Appalachian Voices welcomes Andie Waugh as the Stewards Energy Communities VISTA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2025

CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org

NORTON, Va. — Appalachian Voices has selected Andie Waugh, a recent North Carolina State University graduate, to serve as the Stewards Individual Placements Energy Communities AmeriCorps Volunteer In Service To America in the role of Solar Project Coordinator. Serving for a full year, Energy Communities VISTA members advance locally designed economic development, workforce readiness and environmental remediation plans in nine federally designated communities.

The Energy Community AmeriCorps Program is an AmeriCorps VISTA program aimed at alleviating poverty and building local capacity for communities across the country. This program will engage with a total of 150 AmeriCorps VISTA members over the next three years. Waugh is one of 17 VISTAs deployed across the country as part of the inaugural class.

For over 25 years, Appalachian Voices has been an influential advocate for environmental justice and clean energy transition in the region. Working out of their office in Norton, Virginia, Waugh serves as the Solar Projects Coordinator. This role supports the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia, a group of nonprofits, community action agencies, colleges, state agencies, planning district commissions, and other interested citizens and businesses. The Solar Workgroup is developing a renewable energy cluster in the seven coalfield counties of Southwest Virginia, spurring economic prosperity and community resilience. The workgroup’s holistic approach connects community members to local solar installers, providing crucial resources and funding opportunities to make these renewable energy projects possible. As an Energy Communities VISTA, Waugh will coordinate community outreach initiatives and educational events to advance local understanding of solar energy and its benefits.

Austin Counts, the Southwest Virginia Solar & Electrification Projects Manager at Appalachian Voices and a former VISTA member, is enthusiastic about the program. 

“The years I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Southwest Virginia enabled me to get hands-on experience educating people about renewable energy, running local solar programs and working to put solar energy on buildings across the historic coal communities I called home,” Counts said.

Hailing from Boone, North Carolina, Waugh’s background includes work in the outdoor industry, environmental nonprofits and small business. 

“As an Appalachian native, I want to see our mountain towns thrive,” Waugh said. “From secondhand retail to conservation education, my experience is rooted in creating sustainable communities. I am excited to support the Solar Workgroup’s commitment to clean energy and community engagement.” 

The Energy Community AmeriCorps Program is led by Conservation Legacy, a longstanding AmeriCorps partner with extensive experience working in coal communities. Over the past 22 years, Conservation Legacy has engaged more than 1,200 AmeriCorps members in supporting economic development and environmental revitalization in coal communities in Appalachia and the Intermountain West. These members have secured $41 million in grants and in-kind resources, recruited 100,000 volunteers, trained 16,000 community members in water quality monitoring and improved 3.2 million acres of land.

These members serve with the commitment to support coal communities. This innovative public-private partnership will invest nearly $8 million from federal agencies and philanthropic sources to help ensure a more just and prosperous future for the men and women who fueled our nation’s growth.

As a program of Conservation Legacy, Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships and supporting ecosystem health.

AmeriCorps VISTA places individuals with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and tribal governments to expand reach and deepen impact in making a sustainable change that alleviates the impact of poverty. Through fundraising, volunteer recruitment, program development and more, AmeriCorps members gain experience and leadership skills that put them on track for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sector.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.