental justice to his work with community members impacted by extractive industries. We wish him well in his new role as Development Director for Appalachian Citizens Law Center in Whitesburg, Ky.
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
‘Foraging Is a Way of Connecting’
Foraging has experienced a modern resurgence, partly because of social media, online groups, the pandemic and people wanting to connect with nature. It also builds community, whether in person or online.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment