Issuu

The

Mountain Spirit The Magazine of the Christian Appalachian Project

In this issue: Appalachian Culture and Values Forward in the Fifth Improves Education Mountain Spirit Awards

January February 1995 -

T he

Appalachian Values and Culture

January - February 1995 Vol. XIV, No. 1

Mountain The Magazine of the Christian Appalachian Project

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TheMountains o f My Childhood by Garry Barker

10 The Mountain Spirit Awards Mountain Spirit Awards, page ten.

by the CAP News Service

24 Forward in the Fifth by Beth Dotson

26 The Classroom: A Place fo r Appalachian Culture

Improving education, page twenty-four.

by Beth Dotson

D e p a r tm e n ts 3 15 16 18

Random Thoughts Letters The CAP Closeup Around The Project

When The M ountain Spirit advisory board met to discuss themes for the issues in 1995, member Katie Newsome, a native of the mountains, said that an issue that explores Appalachian culture might give readers a good insight into the dichotomy of the area. We frequently talk about the problems here, but in this issue you’ll learn a little more about the culture that binds families to each other and to the mountains. Garry Barker reminisces about his younger years, painting a picture that many will recognize. On page twenty-six, Loyal Jones, a renowned Appalachian scholar, gives his thoughts concerning the need to communicate the beauty of the Appalachian culture to her children. On page ten you’ll meet some of the people who make the mountains a great place to live as you read about the winners of the 1994 Mountain Spirit Awards. The 1995 issues of The M ountain Spirit will each feature one of the winners. We will begin with Forward in the Fifth, an organization that supports improved education in Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District. On the cover, a young student receives tutoring from George Isaacs, a CAP teacher (photo by Lorraine Corsale).

Published by the Christian Appalachian Project. Editort Margaret Gabriel. Advisory Board: Father Ralph W. Beiting, Mike McLaughlin, Bill Begley, Carla Durand, Teresa McAnly, Katie Newsome, Beverly Potter. Graphic Designer: Elizabeth Reed Roberts. Circulation: Linda Grider East. The M ountain Spirit is published six times a year. The annual subscription price is $6.00. Subscriptions and other correspondence should be sent to The M ountain Spirit, Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, Kentucky 40446. Copyright 1995, The Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Member, Catholic Press Association. The Christian Appalachian Project is a non-profit Christian service organization operating throughout Appalachia. The project operates on the philosophy that “helping people help themselves” is the best approach to Appalachian poverty. A summary of the registration and financial documents filed by this organization can be obtained by contacting: in New York, Secretary o f State, Office of Charities Registration, 162 W ashington Ave., Albany, NY 12231; in Maryland, for the cost of copies and postage, the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401; in NEW JERSEY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, 202-626-4380; in N O RTH C AROLINA, A CO PY O F T H E LICEN SE TO S O L IC IT C H A R ITA BLE CO NTR IB UTIO NS AS A C H A R ITA BLE O RGA NIZATIO N O R SPO NSO R AND FINA NCIA L IN FO RM A TIO N M AY BE OBTAINED FR OM TH E D EPAR TM ENT O F HUM AN RESOU RCES, S O LIC IT A TIO N L ICEN SIN G BRANCH, BY C A LLING (919)733^510; in Pennsylvania, residents may call the Pennsylvania Department of State at 1-800-732-0999; for West Virginia residents, the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305; in Virginia, the State Division o f Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209; Washington State residents may obtain a copy of the last report filed with the Washington Secretary of State by calling toll free within Washington, 1-800-332-4483; IN FLORIDA, RESIDENTS MAY CALL THE DIVISION O F CONSUMER SERVICES AT 1-800-HELP FLA or by writing to Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, KY 40446. Our License number in M ichigan is MICS 9933. Registration with any o f the above government agencies does not imply endorsement by the state.

The M ountain Spirit

Random Thoughts Pam Shingler JORDAN

O n learning th at I’d grow n u p in th e m ountains, gone away, com e back, gone away, com e back, a new acquaintance w h o is n o t a native asked: “Do you like it here?” His know ing smile and raised eyebrow told m e he expected m e to say: “I love it. It’s ho m e.” And so forth. Sometimes, w h en I’m not interested in further conversation, I say that. But this tim e, for som e reason, I felt com pelled to be honest. “It’s a love-hate relationship,” I replied. I suspect th a t’s h o w m ore than a few eastern K entuckians feel. It’s akin to your feelings for your family. Sometimes your m om dresses like a frum p, and y o u ’re em bar rassed and asham ed to be seen w ith her. O r your dad acts crudely in front o f your new boyfriend, and you can ’t w ait to get out o f the house. O r your b ro th er p uts a snake in your bed and your sister ruins your favorite sw eater, and you w ant to kill them both. Then, it’s just th e five o f you —o r six o r eight or 13 —sitting around th e table for Sunday dinner, laughing, telling funny stories on one another, letting th e love flow. You can think of nothing finer in th e w orld than being w ith these people. At this m om ent, you d o n ’t just have to love them , you w ant to; you can ’t help it. T h at’s h o w I feel about my m ountain family. I hate th e fatalism that often makes us believe w e are pow erless to change things. Yet I love the innate ability to accept and go on. I hate th e provincialism that contains us. Yet I love the intense sense of place th e m ountains engender. I hate th e isolation from large cities and their exciting variety. Yet I love th e peacefulness o f a quiet hollow. I hate th at so m any refuse to stand up to local reactionaries and tyrants. Yet I love th e politeness,

January - February 1995

and stereotypes notw ithstanding, th e gentleness of the people. I hate th e nearsightedness that precludes planning. Yet I love the live-for-today philosophy. I hate the w ay w e are perceived. Yet I cherish the difference. The queues of coal trucks aggravate me. But I fear the day they d o n ’t run. The curvy substandard roads unnerve me. But the scenes they w rap around soothe my troubledness. The slow, seemingly lackadaisical approach to life riles me. But I abhor the change I see coming. The dense m ountains w ith their small valleys som etim es sm other me. But they are my soul. Filled w ith these m ixed em otions, w hy do I keep com ing back? Simple. This is my family. I can hate its shortcom ings, but it sustains me. I have no choice but to love it. And w h en I speak of it, I am describing myself. P am Shingler o f Jo h n so n C ounty is a n English instructor a n d director o f p u b lic relations a t Prestonsburg C o m m u n ity College in Floyd County.

The Mountains of My Childhood

I rem em ber, through a w arm and hazy filter, the m ountains of my childhood. I close my eyes and hear th e singing, bringing in th e sheaves and com ing to the church in the w ildw ood. I hear John Lair, raspier over th e scratchy car radio, calling us again to the Renfro Valley Sunday Morning Gathering. I see a m ountaintop church in Carter County, all day m eeting and dinner on the grounds, shared food and faith under th e sum m er sunshine. I rem em ber . . . splashing across clear, gurgling creek beds, sliding dow n the slickrock, singing “w ay dow n yonder in the p aw paw p a tc h ” in a circle o f cousins, giggling together in th e dam p coolness of a big rockhouse, m um bletypeg on the w ooden p o rch floor, m arbles in th e dusty roadway, w arm w aterm elon fresh from the com patch, a crackling com shuck m attress in the sleeping loft, rain drum m ing on a rusty tin r o o f . . . solem n m ules and welloiled rifles, sharp axes and a busy crosscut saw, cordw ood stacked neatly in the w oodshed . . . fog lifting off a sleepy valley, the milk c o w ’s clanking bell at daybreak, the breakfast smell o f fried ham and apples . . . precious m em ories, lingering, do satisfy my soul.

♦ by G ariy Barker ♦ 4

♦

Mules are a lot like m ountain people. Calm, persistent, m ore th an a little skeptical, able to do w hatever has to be done and survive on w hatever th ere is, mules do th e job w ith a m inim um o f fuss and bother, th en rest until tim e to do it again. Stubborn? Not really. Just too intelligent to be overw orked, too sensible to obey im possible com m ands. Mules w o n ’t step on ten d er co m or tobacco stalks, d o n ’t have to be pulled around w ith taut reins, d o n ’t w aste any energy on fierce snorting o r stom ping. The noble horse, if asked, will burst his heart for you; th e m ule will balk. All y o u ’ll get for your curses and threats, is a baleful stare, a stoic lesson in p atience, and a gloom y scorn. The w orking m ountain farm m ule is not a sho w animal, th e glossy offspring o f a cham pion jack and a Belgian m are. Rather, he is a gray/black, ungainly, scarred old veteran, arthritic and suffering, w h o never m oves faster than is necessary and w hose long yellow teeth can send dogs, children and co p perheads scam pering for a safe place. The m ule neither needs n o r desires your obvious affection, but he can be com fortable in a long standing relation ship. The m ule has endured, served and becom e p art o f Appalachian folklore and legend. He could care less. ♦

♦

I love dogs. Coons dogs, sleepy beagles, scruffy m ongrels, o r th e fierce fox and bear

January - February 1995

hounds w ere part of every m ountain family, part of the w ork and protection and fun. Granddaddy’s pack lived u n d er th e back porch, big red and w hite hounds, longtongued and broad-footed aristocrats w ho knew their only duty w as to chase the fox on a w in ter night. My dogs w ere smaller, less imposing, hunters of squirrel and rabbit and ground hogs, cat chasers and playmates. They roam ed th e hillsides w ith me, loyal friends w ho killed th e copperheads and helped herd th e cow s at night. My dogs ate w hat I ate, slept just outside my bedroom w indow , shared everything I had or did. Rex, my second dog, w as the best squirrel h u n ter in a dozen counties. I turned dow n cash offers of $50 and m ore, am ounts I never dream ed of having at any one tim e, th en lived a w eek of agony w h en he w as stolen. Rex cam e hom e, the n ex t Saturday, bloody footed and still w earing th e frayed rope h e ’d gnaw ed apart to escape. He slept for three days, and w as back beside m e as good as ever. He died the w ay he w ould have w anted to, hunting. Country dogs d o n ’t live as long as city pets; they just live better. ♦

♦

w h en they started th e bookm o bile. W e listened to “The Shadow ” and “One Man’s Family” on th e radio, drew elaborate murals in th e dust, built houses and airplanes from w ood scraps, sculpted m ud and snow and old tree stum ps. We did n ’t have any educational toys. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ She knotted h er hair into a bun at the nape of h e r neck, let it dow n at night for brushing, w ore a sunbonnet and gingham apron every day, smelled of flour and apples and salt pork, w as the order and stability of th e spraw l ing household.

W e sm oked rabbit tobacco and com shucks, sw ung off sheer cliff faces on tw isted grapevines, stole baby raccoons and carried them hom e for pets, pestered th e grum py boars and ganders, ran barefoot and dirty across tw o hundred acres of hillside. W e craw led back into caves and old coal m ines, stirred bum blebees w ith long sticks, swam in ponds full of slime and turtles and w ater m occasins, loped across swinging bridges and followed hot railroad tracks. W e tiptoed through graveyards, p eep ed in on busy m oonshiners, collected arrow heads and m ade bow s from hickory saplings, built snug fortresses in the rockhouses. W e caught june bugs and lightning bugs and garter snakes, learned the hard w ay to stay aw ay from polecats, and ran dow n the battery driving Daddy’s old Chevy w ith one foot on th e starter and nervous hands on th e w heel.

Hers w ere th e cats and chick ens; they scurried to greet h er w h en she cam e out of th e house carrying a w ashpan of table scraps or an apron full of shelled com . The hounds gave h er a w ide berth, but w atched eagerly for their com pone. They, like everybody else, knew w ho did the cooking. She could swing th e axe to split kindling and firew ood, carry tw o buckets of spring w ater w ith balanced grace, dispatch copperheads w ith h er long-handled hoe, fork hay and spear tobacco if there w as no one else to help, sew shirts and dresses and fancy tablecloths. She birthed the babies, saw them off to school and marriage and th e far-off factories, loved every grandchild and w aited for their frequent visits, cooked up hush p uppies and dried apple stack cake for a shy grandson. She quilted, canned, cooked, w orked the garden, w ashed th e clothes in the creek, kept th e family going w h en times w ere hard.

My favorite toys w ere the spools, all sizes and colors and th e little cars and trucks w e w hittled from m aple blocks. I bought m e a bicycle, for tw o dollars, and rode it as far away as Morehead.

She w as a m ountain w om an, th e m atriarch of th e hill family, the heart and backbone of the A ppalachian culture.

I read Bambi and Black Beauty, Daddy’s Zane Gray novels, and w as thrilled

Sometimes on Saturday, I got to go to the stockyards.

♦

The Mountain Spirit

The smelly noisy jum ble o f p eople and cattle and hogs and horses w as a fascinat ing mix; splattered farm trucks w ith cattle racks w ere lined u p to unload bawling calves and squealing shoats, w ith pinhookers swinging u p on th e running boards to m ake th eir p itc h — “Cash m oney right now . W on’t have to w ait around. Give ye m o re’n th e y ’re w orth, cash m oney.” Scrawny, tough hillside livestock filled th e holding p ens w hile tobacco-chew ing and overalled farm ers eyed th e offering casually, careful to not show too m uch interest. T here w ere knife sw appers, hound dog traders, peddlers of rifles and shotguns and leather billfolds, well-dressed busy bootleg gers, and well-to-do dealers w h o resem bled th eir sleek fat steers and lambs. Guitar pickers passed th e hat, professional ladies smiled and giggled, and th e drunks quietly passed out slum ped against th e tall fences. The au ctioneer’s chant rang out all day, checks w ere w ritten and trucks w ere reloaded; a haze of dust and th e soft, m urm uring sound o f p en n ed livestock filled the air.

She understood my dream s, encouraged my timid efforts to reach out into frighten ing new w orlds, consoled m e w h en I first learned about th e agony of teenage love, didn’t laugh at my naive am bitions and eccentric personality.

I sold m y five bottle fed orphan lambs there, cried for tw o days, and refused to cash th e check out o f deep guilt over selling m y oversized pets. My m other finally convinced m e that m y lambs, fat and healthy as they w ere, had been bought for breeding instead o f lamb chops. I sure do h o p e she w as right. ♦

♦

M ountain boys w ere ex p ected to be little m en, tough and gruff and brave, totally m asculine beings w h o never, ever cried, never played w ith dolls, learned to w ork and fight and shoot and leave th e rest to th e w om enfolk. My m other, gently and alm ost furtively, found ways to soften th e im pact o f little boys being required to act like men; she w as th e one w hose quiet, personal attention cushioned th e pain and frustra tion o f a sensitive boy w h o had to survive in a m an’s w orld.

January - February 1995

Pierce and Idy w ere godparents to every boy on th e ridge, kindly patrons w h o gave us credit, let us use the telephone, fed us baloney and crackers and cheese, opened at 6 a.m. and stayed open until the last custom er w en t hom e. We gathered there to w hittle, spit, gossip, to tell tales and farm and sw ap livestock, to finally m ake th e pu rchase and amble off tow ard hom e. You could buy shotgun shells o r vanilla extract, a package of needles o r a pound of tw enty-penny nails, paten t m edicine for m an or beast, and heavy, cheap w orkshoes.

Tw enty years after I left, for good, my b ro th er gave m e a tee shirt. It says, in 4inch clock letters across the chest, “BALD HILL, USA.”

My m other helped shape us into men, but she m ade sure th e roughness was tem pered w ith tenderness and com pas sion. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

W inter brought cracking fireplaces and glowing iron heat stoves, tall boots laced tight over layers of w ool w ork socks, brow n jersey gloves and caps w ith earflaps, itchy long underw ear and raw, chapped cheekbones.

I w alked, every day, to the Bald Hill store. Officially, it was Eubank’s Grocery, a place to buy gasoline and soda p o p and chew ing tobacco, a store in front and living quarters out back. There is a church at th e same crossroads, and Charlie T rip’s em pty old blacksm ith shed. The storehouse w as nondescript gray, half covered by tin signs advertising Red Mule o r Mail Pouch o r Carter’s Little Liver Pills. There w as a kerosene tank and gas pum ps, benches and w ood bottle cases, on th e front p o rch o r th e loafers, a big iron stove and a sandbox for the chew ers inside.

I carried Miss Idy’s w ater, helped Pierce slop the hogs, jaw ed w ith th e jobbers and loafers, and w as p art of the close-knit little community.

O ur friends cam e to my m other for understanding and support. She always had enough love to console one m ore child. She reared nine of us, m ost of our playm ates and friends, and now sh e’s the cornerstone for th e grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She has alm ost no formal education, but is blessed w ith native intelligence, a surprising, daring creativity and enough love, loyalty, and strength to bind together our sprawling, headstrong family.

T hat’s sort of h o w w e see it. ♦

♦

It was a tim e to quilt, to sew, to m end harnesses and sharpen tools, to run a trap line along the creek, to break the m orning ice so the livestock could drink. We m ade dishpans full o f snow cream , built lum py snow m en streaked by coal soot, rode w obbly sleds dow n steep hillsides, skated over frozen ponds. We cracked w alnuts on the hearthstone, p opped co m over o pen flames, slept under thick layers of quilts and ate heavy meals of beans and potatoes and com bread. At Christmas w e had the year’s only fresh fruit, w ooden crates of oranges and

The M ountain Spirit

bananas and sacks o f hard sticky candy and fat p ep p erm in t canes. W e cu t a tall cedar, decorated it w ith p o p co rn and strings and precious glass ornam ents, sang Christmas carols and w aited eagerly for Santa Claus. At school and ch u rch w e said o u r pieces, rigid little angels, and w ise m en w ith runny noses and m onotone voices, all p roud and loud and happy. Mostly w e got socks and shirts on Christmas m orning, but som etim es there w ere tinkertoys and spinning tops, dolls or a shiny .22 rifle, a book o r a yellow tablet w ith n ew pencils. T here w as never m uch, b u t it w as given w ith love. ♦

♦

H e’s a w iry, stoop-shouldered m an w ith leathery outd o o r skin, slender forearm s, w ith knotted m uscles, and huge, calloused hands, a tired w elcom e grin and clear, laughing eyes. There is a dry sense of hum or, w ith him self as th e b u tt of the joke, a stubbled strong jaw and big tobacco stained teeth. He has split his w ork shoes to make m ore room for th e corns, his belt is tugged to th e final notch, and his w o rn w ork pants are frayed and paint splattered. He w ears a thin p ain ter’s cap, free from DeVoe, and a flat c arp en ter’s pencil is tucked behind one ear.

My father is the strongest, gentlest m an I have ever met. ♦

♦

O ur funerals are tim es of m utual and openly expressed grief, of pitched em o tions and poignant hom ecom ing. We sit up w ith the bereaved family, carry food, turn out in force for th e services, and w alk up the steep trail to th e family graveyard in a solem n procession. My m other’s family cem etery is atop a rounded knoll, just up from th e hom eplace and close to my uncle’s n ew er house, a quiet and gently beautiful site overlooking the family cornfields and hillsides. A rough barbed w ire fence protects th e roses and w ildflowers and plastic bouquets; a well w orn footpath attests to the frequent visitors. Granddaddy roam ed these hilltops for eighty years, singing out his love for his land and his people, a gravel voiced little m ountaineer w hose happy laughter echoed off the rocks and crevices and thick forests. He w as buried here, som e years ago, in this spot he loved m ost of all. I com e here, w henever I can, to w alk his footpaths and feel his presence, to honor his life and the legacy he left to us all. ft Garry Barker, a n a tive o f F lem ing C ounty a n d a g ra d u a te o f Berea College, is the director o f Berea College Crafts.

This same small m an fought the Nazis, sat up all night w ith th e sick babies, rubbed life back into a frozen new born calf, flattened a raging drunk w ith one angry blow , and w as m et every day at suppertim e by an eager brood, running to m eet th e old Dodge and yelling happily th at “Daddy’s hom e!”

5 -c

He has w orked as a farm er, a carpenter, a m echanic, a painter, sixty h o u r w eeks w ith no overtim e and no vacation, spent every penny to feed and house and educate nine children. He gave us his passion for reading, his stubborn pride, his love for all things living.

January - February 1995

The Mountain Spirit Awards saiutespeopCe who make themountains a great pCace to Cive. 6W

Winners o f the 1994 Mountain Spirit Awards, left to right, Sister Marge Eilertnan, Stella Marshall, Dr. Mary Fox, Daniel Greene, Ginny Eager fo r Forward in the Fifth. Not pictured, Dr. William Turner.

♦ by the CAP News Service ♦ photos by Glen Taul

The M ountain Spirit

Every so often ( “W hen th e spirit m oves u s,” CAP p resident Mike McLaughlin likes to say) th e Christian Appalachian Project gathers to recognize and h o n o r th e achievem ents o f p eo p le w h o live, w ork — and co ntribute —in th e m ountains. The M ountain Spirit Awards recognize people w h o are characterized by their kindness and concern for others, have helped im prove th e lives of m ountain peop le o r h elped to fu rth er a positive image of Appalachians. The aw ards recognize p eople in the areas of education, econom ic developm ent, health care, spiritual enrichm ent and th e prom otion of understanding o f Appalachia and its people. The aw ards, previously presented in 1987 and 1989, have recognized such notables as K entucky Fifth D istrict Con gressm an Harold D. Rogers; Loyal Jones, retired d irector of Berea College’s Appala chian Center; Dr. Grady Stumbo, form er K entucky com m issioner of hum an re sources; and Herb E. Smith, a filmmaker affiliated w ith A ppalshop in W hitesburg, Kentucky. A sixth category w as added this year w hich recognizes outstanding w ork by an organization. There are dozens o f groups and count less p eo p le devoted to w orking and im proving life in Appalachia. As one of those groups, th e Christian Appalachian Project enjoys taking tim e, periodically, to thank colleagues for a job well done. Father Ralph Beiting, CAP’S founder, tells a story o f th e need that p eople have to recognize and acknow ledge one another. “Many years ago there w as old m ountain couple w h o lived at Big Hill, Kentucky. The husband had recently gotten out o f jail (a story in its ow n right), and he w anted God to be m ore p resen t in his life. He asked one day at th e general store if anyone knew a p reach er h e could talk to. A salesm an from th e local w holesale grocery said, ‘I think th e p riest from our church w ould be glad to talk to you, but h e ’s C atholic.’ The m an said th at didn’t m atter, and so I w en t to visit him. “I spent every Tuesday evening at his hom e for nearly four m onths. He and his w ife and I talked about God and how He loves us and w ants us w ith Him always.

Booneville neighbors Sister Marge and Stella Marshall enjoy chatting during the reception thatfollowed the ceremony.

“At the end of this tim e, they b oth had a deep religious experience and joined the Catholic Church. It w as a beautiful day, and at the end of it he called m e aside and said, ‘I have a gift for you.’ He took an old tow el off a finely carved cane. The w ood w as beautiful, and th e m any hours of labor spoke of a great talent.” Father Beiting protested that th e gift w as far too exquisite, saying that th e old m an could get a good price for th e carving at a nearby craft store. The gentlem an insisted that he accept the gift. Father Beiting talks of how touched he w as to receive the beautiful cane, and ho w im portant it is to be recognized for good w ork. He hopes that recognition of the accom plishm ents of colleagues throughout Appalachia will increase pride in the region. “Only a proud people can dream great dreams; only a proud people can take up arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing, end th em .” In the nam e of all of the w orkers of the Christian Appalachian Project, The M o u n ta in Spirit advisory board selected five individuals and one organization for recognition of their outstanding w ork in th e Appalachian region.

January - February 1995 11

For h er efforts in show ing others that m ountain people d o n ’t like being trapped on welfare, that they are proud people w h o w ant to be independent, productive m em bers of society, and are willing to w ork hard to im prove th eir lives, Stella Marshall w as given th e M ountain Spirit Award for econom ic developm ent.

Daniel Greene

Shay Jaquays, right, a teacher at the David School which was founded by recipient Daniel Greene, is a form er CAP volunteer.

Stella Marshall Stella Marshall is th e executive director o f W orkers o f Rural Kentucky, a group that helps low incom e people in Owsley County start th eir o w n businesses. Like m any A ppalachian w om en, Stella m arried and started h e r family w h en she w as very young. From the tim e she began studying for h e r GED at th e age o f 16 to h er present w ork of helping low incom e Owsley Countians, she has prom oted the region’s greatest resource for im proving the quality o f life —its people. Although Stella w orks tirelessly for the p eople o f Owsley County, th e group of fifty p eople w h o assem bled to congratulate the recipients learned that h er first dedication w as to h er family w hen she said “I’m nervous about accepting this award tonight, because m y daughters are here. It m akes m e nervous for them to hear m e speak.” As she accepted h er award, Stella told about one o f th e people she had helped to begin a cleaning business. The w om an w anted to com e to th e presenta tion, but h ad n ’t been able to w ork in the afternoon, so had to do h er cleaning in the evening. “She really w ould have liked to have been here tonight, but she had a job to do, and had to get it d o n e.” Stella said th at such dedication exem plifies m any of th e p eople WORK is helping. “T hey’re not going to give u p .”

Daniel G reene is th e founder and director of th e David School, an alternative school in Floyd C ounty that educates young people w h o have dro p p ed out of school, o r have trouble learning. As he accepted th e M ountain Spirit Award for education, Daniel G reene told th e group som ething that he adm itted is n ot w idely know n, that as he started high school, he was a “virtual non-reader.” Because the Franciscan high school h e attended required service, he becam e involved in a tutoring program , and m et a boy w h o had received a letter from his father, w h o was in prison, and couldn’t read it. “That im pressed on m e the im portance of reading,” he said. Daniel w as touched by Effie W aller Smith’s poem “If Christ Should C om e,” w hich CAP president Mike McLaughlin read during his aw ard presentation. I f Christ sh o u ld com e to m y schoolroom today W hat w o u ld he th in k ? W hat w o u ld he say? W ould he f i n d m e g iv in g the selfsam e care To stu p id a n d p o o r as to rich a n d fa ir, A n d striving, u n m in d fu l o f p ra ise o r blame, Through tedious tasks to a lofty aim , G uiding sm a ll fe e t as they fo r w a r d p lo d In p a th s o f d u ty th a t lead to G od? For show ing th e im portance o f educa tion to those w h o believed it least im por tant, Daniel G reene w as given th e Moun tain Spirit Award for education.

Sister Marge Eilerman W hen she heard she w as receiving the award for Spiritual Enrichm ent, Franciscan Sister Marge Eilerman said that she as sumed that “it m ust m ean my ow n spiritual

The M ountain Spirit

enrich m en t.” Since 1977 Sister Marge has served as pastoral associate to parishes in eastern Kentucky. In 1984 she w as asked to take th e position o f pastoral associate at th e new ly organized C hurch o f th e Holy Family, in Booneville. W hen she accepted h e r award, Sister Marge told o f h e r first trip to Booneville. “I’m not sure w hy I said I’d go, in th e first place. I loved Jackson County —it w as th e best place I’d ever b e e n ,” Sister Marge said. “W hen I left Owsley County, I cried all th e w ay ho m e.” Sister Marge said th at in Booneville, she saw a dingy gray court house, and w as driving along on a road th at w as unfin ished. “I w on d ered w h at I had gotten m yself into. But, th at w as before I m et the p e o p le .” After living and w orking w ith th e people to form a spiritual com m unity, Sister Marge said, she is p ro u d to say that sh e’s from Booneville. Through h e r efforts, people in Owsley County have been challenged to look beyond them selves and m otivated to w ork to g eth er for th e com m on good. Spiritual enrichm ent w as but one category in w h ich Sister Marge was nom inated for a M ountain Spirit award. For involving p eople in th e solution to their problem s, for h er faith and trust in the p eo p le o f Jackson and Owsley counties, and helping them reach th eir fullest potential, Sister Marge Eilerman w as given th e M ountain Spirit A ward for spiritual enrichm ent.

Dr. Mary Fox In accepting h er M ountain Spirit Award, Dr. Mary Fox told the group that she decided at the age o f nine that she w anted to be a doctor. She rem em bers saving h er pennies and buying a copy of Gray’s Anatomy. “I took it hom e, and turned to th e pages about male and female anatomy, and closed th e book —it scared m e to d eath ,” Dr. Fox said. “I d idn’t open that book again until I got to college.” N ow retired as the health officer of the Pike County Health D epartm ent, th e list of professional credits and recognition on Dr. Fox’s resum e begins to tell th e story of h er w ork in health care in eastern Kentucky. It doesn’t, how ever, tell of h er passion for the area. Of h er service to A ppalachia Dr. Fox says “I love th e m ountains and nature and w e have som e of the finest people here that can be found. I w ant to repay them for my heritage.” Dr. Fox takes a great deal of pride in that heritage, saying that th e Appalachian people have com e a long w ay in 40 years, as far as it took the rest of the country to com e in 100 years. “We still have a long w ay to go, but w e ’ll get th e re ,” Dr. Fox said. For being a health care deliverer, for being a health care educator, for being a health care advocate and for h er devotion to the wellness of Appalachians, Dr. Mary Fox w as given the M ountain Spirit Award for Health Care.

LoyalJones, center, a form er Mountain Spirit Award recipient, attended the ceremony at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.

January - February 1995

Turner: “ [He] know s m ore about black people in th e m ountains than anybody in the w orld.” For inspiring, encouraging and kindling the spirit of achievem ent am ong black people, and for telling and show ing the spirit of Appalachia and its people to Appalachians and non-Appalachians alike, Dr. William T urner w as given th e M ountain Spirit Award for the prom otion of under standing of Appalachia and its people.

Forward in the Fifth

Several workers attended the ceremony with executive director Ginny Eager to accept the Mountain Spirit Award fo r Forward in the Fifth.

Dr. William H. Turner As th e group w as gathering to recognize recipients o f th e M ountain Spirit Awards, th e m essage w as delivered that Dr. William H. T urner was called hom e for a family em ergency. In his absence, Ike Adams, m anager o f CAP’S foundation and grants, and m em ber of The M o u n ta in Spirit advisory board, accepted th e award in the nam e o f his friend. “This will be the shortest address y o u ’ll ever hear from Bill T urner!” Ike jokingly assured the group. A distinguished educator, Dr. Turner currently holds a position as associate professor o f sociology at Winston-Salem State University, in N orth Carolina. T hroughout his career, he has sought to com m unicate th e essence of th e AfricanAmerican experience in Appalachia. Dr. T urner also w orks w ith communitybased groups to advocate progressive program s concerning black people in the m ountains. Through his netw orking in Appalachia, he has helped m ore than 85 African-American young people attend Berea College each sum m er to study m ountain life and culture. Best-selling author Alex Haley, him self an African-American Appalachian, w rote of Dr.

Forward in th e Fifth is th e first organiza tion to receive a M ountain Spirit Award for service to the people of the area. The organization w as form ed in 1986 in an attem pt to increase the adult educational attainm ent level in the Fifth Congressional District of Kentucky. In accepting th e award, executive director Ginny Eager spoke of th e need to motivate the children of th e Fifth District. Herself a pro d u ct of the education system of the district, Ginny p ointed out that real, solid opportunity starts w ith a good education. She said that she realizes that she had an advantage that o th er children may not have. “My m otivation w as a father w ho keep his foot on my rear end all th e time. He never said, 'i f you go to college, i f you get good grades.’ That w as my job.” She w ants all the children of the Fifth District to have the opportunities that grow out of the know ledge that som eone really cares w h eth er they succeed. Forward in the Fifth has provided that motivation by orchestrating a collaborative effort betw een parents, teachers, business people, citizens, and school adm inistrators. For increasing the aw areness am ong Appalachians of the im portance of educa tion; for facilitating cooperation am ong all groups in a com m unity to im prove their educational opportunities and for exem pli fying how an organization can respond to the immediate as well as the long term needs of Appalachia, Forw ard in the Fifth was given the M ountain Spirit Award as an outstanding charitable organization. ft T h e M o u n ta in S p ir it

Letters to the Editor The following “pray er” suggested itself to m e, and is sent w ith loving affection to th e people o f Appala chia, to th e CAP com m unity on its 30th birthday, and to Fr. Ralph Beiting on th e occasion o f his 70th birthday. A Prayer for My People, Appalachia Dear Heavenly Father, Are not our birds far b e tte r fed w ith seed and bread, than are the poor? And I am guilty, too! “Yet see,” said He, “th e hunger of th e p o o r constitutes an open door, an entry, too, through w hich th e likes o f you m ay find at last, an opportunity to love and com fort Him, w h o stretches out His hands again, not u p o n th e crucifixion beam , b u t in th e crucifixion He endures in hearts that suffer w ant, hunger, hom elessness and h u rt.” O, truly then, it is Y our Son w ho reaches out to me; His hand outstretched again, in each of them! Dear God, Endow m e no w w ith Easter o pportunities —each Lazarus-event, th e m om ent o f His Resurrection Love. And so, my heart, grieve Him not. Abide beside the way. He passes by each day! Refuse Him not! Behold, He knocks! Unlock your heart, and give! Carol R. C raw ford Southfield, Mich. This publication provides an excellent “overview ” o f th e great w ork that is being done by the Christian Appalachian Project team! D. & M. C onnelly N ew ark, Del.

January - February 1995

Having a daughter w ho w as a volunteer for 1 1 /2 years (and now an em ployee) and having volun teered for one w eek myself last sum m er, I know first hand the w onderful w ork CAP is doing. It is so heartw arm ing to see the volunteers in action and to w itness the love and respect they have for the folks that they serve. And it is also gratifying to see the p o o r and th e elderly share w hat little they have w ith th e volunteers because they are so grateful. Each day I saw “God in action” —w hat a w onderful w eek I experienced. I w as truly blessed. Each tim e I read your magazine, I am transported back to Appalachia and its w on derful people. N o rm a Schnizler Sausalito, Calif. I thoroughly enjoy The M o u n ta in S pirit! Thank you for sharing such stories of hope and faith. C ynthia R oush A ustin, Tex. Only God can give an account of w hat Father Ralph Beiting has done for th e p o o r and all of Appalachia. It w ould take ten persons at least to replace him. I thank God for all the volunteers he could handle for all his projects. He is a living miracle. Sister J e a n n e Vadeboncoeur C.S.C. W. Franklin, N. Y. I just w ish m ore people could subscribe to this magazine and realize that some of our tax m oney is very badly needed here instead of many o th er com ers of the world! Why d o n ’t w e as taxpayers have some say in w here our m oney is going? It w ould certainly be m ore than well appreciated. Mrs. E.H. O swald Southham pton, N. Y.

O f all th e many magazines that I receive, The M o u n ta in Spirit is th e only one that I read on th e day that I receive it. It is like a quick visit hom e to beautiful Kentucky. CAP’S progress over the years is a great source o f inspiration and encouragem ent to your readers. My prayers are w ith you in your w ork. P am ela M urphy Bonita, Calif. I have never been to Appala chia, but through a focus on missions in Sunday School I felt God lay the people of this region on my heart. I w as looking for an organization to donate to w hen literature arrived at my hom e in the mail about th e Christian Appalachian Project. I pray daily for all Appalachian people and their needs, w h eth er they are spiritual or physical. I especially pray for th e children since I am a middle school adm inistrator. God be w ith you all in your efforts. I ho p e that som e day I can com e to Appalachia to m eet the people, volunteer som e tim e and admire the beauty God has created. R eginald C linton fa cksonville, III. I have enjoyed reading The M o u n ta in Spirit, and keeping up w ith w hat has been done to help th e needy. May God strengthen you and help you as you continue this needed work. J im m ie R. E vans Gainesville, Fla. Letters to the editor are welcome. They sh o u ld n o t exceed 150 w ords in length, a n d w e reserve the right to ed it th em f o r space. Address letters to The Mountain Spirit, Christian A ppalachian Project, 3 2 2 Crab O rchard Road, Lancaster, K Y 40446.

The CAP Closeup “Those p e o p le are really im p o rta n t ”

People w ho w orked at CAP ten, fifteen, even tw enty years ago, and com e back to visit are inevitably am azed at th e changes that have taken place since th ey ’ve been gone. They com m ent on th e n ew program s started, th e n ew counties served. T hey’re never surprised, though, to learn that th e Attic is still th e Attic.

do. We have a diverse group of people —and in a way, I’m bragging on that, because they all mingle and have a big time. It’s the place to see and be seen!”

w ore stuff from the Attic, too. You knew that they had less than you did, and you kind of knew that there w ere som e bad things going on, that th eir house had burned dow n or som ething.”

“It’s th e fun, hip and h ap p en in ’ place to be on Saturdays in Berea!” said Renee Carrier, m anager o f the Attic program : th e w arehouse, w hich receives, tags and sorts used clothing and distributes it to outlets, to be sold at reduced prices and given to people in crisis situations.

Renee has been a part of that Berea social scene as long as she can rem em ber. Her m other, Doris Anglin, m anaged CAP’S Attics from their inception in the 1960s until she retired in 1991. Even during grade school, Renee says, the Attic w as h er second hom e and CAP w as part of h er life. Because CAP founder Father Ralph Beiting w as h er pastor, Renee w as influenced at church as well as hom e to be involved in helping people in h er community.

R enee’s nine-year-old daughter is getting a similar education. As shoppers saw Renee in years past, now they see Jessica playing among the donated toys or helping sort clothes. “She knows som e of the kids in h er school have gone to the child develop m ent center. She know s that Mommy w orks w ith som e of their m ommies, or they shop at the Attic. It’s not a big thing, but I think sh e’s m ore aw are.”

“W e’re one o f th e oldest businesses in Berea,” Renee says of the store in Berea. “On Satur days it’s th e com m unity thing to

“I w as a little bit m ore aware than m ost kids, but I never looked differently at people w ho w ore stuff from the Attic, because I

In addition to the three stores that Renee supervises, CAP operates stores in the Big Sandy region and in th e Lawrence

♦ by Margaret Gabriel + 16

The Mountain Spirit

Renee Carrier County area, w h ere Father Beiting is expanding CAP program s. The w arehouse in Berea supplies clothes for all o f these stores, as w ell as m any o utlets th at are not operated by CAP. “A lot o f Family Resource Centers have clothes closets, and they com e to us. A lot o f th e organizations th at w e ’re already affiliated w ith get clothes, and it seem s like m ore and m ore are com ing on b o ard ,” Renee said. People are often am azed to see th e large am ount of donated clothing in th e w arehouse, but Renee points out that it m oves out as quickly as it m oves in. Jim Morris, R enee’s form er supervisor, used to get nervous about th e am ount o f clothing in th e w arehouse. “H e’d get all fipsed u p —th a t’s one o f my m om ’s w ords. “I’d tell him to pick out a box and see if it w as still there w hen he cam e back, and sure enough, it w ould be gone. That w as a reassurance for him that stuff is constantly m oving, constantly turning over,” Renee said.

to have to deal w ith a community, and that will take some doing for a volunteer.” T here’s a great transition going on w ith the Attics now , Renee said, as they w ork to involve com m unities. “CAP can ’t do all th e w ork th a t’s out there. Commu nities have to get involved. We could com e in and do that, but w e d o n ’t know the people as well. W e d o n ’t know their needs and th e resources as well as the people that live th ere.”

house, and just barely m aking it. They can ’t pay $25 or $30 for jeans for th eir kids. Those people are really im portant.”

In th e com m unities w ith stores Renee hears the same thing from parents that h er m other heard before her: it w ould be difficult to send children to school if it w asn’t for CAP’S Attic.

Renee is w orking on a p re law degree, hoping to eventually go to law school and specialize in dom estic relations. “I’ve always heard that they need legal aid in spouse abuse shelters, and I w ould be interested in that. I’ve been through a divorce, and it blew my m ind ho w intim idating that can be. I’m sure people in spouse abuse shelters d o n ’t know w hom to turn to for advice, or w hat kind of advice they even need. I think I could be of help. I could speak to them plainly, and they could get advice from another w om an.”

“These are the people w ho are caught in the cracks. They’re not on welfare, but they’re not holding dow n a job w ith a lot of benefits. Maybe he w orks at a gas station, and sh e’s a w aitress and th ey ’ve got kids. They’re renting a

It may take h er a few years, at six credit hours a sem ester, but Renee thinks she has som ething to offer in this field, and y ou’d b etter believe sh e’ll give it. Renee has spent the b etter part o f h er life giving w hat she has to offer, ft

To get even m ore clothing to people w h o need it, Renee plans to initiate an “Attic on W heels” in th e com ing year. A large truck has been outfitted to transport clothing to com m unities w h ere people have expressed an interest. W e’ll set it u p in a ch u rch base m ent o r to w n hall and try it for a m onth and see if th e com m unity w ants to take it o n .” Renee is looking for a volunteer w h o is good w ith th e public. “A self-starter th at can go into diverse situations. I’m not going to be able to go on every trip. T hey’re going

January - February 1995

Antiques which Renee receives fro m donors receive a place o f honor in the Berea Attic, in a section called “The Dustbowl. ”

------ Around the Project — Jones Declares December “Abilities Month” D ecem ber w as designated “Abilities M onth” by K entucky governor B rereton Jones, accord ing to K athleen Leavell, m anager of Parents-Are-Teachers, th e Christian Appalachian Project program for pre-school children w ith disabilities. “Instead of focusing on disabilities, w e w ant to recognize th e w ork p eople do w ith th e abilities they have,” Kathleen said. The CAP program s that w ork w ith individuals w ith disabilities each chose one o f their partici pants for special recognition during “Abilities M onth,” people w h o have m ade notable gains in achieving th eir goals. Marsha Van Hook, a CAPRICE participant w ith cerebral palsy, has m ade significant progress as an advocate for persons w ith disabilities. Marsha has overcom e or disregarded a physical disability and used h er exceptional abilities to achieve success. Marsha attended a recent self-advocacy conference, and w rites and calls

h er legislators, telling them o f h er needs and those of o th er people w ith disabilities. Marsha has recently been involved in initiat ing a p e e r support group for people w ith disabilities in the Pulaski County area.

to use a sw itch system to control h er television and radio. Meals have becom e m ore varied as she chooses betw een tw o main courses and occasionally glances to the cabinet to indicate a third choice.

Readers of The M o u n ta in Spirit will rem em ber Cheryl Abrams, a Jackson County resident w hose story appeared in the JanuaryFebruary 1993 issue. Cheryl, now a participant at the Rainbow Respite Care Center, had made trem endous progress since the expansion of her hom e m ade daily exercise possible for her.

Three year old April League started in Parents-Are-Teachers w hen she w as five m onths old. There w ere m any tim es w hen April’s parents, Pam and Joe, thought she w ould n ot survive infancy because of h er m edical com plications. They never dream ed she w ould go to school, but w ith a PAT w orker at h er side, Pam w as an active participant in April’s transition to th e K entucky School for th e Deaf, w h ere h er teach er reports great progress, especially in com m unication skills.

Cheryl and th e staff at Rainbow Respite have devised a system that enables h er to make m any m ore choices, therefore increasing her self-confidence and indepen dence. For exam ple, Cheryl has begun to select her ow n hairstyle by nodding “yes” as a w orker helps h er flip through a book of styles. She m ight even com bine tw o different styles to create her ow n. At hom e, Cheryl has learned

Santa Mishap Reported at Eagle Santa Claus should receive hazardous duty pay before his visit to the Eagle Child D evelopm ent C enter in 1994. Jean Barnes, m anager of the Christian Appala chian Project cen ter in McCreary County reports a m ishap during his 1993 visit. “W e w ere giving out about 150 presents last year,” Jean said. “We tried to have som e crow d control, but w h en he show ed up, Santa w as m obbed by the kids. In the excitem ent he got overheated and alm ost passed o u t.”

Cheryl Abrams, a participant in the RaitwowRespile Care program, was recognized fo r making notable gains in achieving her goals.

Jean said that after a little w ater and fresh air, Santa w as good as new , and th e kids w ere none the w iser for the incident, but as of this w riting she had not heard from Santa concerning his 1994 appearance.

The Mountain Spirit

around the project. . . continued

What Can I Do to H elp CAP? CAP su pporters often ask w hat m ore th ey can do to help elimi nate suffering in A ppalachia. First, you can tell others o f th e p ro b lems in A ppalachia w h ich you learn about in The M o u n ta in Spirit and o th er CAP publications. Please share this magazine w ith a friend and w e ’ll send a replace m ent. Ask us about any of the problem s in A ppalachia and w e ’ll be happy to share any know ledge w e have o r to refer you to another organization that can help you. Secondly, you can give us a m ost valuable com m odity —time. Since volunteers first arrived in 1950, millions of hours have been

donated to the Christian Appala chian Project in helping the people o f Appalachia help them selves. If you w ould like to volunteer three w eeks or more, contact The M o u n ta in Spirit and w e ’ll pass th e inform ation to the volunteer office.

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Finally, our m ost pow erful form o f assistance is prayer. W e believe that if our supporters spend at least one m inute a day praying for p o o r people everyw here, m oun tains can be moved, the course of rivers changed. The CAP family forms a pow erful prayer netw ork reaching into Appalachia and across th e nation.

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S u n sh in e C en ter P a r e n t A d d s N ew L an gu age The parents as w ell as the children at th e Sunshine Center, the Christian A ppalachian Project’s child developm ent center in Garrard County, have had a good learning experience this year. Shama, a n ew student, is th e three-year-old daughter o f deaf parents. “It’s been interesting to w atch th e o th er p aren ts’ reaction and interaction w ith D onna,” said Becky Kana, th e Sunshine C enter manager. Donna is adept at reading lips, as w ell as signing and using sound to get h e r po in t across, Becky said. “And one o f h er strengths is th at sh e’s very patient. She’ll do w hatever she needs to do to make herself understo o d .” Donna has told Becky th at she appreciates th e efforts that have been m ake by th e o th er parents and th e Sunshine C enter staff to make sure that she and h er

January - February 1995

husband are involved w ith the activities at the center. “Appar ently o th er groups haven’t been quite so accom m odating,” Becky said. W hen Becky w as pondering ho w to make sure that Donna has th e same involvem ent w ith Shama’s education at th e Sunshine C enter that o ther parents have, the volunteer office told h er of an application from D eeanne Gre gory, a young w om an w ith a m aster’s degree in deaf education. “W e could say, ‘Hi, how are you?’ to Donna, but now D eeanne can really explain to h er about Shama’s progress, and Donna can ask m ore questions. God really w orks in m ysterious w ays.” Donna is giving to the other parents as w ell, Becky said. “She told m e that she w ould like to begin teaching a beginning sign language class, and I’ve had a couple o f parents tell m e that th ey ’re in terested.”

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Mail to: The Mountain Spirit, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, Kentucky 40446.

Through Ina Price, the Indepen dent Living Skills coordinator at CAPRICE, Becky has been able to provide interpreter services for parent-teacher meetings, and hopes to be able to obtain services through the Kentucky School for the Deaf in nearby Danville. Although Shama and h er older sister are hearing, Becky does not consider it appropriate to ask them to use their know ledge of sign language to interpret for their parents. “A hearing w om an of deaf parents told m e once w hat an uncom fortable situation that was w hen she w as a child.” In a very short tim e, th e o ther parents learned that th e re ’s no great trick to com m unicating w ith Donna. “One day I cam e in to see Donna sitting w ith three o th er m others w orking on som e crafts. All four of them w ere laughing and talking. It’s been great to w atch them open up to her. It’s been a good learning experience for all o f u s.”

around the project. . . continued

Local V olunteer Begins Job w ith CAP

Joanne began w orking as a volunteer through th e JOBS (Jobs, O pportunities and Basic Skills) program five w eeks earlier. K now ing th at th at she w anted to continue w orking w ith children, Joanne com pleted th e STEPS program (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting), w hich includes th e philosophy tow ard discipline w hich is used at all CAP’S child developm ent centers. She is also involved in child care training. “She had been doing a good job as a bus m onitor and kitchen aide, so w h en she asked m e about it, I told h e r to contact th e [adminis tration] office in Lancaster and apply. She really took a lot of initiative,” Joyce said. Joanne, w h o has three children, had hop ed for a perm anent position w h en she began w orking as a volunteer. “It’s th e best experience anybody could have.”

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W hen Joyce Harvey, m anager o f th e Family Life Child Develop m ent C enter in Rockcastle County, posted a job opening for a van driver Joanne Jones w e n t to talk to her.

Family Life Child Development, one o f six CAP child development centers, provides a stimulating environment to four- and five-year-old children, many o f whom are at risk fo r educationalfailure because ofpoverty in their homes.

After w orking as a waitress, a caretaker for elderly people and as a hospital w orker, Joanne said that she plans to stay at CAP “as long as they need me. It’s a lot of responsibility, and it’s a lot different, but the kids really m ake your day.” Joanne said that CAP has make a great difference in h er life, that she and h er husband have been influenced to join a church since h e r w ork began. “CAP’S like a big family.”

The Return of the Volunteer For th e last several years, the Christian A ppalachian Project Christmas basket program has been in the hands of able tem p o rary volunteers. Peggy Spitzer, one such Christmas volunteer, decided to do even m ore for 1995. After th e first o f th e year, Peggy will return to K entucky as a casew orker in th e outreach program in Jackson County. “We are really delighted that sh e’s com ing back,” said Bev Potter, m anager of CAP outreach. “She has a lot of com m unity service experience, including w orking in support groups. “It’s great to see ho w Christmas basket volunteers becom e p art of the family.”

During the Christmas basket season, temporary volunteers check and sort the packages. Several o f the volunteers come back every year.

C hristian A ppalachian Project is a p a rticip a tin g agency in the C o m bined Federal C am p aign. Federal a n d m ilita ry em ployees can co n trib u te to CAP by designating # 0 8 9 8 on the CFCpledge card.

The M ountain Spirit

around the project. . . continued O u trea ch O ffice to O pen in M cC rea ry C ou n ty The Christian A ppalachian Project’s new est outreach office will introduce itself to McCreary County as a p art o f Spring Break Appalachian W orkFest 1995. “One of o u r first projects is to locate 26 families to receive hom e rep air,” said Bev Potter, m anager of CAP outreach.

Amy, and several o ther representa tives from hom e repair and hum an developm ent program s, CAP was w arm ly received into the service com m unity. O ther organizations represented at the m eeting included Family Resource Centers, th e Christian Care C enter and the D epartm ent of Social Services.

In th e fall o f 1994, Bev and volunteer Amy Stosur, the McCreary County casew orker, began taking referrals from local churches and com m unity m em bers. “And w e ’re hoping som e of those good folks will volunteer to provide lunches for th e volun teers, like they did last year.”

“McCreary is one of the poorest counties in the state, and w e ’re really exciting about serving th e re ” said Bev. “Jean Barnes [manager of CAP’S Eagle Child D evelopm ent Center] is very well thought of, and w e ’ve gotten some referrals from her.

At a recen t inter-agency council m eeting w hich Bev attended w ith

“The dynamics are very progres sive in the service com m unity, and w e ’re eager to go in and assist.”

Spring Break Appalachian WorkFest '95 will be the fourth such event.

tu rn Y a m d b ta Swue V o lu n teer w ith th e C h ristian A ppalach ian P roject CAP volunteers assist the people of Appalachia through such programs as child development, elderly outreach, adult education, home repair, and emergency assistance, while focusing on a life of prayer, community and service. Permanent volunteers: 21 years of age or older; one year (renewable); room and board; health insurance; monthly stipend. College loan deferment information available. Temporary volunteers: 18 years of age or older. Three weeks to three months. Room and board. Applications accepted year-round. Contact CAP Volunteer Program, 235 Lexington Street, Lancaster, KY 40444, (606) 792-2219, (800) 755-5322, Fax (606) 792-6625. January - February 1995

around the project. . . continued

A Home Repair Community Project A recen t edition o f th e (D anville) Advocate-M essenger tqld a great story o f several groups cooperating in Lincoln County to build a house for an elderly couple, Jo h n and Lou Allen, w ho sustained extensive dam age to their hom e during a sum m er w ind storm. In trying to get som e assistance, m em bers o f th e M ethodist congregation to w hich Mr. and Mrs. Allen belong, w ere referred to th e Christian A ppalachian Project hom e repair program . CAP hom e repair w orkers, including Lloyd Rice, determ ined that repairing th e house w ould be like patching a bad tire, and

decided to rebuild for Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Several o ther church groups in th e area, as w ell as businesses, donated labor and resources. The A dvocate M essenger reported that Mr. Allen is very grateful and thinks th e people in his com m unity are very special. D espite their gratitude to the community, he said that it w as difficult to leave th e house that had been hom e for 35 years. Jim Lynn, m anager of CAP’S hom e repair project com m ended Lloyd’s involvem ent in the community, calling the project a good exam ple of com m unity partnership.

CAP Seniors Celebrate Autumn W hen the Christian Appala chian Project began services to senior citizens, they centered around hom e visits. The volun teers and em ployees in the program spen t th eir days traveling around th e counties, spending tim e w ith elderly people, m any of w hom had no family in th e area.

the seniors brought a dish to share. W hen it w as tim e for dessert, tw o ladies w ho celebrated birthdays in O ctober w ere honored w ith a cake and a song. After lunch, the seniors visited several of the program s at the

Attention Retirees! If you are a CAP donor, or are considering becoming one, you may be eligible to double your gift through your past employer's matching gift program. Many companies today match monetary support to non-profit community service organizations that are sup ported by their past and present employees. Please write for your bro chure "Double Your Dollars," which lists participating companies and instructions. Send correspondence to Teresa McAnly, CAP, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, KY 40446. Family Life Center, including the Rainbow Respite Care C enter and Family Life Services. Many w ho have been involved w ith CAP program s for several years w ere delighted to visit a residential program s and observe another aspect o f CAP’S w ork.

Although people w h o w ork w ith seniors today still spend a good am ount o f tim e in hom e visiting, instead o f visiting w ith one person, n o w the w orker m ight drive one p erson to the hom e o f another, and let them visit together. Sometimes tw o or th ree will gather to quilt o r sew. Three o r four tim es a year, seniors from several counties gather to share tim e, laughter, and songs. On a crisp day in O ctober, folks m et to enjoy each o th er and the changing of th e season. Volunteers baked chicken and several side dishes, and m any of

CAP’S elderly program recognized the ladies who brought the prettiest arrange ments o f flowers to the autumn celebration.

The M ountain Spirit

around the project. . . continued CAP E m p lo yees W ork T o w a r d C ollege D eg re es Brenda W irem an, m anager of Com m unity Health Advocates, proudly states th at every person on th e Com m unity Health Advo cate staff took college classes in the fall o f 1994, and m ost are continuing w ith classes in 1995. In addition to th e health insurance and pension benefits that CAP em ployees enjoy, they are encouraged to take college classes, th e cost o f w h ich is und erw ritten by CAP, providing a student achieves a grade o f “C” or better. CAP pays for any tw o classes each sem ester for an em ployee w ith less than a bachelor’s degree. “It’s really one of our best benefits,” said Katie N ew som e, a CHAP staffer and frequent contributor to The M o u n ta in Spirit. Most em ployees w h o are taking classes always w anted to go to college, but could n o t afford it. Although som e are studying to im prove th eir job skills, m ost are planning to w ork tow ard a degree. Connie Hounshell, w h o is w orking on a business degree, has w orked for CAP for about a year. “Advancem ent is going to com e w ith ed ucation,” she said.

has given h er the ability to look at p eople differently. “I grew up in a family that was concerned about w hat you w ere and h ow your house looked, but I’ve learned that everybody is not that w ay and to accept th a t.” As a final project, the class will be making videos about things “that w ould be lost if w e didn’t m ake th e videos. I’m making mine on m y h usband’s family’s recipe for m aking lye soap,” Brenda said. A nother student interview ed a doctor, w h o told about practicing m edicine in the m ountains in the 1940s. O thers touched on litera ture and K entucky festivals. “I learned that the m ore I know about people the m ore I can help th e people w e serve,” she said. O ther em ployees are taking advantage of the opportunity, and taking com puter operation and business. LaDonna Akers, a secretary at the administrative offices in Hagerhill, is taking an introduction to social services class, and an accounting class. “I’m not sure w hat I w ant, yet, but if som ething com es open here, I’ll be ready for it,” LaDonna said.

In about a year Brenda should be com pleting a b achelor’s degree in university studies from M orehead State University. “It’s liberal arts, really. I started in education, and realized I w asn ’t interested in finishing w ith that, so I’ve been concentrating on social w ork and m anagem ent classes. ”

Angie Hall is taking tw o classes, w orking full tim e and taking care o f h er family. “I could never do this if my kids w ere younger, but now , I just resign myself to running a lot. My best tim e to study is about ten o ’clock at night to one in th e m orning,” she said. “I know it sounds like I’m com plaining, but I really love it!”

One o f Brenda’s favorite classes has been an A ppalachian literature class, w hich has m ade h e r m ore aw are o f h e r o w n heritage, and

CAP believes that increased education for em ployees lends stability to the region.

January - February 1995

Gift Annuities

A gift annuity to the Christian Appalachian Project will help us continue to provide employ ment opportunities to Appala chian people. This activity is an essential part of our mission to help people help themselves. But, what is a gift annuity? It's a legal agreement by which you make a gift to CAP and receive a guaranteed life income in re turn. For a more complete expla nation, write today for your free copy of "Giving Through Gift Annuities" by filling out the cou pon below and enclosing it in the envelope provided. Christian Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, Kentucky 40446 Clip and send

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Forward

In the conference center at Eastern K entucky University, students and adults share success stories o f the year. A young w om an talks about th e opportunity to perform in a school play. Tw o young m en say they learned craft skills that so interested them that they w anted to use them at school and at hom e. A nother student thanks those w h o helped him attend an academ ic sum m er cam p. The adults share tips about the fund raisers they organized to cover the cost o f th e activities. The im petus behind all of this creative learning w as Forward in th e Fifth, the group th at w o n CAP’S M ountain Spirit Award for organizations in 1994. Since its establish m ent in 1986, Forward in th e Fifth has w orked w ith m ore than 2,000 volunteers to im prove education in southern and eastern Kentucky, and is continually evolving to m eet th e needs of students. Forward in th e Fifth w as founded after the 1980 census revealed that people in K entucky’s Fifth Congressional District had th e low est education attainm ent levels in the nation. Few er than 40 percen t of the adult population had graduated from high school. To address th e problem , concerned citizens, led by com m unity leader Earl D. Wallace, gathered at Shakertow n in 1986.

The group decided the best w ay to im prove education w ould be to support a regional education organization that could support county affiliates. Thus, Forward in th e Fifth w as organized and its small staff w ent on the road to build support in each county for educational im provem ent. Since then, Forward in the Fifth has touched the lives of thousands of students through attendance incentives, student scholarships, w orkshops, and mini-grants for teachers. The organization brings com m unities and schools together to im prove education. “It w as clear from the onset that a child’s success at school happens m ore easily w ith parent involvem ent,” said Ginny Eager, the organization’s executive director. “At the same time, w e knew that w e needed to bring the w hole com m unity into our w ork, because a lot of people w ho aren ’t parents should have a vested interest in education because of w hat it m eans to the econom ic conditions.” Thus, Forward in the Fifth encourages parents, com m unity m em bers and educators to participate in affiliate activities. From affiliates, Forward in th e Fifth hears about local needs and seeks funding from state and

♦ by Beth D otson ♦ 24

The M ountain Spirit

national sources to m eet the needs. The funds allow Forw ard in th e Fifth to provide training, m atching grants and supp o rt for program s th at can be adapted by affiliates and schools. O ne exam ple o f this is Forw ard in th e Fifth’s su p p o rt o f school field trips. “W hen w e started going into th e coun ties, w e discovered kids w h o had never eaten in a restaurant,” Ginny recalled. Forw ard in th e Fifth encouraged and helped to pay for field trips to area m use um s and historic sites, and th e trips typically ended in a restaurant. O ne group of fifth-graders reportedly behaved so well that a stranger offered to buy them all dessert. “W e have a lot o f school systems and local affiliates paying for field trips at all grade levels. And not only paying for them , but encouraging teachers to utilize them . We dem onstrated ho w a field trip can be an education p ro cess,” Ginny explained. Forw ard in th e Fifth has also dem on strated h o w service w ork can benefit students. A p artnership w ith th e Estill County Alternative School, w hich serves students w h o are at risk o f dropping out, has show n h o w students can learn through an alternative form o f education that was included in th eir curriculum . Estill C ounty students com pleted a num ber o f com m unity projects and spent tim e w ith younger children. Ginny m et one girl from Estill County w h o had been profoundly affected by h e r volunteer w ork w ith a handicapped child. “It w as neat to hear h o w w orking w ith that handicapped child m ade a difference in this troubled teenag er’s life,” Ginny recalled. “You could tell th a t’s th e thing that interested h er about com ing to school. H er eyes lit up and she becam e anim ated. I think it will m ake a big difference in h e r life.” Because so m any o f th e children in the region are at risk o f not com pleting school, Forward in th e Fifth su pported efforts to reach all children, not just th e straight-A students th at schools prize. “I think w e ’re going to have to get past th e m indset th at you w ork w ith at-risk kids

January - February 1995

F o r w a r d in th e F ifth is th e f i r s t o r g a n iz a tio n to w in CAP’S M o u n ta in S p ir it A w a rd . in th e seventh, eighth or ninth grade. We have to realize that at-risk kids can be in kindergarten. A child doesn’t w ake up on his sixteenth birthday and decide he doesn’t like school anymore. A decision is m ade years before that. They just w ait to do the p ap erw o rk ,” Ginny said. Since 1990, Forward in the Fifth has aw arded Parental Involvem ent Grants to groups that im plem ent efforts to involve parents. The increasing num ber of appli cants (there w ere m ore than 90 this year) is evidence of the grow ing realization of the im portance of w orking w ith parents. “Parents d o n ’t w ant to hear vague theoretical ideas about educating children. They w ant detailed things they can do w ith their kids,” Ginny said. Grant recipients have used their funds creatively by bring ing parents and children together to w rite a cookbook, providing activity bags for the children to take hom e and use w ith their parents, and rew arding parents for tim e spent assisting th e teacher in the class room. Forward in the Fifth’s m ost recent venture is into th e school library. In O ctober, th e organization received a threeyear $1.2 million grant from the DeWitt Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund w ith w hich to make school libraries the center of learning. The first rural recipient, Forward in the Fifth is beginning its w ork in four school systems w here groups are collabo rating on activities that will m ake the library m edia centers an integral part of the school day and help students see that the library can be a source of learning for their entire lives. Education statistics have im proved since 1980, but there are still m any students just waiting for som eone to stim ulate them to learn forever. Forward in th e Fifth is sure to adapt itself to the needs of students to encourage continued im provem ents in school and in life for th e entire region. ft

The Classroom: A Place for Appalachian Cultur □

□

“Appalachian children need to know that they are worthy for who they are,” says writer Loyal Jones, “and that they can do as well as anybody else.” i D otson ♦ The M ountain Spirit

T h a t know ledge is foreign to many Appalachian children w h o are em barrassed about th eir m ountain roots. W hen they find out people talk differently in oth er parts o f th e country, they begin to scruti nize th eir o w n language. W hen they hear the negative stereotypes that cast m oun tain p eo p le as ignorant and backw ards, they craw l a little fu rth er into th eir shell. Many prefer to ignore o r m ask th eir culture in an effort to be b e tte r accepted and to excel. Educators throughout th e country have increasingly recognized th at in o rd er for students to succeed, they need to under stand and be p roud o f th eir ow n culture. Loyal Jones is one o f those in th e Appala chian region w h o has been preaching this message for years. The sum m er 1994 release o f his book “Appalachian Values,” w ith p hotographs by W arren B runner [see The M o u n ta in S pirit, November-Decemb er 1994] has provided teachers w ith a tool to use in th e classroom w h en they study Appalachian culture. In a recent interview , Loyal, a hum orist and form er director o f Berea College’s Appalachian Center, talked about th e im portance of educators understanding A ppalachian values and teaching Appalachian culture. “I do think it is legitim ate to try to look at A ppalachian culture in th e classroom and try to get th e kids to understand w here they cam e from , w h o th eir forbearers w ere, w h at th eir values are in society and h o w Appalachian p eo p le have done very well as they have m igrated —by th e millions really —to th e middle w est and elsew here to take jobs. They’ve becom e lawyers, teachers, and everything else, doctors, nurses and so forth. They can do it,” Loyal says. “But because o f terrible stereotypes, I think a lot o f kids feel inferior som ehow . They may n ot adm it it, but I think th ere is an inherent sense of sham e am ong people w h o are looked dow n on by the m ainstream of p eople in cu ltu re.” Lack o f self-love, educators say, is a precu rso r to academ ic failure. The Jesse Stuart Foundation, w hich published “Appalachian V alues,” strives to supple m ent education in southern Appalachia by providing positive materials, such as Loyal’s book.

January - February 1995

“Self image is one of th e im portant keys to success,” says publisher Jim Gifford. “People have to believe in them selves and that they can succeed.” Since the foundation’s beginning in 1979, Jim has seen an increasing aw areness among teachers about including Appala chian culture in th e classroom. In som e schools, educators bring local artisans, like quilt makers or potters, into the classroom. Children learn ho w to play th e dulcimer. Students read th e region’s w riters, such as Jam es Still and George Ella Lyon. This inclusion helps students find a b etter selfimage and m ore interest in school. “W hat I found in m y career as an educator, and I know Loyal has found the same thing, is that Appalachian children are desperately seeking m aterial that they can identify w ith. They can learn from lots of material, but w h en they read som ething from a w ay of life that they can identify w ith, it just makes it m ore engaging and com pelling,” Jim Gifford says. “Education stops being a bitter pill that you have to swallow. It becom es fun.” Besides teaching Appalachian culture in the classroom, Loyal says it is also im por tant to understand the values that form ed that culture. “I think of values as being priorities,” he explains. “That idea is not original w ith me, it’s sort of a sociologist’s notion of w hat values are —religion and family and this sense of personalism , of relating to people on a personal level rather than on a professional level.” The values Loyal finds in Appalachia show that the people are m ore concerned about getting along w ith som ebody than about their credentials on th e wall. They value a sense of place, independence, family, hum or and religion. Loyal also finds that Appalachians have an innate humility that can be a draw back in school. Students tend to underestim ate themselves. “That w hole thing is so ingrained that I think it does have an affect on A ppalachian education, particularly if you have teachers from elsew here and you have retiring and

But children also “get th e ground cut out from under th em ” w h en they see Appala chian people portrayed as ignorant and violent in th e media. O ther cultures have encountered th e same problem . Loyal sees the grow th of black studies program s as a positive exam ple for w h at can h ap p en w ith studies o f o th er cultures. “There are m any black educators in th e country w ho have w orked hard to m ake black children feel good about being black. Because it’s not easy to feel good about being black in th e racial atm osphere w e have in this country. I think it is absolutely essential for those kids to have a sense of being w orthy as w h o they are before they can successfully integrate.

In 1980 313% o f the people in Kentucky had not completed years o f education. By 1990 that number decreased to 19%.

deferring children. They may assume the child has less talent, and so forth, than they actually do. “On th e o th er hand, I do think that a lot o f o u r students d o n ’t know how good they are. I’m quoting Berea professor John W allhausser w h o said our students are b e tte r than they k now they are and our job as teachers is, in effect, is to build up confidence and self-esteem in their role as students. I’m talking about college stu dents, but I think it applies to students anyw here.” Loyal believes this humility is based in p art on th e region’s religion. In the Bible, “T h ere’s a great deal about humility and Jesus talked about putting yourself at bottom o f th e table. D on’t assume you’re at th e head table, you see.” That basic feeling o f humility and egalitarianism can also elicit negative feelings tow ard people w ho try to “rise above,” Loyal says. “There may be a tendency for th e culture to depress those w h o try to rise above things, in a certain way, to becom e leaders and so forth. They m ay get th e ground cut out from under them occasionally.”

“There are a lot o f people in th e country, particularly conservatives, w h o are very critical of ethnic aw areness. They see this as being divisive. But th ere are classes in th e country, no m atter ho w w e define it. The elite classes o r the people w h o are well-to-do, th e people w h o have money, the people w ith less education w ho behave in a certain way, and then there are p o o r people and people w ho are disenfran chised in various ways regardless. Of course, u n der the constitution w e ’re equal and all that, but w e know w e ’re not. “So it seem s to m e that for Appalachian children, w ith all th e terribly negative stereotypes that have been in literature and the movies and TV show s and everything, you need som e challenge to th a t.” Jim Gifford says that, “I think as they study their ow n culture, w hat they are really doing is getting a m odel for w hat cultures are in general. It makes them m ore sensitive, I think, to cultural differ ences.” Differences, though, are often m ade into stereotypes that are difficult to dispel. “It is easier for m ainstream people to deal in stereotypes rather than in th e subtleties and com plexities of the tru th about p eo p le,” Loyal says. “A lot of people, w h en you m ention Appalachia, think o f poverty and igno rance. And I run across that around the country w hen I say that I’m an Appala-

The Mountain Spirit

chian specialist. T hey’ll say, ‘Well, w hat do you think th e problem s are?’ They will jum p to th e problem orientation of Appalachia rath er than saying lots o f oth er things they could say. “Now, th a t’s n o t everybody. A lot of p eo p le com e to Appalachia as sociologists to study a p eo p le th at are interesting. A lot o f people com e to collect m usic and folk tales. T here are all kinds o f things like that —this has been a w onderful reservoir. But, in th e m ain because o f th e w ay the m edia have treated th e region, I think th at the stereotypes are m ore prom inent. “You still do get stereotypes in th e TV show w h ere th e Appalachian is portrayed as th e religious zealot o r th e person too ignorant to get m edical care o r som ething o r other. ” Many southerners deal w ith being stereotyped because o f th eir accents. Language provides a basic sense o f w o rth for m ost people. Therefore, if students are criticized for using a different dialect or grammatical system, th at can underm ine a child’s confidence so th at the child doesn’t express him o r herself.

“They w ill ju m p to th e p r o b le m o r ie n ta tio n r a th e r th a n sa y in g a lo t o f o th e r th in g s . . . kinds of idioms you w ouldn’t use else w here. And th ere’s nothing w rong w ith that. People have always done th a t.” Students w ho stop speaking in th e slang and syntax of their region and family som etim es draw scorn from their parents w ho think they are trying to “get above their raising.” Loyal w arns that teachers should not totally discredit th e w ay a child talks, because that w ould be discrediting th e child’s family. Family pride can be another source of self-esteem.

“I had a very dear friend Cratis Williams, w h o w as a Ph.D. himself, w h o cam e from eastern K entucky and he always said the m ost fluent person he knew w as th e illiterate m ountaineer because he didn’t have to w orry about grammar. So he w ould just tell you a tale w ith great imagination and effectiveness. T hen once w e do go to school w e start tending to w orry about ho w w e ’re going to say som ething rath er than w hat w e are going say,” Loyal recounts. “I’m n o t suggesting th at students should be allow ed to get through school not know ing w hat good gram m ar is o r n ot know ing h o w o th er people talk o r w rite. But I’m saying th at teachers need to be ten d er w ith th eir kids as they teach them . And I w ould say everybody n eeds to know that language has various levels and categories. W e speak another w ay at hom e. W e speak anoth er w ay in school, or perh ap s in formal settings o r w h en w e w rite. W e speak an o th er w ay on the playground. I’m talking about slang and all

January - February 1995

The total percentage o f high school graduates in Kentucky increased fro m 5 j.l% to 64.6% between 1980 and 1990.

—

Slll||

residents about life in a coal m ining tow n and w orking in th e mines. The students learned interviewing, editing and w riting skills w hile also learning m ore about their heritage.

Some teachers w ho have grow n up in the m ountains may already be familiar w ith their heritage, but Loyal says they still need to recount th e characteristics of the students and their family values. “They need to know th eir parents and know w hat the sort of m atrix of values are. And th en they need to help th e students know w ho Despite good progress between 1980 and 1990, Kentucky has th e ____________________ 0................t___________________ they are and w hat their school dropouts in its adult population in the nation. identity is w ithin all of this. Show them how they are certainly like people anyw here. And anyway they can “But th at d oesn’t m ean they shouldn’t bring in exam ples from o th er countries learn ho w to talk in school and w hen they and o th er places.” go to college o r w h en they go get a job and everything. So I think in a w ay w e becom e The teacher, Loyal says, should also not just bilingual, but tri- or quadrilingual I bring respect for th e students and their think. ” families into th e classroom. That is som e tim es difficult for professionals —social “I think th e fact th at m any people w orkers or teachers —w h o feel their job is (teachers) com e out o f the rural situation to m ake people shape up. “T here’s a and im prove them selves and learn good tendency to w ithhold affection from gram m ar and learn h o w to dress and learn som ebody w ho is not shaping up. I’ve h o w to p resen t themselves. They some always said that w orking in th e m ountains tim es are extrem ely harsh w ith kids w ho or anyw here for that m atter, to be success rem ind them o f w hat they used to be. And ful you have to accept people for w h o they so I think quite often teachers are not are w h eth er or not they conform to the always m ature enough to deal w ith kids w ay you w ant them . And I know th a t’s w h o irk them by exhibiting characteristics hard, you can ’t always do it. that they have com e to despise, or that they feel they have left behind.” “But certainly I do think in term s of Appalachian kids they need a little extra T here are also educators in Appalachia boost in know ing about them selves and w h o are at peace w ith their ow n heritage. th eir place and h o w they fit in w ith the They are using creativity to dig beneath the American history and culture and so forth. stereotypes to find the true story. And they need to be em pow ered w ith know ledge that they can probably do A teacher in W lieelw right, for example, anything anybody else can but they d o n ’t w orked w ith a group o f high school necessarily have to abandon their identity students to gather an oral history and in order to do it. They can do all of these p roduce a magazine about their to w n ’s things w ith a K entucky accent.” ft coal m ining past. They interview ed local

The M ountain Spirit

Parents-Are-Teachers Raises Mary's Self-Respect Like so many people in Appalachia, Mary was raised to respect people, and their opinions, their judgment, their choices and in many cases, their professions. "You always respect preachers, teachers and judges," she was taught, "because these are honorable professions. In particular, you respect doctors, because they have the knowledge to save your life." So it wasn't surprising that when her little Joanie was born with so many problems, Mary accepted the doctor's explanation that "sometimes these things just happen." She took Joanie home, burying her questions in her heartache. At first it was easy to hope. If the only one who knew any answers was God, then maybe He might reconsider. But at seven months, when Joanie still could not lift her head or hear her mother's voice, Mary began to realize that this was not going to go away. As she moved through different phases of grief over the loss of her hoped-for "normal child," Mary began to question. She asked the doctors why some reports conflicted with others, and why procedures that would have made sense to her were not taken. Again, she was told, there really are no answers. It could not have been prevented, she was told. Doctors told Mary to put away these questions or she would never be able to accept her child for who she is. These were doctors. Mary's respect meant she needn't question their judgment. But she did, a little. Mary worked hard with Joanie and her teacher from Parents-Are-Teachers, a CAP program that helps parents teach their children with disabilities. They were delighted with the gains Joanie made. She was walking and playing in many ways like a "normal child" and the doctors told Mary to be grateful for her progress. She didn't always feel grateful, though, and often she conveyed this to Leigh, Joanie's teacher. How do you question doctors when they don't want to answer, she asked? Leigh listened and often assured her that she had a right to her feelings and her questions. Both were worth expressing, Leigh told Mary. Recently, Mary has found the courage to make some legal inquiries to help her trace records and seek out some answers. Legal courses of action are seldom the first step in resolving a conflict, but the "success" part of this story is Mary's confidence in her own judgment and questions, and in her re-definition of respect. She still respects people, including doctors, but now she separates her respect for people from her acceptance of their opinions, judgment or actions. She is taking the first steps in becoming her own advocate, and Joanie's, by believing in her own opinions and actions. It's the support of people like you who make programs like Parents-Are-Teachers possible, a program that has given Mary the strength to advocate for her child. Your gift of $10, $15, $25 for Parents-Are-Teachers, or where it's needed most, will continue to give people the courage of their own convictions.

Poverty in Kentucky •

Poverty and unemployment in Ken

tucky are concentrated in the eastern part of the state. •

In Kentucky, one out of every four

children is poor. •

In Kentucky over 77 percent of the married couples with children whose

incomes were below the federal poverty level had at least one parent in the work force. •

Kentucky ranks fourth among states in the percentage of people receiving

Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Supplemental Security Income. •

Affordable medical insurance is not available to a woman who chooses to

leave the welfare rolls for a minimum wage job — often the only type of job available in rural Kentucky. Source: Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources, 1994 Kids Count Report

CH RISTIA N APPA LAC H IA N P RO JEC T 322 CRAB O R C H A R D RO A D LANCASTER, KY 40446 The M ountain Spirit

N O N -PRO FIT O RGAN 1ZATIO U.S. PO STAG E PAID Christian Appalachian Projec

Address Correction Requested

CAROLYN SUE MARKS 4 4 3 0 KY. HWY 6 4 3 WAYNESBURG KY 4 0 4 8 9