Hellos and Goodbyes — Aug/Sept 2017
Help us in welcoming three new members to our Energy Savings team in Knoxville, Tenn!
from left to right: Lou Murrey, Brianna Knisley and Nina Levison.
Brianna Knisley joins as our Tennessee Outreach Coordinator, bringing her passion for rural solutions and economic and environmental equality to our work to bring energy efficiency to co-op members in the Volunteer State. Originally from Ohio, Bri has a B.A. in sustainable development from Wilmington College of Ohio.
Nina Levison joins us as our 2017-18 AmeriCorps OSMRE/VISTA associate with the Tennessee team. Nina hails from New England and holds a B.A. in environmental science and policy from Hampshire College.
Joe Payne
Through a partnership with the organization We Own It, we are also welcoming Joe Payne, a member-owner of Powell-Valley Electric Cooperative, as our Cooperative Energy Democracy Fellow. Joe has an MBA from Lincoln Memorial University, has worked as an energy auditor with the Tennessee Valley Authority, and is dedicated to addressing local environmental concerns.
We would also like to bid a fond farewell to Lou Murrey, who served as our 2016-17 OSMRE/VISTA in Knoxville (and is a phenomenal photographer!). We’ll very much miss her enthusiasm and unwavering passion for social justice.
Maggie Sherwood
Lastly, join us in saying a big THANK YOU to our amazing crop of summer interns. Our interns add so much to our organization and we are forever grateful for their dedication and service.
The Voice team would like to issue a very special farewell to Maggie Sherwood, who first joined as our Graphic Design intern in summer 2015 and soon after became the primary designer for the publication while finishing her degree at Appalachian State University. We have greatly appreciated her design talents, positive attitude and passion for our mission. This issue is sadly her last, but we wish her much success in her new position at the University of North Carolina Charlotte!
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