Ripple Effect – The Mountain Spirit Spring/Summer 2020

CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 IN THIS ISSUE n Beating the Odds n Strength Meets Service n A Life Unafraid n Telling Your Own Story

Spirit

VOL. 39, NO. 1 | SPRING / SUMMER 2020

Ripple Effect

A BIANNUAL PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT

A LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

Tina V. Bryson tbryson@chrisapp.org

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am often amazed at the interconnectedness of our lives, and how those relationships and encounters have a ripple effect in the world. In 2019, Christian Appalachian Project celebrated 55 years of serving people in need in Appalachia. That started with the faith, service, and compassion of a young priest from Northern Kentucky determined to address the harsh impact of poverty in the lives of the community he was called to serve in Eastern Kentucky.

Every day I get to serve in the same mission set into motion by Rev. Ralph Beiting. Children and their potential to greatness had a particularly special place under his leadership and remains a focal point of President/CEO Guy Adam’s vision.

Spirit Building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tina V. Bryson

COPY EDITORS

In this issue of The Mountain Spirit, we wanted to look at the impact of CAP’s longevity in the region in the lives of children growing up in Appalachia. When I think of having a mountain spirit, I think of people that have grit and formidable character. On page 22, you will find that in the story of Bessie McDaniel. We were privileged to cover the story of young ROTC cadets serving their local community and discovered a military veteran who once stood on the other side of the table, giving instead of receiving. The ripple effect: she put good in the world to help others and the good has come back to her in her time of need.

Dennis Jacobs, Rebecca Napier, Amy Schill

We went in search of a story of transformation in the life of a preschooler facing numerous developmental challenges helped by our Parents Are Teachers Program. Instead, we witnessed a reunion with the therapist whom he had not seen in 20 years.

On page 10, you will find his amazing story of success and the continued impact of acts of goodness in the world as the ripple from his childhood continues.

By phone: 859.269.0635 Toll-free: 866.270.4227 Email: capinfo@chrisapp.org Website: christianapp.org

In Heather Peters’s story, you’ll meet a young woman who grew up in one of CAP’s primary service counties. And now, she gets to step into the role of providing needed assistance to families in her own community, adding her name to a record number of home-grown community volunteers and AmeriCorps members now engaged in a service year with CAP. Find her story on page 31.

There is a mountain spirit that exists in Appalachia, and the University of Pikeville is seeking to tell those stories with their podcast called “Appalachia Rising.” That’s one more ripple, growing and creating a wake of transformation. See page 32.

We all get to be a part of this story happening in Appalachia: donors, volunteers, staff, and participants. We all make a difference together. We all continue the work that was started 55 years ago. I can’t wait to see how that work will continue to ripple out into the future. Thank you for being an important part of this amazing story.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarabeth Brownrobie, Tina V. Bryson, Hannah Burdette, Brandy Calvert, Ed.D., Ronnie Griffith, Grant Harned, Angie Howard, Shannon Holbrook, Jill Stafford, Renee’ Thomas

CONTACT US

SUBSCRIPTIONS The Mountain Spirit is published twice a year.

The suggested donation is $20.00.

Subscription requests and other correspondence should be sent to: Christian Appalachian Project The Mountain Spirit P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555-5911 Copyright 2020. Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Christian Appalachian Project is a nonprofit Christian service organization operating throughout Appalachia. Christian Appalachian Project is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions.

CONTENTS

Meet the Writers Sarabeth Brownrobie Sarabeth serves as a volunteer recruiter in CAP’s Volunteer Program.

8 Changing Needs in Appalachia

CAP responds to changing trends to serve families led by grandparents.

FA I T H

10 Beating the Odds 14 The Antidote 16 All “Yays” in Math Club

Jacob Mason reunites with therapist who changed his life.

One family promotes a path out of poverty through education.

Brandy Calvert, Ed.D. Brandy serves in CAP’s Direct Response Program and manages Customer Service.

Emily Dumont’s love of math transforms student performance at Sand Gap Elementary School.

C O M PA S S I O N Shannon Holbrook Shannon is a freelance writer based in Central Kentucky.

19 Made with Love 20 Strength Meets Service 22 Of Good Courage 25 Camp Connections

Knitters at a senior center in New York donate hand-made items to CAP.

The Jackson County ROTC commits to help seniors in their community.

Bessie McDaniel, in her 80s, benefits from commodities distribution.

Kim Kobersmith Kim is a freelance writer and journalist in Berea, Kentucky.

A donor impacted by camp as a teenager gives so that other young people can experience summer camp.

SERVICE Lauren McCoart Lauren leads CAP’s Church Relations Program.

26 A Life Unafraid 28 Creating a Legacy of Leadership

A professional artist broadens art education at a rural school.

CAP’s Teen Leadership Program inspires and supports youth in Appalachia.

Bridget McCormack-Finley Bridget is a Philanthropy Officer.

31 Called From the Mountains

CAP’s Volunteer Program welcomes record number of one-year volunteers and AmeriCorps members from our primary service counties.

A R T S + C U LT U R E

Kate Underwood Kate is a freelance writer in Richmond, Kentucky.

32 Telling Your Own Story 34 Rising Star Has Local Roots

The University of Pikeville launches a podcast to tell Appalachian stories.

A former camp counselor takes her love of music from McKee, Kentucky to Nashville, Tennessee.

NEWS |

COVID-19 As I write this, the world has been turned upside down for a time with the novel coronavirus global pandemic. The challenges we face bring the words of Thomas Paine to mind during the American Revolution, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” By the time you receive this issue of The Mountain Spirit, my prayer is that we will be experiencing worldwide recovery. The challenges we face are great, but God is faithful.

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) began taking serious steps in early March to protect both employees and volunteers, along with our participants, by limiting unnecessary travel. The coronavirus crisis forced us to find additional creative ways to begin serving children and their families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, while practicing social distancing and eliminating or significantly reducing direct participant contact. Rapid Response Teams were formed to provide critical services – delivering food or addressing needs such as serious roof leaks or collapses, burnouts, or critical medical care transportation.

Our participants are already among the most vulnerable of our nation’s most vulnerable. And now the challenges faced by our participants have been magnified, but we are committed to doing all we can to keep this situation from becoming a life-threatening crisis for them.

Our food pantries continue to operate, serving hundreds of individuals trying to manage the challenges of food insecurity.

We’ve implemented safety measures that allow staff to deliver food boxes through drive through lines and to the homes of people without transportation. We continue providing food backpacks to be delivered to children, who would normally receive one or two meals at school every day, to ensure that they get that critical food.

Our staff who work with youth have created virtual opportunities to engage with students who are home and are fortunate enough to have online access through a computer or cell phone. Staff are using social media for virtual lessons and tutoring to stay connected with their students. Other staff are checking on participants by phone and providing critical services. CAP’s Family Life Counseling Service continues to meet critical mental health needs of patients virtually, using telemental health services. Our employees and volunteers are amazing and I’m so proud of them!

We are determined to get through this together by trusting God, praying daily for CAP’s mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia, and by praying for our colleagues, our participants, and our donors. In addition, we stay focused on CAP’s core values: We live Christian principles, serve with compassion, and give our best every day. Let me leave you with a favorite Scripture: “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 (NIV) Thanks and blessings,

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Something to eat Hannah Burdette is a caseworker in CAP’s Elderly Services Program.

Two of her participants are Betty and Catherine. Betty (right) spends most days in her home alone, isolated from the world, not because of COVID-19, but as her daily reality since her husband passed away some years ago. One of Catherine’s (left) sons lives with her, but she still counts on CAP for assistance which has become more critical with governmental restrictions during this health crisis.

Normally, Hannah would visit, bring necessities, or provide transportation to run errands and keep doctor appointments. But that has been impacted by social distancing.

“Hannah brought my commodities box and my pantry pickup,” Betty said. “If she hadn’t, I would have to do without if they didn’t bring it to my home. If CAP was not able to continue to provide these services it would be hard on me. At least now I have something to eat.”

COVID-19

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NEWS

Rockcastle County School District partners with Grateful Bread Food Pantry to meet community needs CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry and the Rockcastle County School District have a long-standing partnership. This foundation opened doors to continue to meet the needs of children and their families under the constraints of guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“The partnership between CAP and the school district is making an enormous impact during these critical and uncertain times,” said Sherri Barnett, manager of the pantry. “Together, we’re not only addressing the students’ needs but the entire family. With the donations received to date, over 4,826 pounds of perishable food and dairy products, we are able to provide much-needed items that are currently scarce on grocery store shelves.”

Carrie Ballinger, director of student services for Rockcastle County Schools, agreed. “When we discovered that there was a need for food donations within our community we immediately inventoried our schools and made the needed donations to CAP. This partnership has allowed us to coordinate our resources.”

Many students in Rockcastle County Schools are being raised by their grandparents. Through referrals received by school family resource centers and through the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program, the district is working with CAP to make certain that seniors also have their needs addressed. This partnership is allowing all members of the community to be served during this health emergency.

Until the roof was done For Janice* and her family, a basic need quickly became an uncertainty when driving rains and wind compromised the safety of her home. The living room and hallway ceiling caved in, creating a dangerous situation for the family who still needed access to their bedrooms and a shared bathroom. Though Jackie had placed towels and buckets to collect water, the floors were badly rotted and the home required new insulation. Plus, the hot water heater fell through the collapsed floors. Jackie is currently living in her home, but the family must shower at her mother’s house until a new water heater is installed.

Repairs were planned for WorkFest, but the crisis led to travel restrictions which stopped the arrival of college students prepared to assist. Recognizing the critical nature of Jackie’s situation, a dedicated crew from CAP’s Housing Program worked to make Jackie’s home safe, warm, and dry.

“Everyone was aware how difficult everything has been in the world, but the CAP team never stopped. They just kept working until the roof was done. I know this gift from CAP came from God,” she said tearfully. * Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our participants. christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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Spirit

Latter-Day Saint Charities donates 42,000 pounds of food to help communities in Appalachia In January, the Latter-Day Saint Charities partnered with CAP to help people in need in Eastern Kentucky by donating 27 pallets totaling 42,000 pounds of food. “This was a tremendous blessing to CAP at the start of the new year,” said Sherri Barnett, manager of CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry. “We were so thankful and grateful to Latter-Day Saint Charities for this huge donation of non-perishable food that was distributed in CAP’s service area to children, their families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.”

Mental health expert trains CAP counselors in emerging therapies Dr. Gary Patton, a renowned leader in the mental health profession, conducted training for CAP’s therapists in Integrating Medicine and Mental Health Services as well as Neurobiological Aspects of Mental Health. He is an expert on these topics and will advance CAP’s 6

The Mountain Spirit Spring/Summer 2020

Lowe’s associates volunteer with CAP as part of Give Back Time initiative Through Lowe’s Give Back Time initiative, Lowe’s associates used volunteer hours to make a difference in their local community, last fall. “We have had a relationship with Lowe’s for about 12 years,” said Ronnie Griffith, Elderly Housing Crew Leader. “Once they learned about the work we do to help people in need in Appalachia, Lowe’s staff stepped up to support those efforts. The volunteer service that Lowe’s employees provided is a win-win.”

Candy Bates, the manager at the Lowe’s store in Paintsville said, “Many times, as employees, we don’t get the opportunity to serve customers outside of the store, but Give Back Time allows us to help. We work here, we live here, we’re a part of the community.”

ability to continue to address mental health needs in Appalachia.

Patton is the assistant dean of Admissions and Student Services at Liberty University College of Medicine and has also served in various roles with law enforcement including the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Last year, CAP’s Family Life Counseling Service served nearly 1,000 low-income or at-risk family members in Eastern Kentucky. Many Appalachian residents have limited access to mental health professionals and are further disadvantaged by costs, stigma, and availability.

WorkFest volunteer earns award and directs donation to CAP Nick Piner (pictured during his third WorkFest) recently earned Michigan State University’s (MSU) Spartan Volunteer Service Award. During the 2018-2019 academic year (and summer 2019), Nick racked up 681 hours of volunteer service to the community, most of which was from time spent at CAP. Of the 128 students recognized for their service, Nick had the most hours. (That is saying something on a campus of nearly 40,000 undergraduates.) As part of that recognition, Nick was allowed to direct a donation from MSU to a charity of his choosing - he selected CAP. We are so thankful for his charitable spirit.

Donation helps community college students In the fall, CAP’s Operation Sharing Program in Paintsville donated 50 coveralls with hood and boot sets to the Collision Repair Technology program on the Mayo Campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College. “We were very happy to see that these coveralls would benefit and serve the students who are pursuing an education and career in collision repair,” said Brian Conley, assistant director of Operation Sharing in Paintsville.

“Our goal is to extend the generosity of our donors throughout the communities we serve. We are glad that these donated items were put to good use in the community.”

Instructor Dewayne Kinner was very appreciative of the coveralls.

He noted that many of his students face financial challenges, so paying for tuition and supplies can provide an additional obstacle to completing their education. The coveralls were particularly useful because they protected their clothing when painting vehicles they had repaired in their training course. christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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Changing Needs in Appalachia Drive CAP’s Programming

BY KIM KOBERSMITH AND TINA V. BRYSON

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n many ways, Kathy Parsons of Rockcastle County, Kentucky is a typical parent to 3-year-old Dillon and 10-year-old Maddie. She helps them with homework, makes sure they are safe and warm with a roof over their heads, and prepares nutritious meals for them to eat. Kathy is also one of the rising number of grandparents across the United States that are parenting their grandchildren.

This national trend is having a profound impact in Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) service area.

Kentucky has the fifth highest state-wide percentage of grandparents raising grandchildren.

“All our human service programs have seen a notable increase in the number of non-traditional families that we serve,” said Mike Loiacono, the director of human services in Rockcastle, Jackson, and McCreary Counties. During his time as manager at CAP’s Child and Family Development Center in McCreary County, Loiacono said that up to 70 percent of the preschoolers each year lived in non-traditional families, most frequently with grandparents.

While there are many reasons why children are not living with their parents, like military deployment and incarceration, for some, it is a ripple effect of the opioid epidemic. That is the case for Parsons’s grandchildren.

Parsons brought them home after birth and is the only mom they have known.

“It’s a lot for a person my age. You have to keep pushing yourself and doing what you have to do,” said Parsons, 8

The Mountain Spirit Spring/Summer 2020

Kentucky has the fifth highest state-wide percentage of grandparents raising grandchildren. who will soon have to address the needs of a pre-teen going through puberty and a preschooler, both whom have special needs. She and her husband had their own farm and raised show horses, but after his death, it became more challenging for her to maintain her farm and keep up repairs on her home. Having to start over while raising two young children made her tenuous situation untenable. “It’s not just financially stressful, but emotionally stressful too. But these children didn’t ask to be in this situation.”

Although this rising population of grandparents is putting forth a heroic effort of love, they also continue to have unique struggles. CAP staff on the ground are meeting the needs of the surging population of non-traditional families in the region in several different areas.

Parsons’s introduction to CAP was through the Family Advocacy Emergency Assistance Program, which helps families in a monetary crisis. The roof of her 1970s home

was leaking badly, and she did not have the funds to fix it. CAP put on a new roof and helped her obtain a new air conditioner. There is still more work that needs to be done.

CAP staff have assessed her need for new windows, a door that fits snugly, and basement work to eliminate black mold, and are developing plans to address these needs. Parsons fears that the black mold will eventually make them sick and she also needs an assessible ramp because problems with her knees and back make using steps difficult.

Through another initiative, the Family Advocacy Program provided a school readiness backpack full of supplies for fifth-grader Maddie. “The school supplies really made a difference. It helped me financially of course, but it was more than that,” Parsons said.

“Maddie just sat down and looked through it all. You could see the excitement in her eyes. She knows that sometimes it’s a struggle to even get what we need, not to mention what we want. This gave her both.”

takes a lot of energy I have to muster up somewhere.”

Appalachians come from strong, well-connected family units and the children are often given to the grandparents without a legal mandate, as was the case with Maddie when Parsons first brought her home.

Already living on a fixed income, without the financial support of the foster care program, and in one of the poorest counties in the nation, these families face a precarious financial situation. Nationally, almost 20 percent of grandparents serving as parents live in poverty, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.

“Maddie is getting ready to go to middle school. There are all kinds of expenses like school pictures, “I honestly don’t know what yearbooks, and even the Book Fair,” I would do without these Parsons noted. “You hate not to get services. I am thankful that them something and sometimes I just God has put people in the don’t have the money to give and she is embarrassed. I have to explain that world that help people like I can only give her a certain amount me in difficult situations. if anything,” said Parsons. Those It’s a Godsend.” extras become impossibilities when There are other CAP programs that unexpected expenses like car repairs KATHY PARSONS grandparents like Parsons can utilize. come into play. Parsons, whose car Through the Parents Are Teachers recently broke down, explained, “I Program, dedicated staff work with have to be able to get them to out-ofchildren from birth to age 3 visit homes to address learning state doctor visits, as well as regular visits to specialists and delays and teach caregivers skills to work with the child. CAP’s therapists. Mentally, it’s a lot on me.”

Child and Family Development Centers provide a nurturing, CAP is enfolding these grandfamilies into our community of stimulating preschool environment for kids ages 3 and 4. care and have identified the need for specific programming CAP’s preschool students get a boost for starting school; for older caregivers. “We are actively looking, trying to CAP’s outcome data shows that 58 percent of our preschool identify the needs these grandparents have that are not being graduates are kindergarten-ready, versus 41 percent of the met by anyone else in the community,” Loiacono said. While general population in McCreary and Rockcastle Counties.

Parsons has some support from women in her family, she has Children can be deeply affected by the absence of their experienced how the greater community can rally around parents, and CAP’s Family Life Counseling Service provides her through CAP and welcomes programming aimed at mental health and relationship support for the entire supporting grandparents. family, children, and caregivers. In their parenting classes, For grandparents like Parsons and other seniors in the grandparents receive validation and support as they learn community, the many services of CAP are helping to research-based skills and ideas for child-rearing. transform a difficult life situation into one of promise.

CAP’s summer camps can also be a blessing, providing a Christian Appalachian Project is on the ground, learning week of recreation and positive activities for the children from and adapting to meet the emerging needs of the people and a respite week for caregivers; Parsons hopes Maddie we serve in the Appalachian region. “CAP really is here to can go this summer. Through the afterschool component, help all they can,” Parsons stated. “I honestly don’t know tutors help kids with their homework and aid grandparents what I would do without these services. I am thankful that by offering the attention and positive input of other caring God has put people in the world that help people like me in adults. “I have health issues myself,” Parsons said. “Parenting difficult situations. It’s a Godsend.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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FA I T H

Jacob Mason reunites with Suzann Fenton nearly 20 years after she helped him as a preschooler.

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The Mountain Spirit Spring/Summer 2020

FA I T H

Beating the Odds

BY KATE UNDERWOOD

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hen Linda and Frank Mason welcomed their oldest son, Jacob, into the world, they didn’t know where his journey would lead. He experienced severe birth injuries and spent six days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Linda was a young mother at only 19, and this was her first child. She and her husband expected Jacob might have some developmental delays but didn’t know how daunting those delays would be.

Eventually he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and highfunctioning autism.

Suzann Fenton, with Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Parents Are Teachers Program, provided a variety of therapy interventions for Jacob beginning at age 3. CAP also provided in-home respite for the family as they faced the many challenges associated with his special needs. “My parents have told me over the years that CAP programs have improved my outcome in life,” Jacob said.

Linda added, “Suzann was the developmental interventionist and came out about once a week, sometimes more. CAP staff and volunteers worked on motor skills, speech, and sensory therapy, but I couldn’t have made it without my husband Frank too. He worked his job and then would still help with Jacob no matter how tired he was when he came home.”

Many of the skills Jacob needed to master were difficult for him to acquire. “The therapists would work on skills to help him be able to feed himself, talk, crawl, dress, walk, write, and work on things most kids would learn on their own eventually without therapy,” Linda said. “Jacob was not learning those skills and, without Suzann, we wouldn’t have known what to do. She worked with him and taught us as well, that helped him get to where he is today. When Jacob sets his mind to something, he does it.”

Jacob added, “Early intervention is the key for many kids with disabilities because the earlier you start the interventions, the better the outcome.” That certainly proved to be the case with him.

In 2014, Jacob graduated from Lincoln County High School in the top 15 percent of his class. He started his college education at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and graduated summa cum laude in 2019 from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in statistics and minors in both math and psychology.

“I am thrilled that Jacob has had the opportunity to reach his full potential,” said Fenton, who has worked with CAP’s Parents Are Teachers Program for over 30 years. “I worked to be loving, kind, and supportive to the Mason family. It is amazing to see how far Jacob and his family have come since that time.”

“My parents have told me over the years that CAP programs have improved my outcome in life.”

JACOB MASON

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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FA I T H

Suzann Fenton, with Christian Appalachian Project’s Parents Are Teachers Program, used a variety of therapies with Jacob Mason to address developmental delays.

“It was a blessing to see Suzann after 20 years and let Jacob tell her how much he has accomplished in his life.We are grateful for all that CAP did to help Jacob and our family.”

LINDA MASON Jacob and Suzann, along with his parents, recently had a chance to reunite and discuss Jacob’s success. Renee’ Thomas, Jacob’s aunt and a respite assistant in CAP’s Elderly Services Program, helped orchestrate the reunion. He works for the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute as a data assistant and also is a substitute teacher for the Lincoln County School District.

Jeff Burchett, now director of CAP’s Operation Sharing Program, played the role of Santa Claus when Jacob was young. Burchett said, “This is what Christian Appalachian Project is all about. It is amazing. All of that early intervention therapy that Suzann gave to Jacob enabled him to succeed to these high levels. I’m glad that I was able to be a part of helping Jacob and his family celebrate Christmas.”

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The Mountain Spirit Spring/Summer 2020

“I didn’t remember Suzann because I was so young,” he explained, “but I was glad she helped me. I was happy that she was happy to see me and to see how far I’ve come along in life. She was in awe, as well as in tears. I was glad for the reunion so that she’ll be able to use me as an example for her other clients.”

Linda concluded, “It was a blessing to see Suzann after 20 years and let Jacob tell her how much he has accomplished in his life. We are grateful for all that CAP did to help Jacob and our family.” n

FA I T H

Rise to the Challenge

BY KATE UNDERWOOD

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n 2004, Mike Loiacono was a relatively new manager at Christian Appalachian Project’s Child and Family Development Center (CFDC) in Parkers Lake, Kentucky. The center admitted David Louden* in the preschool program. Louden was the first child at the center that had an autism diagnosis. Loiacono provided opportunities for staff and volunteers to receive training about autism and how to effectively serve families and their children on the autism spectrum.

“Each child’s needs are different,” Loiacono emphasized.

“Because we are a small center with lots of flexibility, we were able to get to know the family. We did home visits with David and his parents and connected them to our teachers at the CFDC. They also worked with auxiliary services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.”

Shawnda Spradlin, a preschool teacher at the center, also played a key role in Louden’s life. She invited him to her house to play with her own children because she knew the family needed a place to bring David where people understood his challenges.

“We really focus on developing relationships with the entire family,” Loiacono said. “That’s when you see progress, when we’re all working together.”

Going through the process of working with a child with special needs taught the staff many skills they’ve continued to utilize. “We rose to that challenge and designed a good learning environment for him,” Loiacono added. “That gave me confidence that we could serve students with all kinds of abilities and challenges.”

One of the demographics most served by CAP’s centers is children with special needs. That could be as simple as speech delays or more challenging diagnoses like behavioral disorders or autism. Loiacono said, “For both CFDC’s last year we had a total of 51 children enrolled with 33 percent identified as having special needs.”

The high percentage of children with special needs indicates that CAP’s Child and Family Development Centers will need to continue implementing best practices and strategies for helping children and their families. n * Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our participants.

Make a Difference in 2020 VOLUNTEER! Whether a person is 18 or 108, steaming clothing or climbing onto roofs, committing to a year of full-time service or devoting a few hours a week to serving our communities – each volunteer is necessary to the mission and ministry of CAP. We firmly believe that volunteers who serve with CAP are called by God to do so. We know that each of them and all of their gifts are exceedingly valuable.

Opportunities are available for people of all backgrounds, experiences, ages, and availabilities.

Christian Appalachian Project

christianapp.org volunteer@chrisapp.org 800.755.5322 christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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FA I T H

The Antidote

BY KIM KOBERSMITH

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ussell and Patricia Johnson have been married for 27 years and have weathered a lot of storms. When Russell was just 31, he had a major heart attack that ultimately ended his ability to work. The couple had three girls under the age of three at that time and the family lost everything.

With ongoing health concerns and precarious employment, they were struggling. Patricia went back to school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and found a job, but they couldn’t afford the $40 uniform. After hearing about Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), she called Jill Stafford with CAP’s Family Advocacy Program, at the time, whose immediate response was, “meet me at Wal-Mart.”

That encounter was the start of a 20-year, ongoing relationship between the Johnsons and CAP. When the girls were growing up, the family was blessed with school supplies, clothing, and Christmas help, along with occasional assistance with utilities when the family hit a rough patch.

“CAP has been a strong influence in my life for as long as I can remember,” said Rebecca, the Johnson’s middle daughter.

“CAP did an exceptional job of keeping three kids in a lowincome family engaged in school and able to meet our potential because they took away the barriers that our lack of money caused.”

Last year, Russell and Patricia received additional assistance from CAP. Their home is an old coal mining cabin that had crooked floors and no insulation: an ideal project for WorkFest, CAP’s alternative spring break program. In 2019, WorkFest volunteers from around the country made major improvements like installing new kitchen cabinets and double-pane windows, as well as painting the exterior of the home and putting in new floors.

“CAP staff and volunteers don’t judge us because of our income issues or because our house was rundown,” Patricia said. “They are interested in our life and in seeing how we are making it.”

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Russell and Patricia Johnson raised their family in this old coal mining cabin (pictured before repairs). Christian Appalachian Project’s Housing Program worked with the family to install new kitchen cabinets and double-pane windows. Plus, the exterior of the home was painted and new floors were installed.

According to the Johnsons, the spirit in which the assistance is provided is just as valuable as the help itself. It is paired with a deep concern for their lives. “The work of CAP just lifts us up,” Patricia said. “It’s knowing somebody cares; we can just feel God when they walk in our home.” Over the years, the Johnsons have made many memories with CAP staff and volunteers including sharing meals, laughter, and celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries.

Russell and Patricia did what they could to provide for their family and additional resources provided by CAP helped cover the shortfall. According to Patricia, in the nearly 30 years that they have been married, the family has never earned more than $17,000 per year. The United States Census Bureau

FA I T H

Lanora Johnson, the eldest daughter of the Johnson family, graduated from Bluegrass Community and Technical College with her family in attendance.

She is currently completing graduate school.

“The work of CAP just lifts us up.

It’s knowing somebody cares; we can just feel God when they walk in our home.”

PATRICIA JOHNSON

defines the poverty line as a family of four earning less than $25,750 per year. Patricia said, that thanks to CAP, the family always had what they needed.

Despite their economic challenges, Russell and Patricia valued education and worked to make sure all three of their daughters had a path out of poverty. Their youngest, Catlin, has an associate degree and Rebecca has earned credits toward a degree in education. Lanora, the oldest, is completing her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Michigan. “When I went to graduate school, I decided I was never writing about Kentucky again,” she ruefully admitted.

Now she is making plans to return to Central Appalachia for her dissertation fieldwork.

“I realized that these are the things that keep me up at night.

Eastern Kentucky has experienced major changes in even my parents’ lifetime and increasingly, people cannot find jobs,”

she said. Her research focuses on the connections between rural poverty, gender, and health.

Lanora believes she brings a unique and important perspective to the national conversation about Appalachia. “There are a lot of out-of-touch narratives about what it means to be from Eastern Kentucky from people who have no experience in the region, but I have been so impressed with how much dignity there is in the way CAP treats people and includes them,” she said. By studying a place and people she knows and loves, Lanora will help provide an antidote to those narratives.

Rightfully, Patricia and Russell are proud parents. But they are also humble and realize that to raise children takes a village.

“When I think about what a huge difference CAP has made, it blows my mind,” Patricia said. ”If not for CAP, the girls would not have achieved what they have.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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FA I T H

All “Yays” in Math Club

BY SHANNON HOLBROOK

M

ention “Math Club” at Sand Gap Elementary School and kids cheer. Students barrel down the hall toward the computer lab, eager for the start of their club time.

“It quickly became the place to be at the end of the day,” said Principal Barbara Masters. “Other students ask how they can “join” all the time,” added Kristin Baker, the school’s third and fourth grade teacher.

It’s a small club of six children from each third, fourth, and fifth grade class who must be invited to join by their teachers.

Leading them is Emily Dumont, a community educator with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) and former Camp AJ volunteer and AmeriCorps member. Dumont holds degrees in mathematics and religious studies. When school is out, she and other CAP staff and volunteers host campers at Camp AJ. During the school year, Dumont’s primary assignment is down the road at McKee Elementary, but she also assists at Sand Gap when she is able.

She has a passion for math and serving others, and her philosophy is simple. “If they get it in their head that math is fun, then it will be fun,” Dumont said. Her job is to deliver the fun while incorporating strategies from their math classes.

According to Dumont, being part of her students’ lives is a critical factor in their success. “For me, the biggest part of my faith is about serving others,” she explained. “I believe that children need as many positive adult role models in their lives as possible.”

The club meets once a week for 30 minutes per grade level.

Dumont plays games like BINGO, Jeopardy, and homemade games to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom by Baker. “If they’re stuck on something, we can take a step back,” Dumont said.

“Students that needed a boost in mathematic but didn’t necessarily qualify for intervention services are selected to be part of the group,” according to Baker. Students like fifth grader Gracie Powell received an invite and now has been in the Math Club for one year. “It helps me be more prepared, and I like Miss Emily,” Powell said. “I wasn’t very good at division but now division is easy.”

Gracie’s mom, Beckie Powell, shared that Gracie struggled in math, making Cs and Ds and was discouraged. Now she’s earning all As and Bs and is excited to show her parents her graded tests.

“When she has homework, she will choose to do math first,” Powell’s mother stated. “She has so much more confidence in herself. Math Club has truly been a blessing for our family.”

It all started with an idea. In 2015, Principal Masters and the math teachers brainstormed ideas to help third through fifth grade students who scored below proficient on diagnostic assessments. They chose Dumont because she had a rapport with the students, knew the math strategies, and was available at the needed time. Most of all, they knew she would make it fun. Dumont, who at the time was in her first year as a CAP volunteer, said yes, and Math Club was born.

“I love math, and I think math education is important, but I think the relationship building and confidence building that happens during Math Club is what is really important.”

EMILY DUMONT 16

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Emily Dumont was selected by Sand Gap Elementary School Principal Barbara Masters to start a Math Club.

Dumont’s love of math and rapport with the students made her the ideal person to create a program that makes math fun.

“The hope was that a little more practice and a little more small group time would help these students improve their understanding and therefore their test scores,” Dumont said.

The results have been outstanding. “The Math Club students have a phenomenal track record at meeting proficiency of the standards based on the end of the year testing,” Baker added.

“They show some of the largest growth numbers on diagnostic testing throughout the year.”

Principal Masters agreed, “Overall, there was an increase in K-PREP math scores across the board at Sand Gap Elementary.” The increase from the 2017-2018 school year to the 2018-2019 school year was 13.79 percent.

Beyond the numbers, Dumont has seen her students grow.

“What I have noticed is an increase in confidence,” she noted. “Many of them have the knowledge and the skills to do

well, they just don’t believe in themselves enough and they are afraid of being incorrect. I love math, and I think math education is important, but I think the relationship building and confidence building that happens during Math Club is what is really important.”

Baker agreed, “Emily’s service work is such an asset to our school. She provides opportunities for our students that otherwise they would not have access to.”

Masters agreed. “Emily’s support is indispensable. We don’t hesitate to include Camp AJ in our initiatives like the Math Club. They help us to provide a high quality of instruction and help us to keep our culture positive, warm, and always in the best interest of our students, staff, and community. As an administrator, I can always rest in the knowledge that everything Camp AJ does with and for our Tigers is done well and with great expertise.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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YOUcan canmake makeaadifference differencein inthe thelives livesof ofchildren, children, YOU families, elderly in Appalachia families,and andthe seniors in Appalachia.

At CAP we highly value the diversity of volunteers and believe that everyone has something to offer. We accept recent graduates, retirees, and everyone in between. Married couples are also welcome, as well as volunteers of different faith traditions.

I’m always excited to talk to prospective volunteers about what CAP has to offer them.

There are so many different opportunities to serve here. Are you are feeling led to join us?

Please contact me!

Contact Ashley to begin your volunteer journey!

606.392.4679 (o) | 606.308.2329 (c) aellis@chrisapp.org christianapp.org/volunteering-with-cap

C O M PA S S I O N

Made with Love

BY LAUREN MCCOART

F

or more than 10 years, men and women at Glen Cove Senior Center in Glen Cove, New York have put their skills to use by knitting hats, gloves, blankets, and sweaters for children, their families, and seniors in need in Appalachia. This past January, 20 knitters began a year-long journey to share their love by knitting beautiful warm winter items to donate to Christian Appalachian Project.

In 2019, with the help of Village Church of Bayville, New York, the group knitted 197 pounds of items to send to Eastern Kentucky. “They have been knitting for years and years, and having a place to send the items is really meaningful to them,” said Christine Bartell, Village Church’s chairperson for the Mission Committee.

Village Church provides a beautiful assortment of yarn and supplies for the knitters and are grateful to help support such a worthwhile effort. “We get to support a local group.

Their knitting contributes to a broader mission and it really is a beautiful experience,” Bartell explained. “The Mission Committee always looks to support local, national, and global interests, and this project covers a lot.”

But the participants receiving the items are not the only ones who benefit. According to Carol Waldman, who worked with the group for many years, there is a sense of purpose that transforms the Glen Cove seniors as well. “Some of them felt like their hardworking days were over and that they didn’t have much to give, but suddenly they have a new mission, a new sense of purpose,” Waldman said.

(left to right) Alice Lynch, Sophie Barbieri, and Sharon Faith Collins, with the Glen Cove Senior Center in New York, annually send knitted items to CAP. (right) Sally Miceli also does her part to create beautiful handmade items.

Each year before they pack all of the items made with love in sturdy boxes that will make the trip all the way to Kentucky, Village Church hosts a celebration for the knitters to honor their hard work and completion of another year’s commitment to help people in need in Appalachia.

“It is such a beautiful, meaningful, collaborative experience,” Bartell said. “It is not just to show off their amazing knitted projects, but an opportunity for us to show our gratitude for their year-long labor of love.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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Strength meets Service

BY BRANDY CALVERT, Ed.D.

P

eggy Harrison, coordinator for Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Elderly Services Program in Jackson County, Kentucky had a serious problem. She saw a need for additional volunteers to help distribute supplemental commodity food boxes to a growing number of seniors (192 in all) in need each month. “We needed volunteers,” she explained. “Our numbers kept going up and I just saw that we needed help.”

Harrison knows the blessings and challenges that come with the distribution of so many heavy boxes. She reached out to a friend of CAP, Lieutenant Colonel (R) Stephen Whitaker, a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) instructor at Jackson County High School, hoping that he could help.

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“I have a long history with CAP,” Colonel Whitaker proudly explained. “I know some of these families are really suffering and CAP has made a huge impact.” The long-time educator recognized the positive, ongoing impact of CAP on his community and did not hesitate to partner in the distribution of commodity boxes to elderly residents.

“Our primary mission is to motivate young people to be better citizens. Community service is a great way for us to do this,” he explained. To provide the needed support, Colonel Whitaker committed to engaging ROTC cadets in commodities distribution each month. A joyful partnership was born. The strength of young ROTC cadets and their eagerness to serve has been a blessing to the distribution program, which works

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ROTC cadets from Jackson County High School volunteer each month to distribute commodity food boxes to seniors in their community.

“Our primary mission is to motivate young people to be better citizens. Community service is a great way for us to do this.”

LIEUTENANT COLONEL (R) STEPHEN WHITAKER

to improve the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods.

“I really love the workers here,” said Cadet Luke Strong, a high school junior and leader of his ROTC unit. “We’re friends here. It feels good to be helping people and I feel like they appreciate us.” Strong is no stranger to Christian Appalachian Project—when he was a preschooler he attended CAP’s Child and Family Development Center.

CAP is a part of the fabric of the lives of many people in the communities in which we serve. Other cadets were proud to tell their own CAP stories. Two of the cadets were campers at Camp AJ. Another young man, Cadet Morgan Bellamy, has his heart set on becoming a junior counselor at Camp AJ this summer. He feels that leadership experiences such as serving at commodities distribution will help him to be an effective Camp AJ counselor.

Through this service-learning experience, cadets not only get to interact with CAP and their community, but they also gain invaluable leadership experience. Colonel Whitaker expects

them to work together as a unit. He sends four freshmen, two sophomores, and two upperclassmen to each event. As the cadets rise in seniority, they gain more responsibility and lead their team. “They take care of each other while they’re out there, and CAP takes care of them,” Colonel Whitaker said.

“This partnership is important to the community.”

Cadet Megan Carpenter is a freshman who had served at CAP commodities in the past. “The first time I served, I found that I knew people here. My neighbor was here,” she said. “Sometimes if you have everything you need, you forget that not everyone has everything they need. It reminds me to be thankful.”

The intergenerational connection is special. “These young people take me back,” Participant Bessie McDaniel reminisced at the sight of the ROTC cadets in uniform, “I was a medic in the Army from 1955 until 1958.”

McDaniel explained how critical CAP’s role is in Jackson County. “I think this makes the difference between a lot of people starving to death or surviving,” she said. “I don’t know what we would do if it weren’t for CAP. I’m grateful.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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“I never thought I would be on the receiving end. I don’t know what we would do if it weren’t for CAP. I’m grateful.”

BESSIE MCDANIEL

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Of Good Courage

BY BRANDY CALVERT, Ed.D.

B

essie McDaniel has lived no ordinary life. In fact, it’s been rather spectacular. Peering out from behind the fur-lined hood of a heavy coat pulled tightly around her petite face, you instantly get the sense that this is a woman with a story to tell.

On a rainy February morning in Jackson County, Kentucky, McDaniel stood in line waiting to get her box of food at CAP’s commodity distribution.

“These young people take me back,” McDaniel reminisced at the sight of the ROTC Cadets in uniform, “I was a medic in the Army from 1955 until 1958.”

At less than five feet tall, McDaniel’s sweet yet assertive personality makes her seem larger than life. It seems that she was underestimated from birth. One of 11 children, she said, “They never expected me to make it out of the crib because I had everything in the world wrong with me.” McDaniel taught herself to read at age five by reading the Bible. By eighth grade, her mother said that it was time for her to start “earning her keep” and kicked her out.

“I begged my mother. I said, ‘I want to continue to go to school.’

But she kicked me out. I was homeless,” McDaniel said.

With the odds stacked against her, the Estill County, Kentucky native pressed on. “I stayed with anyone and worked any job I could find, with the aim to stay in school.” She is a picture of the gritty determination of the people of Appalachia. “If you want something, you have to reach for it. It doesn’t just come to you,” McDaniel said.

She stayed in school and went on to get medical training in Texas. “My first assignment was at West Point,” she said. “I volunteered for overseas duty and they sent me to the General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. I was a peacetime veteran who cared for military personnel and their families.”

McDaniel never expected to find herself in need, after a life of service. “I used to do this,” she said of the food distribution. Now in her 80s and caring for family members with medical needs,

Bessie McDaniel was a medic in the United States Army from 1955 until 1958. She was a peacetime veteran who cared for military personnel and their families. During her military service, she helped distribute food to people in need.

McDaniel appreciates the help that CAP provides. “I never thought I would be on the receiving end. I don’t know what we would do if it weren’t for CAP. I’m grateful.”

She embraces her Appalachian community and is thankful that CAP does, too. She never expected to find herself living in Jackson County after such a colorful life that took her to big cities and even to other countries. “But here I am,” she smiled, “loving every minute of it. I think this distribution makes the difference between a lot of people starving to death or surviving,” she said. “It’s a blessing to see help right here at home.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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Gear Up for Your Outdoor Adventures

Show your love for CAP

with gear from our store!

Proceeds from the store support our mission to build hope, transform lives, and share Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.

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Christian Appalachian Project

C O M PA S S I O N

Camp Connections

BY BRIDGET MCCORMACK-FINLEY

R

osalie Thomason was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1934 but grew up an only child in the small town of Plain City, 25 miles away. She was raised by her maternal grandparents until age 9 when her grandfather died. Thomason then lived with an aunt, uncle, and grandmother on a farm until the age of 13. Her mother, Sally, had been unable to care for her daughter because of a debilitating illness that began shortly after Thomason was born and had been living in California.

In 1947, Sally borrowed money to purchase a Greyhound bus ticket to Columbus so she could bring her daughter to Los Angeles to be with her. “That was pretty overpowering,” Thomason said. “Just coming to Los Angeles was a huge culture shock, but I was going to be with my mother and that was worth any adjustment.”

Thomason immediately began attending Angelus Temple with her mother, a church started by an evangelist and social advocate. “That was the largest building I had ever been in with a main floor and three balconies,” she recalled. “It occurred to me that all of Plain City might fit inside with room left over.”

Soon after, she responded to an altar call, accepted Christ, and was baptized. She joined the youth choir which was led by acclaimed composer Audrey Mieir.

Rosalie Thomason, 14, shown with her mother Sally when they lived in California. Thomason’s church sponsored her to attend a week of camp and now she gives so that other children can also experience summer camp.

A few months later, an associate pastor reached out to Sally to ask if her daughter would have any interest in attending Camp Radford in the San Bernardino Mountains. Someone had donated money to sponsor a child who would otherwise not be able to afford to go to camp and Thomason had been selected. “We didn’t have a whole lot of money; we lived pretty frugally so there was no thought of me ever going to camp without this help,” she said.

“That was the only year I attended camp, but since that experience I have been very aware of how I got to camp,” Thomason said. As an adult, she has always contributed through her church or other venues to ensure that children from financially challenging situations may be able to experience summer camp. She has felt a strong connection to the Appalachian region throughout her life, and learned that she has deep familial roots in Appalachian Kentucky, West Virginia, and southern Ohio.

It was during this time at camp that Thomason felt the presence of God very strongly - so much so that the feeling of it has stayed with her for nearly 72 years. Her first best friend, Ruth, was also at camp. They had met when they stood next to each other in choir. “I think the reason we connected was that we both lived only with our mothers. We were both tall, skinny, and altos. What else do you need to bond?” Rosalie recalled with a laugh.

Sixteen years ago Thomason was inspired to partner with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) to serve communities in Appalachia and hopes that others will also become involved with supporting CAP’s summer camp programming which provides love and compassion to those who attend.

“I’m just so blessed,” she concluded. “God has been so good to me my whole life and been with me every moment.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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A Life Unafraid

BY TINA V. BRYSON

W

hen at Camp AJ, they call her Tink, like the fairy from Peter Pan’s magical story. Unlike the fictional character, Marjorie Conkwright knows that all children must grow up, and she is striving to give each one the chance to spread their wings and fly while they are still young. Conkwright is serving as a oneyear volunteer and AmeriCorps member through Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Camp AJ in Jackson County, Kentucky. There, she primarily teaches art in the summer.

Long-term camp volunteers at CAP also provide much needed in-school support for our local school districts during the academic year. During camp’s offseason, Conkwright assists with math and arts education at Sand Gap Elementary School.

Conkwright, and her husband Charles, came to Camp AJ in 2018 just after she finished her master’s degree in nonprofit leadership and community development at Eastern Kentucky University. “That first summer was full of magical small moments found in hiking with new friends, random gifts of avocados, and God’s splendor seen in glorious sunrises and sunsets. My most treasured moments that I hold close to my heart were unexpected explosions of joy found in creativity that led a camper to an impromptu dance with a paintbrush in seeming abandon to everything but happiness. Just before that was a time of frustration in the process of crafting, but personal perseverance led to a great accomplishment and pride. I will also never forget a simple thank you from a teenager that had never had a chance to paint before.”

“That first summer was terrifying and yet one of the greatest adventures of my life,” said Conkwright, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky. “I learned that I love silly, repeat-afterme songs, camp magic, smores, and the light of pure joy that shines through over 500 pairs of eyes shown unconditional, unending fierce love of camp staff and counselors.”

Michael O’Brien, coordinator at Camp AJ, had spent time the previous year connecting to Steven Davis-Rosenbaum with Berea College’s Craft Education Center and Outreach Program.

The addition of a skilled artist in Conkwright enabled Camp AJ to grow this partnership with Berea College in a way that will celebrate the Appalachian heritage of the region with students.

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“We create because we were created by a great and loving God. I want each child to treasure their creations as gifts just as they are a gift, fearfully and wonderfully made.”

MARJORIE CONKWRIGHT “I came to Camp AJ with a great love for Appalachian crafts and tradition,” Conkwright said. “I also know that cultural heritage can be lost to future generations if they are not shown the importance and beauty of those traditions. Last summer, I was able to be trained in the traditional manner of broom making and I was immediately able to use that training with the older campers.”

Camp staff and volunteers also took the teen campers on a field trip to Berea College to participate in a copper stamping craft session that culminated with a beautiful patina keychain or necklace. The teens were also able to tour the craft education studios and workshops and eat at the cafeteria on campus.

The trip provided an opportunity to participate in a program on campus and help them imagine the opportunities that are there for them after graduating from high school.

Conkwright takes the creativity of her summer position with her to Sand Gap Elementary School where she assists third, fourth, and fifth graders mainly with math. She has also been developing a visual arts curriculum for Grades K-5 in a rotating schedule that allows students to be exposed to different art materials and techniques.

“Sand Gap is like many elementary schools that do not have a dedicated arts teacher,” said Conkwright, whose life was shaped by an amazing high school art teacher who started her on the path to becoming a professional artist. “I am excited to have this opportunity to give a little exposure to ideas, materials, and art history to the students. Everyone needs an opportunity to explore their creative side. I hope I can inspire my students to see the beauty and great cultural heritage of the home we call Appalachia. To see that it is so much more than making a broom, basket, or bowl, it is a deep and abiding beauty of spirit and soul forged from hardship and necessity.

A young camper learns to weave. Marjorie Conkwright, a professional artist serving as a one-year volunteer and AmeriCorps member, has brought her love of Appalachian crafts to Camp AJ. We need to understand why we create more than what we create. We create because we were created by a great and loving God. I want each child to treasure their creations as gifts just as they are a gift, fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Conkwright was excited to extend CAP’s reach by working with the Sand Gap Artsy Tigers, an afterschool arts program led by Lisa Young that meets once a week. Conkwright has started teaching a unit on clay vessels. The bowls the children make will be fired in kilns at Berea College and returned to the students at Sand Gap. “One day I was helping a student construct a bowl and he excitedly told me that this was going to be his cereal bowl,” Conkwright recalled. “He told me that he didn’t have a cereal bowl at home and was eating his cereal out of a cup; but now he had his own bowl just for cereal. His excitement and joy in the creative process, his pride in his accomplishment of creation will stay with me. I want to leave them with that: a life unafraid to embrace creativity and imagination.”

Maybe, just maybe, that nickname, Tink, does fit Marjorie Conkwright just fine. If you look closely, you may see a little pixie dust around the classrooms and halls of Sand Gap Elementary or in the dining hall and craft room at Camp AJ. Yes, Tink could fly, but sharing her pixie dust so others could fly, that was her greatest gift. n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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Creating a Legacy of Leadership

BY SARABETH BROWNROBIE

I

t was lunchtime during YouthFest 2019 and Dominick Rivera was holding court on the porch. With his easy smile and genial demeanor, he had the whole crew laughing. Rivera is part of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Teen Leadership Program, and Caitlin Speigle, Camp Shawnee coordinator, will tell you that he has always drawn the attention of his peers.

“We thought he’d be a good fit for the program because he brings contagious energy to everything he does, and was always enthusiastic about camp,” Speigle remembered. “He was showcasing leadership skills from his first summer, and we figured the program would help him learn how to focus all that energy into being an amazing, engaging leader.”

Rivera first came to camp at age 13 as a kid that felt like an outsider. His experiences there made a huge difference in his confidence at that point in his life. He felt included by his counselors and his love of comic books and action heroes was accepted and encouraged. It was also a place where he felt led to God. Rivera explained, “I wasn’t really as big with God, but when I came to camp, I grew into it like it was part of my life.

It’s changed me. Because I used to be a troubled person and coming here switched me over.”

Programs like Teen Leadership, to which Rivera has now progressed, are critical in Kentucky where 47 percent of children are living in low-income families and nearly 10,000 are living in foster care, according to Kentuck Youth Advocates.With a region that faces so much instability, CAP has remained a consistent source of support for over 50 years.

Speigle realizes the importance of this program in the lives of youth who have chosen to participate. Teen Leadership creates a space where teens can stay connected to the ethos of camp, a place where they feel safe and encouraged.

Here, they have a chance to make mistakes and learn from them. During the school year, the participants take part in leadership retreats, volunteer opportunities, and social activities geared toward building leadership skills and

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Dominick Rivera (green shirt) and Devin Sword take time out to have fun together. They both enjoy their time in CAP’s Teen Leadership Program. confidence. “We give them the opportunity to practice scary things like job interview skills in a safe environment with people they trust and who care deeply about them and their success,” Speigle explained.

Rivera is taking the lessons that he’s learned to heart. Last yeat, he gave up his spring break to repair homes with CAP for people in his community. It was the first year that teens from CAP programming took part in YouthFest, CAP’s alternative spring break trip that brings youth from around the nation to help people in need in Appalachia.

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He also took on the added responsibility of being the safety officer for the worksite. Speigle took notice of the way he took charge when she injured herself. She had planned to continue her work, but Rivera asked her to stop and then he performed first aid. Speigle recounted that it was a proud moment to see him take his job as safety officer so seriously. “We always talk about finding a balance between firm and fun, and the jokes he was cracking as he was bandaging me up just seemed to be a perfect example of a teen discovering that balance and being aware of the fact that they had found it,” she said.

YouthFest isn’t the only opportunity Rivera has taken to demonstrate leadership. He returned last summer as a junior counselor at Camp Shawnee. The transition from junior camper to someone in charge requires discernment, and he relied upon his Teen Leadership training to help him. He remembers two particular instances in which he used a rubric he was given to aid in decisions.

Rivera was taught to ask himself: Is it safe? Is it good stewardship? Does it build self-esteem? Are you being a servant? He said that asking the first question is often the only thing he needs to do. When campers asked to flip a canoe, he helped them reason through their decision by using safety as a guide. “If I was a camper, I would have asked to flip the canoe.

I was in those shoes. I was a troublemaker and I understand what they are going through. That’s how I helped them turn it around,” he recalled. In another instance, he came to a different conclusion. When campers asked to rearrange their bunk beds he consulted those guidelines and decided that it would be safe as long as he supervised.

Caitlin Speigle, Camp Shawnee coordinator, works with Dominick Rivera on a home during YouthFest.

Although YouthFest and summer camp were both formative experiences, it is the Teen Leadership Program itself that has been most impactful to Rivera. He said the program has helped him see his life through God’s eyes and given him techniques to help him through hard times. It has also taught him the importance of being open to other people.

“People my age don’t express their feelings, they just shut ‘em in,” he shared. “They leave them inside of a bag and expect no one to know about them. It makes me proud that I can talk to anyone.” He continued, “The best thing ever is vulnerability because, once you are weak, you can grow into something stronger. If you can show your vulnerability, you can express it more often. It’s hard. It’s so hard, but it gets easier after a while.”

Rivera will continue to take part in the Teen Leadership Program and he hopes to join the military before continuing on to college or the police academy. But he’s not the only one with big plans for the future. One recent graduate has

Teens from both Camp AJ and Camp Shawnee take part in their annual joint retreat as part of their training in the Teen Leadership Program. threatened to steal Speigle’s job in the next few years. Although she has no plans to leave, Speigle concluded, “I can’t think of a better legacy for the program than to eventually be led by someone who was part of it in their teen years.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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CORPORATE RELATIONS A Great New Way to Partner with CAP PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Tax-Deductible Gifts • Gifts-In-Kind Donations • Sponsorships Matching Gift Programs • Employee Volunteers To learn more about how your company can become involved as a corporate partner, please contact Bryce Haneline at 859.286.3025 or email bhaneline@chrisapp.org.

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Called From the Mountains

A

t Christian Appalachian Project, (CAP), we often describe our volunteers as being “called to the mountains” — compelled by faith and drawn by CAP’s mission to serve people in need in Appalachia for a week, a month, or a year. But more and more, CAP volunteers are being called from the mountains as well.

Heather Peters, a CAP one-year volunteer and AmeriCorps member, grew up in Jackson County, Kentucky, and serves in CAP’s Housing Program. She lives in the community she serves and loves having the opportunity to serve in Appalachia as an Appalachian.

“I decided to do a year of service because I love to help people,” said Peters, who is one of a record number of volunteers and members from CAP’s primary service area. “The chance to help my people is even a bigger blessing. I see the needs every day, and to get a chance to help with the needs of my friends and neighbors is great.”

“Our one-year volunteers typically come from outside Appalachian Kentucky,“ explained Amy Schill, CAP’s assistant director for volunteers and AmeriCorps members. “We love inviting people from all over the country to be a part of our mission, but it’s long been our hope to increase local participation, both for the gifts community members have to offer our mission and for the job skills and personal growth opportunities our program provides.”

While CAP’s one-year volunteer program has always been open to the local community, there were several potential barriers. “Obviously, volunteering for a year presents a significant financial hurdle, and we knew we’d need to provide more support if we were serious about local recruitment,” Schill noted. “Second, we recognized that our community living model, which is a central pillar of our one-year volunteer program, might be unintentionally excluding people.”

Most one-year volunteers live in intentional communities with several other volunteers. These communities are not just housing, but are a significant component of the volunteer experience, as volunteers commit to community dinner and devotion four nights a week. The communities also provide a support network for volunteers who are new to the area and far from family and friends.

“If you’re from the community in which you’re serving, you probably already have a strong social network, and you may

Heather Peters (left) helps Caroyln Lindsey (right) prepare commodity boxes. Peters has been volunteering part-time or on a short-term basis with CAP since 2014. She is completing a full year of service while also living on her own. have family and community obligations that make committing to evening activities difficult,” Schill said. “If we want more local participation, we need to build a program that takes this into consideration.”

CAP’s partnership with AmeriCorps, a national service program that supports community and faith-based organizations who engage Americans of all ages in full-time service, created this opportunity. Though CAP has been an AmeriCorps program for many years, a larger grant this year allowed CAP to increase the living allowance offered to members like Peters who choose to live on their own.

“The living allowance allowed me to be able to do my part financially for my family, while being able to do all the things I love at CAP,” Peters added.

Schill expects CAP will welcome more local volunteers and AmeriCorps members as the opportunity becomes more wellknown in the community. “We’re thrilled with the growth we’ve seen so far in this first year,” she said. “A year of service is a tremendous gift to CAP, but it’s also a transformational experience for the individual. We want to make it possible for as many people as we can.” n christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive

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Telling Your Own Story

BY TINA V. BRYSON

R

ising out of the mountains of Appalachia, in the farthest part of Eastern Kentucky before you hit West Virginia, is the University of Pikeville (UPIKE). Its president, Dr. Burton Webb, lives by the university’s commitment to “create intellectual, cultural, and economic opportunities for Appalachia,” and in that vein he hosts the podcast, “Appalachia Rising,” to shine a spotlight on innovators in the region.

“We are at a moment in time where Appalachia has captured the interest of the greater culture in many ways, and that rises from things like the war on poverty and the decline of the coal industry,” Webb said. “There are incredible stories in Appalachia that we wanted to tell about how our collective investment in the region results in Appalachia being able to thrive on its own. Solutions need to come from inside the region rather than being imposed from outside. Ideas need to arise from here if they are going to catch fire here, and that was the idea behind the podcast. How can Appalachia rise?

We think it is doing what we need to do on our own.”

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The Mountain Spirit Spring/Summer 2020

The podcast kicked off in 2019 with the bold proclamation that “it was time for Appalachians to take control of the stories about Appalachia” and twelve episodes later Webb has introduced listeners to stories about creating new career paths in the tech industry for out of work coal miners, providing a new source of sustainable agriculture in Appalachia, and piloting new healthcare initiatives like The Farmacy Program that provides “prescriptions” for fresh produce to combat chronic health problems.

“So many people hold the stereotyped view of Appalachia that pervades the national narrative, and yet as I have lived here and my family has deep roots in this area, it isn’t the image that the people here hold,” Webb stated. “We’re trying to help the outside world realize that there are incredibly creative and innovative things taking place here that don’t get the national spotlight shone upon them because they are here, so we’re going to tell our own stories.”

A R T S + C U LT U R E

Dr. Burton Webb (left), host of the “Appalachia Rising” podcast produced by the University of Pikeville, shines a spotlight on innovators from Appalachia including Jonathan Webb (right), CEO of AppHarvest, which combines agriculture with technology to grow the farming movement in Appalachia.

Webb looks for stories that are unique or promote innovative ideas that hold the potential to have tremendous impact in Eastern Kentucky, and if replicated, outside of Central Appalachia as well. He contends that there is so much happening in the region that needs to be duplicated in other areas, but people don’t know about it.

“UPIKE is called to imagine what the future might be,” Webb said. “When you begin the process of imagining a possible future, you have to build the narrative. “Appalachia Rising” is about telling the stories that are rising in Appalachia right now. We had to ask ourselves, can we as an institution elevate those stories so that they can continue to thrive?”

Webb is candid about the challenges the region faces.

“Sometimes we get caught in the trap of the stereotypical narrative too. We can’t afford that. We need to recognize that there truly are exceptional things happening here and that they are as much a part of who we are as the other narratives.

I hope every episode has something that makes someone say, ‘Oh, I had no idea that was happening in Appalachia.’” n

“There are incredible stories in Appalachia that we wanted to tell about how our collective investment in the region results in Appalachia being able to thrive on its own.”

DR. BURTON WEBB

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A R T S + C U LT U R E

Rising Star has

Local Roots

BY SHANNON HOLBROOK

M

ount Vernon, Kentucky, native Camille Rae is a rising star on the Nashville, Tennessee stage.

The former Camp AJ counselor has followed her heart and her voice to make a life as a musician.

“I have just always known that I was meant to do this and have music in my life,” Rae said.

Singing publicly since age 3, Rae performed across Kentucky at church revivals and talent shows. She started playing guitar and songwriting at age 12 and also performed in her middle and high school choirs.

Rae attended Camp AJ as a camper. “I always wanted to sing and perform for everyone,” she said. “The counselors and staff always nurtured that so well.” Camp AJ is a place where children learn to dream and think about a future in which they can realize those dreams.

Before pursuing teaching full-time, Rae spent three years as a music leader and counselor for Camp AJ. “It was a blessing because I was able to share my gift with children and see how much music impacted their lives,” Rae said.

She remembers a camper who was deaf that learned the words to his favorite song, “I Can Only Imagine,” and signed along. “He loved praise and worship time because he could feel the vibrations of the music,” Rae explained. “It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed, and it proved to me the beauty and importance of music: that it is therapeutic and universal.”

Rae learned a lot about herself at Camp AJ. “I took on some leadership roles that really prepared me for life as an educator and band leader,” she said.

She graduated from University of the Cumberlands with a music education degree with classical training in opera. Post graduation she taught high school choir for three years. Then, she moved to Canada to pursue musical theatre and then to Nashville, six years ago, to pursue a solo career as a country 34

The Mountain Spirit Spring/Summer 2020

Camille Rae started singing publicly at the age of 3. She spent three years as a music leader and counselor at Camp AJ. She is now pursing a solo career as a country music artist in Nashville, Tennessee. music artist. “I have been writing, recording, and touring ever since,” she said.

In 2015, Rae released her debut album “I Need Me.” It included her first single, “Shadows Dance Tonight,” which hit number 55 on Nashville’s Music Row Chart. She opened for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, American Idol’s David Cook, and Maddie and Tae. She recently released her latest project, “This Time.” Next, Rae is planning to tour throughout the Midwest and the South.

“It can be hard at times and would be easy to give up and do something else,” Rae said, “But I am determined to keep going and fulfill what I believe to be my purpose.” n

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