Changes at Appalachian Voices

We are delighted to welcome Meredith “Mayzie” Shelton as our new Distribution Manager for The Appalachian Voice and Operations and Outreach Associate. Mayzie is an herbalist and mother of three dedicated to expanding access to clean water, sanitation and nutrition. She recently returned from a project advancing these goals in The Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mayzie is taking over for Lauren Essick, who held this position before becoming our N.C. Energy Savings Outreach Coordinator. Lauren graduated from Appalachian State University where she focused on sustainable planning and community development. She is now working with our Energy Savings team to promote energy efficiency programs for low-income families in the region.

We also welcome Lydia Graves as our first Southwest Virginia Solar VISTA. She will help advance solar power in the region. Lydia is from Bristol, Va., and graduated from Appalachian State University, where she studied sustainable development. Before joining us, Lydia worked with Sustain Abingdon on the Solarize Abingdon initiative, a program designed to make going solar simple and affordable for homeowners and businesses.

It is also time to say farewell to Eliza Laubach, who spent two years with us, first as an AmeriCorps Outreach and Communications Associate and then as our Energy Savings Community Outreach Associate and a Contributing Editor of The Appalachian Voice. On her final day, she helped run the French Broad Energy Forum. We’ll miss her thoughtfulness and passion for justice and wish her all the best for the future.

Learn more about our staff, interns and board of directors members.

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