Starting in 1978 and continuing through her retirement in 2015, Carol excelled in a range of leadership roles at the Mountain Association (then MACED), including Operations and Finance Director, Director of Program Innovation and Executive Vice President. She began her career at MACED in its earliest days and helped to establish the fledgling nonprofit that has grown to be one of Eastern Kentucky’s anchor organizations.

After 10 years at MACED, she left in 1988 to become the founding director of the Brushy Fork Institute, a new leadership program at Berea College. From her time at MACED, she brought a deep knowledge of the region and a well-informed analysis of the forces at play. With her keen eye for structure and process, and her strong financial skills, Carol set the course for Brushy Fork to become an organization that continues to provide excellent support to leaders, organizations and communities in Appalachia.

Carol hired me as a Program Associate at Brushy Fork in April 1990, and over the next four years helped me transition into my first professional job. She was a gifted teacher, kind, yet always rigorous. When she left in 1994, I had the privilege of building on the strong foundation she had established.

Carol returned to MACED for five years, then left again to pursue her CPA training, finally landing at MACED again in 2002. When I joined MACED’s staff in 2012, I was particularly pleased to be working with Carol again as she helped guide me through another career transition. Carol had planned to retire in 2015, but when President Justin Maxson announced his departure, I asked her to stay just a little longer to support me once more as I got my feet under me in a new role. She graciously agreed to stay on another six months.

Scarcely a day goes by that we don’t see Carol’s influence on our work. We would not be the organization we are today without her influence, personally and professionally, on the structure, culture and ethos that continue to direct our steps. Those of us who worked with her, at the Mountain Association and across other organizations, know how she led us by example, quietly and steadfastly, to see with clarity, listen with compassion and act with integrity. She made us better people and showed us how to build better organizations. She lives on in us and her work will continue to touch lives and make this world a better place, just as she did.

The post In memoriam: Carol K. Lamm, 1950-2020 appeared first on Mountain Association.

News stories have recently been abuzz with the challenges that eastern Kentucky and other Appalachian communities are facing in dealing with faulty and aging public infrastructure—most pressingly water systems– a problem that unites them with other rural areas and Rust Belt cities across the nation.

In February, The Huffington Post published the article “Eastern Kentucky’s Struggle With Water Symbolizes America’s Crumbling Infrastructure.” The story focuses on Perry County, Kentucky, where nearly 9,000 county water customers faced shortages recently during cold winter weather—some were without running water for a month.

The New Republic also ran a story in February focusing on another issue of rural water systems—not just shortages, but also quality water to drink and bathe in. “Rural America’s Drinking Water Crisis” highlights the long standing struggle of residents in Martin County, Kentucky to secure quality drinking water. Since 2012, the county has had 36 clean water violations, according to an L.A. Times article in which Martin County’s problems were also the focus. Since these stories were published, Martin County’s Congressman, Hal Rogers, and Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin have worked to find nearly $5 million in funding to help improve Martin County’s water system.

Eastern Kentucky’s water vulnerabilities are ones that it shares with communities across the country. As The New Republic notes, “ from Appalachian Kentucky to the Texas borderlands, millions of rural Americans are subject to unhealthy and sometimes illegal levels of contaminants in their drinking water, whether from agriculture, or coal, or plain old bad pipes.”

As communities cope with current problems in quality sourcing of water while also looking to the future, conversations about water security will continue to be a pressing issue that will require engaged citizenry, effective democracy and creative, collaborative problem-solving to truly bring fair and resilient solutions for everyone.

The post Appalachia’s Water Vulnerabilities in the National Spotlight appeared first on Mountain Association.

Who are you, and what role do you fill in your community? 

My name is Roy Silver and my primary role in Harlan County is as a professor of sociology on the Cumberland campus of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. I have served our students and community since 1989. During my 28 years in Harlan County, I have been engaged in numerous community development activities and worked with others to preserve our mountains from the forces who – if left unchecked – would have allowed the strip mining of Black Mountain – Kentucky’s tallest mountain. In my early years in Harlan County, I worked with residents, former residents and workers in Dayhoit, Kentucky. In the early 1990s, this community was declared one of the most toxic areas in the U.S. and listed as a federal Super Fund site because of industrial pollution poisoning.

Most recently, in my capacity as a special projects coordinator for the City of Benham, we have worked to provide solar power to offset the costs of electricity for the city, the Benham School House Inn and the Kentucky Coal Museum. While my roles have been varied, I have grown into an appreciation for the human resources we require to create a more just and sustainable way of life. In this capacity, it is important to connect local, regional, national and international groups. This is done with the knowledge that those who experience the greatest impact of our inequities are in the best position to devise appropriate and maintainable solutions.

What do you most appreciate about your community?

I value the humanity and resourcefulness of many in our community.  During my first 10 years in Harlan County, my mother would make an annual summer visit from our New York City home. She would always remark how everyone she met would remember who she was and communicate a genuine affection for her and me. In the fall of 1998, she was diagnosed with cancer. Until the end of that year, I lived with her while she underwent treatment. We returned to Benham for her final three months.  When she passed, at the urging of many in our community, I held a visitation at the Benham School House Inn. More than 100 participated.  The concern and love exhibited was overwhelming, and the number that expressed their appreciation for her and me was five times greater than the service we held in New York.

Despite the challenges many face in our community, it is remarkable the way so many respond to the variety of crises that are visited upon them. For every family that been stricken with drug addiction, there are grandparents who have taken on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren.  Historically, Appalachian people, like so many others, have banded together in a struggle to create a better way of life. In Harlan County, evidence of this is abundant from at least the early days of unionization to numerous contemporary struggles.

What’s your vision for your community, and what’s a community project you’ve been a part of that makes strides towards that vision?

Like many communities, Harlan Countians should have jobs that challenge their intellectual and creative potentials. These employment opportunities must provide a family with a living wage. We require a diverse economic base that ends our dependency on a single industry. It is important that we create a future that respects and sustains our human and natural environment.

The solar project I have mentioned is one project that has the potential to create a way of life that is sustainable. It has engaged a broad cross section from our community.

Who is a member of your community that you admire and why?

The reverence I have had for many in our community has been grounded in their capacity to work with others to create a better Harlan County. One of the first community activists I met back in 1989 was Hazel King. Hazel had a deep passion for her mountains and people. Tom Fitzgerald of the Kentucky Resource Council wrote:

She was responsible for filing the citizen complaint that resulted in the first federal cessation order issued under the 1977 Act against a mining operation, and for hundreds of enforcement orders after that. Many community members, including miners concerned with problems at operations for whom they worked, would rely on her to be their voice – and she never failed to be that voice and to demand accountability from the mining operations and from state and federal regulators.

Hazel, through her lived examples, set the tone for many. She was a revered voice for social and economic justice.

The post Harlan County Spotlight: Roy Silver appeared first on Mountain Association.

Who are you, and what roles do you fill in your community? 

My name is Dena Smith, and I wear many hats here in Perry County. I teach Physical Education at Robinson Elementary School, I drive a school bus, and I am the assistant softball coach for Perry County Central. Over the last two years, I have also been blessed with some wonderful opportunities that have helped me grow tremendously in different areas of my life. In 2015, I was selected to be one of 16 representatives from across the state of Kentucky to serve as a School Health and Physical Education Specialist and Physical Activity Leader in my region. Under the direction of the Department of Education, I assisted in providing planning, facilitation, consultation and technical assistance to the SHAPE Network Participants – these are schools and districts regarded as highly effective at teaching and learning around Kentucky’s Core Academic Standards in health education and physical education. I served as a liaison between the Kentucky Department of Education, educational cooperatives, and other education organizations and partners. I helped identify resources and develop strategies for intervention to address health and physical education within the PL/CS Program Review. I also participated in the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program trainer program.

In 2016, I became a member of the Kids on the Move Wellness Coalition. We obtained the Investing in Kentucky’s Future Grant, whose focus is to increase the amount of physical activity each student gets throughout the school day. The program is working with both the Perry County and Hazard school systems, the UK Center of Excellence, and Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. The initiative is also going to provide standing desks at one Perry County school, as well as at Hazard Middle School. We are trying to increase daily consumption of fresh, nutritious, locally sourced food by each student during the school day. School gardens have been incorporated at most of the schools and the students seem to enjoy the process – especially the final product! We are partnering with schools though wellness councils to build strong networks of support for healthy eating and physical activity. We are working to improve the quality of and access to locally sourced nutritious food year round for students and families. The Farmer’s Market is going to play a key role in this. We are hoping to have some “fresh stops” and maybe a voucher system for fresh fruits and vegetables in the near future. We are also working to improve the quality of, and access to, community and recreation facilities in Perry County. We will be providing money from our grant to do some updates on the Hazard Pavilion. And we are also looking into some grants to update our playgrounds and parks.

What do you most appreciate about your community? 

I love the people here! I love that they are proud, God-fearing people. They go crazy for UK Basketball and are not afraid to speak their minds. They love the Lord. There is a church in every “holler.” They think there is nothing better than a cold Ale-8 or a Sweet Tea on a hot day. And everyone owns some sort of camo. Almost everyone you know owns a gun (or maybe ten) and shoots them on a regular basis. They like to hunt and fish and may just miss work on the first day of deer season to get a head start on that big buck! Everyone smiles and waves and we all know each other. In times of need, people pull together and help one another out. I also love that people here don’t need much but each other to be happy. A perfect day to most would be to wake up, eat some biscuits and gravy, go four-wheeling on the mountain, eat some fried chicken for supper, sit on the porch swing with granny, and then gather around a bon fire that night. They are also really family oriented. They may fuss and fight amongst themselves, but if someone else messes with one of their own, then there will be trouble! This is pretty much southeastern Kentucky in a nutshell.

What’s your vision for Hazard, and what’s a community project you’ve been a part of that makes strides towards that vision? 

I want to see Hazard and Perry County thrive. I want it to be a place that people will be proud to say they come from and a place where people will want to come visit. I want to see more hiking and biking and nature trails around our beautiful mountains. I want to see the litter and trash cleaned up out of our ditches and streams. I want to see more mom-and-pop stores come into downtown. I would love for this place to be a smaller version of Gatlinburg, Tenn. It’s beautiful here; we just need to polish things up and let people see what eastern Kentucky really could offer. I think the things we are doing with the Kids on the Move initiative is really helping to take a step in the right direction.

Who is a member of your community that you admire and why?

I admire my mother, Nadine Vannarsdall. She loves the Lord, her family and her community. She attends Summit Community Church. She volunteers her time there helping wherever she is needed. She was a teacher and principal at Dennis Wooten Elementary School in Perry County for 30 years. She always put the students’ needs first and treated her employees equal. She is the hardest worker I know. She is the most caring and selfless person I know. She volunteers at the Hospice Center in her spare time, and she helped care for my grandmother until she passed. She is the smartest person I know when it comes to pretty much everything: work, life, death, etc. She is my go-to person if I ever need advice. She raised me and my brothers and sister to be strong, independent, capable human beings. She raised us to have common sense and get around in the real world and taught us to always do things for ourselves. She taught us to stand on our own two feet and not to follow the crowd. She taught us to believe in ourselves, always be early, work hard, and do whatever it was you were dreading the most first. She is the best person I know. She has been a great role model, and if I only live up to be half the woman she is, that will be an amazing feat. I love my mom!

The post Hazard, Perry County Spotlight: Dena Smith appeared first on Mountain Association.

My name is Sandra Olinger, I’m the Family resource and Youth Services Director for Hazard Independent Schools. The goal of the Family Resource and Youth Services Centers is to meet the needs of all children and their families who reside in the community or neighborhood served by the school in which the center is located. To achieve this goal, local flexibility and community ownership are crucial. While every center is unique, they may have commonalties. The manner in which these issues are addressed may vary greatly depending on the resources available in your community and the education needs of the population you serve. The primary goal of FRYSC is to remove non-cognitive barriers to children’s learning.

What do you most appreciate about your community?

I appreciate the hometown closeness, the family atmosphere and the rallying and team approach. When a family, or families, are having a difficult time, we come together as a community and make sure that family is taken care of. I love my community. Life is comfortable. We don’t deal with much traffic. It’s easy to get from the store, work, school and back home without staying in traffic all day. I know my neighbors, and have a friendly conversation daily. Our school system is the best! We come together to support all our students no matter what they are going through. We are here to help! Our community sponsors students during Christmas, Thanksgiving, and throughout the year to make sure that student have what they need to succeed in school. Hazard has a down to earth vibe and I appreciate the simple things it provides.

What is your vision for Hazard, and what’s a community project you’ve been a part of that makes strides toward that vision?

My vision for Hazard would be: A community that can grow for our youngest to our oldest. Without growth there is no future for our children. We need to continue to grow and bring back industry to our community. We need have better higher education programs and Universities, and better paying jobs so those who are growing up here do not feel as if they have to leave in order to live and have a good life for them and their family.

Who is a member of your community that you admire, and why?

Member of my community I admire is my mother. She had a very hard life trying to raise 10 children and working every day cleaning someone else’s home for a few dollars to make sure we had something to eat and clothes on our back. My mother had to drop out of school at a early age because her mother passed away. She had to stay home and help with her younger brothers and sisters. I remember her saying that was the way things where back then.  She’s definitely an inspiration. Just seeing how much she’s been through over the years and she still keeps her faith. She make me think, helps me learn and pushes me to be a better person. She’s also taught me to be nice to people and give back to my community. She encourages all of her children to complete high school and to attend college. Her dream was for one of her children to graduate from college. Well, two of us did.

The post Hazard Spotlight: Sandra Olinger appeared first on Mountain Association.

Who are you, and what roles do you fill in your community?

My name is Sarah Jane Chandler and I am the Event and Fundraising Coordinator for Hope House in Hazard, Ky. I’m mostly just a church member, a wife, and mom, though!

What do you most appreciate about your community?

There are several things I appreciate about Hazard. Most of all, I appreciate how much this community wants to change and give. I have been truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that everyone has offered to Hope House. The community members here have shown nothing but love for our vision and have made it possible for us to start and sustain the homeless shelter.

What’s your vision for Hazard, and what’s a community project you’ve been a part of that makes strides towards that vision?

My vision for Hazard would be that there would be no division. I would LOVE for outsiders to come in and not see a difference between those with and those without. There is a Dr. Seuss book I think about when I think of our residents, The Sneetches. Our residents, and others like them, have “no stars upon thars.”  I would like for the homeless and the poor to have every opportunity to better themselves and make a life that before, they only dreamed of.

Hope House is not only a homeless shelter, we are a center for visionaries. We are striving to be life changers. We will be assisting our residents in getting gainful employment, not just a job, and helping them overcome any obstacles, whether that be drugs, alcohol, mental illness, or even social issues, and also housing. We feel that there are plenty of people that are right here in Hazard, at our disposal, that can help us with our vision. We have had so many offer up themselves and their services. We truly appreciate our community!

Who is a member of your community that you admire and why?

This is a hard question because there are so many. The person that stands out to me most is, Diana Patula. She is the owner of McDonald’s in Hazard and Whitesburg, but furthermore, she is a leader and visionary. Diana moved here from Pennsylvania and has made a HUGE footprint on this town. She is involved in many community projects and groups that are all working constantly to better Hazard. She has the biggest heart and would do anything for anyone. Diana is humble but strong. A true Proverbs 31 woman.

The post Hazard Spotlight: Sarah Chandler appeared first on Mountain Association.

Who are you, and what roles to you fill in your community?

I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have four amazing kiddos. I have the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor of Journey Christian Church and President of Hope House (Homeless Shelter).

What do you most appreciate about your community?

One of the things I love the most about our community is the generosity and unity that flow together when there is a need. I’m confident in saying that if there is a situation where someone doesn’t get help it’s only because the community wasn’t made aware. Social media can be a place where people engage each other in a certain way or post things that causes you to scratch your head, but Hazard also knows how to use social media as a tool to spread the word on a need or shed light on a dilemma and the response is always strong.

What’s your vision for Hazard, and what’s a community project you’ve been a part of that makes strides towards that vision?

This blog isn’t long enough to state my vision for Hazard. I see a thriving community with a vibrant culture built around tourism and our great history. I see scenic passenger train rides, railroad and coal museums, splash pads on vacant lots, sculptures on our sidewalks that visitors have to pull over and take a selfie with. I see kayaks on our river, I see the Hazard Yards transforming into a tourist magnet with zip lines, rock climbing walls, and canoe rentals. I see a downtown so full of things to do you can park your car and spend the entire evening enjoying town before returning to it if you desire. I see opportunity everywhere I look. Every time I see a building boarded up I feel personally challenged to do something about it. The answers won’t be easy but it starts with us. At Hope House I made the decision to deny Government funds because of all the red tape and the strings attached to it. While I think our town should be pursuing every dollar available to us, we shouldn’t become dependent on that being the answer. We should take the initiative to be the answer. We should invest in our people trusting that they will lead the way. And what that looks like is offering entrepreneurs incentives, including a business hub with cubicles in a building downtown where they can kick-start their business, plugging them in with mentors and resources, and waiving business fees for a set period of time. Coffee shops and boutiques are only doable if there is a shop local culture and the only way to have that culture again is to make big statements that we are making a comeback. The last thing we need is a smooth transition from the last generation to this one, we need a bold statement that says “We are back.” I’ve told everyone that I want our town to be better because of Hope House – not just as a resource for the homeless, but as a catalyst for change. We are pouring vision into our residents every day that with the proper steps their world can look different and so can our town. I’ve always wrestled with getting involved in city politics. My oldest is 10 years old and I made myself a promise a long time ago when we decided this is where we would be, that I will do everything in my power to make sure she doesn’t despise us for staying here. So, I’m working with a level of urgency, a clock ticking over my head and I’m ok with that, but if that means jumping in to push the change we need, I’ll jump in. Not because of the typical preacher/politics platform of keeping “In God we trust” on money (lol), but because I have vision that causes me to toss and turn at night for Journey, for Hope House, and for our city. I just want to see Hazard live out its potential.

Who is a member of your community that you admire and why?

I admire a lot of people in our community. Diana and Ken Patula are amazing examples of how we should give back to our community and be a part of its growth. Diana has some of the wildest ideas, but you just want to go with her because you see the fire and determination in her eyes. You can’t talk about advancing Hazard and not hear Betsy Clemons‘ name come up. She loves and fights for her town and I find that very inspiring. Another visionary I admire is Bill Hall. He is what I call a barbarian leader: his methods can be crazy and savage (lol), but he’s a “let’s-roll-the-dice,” “let’s-bet-the-farm” kind of guy. I admire risk takers and if we truly desire to turn our city around, we must be willing to take the leap of faith.

The post Hazard Spotlight: Ben Fugate appeared first on Mountain Association.

I’m a grandson, son, husband and father to a family that still calls Hazard home. I’m a Hazard native that has grown up here and after completing my education chose to return in the spring of 2004. My most important role is being a father of three children (8,5,5 months) and working with my wife to make their lives better in the immediate and hopefully contribute to our hometown to make it a better place to grow up and possibly return in the future. In work, I’m the Executive Vice President of 1st Trust Bank in Hazard, a locally owned bank that opened its doors in 2004 and has since grown and expanded to Laurel and Madison counties as well.

Beyond work, I’m serving and have served on several boards (though admittedly sometimes as the token banker) and I have participated beyond the nonprofit world by coaching youth soccer teams and serving on the Hazard Independent School Board. I’ve purposefully withdrawn a bit in the past 6-9 months because of the arrival of our third child. I assumed I could be of some use around the house, though I struggle to offer real evidence that’s the case after 5 months.

2) What do you most appreciate about your community?

Its resilience and compassion. I don’t want to confuse resilience and stubbornness (and there is ample supply of both here in Eastern KY), but as Jennifer Weeber highlighted in her post, this community keeps fighting and bouncing back. Out of the darkness of this latest economic downturn, I do see hope and possibilities of new approaches that bode well for the community’s future. I think these approaches can continue and hopefully flourish both independent of and in partnership with the coal industry should it experience a bounce back, even if in a diminished state.

The compassion of my fellow community members inspires me. Recent big scale efforts include the response to the fire on Main Street in September 2015 that left buildings gutted and people homeless, to the recent community- led effort to reestablish the homeless shelter. These larger and more public efforts are always supplemented by the quiet moments you learn about through conversations and interactions—good deeds by neighbors and friends helping one another in times of need when they themselves aren’t fairing much better but won’t stand to see others suffer or go without. I fall short far too often on this front and can only work to match what is already being done in Hazard and Perry County.

3) What’s your vision for Hazard, and what’s a community project you’ve been a part of that makes strides towards that vision?

I wish my vision were more fully formed, but like my mind it is ultimately simple. My vision for Hazard is that the spirit of innovation, diversification and collaboration that has been kindled in the wake of the most recent economic downturn endures. It is the hope that we as a community continue to work toward truly understanding who we are, what we want to accomplish and that we plot our path forward, understanding that progress for our area isn’t a zero sum game. Like anywhere else, diverse ideologies exist and tempers flare but we all adore these mountains we call home for one reason or another. Let’s start there, and once everything is so good we can’t stand it anymore, then we can tear each other down based on Facebook posts and political affiliation.
Above all, invest in the community you are proud to call home, whether that is financially, through volunteer work or any other example that can be found. One way I’m investing in my community is being a small part of a group called Appalachian Connection. The group’s mission is to ease the financial burden of higher education for students that we believe can become the future leaders of Appalachia. The group is in its infancy but we awarded our first $10,000 scholarship last year to a graduate of Hazard High School and our goal is to expand the program to all of Perry County and eventually surrounding counties. We rely on donations and have been the beneficiaries of both local goodwill and those who have moved away from the mountains but have a desire to give back.

4) Who is a member of your community that you admire and why?
Beyond family members, I have a few that I hope to cover as quickly as possible. For long term service, Betsy Clemons and Janet Prater Smith. They are seemingly inseparable and unassailable in their efforts to improve our community through their various works in civic clubs, non-profit boards and charitable initiatives (this is beyond their day jobs). The force of their efforts and personalities alone bring more people into the fold, because as much as we all adore them, we are even more scared to tell them “No.” Every small town should be so lucky to have a Betsy and Janet combo.
The David Duff and Greg Wells families both found success in these mountains and reinvested in it through additional job creation (like mine!) and their public and private support of countless endeavors. From a younger generation, I admire Ben Fugate. He is a young pastor in our area and above all else, I admire his optimism. In times like these, he isn’t averse to exploring big ideas and the occasional leap of faith. So civic pride, the willingness to invest and optimism—they all share it and they have my admiration for it.

The post Hazard Spotlight: Max Mitchell appeared first on Mountain Association.

Who are you, and what roles do you fill in your community?

I am the Executive Director of the Hazard Perry County Chamber of Commerce. A strong passion of mine is to help revitalize and diversify our economy that has been affected by the downtown of the coal industry. Hazard and Perry County are home to me, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I feel very fortunate to live and work in the same community as my five siblings. Beside my chamber duties, I serve on several incredible non-profit boards in the community, such as the Hazard Perry County Economic Development Alliance, the Housing Development Alliance, the ARH Foundation for Healthy Communities, the Hazard Independent College Foundation Board, Redbud Financial, the Appalachian Arts Alliance, the Coalfields Industrial Authority and the Workforce Investment Board part of Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program. I also work closely with the City of Hazard, the Hazard Independent Schools System and Appalachian Regional Healthcare to help support and promote.

What do you most appreciate about your community?

I appreciate the people of my community along with the natural beauty of the mountains. They are our biggest assets. Our community has the most intelligent, diverse, passionate and talented population of anywhere in America. I appreciate organizations such as InVision Hazard, the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, MACED, our elected officials, my family, along with the many local non-profits that work hard to provide the resources and partnerships that make our community better. Hazard, Perry County is fortunate to have the Appalachian Regional Healthcare Regional Medical Center to provide excellent healthcare to the area, two school systems, the Hazard Independent and Perry County, as well as the Hazard Technical and Community College that offers a range of educational and workforce opportunities.

What’s your vision for Hazard, and what’s a community project you’ve been a part of that makes strides towards that vision?

My vision for Hazard to diversify the economy by attracting new industry, maintaining existing businesses , while revitalizing downtown. A community project I am involved in is the renovation of the old bus station, located downtown Hazard, into an art center called the ArtStation and the River Arts Greenway, a walking/bike path. The Art Station will be a space to host community events and offer art, music, dance, and drama lessons to students throughout the region. The River Arts Greenway is a walking/bike path along the North Fork of the Kentucky River that loops back through town, creating a community space, incorporating art, while providing healthy opportunities to exercise and work in community gardens.

The River Arts Greenway and the Art Station both will help bring the spark to reinvent our downtown as a destination. They will not only serve local residents who live here in Hazard and Perry County,and the surrounding counties, but also our visitors, including some who may be considering moving here. My vision is when crowds of people are finding good reasons to gather in our downtown, new businesses will surely follow. I want to see more opportunities created so our youth will want live, work and raise their families here, after attending college.

Who is a member of your community that you admire and why?

There are so many members of my community I admire. If I had to name someone, it would have to be my sisters: Helen, Annie and Jenny. The passion and commitment of volunteer effort to make our community to be a better place inspires me everyday. They, like me, do not like recognition, but just like trying to improve our area. They work to educate and make our community healthier, provide exposure to the arts, help raise awareness to many diverse causes, help fund raise for our many critical non-profit organizations, and always ready to help those in need while working full time jobs. We work on many projects together and I am forever grateful for them. I would have to thank our late mother, Edythe Williams, for teaching us the value of giving back to your community. Hazard and Perry County are much better off today because of their efforts. They, along with many others just like them, work tirelessly to make our dreams come true; Hazard, Perry County is the best place to live, work and play.

The post Hazard Spotlight: Betsy Clemons appeared first on Mountain Association.

Who are you, and what roles do you fill in your community?
I’m still figuring this one out, but in the meantime… I am a social worker by training. I spent about twenty years working in Hazard with people experiencing homelessness, who are recipients of K-TAP, and who are a part of other vulnerable groups. I am now in the Masters of Social Work program on the Hazard campus of UK. I do not yet know what I would like to do when I finish school, but am very interested in local food, health, food security issues.

I’ve been baking for as long as I can remember (yes, I was a 4-H kid taking items to the county fair) and in the last few years have found my way onto the local food scene in Hazard. I volunteered during the 2015 season at the Perry County Farmers Market and loved it! I then became a home-based processor and began selling baked goods at the end of the season. Last season, I sold bread, scones, and muffins made with fruits and herbs I grew. It was a lot of fun to see people enjoying the food I made. I also joined the Northfork Local Food Board of Directors and am working with others to build the local food economy.

I am a transplant to Hazard. I grew up on a farm in Iowa, but moved here almost 25 years ago. The mountains have become home to me. I live in near Couchtown, just outside of Hazard, with my husband, daughter, and two cats. I have several small garden spaces, some old whiskey barrels with herbs, and some fruit patches.

What do you most appreciate about your community?
I love that Hazard keeps going. The coal industry has been in decline for a while and it has taken a toll on our community. Despite being knocked down, the community keeps standing up and finding ways to survive and work towards thriving – turning to local food, creating a community foundation, figuring out other endeavors.

I love that people work together to take care of one another. For example, our local homeless shelter closed recently and before long a church and its network stepped in to re-open it. My daughter’s school has embraced several students with severe health care needs by raising money for their families and making certain the students knew they were part of the East Perry family. Those are just two small examples of the generosity of this community.

What’s your vision for Hazard, and what’s a community project you’ve been a part of that makes strides towards that vision?
I just finished up a project for school where we were asking people this question. So, this made me smile. I would like to see Hazard be a vibrant community with a diverse economy, including local businesses, artisans, and a thriving local food system. (This was also what a lot of people said in our survey – there’s a real thirst for local restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment, hiking, local art.) I would also like to see it be a place where everyone has access to fresh, healthy food and no one faces food insecurity.

Our Farmers Market is part of this vision for me. It brings together local entrepreneurs, whether they be farmers, artisans, or bakers, and the community. It is one piece of creating a vibrant and diverse local economy. It can be a stepping stone for entrepreneurs. For example, one young farmer has been selling his produce at the market for several years. Through the market and local food network, he has been able to connect with a local restaurant to buy his produce. Knowing he has a place to sell his produce enables him to expand his farming and get him closer to his goal of full-time farming. A friend and I are exploring the possibility of a bread CSA. The Farmers Market also serves as a spring board for other endeavors. Some folks are figuring out how to translate the Fresh Stops CSA model from an urban area into Hazard. This model supports local farmers and gets fresh produce into the kitchens of community members, particularly ones who are low-income.

Who is a member of your community that you admire and why?
A few people came to mind when I read this question. I want to share two of them.

The first is Julius Ritchie. He’s been farming for years and selling at the Perry County Farmers Market since its inception. To me, he is the cornerstone of our market. He takes great pride in the produce he brings to market and what he has to offer is always exceptionally tasty. He also always treats people as his neighbor; he is fair in his sales and does not seem to know any strangers. Last year at this time, he was battling cancer and we were preparing, sadly, for a market without him. However, he wasn’t going to let cancer keep him from doing what he loves. He got his garden in a bit late and didn’t have as much as usual, but he was a regular at this past summer’s market with his beautiful produce and generous spirit. I admire his determination, his gardening prowess, and his generous spirit.

The second is Betty Morton. She is a strong woman with a generous spirit. She does not know a stranger and gracefully can make anyone feel right at home. She has been a part of many important endeavors in Hazard such as the Rotary Free Clinic and other services which have helped countless people get the help they need. She also raises some of the most beautiful flowers around. I admire Betty for her determination to take care of others, her welcoming spirit, and the grace with which she approaches life.

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