Appalachia Class of 2014
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The Periclean Class of 2014’s region of focus is Appalachia. More specifically, we have visited three towns: Whitesville, WV, Whitesburg, KY, and St. Charles, VA. Over the past three years, we have worked mainly with the Boone-Raleigh Community Center in Whitesville, WV. Lorelei Scarbro, the center’s director, has served as our main contact in this partnership. Our Class supports both the short-term and long-term goals of the community center. The ultimate goal is to build community in an area divided over mountaintop removal and prescription drug abuse.
Accomplishments • • • • • • • •
Completed a children’s library by building seven bookshelves and collecting books Painted a solar system mural to encourage children to utilize the library Provided funding for garden beds to be installed in community members’ yards Member Emily Forinash completed a summer internship at the community center Assisted in getting a $20,000 preliminary grant approved for a community garden project Member Gloria So is completing her senior thesis using photovoice with members in the community Spent a weekend making apple butter with community members Featured in Kingsport Times-News for volunteer work at a local organization, Hunger First
Campus Activities • • • •
Held a weeklong symposium, which featured speakers Bill Price of the Sierra Club, Lorelei Scarbro of the Boone-Raleigh Community Center and Lenny Kohm of AppVoices Organize fundraising event called “Monthly Munchies” among other fundraising efforts Member Gloria So will showcase her photovoice project in May 2014 Led a Global Pods presentation titled "Mountaintop Removal - Environmental and Cultural Impacts"
Future Goals • • • • •
Raise $50,000-60,000 to buy the Boone-Raleigh Community Center Install solar panels to the roof of the community center Organize a toy drive to collect toys for the center’s annual Christmas party Release a documentary about Appalachian culture and regional issues Sustain the partnership between Elon and the Central Appalachian communities periclean.wordpress.com
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Class of 2014