The Appalachian Voice
Earth Day 2011
Story by Kaley Bellanti The first question everyone should ask folks in Appalachia this April is, “What are you doing for the 41st annual Earth Day?” The answer is a little more complicated, because of the array of events taking place throughout the region. From a recycling contest to dumpster diving, the fairs and exhibitions…
Read MoreSolar decathlon, JOBS solar project… see what’s happening Across Appalachia
ASU in the Running for Solar Decathlon By Jesse Wood Students at Appalachian State University are striving to be shining examples of sustainability by building the best model home on the planet. ASU’s Solar Homestead team is one of 20 universities from around the globe competing in this year’s U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon,…
Read MoreTake Me to the River(Fest)
By Parker Stevens, Festival Coordinator Start your summer with a splash at the 2nd annual Appalachian Voices’ RiverFest and membership gathering, slated for June 4 in beautiful Valle Crucis, N.C., on the banks of the Watauga River. At this year’s RiverFest, folks will have the opportunity to try their hand at making Japanese-style fish prints,…
Read MoreMountain Musicians
ongs for Justice | Reel World String Band Story by Jillian Randel In 1977, a group of twenty-five women in Kentucky gathered their instruments to perform for the International Day of Women. Of that group, four women (later joined by a fifth) decided to keep stringing and singing, playing traditional tunes incorporating country, swing, blues…
Read MoreExtraordinary Educators
Marie Daly | Founder of Ivy Academy By Jesse Wood In the fall of 2009, Marie Daly founded Ivy Academy, a unique and successful tuition-free charter school outside of Chattanooga, Tenn. After teaching English for 20 years and witnessing apathetic students, she knew she had to do something different to help children regain their natural…
Read MoreMarvelous Artists
Kari Gunter-Seymour | The Art of Empowerment By Jillian Randel Three years ago, Kari Gunter-Seymour was sitting at her monthly potluck supper surrounded by her closest female friends, when she had a vision. “People think of an Appalachian woman and look down on her,” said Gunter-Seymour. “I started thinking about women and art out there…
Read MoreSaluting the Women I Want to Be
By Jamie Goodman My grandmother was a true Appalachian mountain woman. She stood a mere 5 feet 2 inches, but she was as tall as a tree in my eyes. Her skin was weathered by years of working on the farm; her eyes were water-blue, and her hands scarred and tough. Her back was hunched…
Read MoreNews & Notes from the Organization
A Special Thanks to Mast Store and Patagonia Appalachian Voices would like to give special thanks to Mast General Store and Patagonia Footwear who joined forces to help support us this past September. For the entire month, the two companies donated a combined $10 for every pair of Patagonia shoes sold at Mast. Thank you…
Read MoreThe Coal Report
EPA Vetoes Spruce Mountaintop Removal Mine Permit By Jamie Goodman On January 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a veto of the largest proposed mountaintop removal permit in West Virginia history. Arch Coal’s “Spruce Mine #1” permit would have impacted more than 2,000 acres and buried more than eight miles of streams in…
Read More