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Camp Andrew Jackson Stars for KIDS NOW Developing Economy; Developing Community

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M ountain S pirit The Magazine o f the C H R IS T IA N A P P A L A C H IA N P R O JE C T SEPTEMBER

- OCTOBER

2001

VOLUME

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Stars For KIDS NOW by Margaret Gabriel

^ j r - Jackson County: ( y A Great Land by Margaret Gabriel Stars For Kids Now, page four

Q Reading, Writing And

1 O A Rite Of Passage by Karen F Spivey

Camp Andrew Jackson: / . / . A CAP Tradition

Camp Andrew Jackson, page 22

by Margaret Gabriel

/ 1 Developing The Economy By Developing The Community by Margaret Gabriel On the cover: Garrard County students, Jasmine and Patrice Alcorn, participate in CAP s School Readiness. The program prepares students for the upcoming school year by outfitting them with all new academic attire. School Readiness, page 18

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R a n d o m T h o u g h ts

Letters

A round the Project

CAP Close-Up

Published by the Christian Appalachian Project

Editor M a rg a r e t G a b rie l

Graphic Design K a re n F r a n c e s S p iv e y

Circulation D e b b ie M o rris

Advisory Board: F a th e r R a lp h W. B e itin g . M ik e S anders, Ben Prew itt, B eck y K an a

The Mountain Spirit is published six times a year. The annual subscription price is $8.00. Subscriptions and other correspondence should be sent to The Mountain Spirit , Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Street, Lancaster, KY 40446. Copyright, 2001, 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. The 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.

The Christian Appalachian Project works to involve itself in as many ways as possible to help people of the region to achieve self-sufficiency. Mike Sanders, Over the years, we have learned CAP President that in addition to the need for educa tion and crisis intervention programs, it is community development that, more than anything else, will take root and grow because of the involvement of the people. In this issue of The Mountain Spirit, we are profiling the community involvement - and therefore develop ment — of long-time CAP programs that are shifting and changing as the needs of the area shift and change as well. On page 24, you’ll learn about the proposal that Marilynn Payson, CAP’S new director of economic development, is making to make entrepreneurship a vital tool in the economic picture of Appalachia - and of the people we serve. You’ll pardon our pride as we tell you about a new childcare assessment program that has been introduced in Kentucky. People who have been instrumental in the formation of CAP’s outstanding child development programming have also had a hand in developing a program that some say will be a national model. We’re proud, too, of the strides that have been made by the residents of Jackson County. In just a few short years, a county that was long considered among the poorest in the United States has decreased its poverty rate and increased its rates of educational attainment and employment. The profde of Jackson County can be found on page 16. Enjoy!

Mike Sanders CAP President

A summary o f the registration and financial documents filed by this organization can be obtained by contacting: in Maryland, for the cost o f copies and postage, the Secretary o f State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401; in Virginia, State Division o f Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209; in Washington, residents can call the Secretary o f State toll-free within the state at 800-332-4483; in Mississippi, by calling the Secretary o f State’s office at 888-236-6167; IN NEW YORK, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, CHARITIES BUREAU, 120 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10271; IN NEW JERSEY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY CALLING 973-504-6215; IN PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE, 800-732-0999; IN W EST VIRGINIA, SECRETARY OF STATE, STATE CAPITOL, CHARLESTON, WV 25305; IN FLORIDA, THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALL TOLL-FREE W ITHIN THE STATE AT 800-435-7352; IN NORTH CAROLINA, FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND A COPY OF THE LICENSE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE SOLICITATION LICENSING BRANCH WITHIN THE STATE AT 1-888-830-4989 OR OUTSIDE THE STATE AT 919-807-2214; or by writing to Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Street, Lancaster, KY 40446. Our license number in Michigan is MICS 9933. Registration with any o f the above government agencies does not imply endorsement by the state.

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T I I O LJ G I I T S B y M a r g a r e t G a b r ie l n the weeks that we’ve been working on this issue of The Mountain Spirit, I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of thinking about community development. More of CAP’s new programs and many of the plans on the drawing board are made up of ways that community can be involved in picking up the reins of a program. CAP is involved, for example, in establishing a new child develop ment center in Jackson County. But as assistant director Jean Barnes will tell you, “it’s not CAP’s program.” CAP is just one player in a collaboration of groups that are responsible for the Annville Child and Family Development Center. A grant from the United States Depart ment of Agriculture, the cooperation of Head Start and the support of several industries in the county will result in high quality day care and child development for families in Jackson County. CAP directors will tell you this program would never have left the ground had it not been for an emphasis on community development on the part of everyone involved. In church yesterday, we heard the Gospel story of Mary and Martha, some friends whom Jesus visited frequently. Luke’s account paints a picture of Martha as a gracious hostess, serving Jesus and the disciples. Her sister, Mary, takes a seat at Jesus’ feet and instead of participating in the serving chores, listens attentively to everything he has to say. When Martha points out to Jesus that her sister should be helping to tend to the guests, Jesus

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rebukes her, saying, “Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better thing and it will not be taken from her.” In his homily, Deacon Jim Paris used the roles of both Mary and Martha to illustrate the ways that each of us choose to follow Jesus. Those in the role of Martha, he said, choose to stay busy in service and ministry. Marys, on the other hand,

spend more time in prayer, Scripture reading and reflection. Mary is drawing strength from the presence of Jesus, and although Jesus’ words to Martha may seem harsh, there is a lesson to be learned. Deacon Paris suggested blending the roles of Mary and Martha, participating in both the service to which we are called, while drawing strength from reading, study and

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reflection. The roles of Martha and Mary also parallel community development and direct service programs. Martha is busily making sure that needs are met, not unlike groups and organizations, including CAP, that provide outreach and education programs to the people of Eastern Kentucky. Mary, on the other hand, might more closely resemble those involved in community develop ment. When a community becomes involved in starting a program, one can expect progress to be slow and methodical. The people and groups involved must spend time in the presence of each other. Like Mary, they must study and reflect. Frequently, communities have much to learn concerning the operation of a program and raising the needed funds. But, as Marilynn Payson, CAP’s director of economic development, points out, the program has grown out of the culture of the region and is much more likely to take root. When the Genesis Child and Family Development Center was in the planning stages, the need was determined, CAP appropri ated the funds and families in the region came to the center to participate in the program in relatively short order. Because “it’s not CAP’s program,” the route taken to begin the center in Annville has taken a bit more time, but within five years, Jean says, CAP hopes to be able to leave the center in the hands of the people of Jackson County and move to another community to jump start a similar process. As Deacon Paris said, perhaps the best way of working is to thoughtfully blend the activities of Martha, the do-er, with the reflection of Mary. By spending time in the presence of the community, the work will take root, grow and flower.

Margaret Gabriel, a native Kentuckian, has worked in the Appalachian region since 1977.

Paul E. Patton Governor o f Kentucky T

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the quality of the care. Stars for KIDS NOW was initiated in July 2001 as a means of offering families the opportunity to determine the quality of a child care program. The Office of Early Childhood Development contacted child care centers in 17 Kentucky counties and asked if they would partici pate in a Stars pilot program. Three of those 17 counties have CAP child development programming. Two of them Eagle Child and Family Develop ment in Research indicates that children who attend well-designed McCreary pre-school programs have successful starts in kindergarten County and and first grade. Genesis Child and Family Development in few bureaucrats in a room making Lawrence County — agreed to play a decisions,” but the rating program was designed by people that are part in helping to set a new standard involved in child care, including for child care in Kentucky. providers of both non-profit and forKentucky Families profit childcare centers, administra tors, parents, child care advocates, Can Assess Child Care faith-based charities and the Ken One to four stars are awarded for tucky Department of Education. proficiency in five areas: student/ “These people and agencies have teacher ratio, curriculum, training, donated their time and their money regulatory compliance and person nel. In each area, the early childhood to this initiative,” Teri said. “That donation is significant.” task force, of which Jean was a part, has specified what is required for The initiation of welfare-to-work each level. The requirements to programs, a result of the sweeping receive a one-star rating go beyond changes in the welfare system in those needed to receive child care 1996, has resulted in more single mothers entering the work force and licensing. As a program is enhanced therefore needing child care. In in those five areas, more stars are many Kentucky counties, licensed or awarded to the program. For certified child care is difficult to example, in order to receive a child find; even more difficult is assessing care license in the state of Kentucky,

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a center must have one staff person for every six children in the two to three-year-old age group (A higher child/staff ratio is required for infants). That ratio is sufficient to be rated as a one or two-star program. In order to receive three stars, the ratio must increase to one to eight. A four-star center is required to provide one staff person for every seven children, as is required for certification by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The student-teacher ratio was one of the most difficult issues they tackled in the standards work group, Jean said. “Smaller groups are really ideal, but then you have to pay more people to work, which drives up the cost of operating a center. When the cost goes up, people can’t afford to come. It’s really a vicious cycle.” Jean said the student-teacher ratio requirement, as well as those for paid vacation and health insurance for staff will drive up the cost of privately owned centers with a four-star rating. “In bigger areas like Lexington or Louisville you’ll probably see more [four-star centers], but in our areas, we have moms that work in fast food and Wal-Mart,” Jean said. Lower- paying jobs, she said, make it difficult to send children to more expensive child care centers. In the areas of curriculum and training, even one- and two-star centers are required to go beyond the requirements for licensing. Three-star centers are required to include family activities and written plans for family involvement and a written plan for improving the environment of the center. A four-star ranking requires a center to have certification from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. National accredita tion is achieved by few centers and requires high standards of curriculum, teacher training and family involve ment. Such accreditation has been achieved by all of CAP’s centers except Genesis, the newest center, which plans to apply for accreditation

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When Kentucky Governor Paul Patton established an Office of Early Childhood Development, an integral part of the program was KIDS (Kentucky Invests in Devel oping Success) NOW, an initiative to reach a goal that says, “all young children in Kentucky are healthy and safe, possess the foundation that will enable school and personal success, and live in strong families that are supported and strengthened within their communities.” The $55.7 million program uses money from the state’s share of the national tobacco settlement and addresses such issues as health, early care and education, realizing that all aspects of a child’s environ ment must come together in order to support not only children, but their families as well. After eight months of discussion and research, the early childhood task force made several recommen dations to Governor Patton, including initiatives directed at providing the resources children need to reach their full potential. One of the initiatives suggested a rating program that would give parents a concrete way to assess the quality of child care programs in their communities. The Christian Appalachian Project’s long history in early childhood education, and its reputation for innovative programming, posi tioned the organization as a major player in the statewide effort. Mike Loiacano, manager of the Eagle Child and Family Develop ment Center in McCreary County, participated in the work group that planned the methods by which child development workers could apply for scholarships for continuing education. Jean Barnes, CAP assistant director of human services and the founding manager of the McCreary County center, served on the work group that determined the Stars system rating standards. “I think we were invited to participate in the work groups because of what CAP

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Jean Barnes, assistant director o f human services, served on the work group that determined Kentucky's system of assessing day care and child development programs.

means to child development in the state,” Jean said. “We’ve been a real leader in some areas.” CAP’s focus, not just on children but on the entire family, is an approach included in the state rating system. “The ideal situation is for children to be at home,” said Jean, “but not every family can have a parent home with the children. In a perfect world, it would be nice if a parent could stay home, but even for an at-home parent, it’s good for the kids to have a few hours away, a little respite for that mom.” Teri Mehler, the executive assistant in the Governor’s Office for Early Child Development, is a former manager of the CAP Child

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and Family Development Center in Berea. Her connection with CAP was the link to inviting workers in CAP child development to partici pate in the planning of Stars for KIDS NOW. “CAP child development centers have always been of the highest quality,” Teri said. “We were delighted to have input from Mike and from Jean.” “Teri knows us,” Jean said. “She knows what kind of people we are, that we’re committed to good child development. I think that’s the biggest reason that we’ve been asked to serve on these committees,” Jean said. Teri points out “it wasn’t just a

that our toddler toys needed to be has merged with another child care in the coming year, according to more accessible. They made these provider. manager Brenda Wireman. suggestions, then helped us to “We’re still sorting through a lot Through the governor’s program, follow through by giving us grant of those materials, and we’ve found funding is available to make needed money from the KIDS NOW some things that we’ve started to environmental improvements in program. The whole program use,” Brenda said. “Stars gave us an centers that are applying for the works together really well,” Mike outline of specific things we needed program, and for scholarships for said. to improve. It was good to have child development workers through The Genesis center, too, needed someone tell us of the lack and then out the state. Funds can be used for additional multi-cultural materials, help us get it.” any level of education, Mike said, Brenda said. It’s easy to overlook Mike found that the most difficult including studying for a master’s, the need for multi-culturalism, she of the Stars assessment areas was in bachelor’s or child development teacher training. To receive associate’s degree. The the first star, a program must study group in which Mike take steps beyond those participated explored ways required for licensing by in which the availability of conducting annual staff scholarships could be planning and assessment. publicized and “to make Each member of a one-star recommendations for the center must be introduced to training and scope of work the state scholarship program, for the Professional Devel which makes training avail opment Counselors and for able to centers that are not their ongoing relationship to able to provide an education the success of the scholar benefit. ship program,” according to To achieve a two-star the KIDS NOW Web site. rating, center staff must have “Kentucky is on the cutting at least minimum educational edge with this process,” Teri attainment in early child said. “It’s one of the few development or 15 hours of states to have such a well yearly training. A director at a thought out initiative.” two-star center must have a Like the national accredi higher level of educational tation process, Stars for attainment or 18 hours of KIDS NOW, gives an yearly training. It is difficult, opportunity to assess one’s Jean said, for small business center, Brenda said. “It owners to allow time for makes you look at your continuing education. program to see what you Those who do so have need to do to make it CAP child development programs include infant-toddler as made a solid commitment to better,” she said. well as pre-school components. early childhood education. When Mike and Brenda said, especially in an area with During the Stars for KIDS NOW decided to participate in the pilot little racial and ethnic diversity. discussion, research and planning program, they were given the “But that makes it all the more period, Mike served in a work group opportunity to meet with child important,” she said. that proposed the promotion and development professionals who Genesis also learned that it advertising of the scholarship reviewed their programs, toured needed to improve its math and program. The group consisted of their centers and assessed the science areas, “and they helped us people from resource and referral training of the staff. Eagle and to purchase things for those areas. agencies such as the East Kentucky Genesis were told where they needed We knew that we were a little weak Child Care Coalition, government to adjust their program to achieve as there, but hadn’t taken the time to workers and providers such as Mike. many stars as possible. do what we needed to do,” Brenda “Everyone had their own store of “When we were preparing for the said. As a new center, Genesis has knowledge. We [providers] knew Stars assessment, it was suggested received donations from CAP what people needed, government that we add multi-cultural materials programs in other areas, as well as people knew how to administer the and more toddler-sized furniture,” the center in Magoffin County that money and the resource people knew Mike said. “They also suggested

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what was available,” Mike said. “Individual teachers, directors and students can apply for scholarships.” Scholarship funds are available for associate programs as well as bachelor’s and master’s programs. The CAP centers are atypical programs because of the resources they have available, Mike said. The organization is committed to continuing education for the staff of its child development centers in order to provide a high level of both care and education for the children and families enrolled in the program. “CAP is really in a position of leadership and is in a position to shine,” Mike said. “Since our employees have an education benefit available to them, they’re not eligible for a state scholarship, and that’s true of any center that sets money aside for education. The program is really designed to help the small, indepen dently owned centers.” A recent story in The [Lexington, Ky.] Herald-Leader addressed a concern that Stars for KIDS NOW would increase the already high cost of child care for families in lower income brackets. Care has been taken throughout the program to fund required improvements, so those costs are not passed on to families. Because of the high cost of child care, the state has committed to helping families who are not able to provide home care for children. A family whose income is at 165 percent of the federal poverty level is eligible to receive a subsidy to pay for the cost of child care.

five steps ahead in kindergarten. It is not necessary They’ve been exposed to language, for a center to partici colors, painting, music — lots of pate in Stars for KIDS things they need to be better NOW, but the more students. Experience in a good, stars that are earned by structured program makes children a participating center, more comfortable with learning. the more money they receive. Centers receive Then when they get to kindergarten, one-time cash payments they’ll excel,” Brenda said. Like Mike, Brenda believes Stars for participation in the for KIDS NOW gives parents a program, and quarterly concrete way to access the quality incentive payments if of care their children are receiving. they have a minimum “It gives families a way to find the number of low-income best care and it gives centers the children and maintain a two-star center, said June Widman, director of the East Kentucky Child Care Coalition. The agency offers resources and training to individu als involved in establish ing and maintaining child care centers in Eastern Kentucky, particularly in helping women to begin homebased certified centers. “The [Stars] program raises awareness that early childhood educa tion and care is impor tant,” said Mike. “It really translates to more community awareness. People in the field knew what was meant by Jean Barnes has worked in child development for quality child care, but over 20 years. sometimes parents would just tell us, ‘Make opportunity to earn incentives. Like sure she knows her colors and her national accreditation, it makes you numbers.’ The number of stars look at your program and see what earned tells a family, specifically, you need to do to make it better.” what a center can provide a child.” CAP workers also say they Brenda is a former public appreciate the opportunity to share elementary school teacher who their knowledge and expertise with became involved in CAP child other childcare providers for the development programming over 10 benefit of families in Appalachia. years ago. Her experience in primary and middle grades has As The Mountain Spirit was convinced her of the importance of going to press, staff learned that early childhood development, and the McCreary County Center she feels confident the programming earned three stars through the CAP offers is of the highest quality. Stars for KIDS NOW program; “If a child is involved with good the Lawrence County Center, two. child development, he or she will be

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I thoroughly enjoy reading about Thank you so much for your the great work being done in unfailing assistance to the people of Appalachia. Keep up the wonderful Appalachia, and for “the Spirit” projects. God bless you and all which brings it all home for me. Sherry Myers involved in these accomplishments Virginia Beach, Va. which must be very dear to the Heart of Jesus. Sr. Mary Verena Pastotnik, R.S.M. Marine City, Mich. I do know and appreciate the kind of work you are doing. Poverty is robbery and denial. Without your kind of help, many of the young ones would be denied a chance of survival in our ever-changing world. May you live a very long life and keep up this fine work! Joe Brooks New Cumberland, Pa.

To know real poverty one must be from the mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia or West Virginia. I am from Virginia; my father was a coal miner and passed away of black lung. We never had a lot, but we were blessed not to be hungry. I have seen real hunger and poverty back in those hills where I was born and raised. I volunteer and help seniors and the less fortunate almost every day now that I’m retired. It’s a way to help and give back. Mrs. Audrey Oviatt Duarte, Calif.

The Christian Appalachian Project pioneered by Father Beiting is perhaps the greatest support group ever conceived by the mind of a man. I only wish I was able to contribute much more to the group of individuals that so much depend on us who can only try to help those individuals who need and deserve much more. Ray Jordan Orlando, Fla.

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If s a wonderful magazine! What a joy it is to read about what the Lord is doing in your area and to be a part, in a small way, in His work there. Mr. & Mrs. J.M. Johnson Ridgecrest, Calif.

I enjoy reading on how your group reaches out to and serves the elderly. The population is growing older and we must realize their needs. They have helped us grow into adults so we need to pay back by showing them respect in their older ages. We would like to offer them our assistance. Mr. & Mrs. Dave Bender Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dear ones - I can’t support you as I’d like to, but keep up the good work. I’ll pray for you to continue this help. I’m 78 and my husband is 81. We would like to help some time as volunteers in a summer month. Sarah A. Haskins Panhandle, Texas How pleased I was to receive a Christmas card from my sponsored family in your project. I was really touched. Geraldine Reider East Haven, Conn.

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I look forward to receiving my copy of The Mountain Spirit and always share it with other senior citizens. Keep up your good work. God bless all of you wonderful people. Elizabeth P. Smith Washington Ct. Hts., Ohio

I am happy to help you and only wish I could do more. I’ve been a part of your wonderful work for over 20 years. If I were younger I’d come to stay and help. Laura Mund Hebron, Conn.

I enjoy your magazine very much and reading about how everyone is coping there. It’s wonderful how you can all work together, but then, that’s because God is always with you. Mrs. Jean M. Maddux Midway City, Calif.

I enjoy reading The Mountain Spirit. I’m always interested in the wonderful things being done for all the mountain people. You have some great workers, Father Beiting, you are a “Godsend.” Keep up the good work. Remembering you all in my daily Mass and prayers. Laurayne Prew Prairie Du Chien, Wis.

Letters to the editor are welcome. They should not exceed 150 words in length, and we reserve the right to edit them for space. Address letters to: The Mountain Spirit Christian Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Street Lancaster, KY 40446 or e-mail: capinfo@chrisapp.org

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Youth Program Moves to Boone’s Landing With the beginning of the school year, the after-school program at the Louisa Youth and Teen Center is moving to Boone’s Landing in Lawrence County. The program will continue to offer activities four nights a week to children in the first to twelfth grade, according to manager Jennifer Lavendar. Center staffers recruit students through the Lawrence County schools and register 12 students per night, Jennifer said. “We see about 48 kids every week.” The program at Boone’s Landing will include activities similar to those at the Louisa center, includ ing snacks and Bible service learning, a curriculum which introduces children to Scripture stories that illustrate lessons of people helping one another. “Community service has always been a big part of our program,” Jennifer said, “And that will continue.” Community service has three components. The first component is a series of speakers who come in to the center to speak to the children about service opportunities that are available in the community. During the second,

After-school activities at Boone’s Landing will include arts and crafts, as well as tutoring and Bible study.

phase, children go into the commu nity and participate in the commu nity service projects they heard about during the first phase of the program. Community service projects have included a variety of activities, from recycling to visiting elderly people. “During the third stage,” Jennifer said, “kids think back on the things they’ve seen, brainstorm about the needs of the community and come

In addition to offering activities for children and teens, Boone s Landing can accommodate family activities.

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up with their own project.” During the afternoons that the youth spend in the center, there is time for studying and reading. Speakers come in to address topics that are of interest to teens. Jennifer said that she and other staffers have noticed changes in the attitudes of young people from one year to the next. “There’s one girl in particular,” she said. “She has a disability and has difficulty walking. Since she’s been coming, she’s opened up and started trying different activities. She went on a teen retreat for the first time because of the encouragement of the staff. She’s really come a long way.” The move from Louisa to Boone’s Landing will give the after-school program the opportunity to begin several new activities, including life skills, environmental education, “and even a fishing seminar,” Jennifer said. Families are invited to participate in outings and evenings at camp a couple of times a month and an award banquet is being planned for later in the year.

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Partnerships Do Work; Bethany House Sets Example With Property Purchase from Christian Appalachian Project Bethany House, a spouse abuse shelter serving the Lake Cumberland Area Development District, was founded and operated for twelve years by the Christian Appalachian Project. The shelter recently retired its debt to CAP and finalized the purchase of its property in Somerset. Bethany House has the capacity to house thirty participants, providing emotional and physical support to victims during crisis situations of domestic violence. The shelter houses victims, shelter staff accompany them to court, and often connect them with outside resources to begin the healing process that results from a shattered homelife. During 2000, the shelter Finalizing the property deed at CAP, pictured l to r, Mary Lou Priddle, Vice housed and served close to 700 President o f Bethany House Board o f Directors; Hazel Evans, Vice President o f people. CAP Administration; Robert Brown, President o f Bethany House; and Charlotte Bethany House became indepen Tribble, Executive Director o f Bethany House. dent of CAP in July of 1995, and because they have nowhere else to maintenance and technical help. began operating with a local board go. Bethany House has also “The rent was reasonable, CAP of directors; the shelter initiated a donated a vehicle, and positioned an developed a food pantry in nearby capital campaign in 1999. The Adair County. employee to have membership on capital campaign has raised Bethany House illustrates CAP’s our board of directors,” Charlotte said. $704,000, which allowed the local “A highly trained staff of six employees practice of establishing programs group to purchase the shelter and remained after the transition occurred. leave a balance for maintenance, and then partnering with Although it was somewhat scary in the remodeling and repair. CAP community leaders in an effort to beginning, we made it and hope to contributed $105,000 to the someday place operation of those continue to grow.” campaign. programs into the hands of local Several services have recently Charlotte Tribble, executive agencies and organizations. As director of Bethany House, has been been added to the Cumberland Area CAP transitions its efforts into Development District including there from the beginning and more distressed areas in development of transitional housing continues to lead the charge as the Appalachia, communities are in Pulaski and Clinton counties. The shelter expands its vision and taking over the reins when CAP residential housing units provide an services. “Working under an leaves off. Those groups and option. A victim of abuse that leaves umbrella organization like CAP agencies can follow the example a domestic violence situation can provided us the basis,” Charlotte set by Bethany House. CAP will only reside at Bethany House for said. “I learned a lot and so did our always consider Bethany House a one month. The new transitional staff. We had questions during the sister program and continues to housing gives a family the opportunity early stages of the transition, and applaud its accomplishments and to gain footing and not be forced to CAP supplied answers along the way. success. return to the abusive environment We received administrative support,

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Families Have Adventures In McCreary County The Eagle Child and Family Development Center in McCreary County hosted Project Adventure during summer 2001. “It was a family summer camp,” said man ager Mike Loiacano. “Entire families came for camping, crafts and field trips.” Eagle sponsored three-week camps in June and July, hosting 25 people in 14 to 15 families. One day of the camp was dedi cated to Super Pantry, a program sponsored by God’s Pantry Food Bank. The weekly cooking and nutrition program provides recipes and ingredients for low-cost, healthy meals, as well as speakers addressing issues of concern to families. Cookouts and field trips were two of the favorite family camp activities, Mike said. Families made excursions to Levi Jackson State Park in nearby Laurel County, where they visited both the museum and the swimming pool, and the Steams Museum, where families

were able to leam something of the history of McCreary County. Project Adventure drew participants from all three of Eagle’s pro grams: Families Growing Together (a family literacy Students at the Eagle Child and Family Development Center in program), the McCreary County enjoy painting in the program s arts center. pre-school services to children up to age 12. program and the infant-toddler program. “Everybody in the camp To serve the advanced needs of the knew the others,” Mike said. older children, the center presented “They’re family and neighbors, and “America Reads” in collaboration with really enjoyed being together.” the Family Resource Center at Eagle During the academic year, Eagle’s Elementary School, Mike said. programs work with preschool-age Project Adventure fulfills the PACT (Parents and Children Together) children, but to accommodate families with older children, the component of Eagle’s family literacy program. “And it was a lot of fun,” center applied for and received a Mike said. license to care for and provide

xp lore nature w ith a group o f eager ten-year-olds at sum m er cam p, *7on stru ct a hom e for a deserving ^ fam ily o f six, or old the hand o f a lonely elderly wom an w ho just needs som eone to listen. All this and more are available in volunteer opportunities at the Christian Appalachian . . . . ^ \\\ Project Call us today! Application process required

Christian Appalachian Project

(800) 755-5322 www.chrisapp.org 12

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email: volunteer@chrisapp.org

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New York City Church Group Constructs A Home While Far Away From Theirs Members of the Times Square Church came from far reaches: Kenya to Puerto Rico, Trinidad to Tobago, Barcelona to Brooklyn. No matter what part of the globe from which they originated, they had one thing in common — to serve God. The non-denominational church of 103 nationalities, based in New York City in the center of Times Square, drove 16 hours to Mount Vernon, Ky., to work with volunteers and staff of the Christian Appalachian Project in construction of a home for a participant family in CAP’s housing program. “One of the most interesting revelations about this project has been learning the importance of standards, rulers, measurements and how you must follow guidelines in order for the foundation to set straight and the construction to be stable,” said Gail Shelby, a resident of Manhattan and first time construction worker. “It’s also like that with faith. You must stay in the boundaries, follow the rules and remain in the borders of the Bibical teaching.”

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The Youth Ministry Group from the Times Square Church in New York City construct a home in Rockcastle county from the ground up.

The group of multi-lingual, multicultured New Yorkers set up camp with the Faith Harvest Fellowship in Mount Vernon, a relatively new church that opened their arms to the band of eager servants. Faith Harvest Fellowship is led by Rev. Mike Bryant, a former social worker and police officer, who founded the Rockcastle County church on the basis of serving the down-trodden, overlooked, indigent and forgotten. His ministry provides outreach at the local jail; conducts group discussion for both and men; cell ministry; and a number of other programs just getting launched. In an interesting parallel, Times Square Church was founded for similar reasons, when David Wilkerson was looking to reach out to runaways, drug addicts and the

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street population of New York’s Times Square. “It was really a blessing and God send for Rev. Bryant to offer their church facility and support to this group of volunteers,” said Sherry Allen, manager of CAP’s volunteer houses. “It is CAP’s hope that more churches will come to participate in aiding those church groups who come to offer help and assistance to our community.”

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Teen Leadership Week At Camp Andrew Jackson Combines Community Service With Outdoor Experience Camp Andrew Jackson, a summer camp and educational center of the Christian Appalachian Project in Jackson County, Ky., invites local teens to a week of experiencing the outdoors in adventure based activities.

week’s events. The teens travel in small groups to a local retirement home and visit with the senior citizens residing

One participant from Camp A.J. Teen Leadership week, befriended a 100 year old resident at the nursing home in Annville, Ky. Campers are in a constant state of motion throughout the busy week of camp. In one activity designed to build teamwork, the campers, armed with paddles, canoe out into the middle of the lake, capsize the boat, then work as a team to get themselves and their watercraft back to the dock safe and sound. Campers come for five days to learn new skills, to make new friends, and to experience the beauty of the outdoors. Teen leadership camp is designed to empower campers to understand and feel good about who they are and who they want to be. Activities include hiking, climbing, camping out, swimming, paddle boating, sports, canoeing, Bible study, arts and crafts, group building, campfires, singing, values building, and much more. In addition to learning about themselves, a community service project has been included within the

there. They interact, collect stories from the past, participate in crafts, and most importantly, acquaint themselves with a part of the population that is sometimes forgotten.

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“The community service project enables the teens to learn a valuable basic lesson in leadership, in giving back to the community,” said Katie Hancock, coordinator of Camp Andrew Jackson.

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Inmates At Rockcastle Jail Complete GEDs Through CAP Adult Ed “I feel much more capable of speaking out about education and want to do more for inmates involved with the work release program,” said James Burton, a state inmate at the Rockcastle County jail, as he completed testing to obtain his GED after working in a CAP adult education program. James Miller, jailer for Rockcastle County, contacted CAP to request an instructor to teach GED courses to the state inmates lodged there, after the inmates

Human Services. “With the recitivism rate so high, if a GED can help turn a life around [our effort is] worth it.” “When the GED was field tested among graduating high school seniors across the country, 40 percent of the students failed, so take pride in your success,” Linville told the graduates during his commencement address. Thirteen inmates received diplomas and some of those had completed their sentences or been

Keith Gilbertson (center) stands proudly with recent graduates o f CAP Adult Education program.

themselves had expressed an interest in completing their educa tion. State inmates are provided various services and programs, such as recreation, church and education. As the inmates proceeded into the courtroom in traditional cap and gown, to a muscially uplifting triumphant processional, their presence in front of the witness stand was under very positive circumstances, as opposed to previous visits to the bench. “Working in the prison system in the past, I know what a boost it was to accomplish something,” said Linville Rose, a worker with CAP

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granted parole prior to the actual graduation ceremony. “It really gives a great sense of pride to these guys who accomplish this and I realize how important it is to them,” said Keith Gilbertson, instructor for CAP’s Adult Learning program. Keith met and taught classes with the inmates each week. “How long it takes them depends on how hard they’re willing to work to complete the course study,” continued Keith. “Some of them commented that they appreciated the teacher’s patience with the mate rial.”

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MEMBER

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CAP joins America’s Charities If your employer supports a workplace payroll deduction program, you can now choose to contribute to CAP through America’s Charities. CAP has become a member of America’s Charities, a nationwide federation that provides critically needed human services, reaching millions of Americans in thousands of communities. Through America’s Charities workplace giving campaigns, employees can choose to support their favorite charitable causes from over 100 nationally known non-profit organizations. If you are a military or civilian federal employee, you can choose to contribute to CAP through American’s Charities during the Fall 2001 Combined Federal Campaign. CAP’S member number is #0428. For more information, please contact: Teresa McAnly Christian Appalachian Project

322 Crab Orchard Street Lancaster, KY 40446___

A 1999 story in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution called Jackson County, Ky., one of the poorest areas in the United States. The story focused on the implementa tion of “Empowerment Zones,” an anti-poverty program that was beginning throughout the United States. The story stated that as a result of the introduction of the program in Jackson County, both the number of families receiving welfare and the unemployment rate in the county had dropped dramatically. The growth in Jackson County since the announcement in 1994 that it would be part of only two rural empowerment zones in the United States has been remarkable. On the edge of the Daniel Boone National Forest, Jackson County’s relative isolation led to a number of deficiencies, including a lack of infrastructure, limited job skills and a shortage of investment capital. The county was formed in 1858, made up of portions of surrounding counties and named for Andrew Jackson. The county has been formed around agrarian tradi tions. Although the environment of the county is often difficult to work and cultivate, Jackson Countians are bound to the land of their home through faith, strength and determination. This strength and determination was one of the reasons that Jackson County was included in the Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone application. The designation brought the three-county (Jackson, Wayne and Clinton) area $40 million in federal appro

priation to encourage new and expanding businesses. Activity that has resulted from the empowerment zone recently has centered on the creation of a lake, according to Christian Appalachian Project human services director Tom Conner, a resident of Jackson County. The lake, he said, would provide a water supply to Jackson County, which has a population of over 13,495. County Judge-Executive Tommy Slone has been quoted in The Jackson County Sun, saying “The lake is important for the industry but also to the 40 percent of our population who do not have potable drinking water.” The statistics concerning the changes in Jackson County show a marked improvement in recent years. The census figures in 2000 show a 26 percent increase in the population of the county since 1960. The median income in the county has indicated a dramatic increase in the past ten years. In 1989, the median household income in Jackson County was $11,885. In 1997, only three years after the inception of the empowerment zone, the median household income had increased to $18,503. According to its Web site, the Jackson County empowerment zone board is collaborating with several local and state groups on projects that impact life in the county, including the lake project, revitalization of the Jackson County towns of Annville and McKee (the

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improved to 42.5. The numbers are the United States Department of still higher than the state average, Agriculture; operating costs for the and significantly higher than the center will be shared by CAP, Head federal average, but the improve Start and the industries located at ments are steady, nevertheless. the Industrial Park. While Jackson remains on the One of the most dramatic Appalachian Regional Commission’s statistical increases in Jackson list of distressed counties, the County is in the area of education statistics indicate that its improve attainment. In 1970 only 13 percent ment has been exciting and plans are of the residents over the age of 25 in in place for that improvement to Jackson County had graduated from continue. The people working in high school. By 1990, that percent conjunction with the local empower age had increased to 38 percent. As ment zone program credit the is the case with many distressed collaboration of the people of counties in the Appalachian region, Jackson County to make their home the lack of opportunity and the low a better place. educational attainment level of the A poem by Mary Purkey de population go hand in hand. scribes the feelings of many county Because there are few jobs in the residents: county, young people who leave the county to go to college move away perma nently because there is little to come home to. There is a place like that of your This “brain drain” dreams keeps both the skill Jean Barnes, assistant director o f human services, and CAP founder level and the education There is a land abounding with Father Ralph Beiting at the ground level low. breaking ceremony for the Annville nature’s beauty and grace Since its designation Child Development Center as an empowerment There is a place of rolling hills, zone, Jackson County has benefited from an One of the key collaborations in plush valleys, and sparkling increase of 500 jobs; the county involves the Christian waters another 1,900 are Appalachian Project in the estab expected in the next lishment of a new child and family There is a land where the spirit of two years. development center. The Annville its people is as rich as the soil The increase in center, though, will have one major upon which they trod difference from CAP’s other centers. educational attainment and the drop in the “This won’t be CAP’s program,” There is a place where uniting for unemployment level led, says assistant director of human quite naturally, to a the common good is still common services Jean Barnes. “CAP will decrease in the poverty manage the facility for a period of place level in Jackson County. time, and then hopefully the In 1989, 38.2 program will be turned over to the There is a land where the percent of the total community.” opportunity to realize the Ground was broken for the center population of the “American Dream ” is a reality county, and 45.6 in October 2000, in at the Industrial percent of the children Development Park near Annville, There is a place where yesterday lived below the federal so that the center will be able to still is and where tomorrow is poverty level. The 2000 serve the day care needs of people census showed that the who work at Mid-South Electronics, now level of poverty for the Phillips Diversified Manufacturing There is a place for you in this total population had and the Jackson County Rehabilita great land improved to a level of tion Industries. 30.8 percent; the child A “brick and mortar” grant of poverty level had nearly $500,000 was received from

county seat), and entrepreneurial training courses that are being conducted by Eastern Kentucky University. EKU has conducted six 24-sesson courses for more than 100 persons; 25 have launched their own businesses as a result of those courses.

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Heading, Waiting And A “Rite O f Passage New Clothes And Supplies For A New School year Matter

The journey was over 60 miles to the Berea outreach office from the home of Chloe and Sill Arnett, mother and son who reside in the tiny commu nity of Oneida in mountainous Clay County. But it was well worth the trip. Fourteen-y ear-old Sill was outfitted with new clothes, a backpack, shoes, socks and essential school supplies. Even more important, Chloe and Sill Arnett select necessities for the first day back to school at the CAP though, Sill was School Readiness “store. ” empowered to face the first day of school on a level playing field, with a brighter attitude and an eagerness to achieve. At the end of the summer, school children and their parents from throughout Eastern Kentucky flock to local shopping centers and area department stores. Combing through piles of paper supplies, selecting a new outfit and finding the most suitable backpack for that first day of school is a rite of passage with which almost everyone is familiar.

Volunteer Melissa Glover and outreach caseworker Diann Brand, finalize the selections Sill and his mother have made.

Most households in America don’t give a thought to supplying a child with a new shirt, placing three ring binders in a regulation back pack and making sure shoes and socks fit properly. But for many families in Appala chia, the financial commitment of providing the necessary articles for beginning a new school year leave limited budgets in a bind, their children scraping by with the bare essentials. To assist families with the burden they face purchasing the important tools for a successful return to school, CAP outreach initiated a school readiness pro gram. The program gives qualifying families the opportunity to provide much-needed materials and provi sions to their school-age children, enabling a return to another academic year on a more level

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playing field. “School Readiness gives kids an opportunity to come in and be relaxed, try on clothing, select what they want and not worry about cost or price,” said Robyn Renner, manager of CAP outreach.

A Comfortable Fit Sill and his mother began their process with school readiness months prior to coming to the CAP’S Berea warehouse. In the months of July and August the warehouse is outfitted with clothing, sneakers, backpacks and other school supplies. Sill completed an application with the help of Joe Linhoff, a volunteer from Kansas City, Mo., who works in CAP’S Clay County outreach program. Joe has connected 65 families from the Burning Springs, Laurel Creek and Oneida communities in Clay County

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with the School Readiness program. Sill’s back-to-school needs are simple. He wants to fit in and look like any other middle school student. Due to a serious medical condition, selecting the proper fit for Sill is key, but peer pressure can often overshadow the youngster’s perspective. The fit of Sill’s clothes can mean success or failure for the 14-year-old, so he and his mother carefully chose appropriate gar ments and paid close attention to both fit and comfort. In addition to participating in the School Readiness program, Sill will also benefit from attending Camp Andrew Jackson, a CAP summer camp. CAP staff and volunteers begin working months in advance to prepare for the families they will assist through school readiness. Outreach offices in Clay, southern

considered, an enormous shopping list is compiled, based on needs and sizes of the applicant families. A marathon-spending spree is launched at area department stores. CAP outreach workers can be seen spending an entire eight-hour work day hunting fashions and bargains. K Mart has become one of the most cooperative and valued partners of the fledgling program, notifying CAP of upcoming discounts (i.e., backpacks for 25 cents, mark-downs on shoes, etc.) and making cash grants. The Berea outreach workers transform the CAP warehouse on U.S. 25 into a back-to-school headquarters/store during July and early August. CAP provides some van transportation to the “store”; other participants carpool with neighbors and relatives and travel to Berea from the outlying participating counties.

CAP volunteer Claire Kaiser assists Sill and Chloe in their selections.

Madison, Owsley, Garrard, Rockcastle, Jackson and McCreary counties serve as the processing centers. Workers complete an information sheet on each family that applies to participate in the program. Information includes the number of students in the family, their ages, sizes, grade level and special clothing requests. (For some, the list of students in the family includes the mother or father who is attending college or trade school.) Family resource centers, programs affiliated with public school systems that provide services to low-income families, provide an important link to CAP in connecting children and families with the program. Families qualify to participate in CAP’s school readiness program if they participate in the United States Department of Agriculture free or reduced lunch/breakfast program; have an income of about $1300 for a family of three; have a parent or a child with a disability or children in kindergarten through the 12th grade.

£hop ‘til you drop After each application is carefully

Volunteer Peggy Wicker fits a child with a new pair o f shoes.

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that children are able to make sure the clothing fits and can make selections that suit their taste (and that of their moms, of course!). “The first Monday we were open we served 228 children in less than six hours,” Robyn said. “The new changes to the program are a little more work for our staff, but it’s much more conducive to the families’ needs.” The “store” is open four days a week and has designated days for each outreach county. The process allows forms to be more easily Students gather additional goodies from the “extras ” and expediently shelf. Many supplies are supplemented through CAP’s processed. At the end of Operation Sharing. each week during the back-to-school season, inventory is In previous years, participants evaluated, and outreach staff returns were notified of a distribution day to the stores to do additional and were asked to pick up items shopping in order to re-stock. chosen in advance for each student As School Readiness gains from their county outreach office. In momentum and CAP staff and recent years, however, participants have traveled to the facility in Berea volunteers learn from one season to the next how to better serve their to make their own selections. participants, more and more people Workers have learned that the ask to participate in the program. inconvenience of traveling outside the county is outweighed by the fact

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“About 75 to 80 percent of our students return to participate in School Readiness each year. Some kids will graduate and others have younger siblings that are just entering the classroom, so our numbers are steady and growing,” Robyn said.

FinalTleceipts and possibie'Resuits After all is complete and the last pencil is purchased, the dollar value on the back-to-school program totals approximately $72,000 with $60 each spent on nearly 1,200 youngsters. Shoes, socks, pens and pocket folders not only add to outfit the student, but empower them to face the first day with a brighter attitude and a stronger sense of self-esteem. “Perhaps in time, the outcomes model (a measurement for success, instituted by CAP) will reveal the program’s benefits and show a difference, even an improvement in attendance and achievement by students that participate,” Robyn said. “We are totally supportive of the parents, while adapting a program like School Readiness. We are also realistic that one outfit may not get a child through a whole year of school, however, it may help put food on the table in the savings their parents gain.”

S c h o o l "Readiness C h e c K iis t □ S h ir t □ P a n ts □Shoes □ S ocks □ U n d e rw e a r □H ygiene pacKs □ S c h o o l pacKs Penciis/paper Crayons/m arKers S cisso rs G lu e sticK s 3-ring binders C a lc u la to r Assignm ent booK

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Another satisfied customer, ready for a successful year in school.

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C amp A ndrew J ackson

A CAP Tradition BY MARGARET GABRIEL

Camp Andrew Jackson Manager, Matt Krupp has many years experience with church camps. For as long as there has been a Christian Appalachian Project, there have been CAP camping programs. When Father Ralph Beiting was assigned as pastor to a fourcounty region in Eastern Kentucky, and realized that his ministry needed to reach out to needy families in the area, he approached the families by offering service to their children. That service came in the form of recreation programs. As the story goes, CliffView Lodge started with six boys, two counselors and a tarpaulin. During the days, the boys participated in the same types of activities as other boys in other camps throughout the country. They went swimming and canoeing, hiking and fishing. They had snipe hunts and scavenger hunts. In the evenings, they sat around the campfire and talked. Father Beiting would ask them about their hopes, their dreams and their plans for the future. Sometimes those hopes and dreams were sketchy, Father Beiting says. Kids who sometimes don’t know where their next meal is coming from are reluctant to think too much about the future.

And they talked about God. They talked about God’s love for them and how they might serve Him through serving others. There are lots of things that have changed in the forty years that followed Father Beiting’s first camping adventure. Today, CAP hosts sleep-over camps as well as day camps for over a thousand children from nearly two dozen counties in Eastern Kentucky. The kids sleep in dorms instead of under a tarp, but the activities are much the same. They still swim, boat and hike. And they still talk about God. The “dean” of CAP’s camping programs is Camp Andrew Jackson which has provided memories and adventures for children since the late 1960s Matt Krupp has recently completed his first year as manager of Camp Andrew Jackson. Despite the fact that 2001 was his “rookie” season at Camp AJ, Matt has many years’ experience in church camps when he was growing up in Southern Illinois. Matt discovered similarities as well as differences

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During his first year at Camp AJ, there seemed to be more homesick ness than he had seen in other camps. Counselors don’t always refuse to allow a child to call home; they deal with homesickness on a case-by-case basis. The girls, he said, seem to have a more difficult time. “One girl in a dorm will start crying and before you know it, you’ve got all 30 of them in tears. I guess it’s a girl thing.” When counselors are able to convince a camper to “tough it out,” he or she is usually glad and has a great time, Matt said. For the first time in 2001, Camp Andrew Jackson hosted two co-ed weeks; in the past only the teen leadership camps had mixed boys and girls. “It’s worked out really well,” Matt said. “Usually the weeks with just boys are really stressful for the counselors, but with the mixed week

between Camp Andrew Jackson and his camps of the past. As a nondenominational camp, Camp AJ focuses on spirituality, but must do so in a way that will not contradict children’s teachings at home and in church, Matt said. “We try to teach good morals, based on the teachings of Jesus and the Bible,” Matt said. “We have a half-hour of Bible study each day, and in the morning we sing spiritual songs. A lot of times when they’re sitting around the campfire at night, they’ll sing them again.” The actions and example of the counselors - to treat each person with dignity, and respect - is the greatest lesson the campers can learn, Matt said. Camps each develop their own culture and Camp Andrew Jackson is no different. “Its culture is drawn from the culture of the area and the people we serve,” Matt said.

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R e p o r t e r 9/ Over the years I’ve benefited from lots of “perks” as a result of the work I’ve done with the Christian Appala chian Project. I’ve - literally - traveled roads I never would have traveled and met some of the finest people in the world. Those roads started at Cliffview Lodge, when my parents worked during their summer vacation for a young priest who, several years later, would found the Christian Appalachian Project as a way of helping the people of Appalachia to help themselves. I have wonderful memories of camp, particularly those campfires that Father Beiting tells about. In addition to the hopes and dreams he recalls, though, I remember hearing him relate some really spooky stories that scared me long after camp was over. Over the years, counselors have learned that scary campfire stories are more trouble then they’re worth when it comes time to get kids to settle down to sleep. I’m glad about that. Although I have fond memories of being scared out of my wits, I’m happy to know that my daughter, Ellen, age 9, will sleep safe and sound during her week at Camp Andrew Jackson. This was Ellen’s fourth year at camp,

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there was less fighting; they just seemed to calm down a lot more.” By mixing genders, young people can learn lessons that will serve them well as they go through life. “We try to teach the girls to be confident [around boys] and the boys to be respectful [of girls].” Camp AJ gives them a safe environ ment where they can practice appropriate behavior. “I learned to respect girls at church camp and it’s a good place to practice.” The mixed gender weeks are new at Camp AJ, but one thing has remained constant through the years: “I’ve noticed that the counselors show all the kids unconditional love. They know they’re accepted here; it’s an environment where they can enjoy it and just be a kid. People care about [the kids], and they know that by the end of the first day, and they go away knowing it.”

and I consider her opportunity to spend a week at Camp AJ one of the greatest perks I’ve had as I’ve worked for CAP. She emphatically states that her week at camp is her favorite week of the year; all summer she counted down the days until she could leave for camp. Like most kids, Ellen will tell you that her favorite camp activity is swimming. In fact, Matt says that if kids spent all day in the pool, after they dried off, they’d want to know what time they could go back tomorrow. But I’m a mom — you can’t fool me. She doesn’t pack off for a week in the woods just so she can go swimming. She loves meeting new kids, having new adven tures and seeing new things. Years from now, she may realize that she loved camp for reasons she can’t now name. It has everything to do with the uncondi tional love that she receives, that safe environment that Matt talks about. Just this year though, I asked myself this question: If Ellen, a kid who comes from a mostly middle-class background, calls camp “my favorite week of the year,” how much more valuable must it be to a more typical Camp AJ kid? Most of the campers come from homes that have far less than we can offer Ellen.

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Ellen works on a science experiment during her time at camp in 1999 with the help o f Dan Lennon, who was one o f her all-time favorite counselors. For some, just the fact that at camp they have three meals a day and two snacks is a great departure from the other 51 weeks of the year. I’m thankful that CAP has allowed me to send Ellen to AJ. The lessons she’s learned are unlike any she leams anywhere else. Camp will challenge me to live up to the examples that are set for her during that one magical week of the year.

Everyman (EM) has lived in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky his whole life. His father worked in the coal mines and his mother tended the home, the garden and the children — EM, his two brothers and three sisters. With encouragement from his folks, EM finished high school, then married his high school sweetheart. Within a year they had started a family. 24

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EM followed his father into the mines, beginning work shortly after high school graduation. Not long after that, the industry fell on hard times and began layoffs. Naturally, since EM was the last hired, he was also the first fired. So now, he’s in a bit of a spot. The family has grown to include three kids, and what few jobs are available don’t pay nearly as much as he made in the mines. EM’s wife is a frugal homemaker and works wonders with the family garden, but she can’t pay the electric bill with her crop of green beans. While he was in high school, EM took woodshop and learned some woodcrafting skills. He’s more than willing to improve and build on those skills. He enjoys woodworking and has aptitude in the field. He also has a vague and somewhat unformed idea that he might be able to use those skills to provide for his family, but doesn’t know how to move on that idea. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Attract industry. Encourage entrepreneurs. Promote tax incen tives. Develop micro-enterprise. Should government and private efforts be directed toward attracting large manufacturing concerns? Or are efforts more effective when they’re designed to help folks like EM identify ways to access capital and attain the technical assistance needed by budding entrepreneurs? To many economists, the ques-

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economic development services to Eastern Kentucky,” she said. “Few of them look at it as community development and micro-enterprise. Most of them are looking to attract the big boys or to grow mid-sized businesses into large businesses.” In its economic development programming, CAP hopes to take a different look at the solutions to the problems. Marilyn has compiled information on dozens of groups and organizations that can provide the technical assistance that someone such as EM might need. She also knows that there is money available for a potential entrepreneur to access the capital he, or she, might need to begin a business. “That’s the least of our problems,” Marilyn said. “If someone has a good business plan, I can get them $ 1000 or $100,000 in nothing flat.” CAP, she hopes, will be taking a somewhat different route. Before joining CAP, Marilynn economic development. served as the director of strategic “You need both,” she says. “Big planning and economic development corporations bring new money from for Pike County, the largest county outside the area. Small businesses in Appalachian Kentucky. In that recycle the wealth that’s already role, she learned one of the most here. But with big businesses, you important components of growing a often see small businesses, and local new economy in a largely rural area: people, spinning off from what’s community development. come in from the outside.” “When I was working for Pike Marilynn began her work with County, I got involved with Stone, CAP in January 2001, traveling, Ky., a coal town that had originally listening and learning about the economic development efforts in the belonged to Henry Ford,” Marilynn said. region. “There are over 225 “Stone has three of the old mine different offices that provide

tions of whether efforts should concentrate on big business or micro-enterprise are mutually exclusive. Not so, according to Marilynn Payson, the Christian Appalachian Project’s director of

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... the idftv oj~community development wnf community supportfits fuite into (fA ^’sfoundingprinciple of helping people to themselves. company buildings that are being given to them by the owner; one is the old company store, one is the office building, and one is a wonderful old theater,” Marilyn said. “The coal camp houses are still there, along with the old bank building, a church, the supervisor’s village, and the Ford ‘Mansion.’ One of the grants that I got them was for the documentation process to put the town on the National Historic Register, but it is not on the Register yet.” Beginning as a grassroots effort, a group of Stone residents began meeting in the Methodist church and developed a strategic plan that centered on the coal company giving the buildings to the county. “Politics got involved,” Marilynn said, and ultimately, when the company offered the buildings to the county, the fiscal court didn’t accept them. “It turned out to be to their advantage that the county backed out. Now, the group has formed Stone Heritage. They’ve received two grants and have pulled together as a community, and will build an economic base on tourism and music.” Marilynn believes that the idea of community development and community support fits quite neatly into CAP’s founding principle of helping people to help themselves. Uniting With Alum

In the course of researching the opportunities that are currently

programs, and was the first manager of Family Life Child Development in Rockcastle County. “Part of what we’re about is helping people to make transitions from thinking of themselves as babysitters to businesses,” she said. With a minimal level of training, June said, child care providers can receive certification to care for children. If they go from the “certi fied” to the “licensed” level, they can double the number of children for whom they can provide care. “We’ve found that the more training women have - and it’s mostly women - the more they enjoy taking care of children,” June said. “A lady in Williamsburg wrote us a letter to tell us that she had taken to heart all of the things she was hearing in our training sessions. She gave each child an opportunity to select their activities and the toys they played with, and gave them all a place to keep their things. She found she was able to spend more time actually playing with the kids, and began to enjoy being with them. It really changed how she felt about the care she was giving.” Licensed and certified child care providers are eligible to receive low-income loans from the Central Appalachian People’s Federated Credit Union, June said. With such loans, child care providers can build

available to potential entrepreneurs in Eastern Kentucky, Marilynn met a group that is quite familiar with CAP’s principles and philosophy. With a staff that consists of several former CAP employees that worked in child development programs, the East Kentucky Child Care Coalition supports and trains people interested in establishing licensed child care facilities. The emphasis on welfareto-work programs that grew out of welfare reform in 1996 has created an increasing need for child care. “The creation of these types of businesses is a critically needed service in most of the CAP commu nities,” according to CAP’s strategic plan for economic development. “This collaboration can serve as both a means to create jobs in small businesses and as a way to meet a community need.” June Widman, director of East Kentucky Child Care Coalition, came to CAP as a volunteer in the late 1970s, served as assistant director of When CAP moved to Floyd County in 1981, the organization began CAP human producing stained glass. The stained glass service award on the following page was one item produced. services

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additions to their homes, or make other improvements that will allow a higher quality of child care. Half of the people who begin participation with EKCCC are not able to provide child care because of a lack of space or poor repair of their homes. For example, June said, the potential home-based business might have a nonapproved water source such as a well or a cistern. “Or maybe the home itself is in good shape, but there’s a hazard nearby, like a sinkhole. Or their yard needs to be fenced and fencing would cost more than the family could afford,” June said.

“JLntreyreneurshiy is MiCe in &e-ntrt\>l AyytMt^chit^ b u t Coul({ be eCen nxort Vwri^nt vCith <x tittle-tnore a tte n tio n to entreyreneurs cw4 their —

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but could be even more vibrant with a little more attention to entrepre neurs and their needs.” The needs of entrepreneurs in the Collaboration Through region include businesses of many Other Programs varieties and sizes. For example, in just the counties served by the Marilynn suggests that through its Christian Appalachian Project there housing program, CAP could are 37,000 “non-employee” busi provide another resource for people nesses operating, Marilynn reports. who wish to begin a child care “These might be people that haul a business but need home improve table out, throw a sheet over it and ment to make the center safe and sell things on the side of the road. professional. That’s not just a yard sale; lots of CAP has been a pacesetter in women make a living doing that, early childhood programs since it even though they don’t consider began its first child develop it a small business.” ment center in the late 1960s. In MACED reports a number of their early days, CAP programs challenges to the business provided day care; in later atmosphere in Eastern Ken years, the programs provided tucky, including limited access two daily sessions of child to training which affects development, and were thus workforce quality. A sub-culture able to serve double the number discovered by MACED — one of children in programs that that could have a pervasive helped to prepare them for influence on entrepreneurial success in public school. With activity — has a negative the advent of welfare-to-work attitude toward success, programs, and the need for described by one observer “As quality day care, CAP is once rooted in a family-based, again providing a full day of The Tenth Anniversary Service Award, given to CAP subsistence-style, egalitarian care. employees. culture. You do what you need Marilyn would like to to get by, and you do not get propose using CAP child above your upbringing or raising.” As part of the strategic plan that development centers also as This attitude can be particularly Marilynn has compiled concerning “hatcheries,” places where individu harmful to an entrepreneur who is recommendations for CAP involve als interested in beginning a child looking to family and close friends ment in economic development, she care business might receive training. for support and can undermine the references a 1996 report by The presence of child care business need for confidence and a healthy MACED which says, “Entrepreneurin rural areas has had a large impact self-esteem. ship (is) alive in Central Appalachia on local economies, June said. A

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grant for child care from the Kentucky governor’s office has resulted in an expenditure of over $10 million, “And most of that is in micro-enterprise,” June said. “It’s a hidden part of the structure of the economy, especially in rural areas.” CAP hopes to collaborate with other long-time associates in Eastern Kentucky, including the East Kentucky Corporation and MACED, the Mountain Association for Community Economic Develop ment (see The Mountain Spirit, September-October 1995).

2001

6ustdindble 'businesses, these stdrtec{ bn dn^ in

d community, dre these th d t will

lilcely stdy in the reaien dntf succeed. The need for community support and development is a niche that CAP can easily fill in the matrix of needs for economic development, accord ing to Marilynn’s strategic plan and program recommendations. When Marilynn attended a talk by a worker in a West Virginia Rural Development program, she learned that one of the primary needs of entrepreneurs and small business people is marriage and family counseling. “What better place for CAP to assist than through Family Life Counseling Services?” Marilynn said. In fiscal year 2000 CAP Family Life Counseling Services provided services to nearly 2700 people in 36 counties.

collaboration or internship pro grams. There might be a similar operation in Pennsylvania that we can visit as a colleague, not a competitor.” Regionally, Marilynn said, word of mouth is often the most important — and sometimes the only - marketing tool. “That’s fine, but we also need to find ways to access outside money.” Eastern Kentucky entrepreneurs are also beginning to make good use of marketing over the Internet as a way to infuse new money into the area. Going back to the character you met at the beginning of this story, Marilynn can see a number of ways that CAP might be able to help EM get his ideas off the ground, includ ing the investigation of group health insurance that would be necessary for a family that is involved in a micro-enterprise rather than em ployer-provided health care. “The lack of benefits is one of the top ten reasons that people don’t begin their businesses,” Marilynn said. “We’ve been talking to a couple of people, including a local credit union, about starting a group policy.”

Kentucky has a group health insurance policy that is designed to make insurance accessible for hardto-insure people or those with chronic illnesses. For the average family, though, that group policy is nearly as expensive as private insurance, and therefore out of reach for most people trying to establish themselves in micro enterprise. Sustainable businesses, those started by and in a community, are those that will likely stay in the region and succeed. “They’re built on the culture and values of the community,” Marilynn said. “Businesses that are lured with tax incentives or big buildings are more likely to leave if they get a better The Biggest Need: Marketing tax incentive or bigger building.” CAP can take the role of linking Marilynn hopes that CAP’S folks like EM with the technical longtime presence in the community assistance they need from Small will position the organization to Business Development Centers, assist with these and several other lenders such as Community Loan challenges, including one of the Ventures and one of dozens of most difficult for business in any economic development organiza region: marketing. tions that serve as mentor, advisor “Without exception,” Marilynn and guide. said, “everyone interviewed “Because we’re part of the concerning small business owner community, we can link people to ship or development that support, including said help is needed in family and neighbors. It marketing.” might be as simple as The tradition of walking out of church and making and marketing making a comment to the handcrafts is often pastor about someone’s associated with business plans. He might know of in Eastern Kentucky, someone else who’s and is a viable business working along a similar for people who have the line. When you’re part of talent for production the community, you do and the creative insight whatever you can to help Craft production is a viable business for Appalachian artists. CAP for marketing. hopes to help craftsmen with marketing. the people.” “We can start with

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Mike & Connie Little

“It would really be difficult for either one of us to do the work we do if the other didn understand the demands. ” Connie and Mike Little

As a teenager, Connie Cheek moved from her home in Salyersville, Kentucky, to live with her grandmother in Dayton, Ohio. There she grew into adulthood, married, had her son and began a business as a hairdresser. “I made my home there for 25 years,” Connie says. But like so many others who move away, Eastern Kentucky was truly home for Connie and after she divorced she knew she needed to return to her roots. “I left a thriving business - and it’s still going

strong, I’m proud to say - came home and went back to school.” At Mayo Technical Institute in Paintsville, Connie set the course for her life in two important ways. First, as an office technology major, Connie received the background she needed to begin working for the Christian Appalachian Project as a receptionist. Secondly, when she was a student, Connie met Mike Little. “It was love at first site,” she said. The two married in 1997. Connie honestly admits that when

she began working for CAP in April 1993, she never intended to make a long-term commitment to the organization. “I’d been a hairdresser and owned my own business. I wanted to do something to get started on a resume and then move on. But seven years later, I’m still here and it’s because of CAP’s mission.” Connie learned of that mission on one of her first days as a CAP employee when she made a home visit to an elderly woman with co-

Story and photo by Margaret Gabriel S e p t e m b e r - o c t o b e r

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worker Melissa Vance. “I grew up in this area. I like to say we were poor and proud, but I had never seen anything like what I saw that day I went out with Melissa. I just cried and cried. This is my home and my people; this is how they live and I didn’t even know it. “When we were growing up, we wore hand-me-downs and we didn’t have everything we wanted, but I was aware that there were children that were poorer than we were. My grandmother would help anybody who ran short by giving them some extra commeal, but I had never been exposed to the reality of what I saw.” It is not unusual for a native Eastern Kentuckian such as Connie to say, “I never knew.” But the action Connie has taken in response to what she saw not only influenced her decision to work for CAP, also encouraged Mike to take a job with CAP. Mike had worked in the mining industry, but when the price of coal dropped in 1991, he was laid off. The lay-off prompted his returned to the Mayo Technical Institute where he received certification in heating and air-conditioning technology and the background he needed to begin his own a business. Despite that certification, though, “I learned that to have a successful heating and air-conditioning business you have to have a lot of brothers,” Mike said. “I like servicing units, but first you have to install them and I didn’t have anyone in that end of the business.” When CAP was in need of a trained maintenance worker, Mike came on board with a preventive maintenance program he had learned from his father. In the long run, than plan saves CAP thousands of dollars a year, keeping approximately 70 buildings not only operative but safe. “I’ll say this,” Connie said.

“ We’ve agreed that in

our marriage God is first and family is second. But CAP is third, and sometimes they’re all intertwined. ” “You’ll never find a prouder preventive maintenance man.” Connie recently left her position as office manager in the department of human services in Hagerhill to begin working as the coordinator of Big Sandy Spouse Abuse. She enjoyed contact with all of the programs as an administrator, but said the shelter “is the only program I ever really wanted to get into.” The position of coordinator, Connie said, mixes her skills in administration while still giving the opportunity for hands-on service that she sought. “I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to get that involved with the participants, but the second day I was here, I was French braiding a little girl’s hair, and today, I dealt with a woman who came in with her two children.” While Connie is now providing direct service rather support (she even expects to use her expertise in cosmetology), Mike appreciates the opportunity to touch base with all of the direct service programs and in doing so, observing their work and the support they give to the people of Appalachia. Mike spends his days on the road, providing both the preventive maintenance and trouble-shooting that keeps CAP programs running smoothly. “When I got to the spouse abuse

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shelter or the Genesis Center that we remodeled in Louisa and see faces of the kids, there’s a reward. I like going to the camps and seeing the kids fishing or getting to swim in the pool because we were able to get city water to the camp. At the adult education center in Salyersville, I see the people learning how to operate computers because of the hook-ups we installed. That’s how I know we’re really doing something worthwhile,” Mike says. Working for CAP “has really been a blessing for our marriage,” Connie says. “It would be difficult for either of us to do the work we do if the other didn’t understand the demands. We’ve agreed that in our marriage God is first and family is second. But CAP is third, and sometimes they’re all intertwined.” It’s hard to leave work at the office, Mike and Connie agree, especially because Mike is often on 24-hour call for CAP’s residential programs. Sometimes, though, Mike and Connie make a conscious effort to get away from it all. “We were going to Gatlinburg a couple of weeks ago and agreed that we were going to fine each other a dollar every time we mentioned CAP,” Connie says. “Well, within the first five minutes after we left home, we were both broke. It’s really hard to leave it at the office.” Mike and Connie are “sunk in” and believe that are in the right place to offer their gifts and talents. “Our plans are solid,” Connie says. “We’re going to work for CAP until we retire, then buy an RV and hit the road,” frequently visiting her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren in nearby Winchester. “Mike’s 13-year-old son lives with us, so we’ve still got family to raise. But eventually, we both want to be planted in the big CAP cemetery out back.”

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ScfrooC Readiness The problems of Appalachia sometimes resemble the complexity of a tangled ball of twine. Most people who live and work in the region agree, though, that many of the problems would begin to untangle if the issue of low education levels were addressed. For that reason, a large percentage of Christian Appalachian Project resources are directed toward education at all levels. CAP early childhood development programs are recognized as some of the finest in Kentucky. The organization has assisted over 1,000 people to achieve high school equivalency through adult education After months o f preparation, Robyn Renner, CAP Outreach Manager, programs. reaps the benefits by seeing happy faces on satisfied students. Education workers say that one story of why people don’t finish school is heard with aching frequency: “My clothes were old and I got tired of people laughing at me.” Or, “My daddy couldn’t buy me the things I needed to go to school.” Hundreds of children this year will be able to start school carrying new backpacks stocked with paper, notebooks and pens. The new outfits — including shoes — they’ll receive will make their first day of school extra special. For some, it will be the first time ever that a first day of school has held the promise of new and exciting adventure. CAP outreach workers are well aware that new shoes and notebooks won’t be enough to correct all of the problems in the lives of the low income families they serve. The workers do know, however, that the new clothes and supplies will make at least one hurdle a little easier to clear. In 2001, CAP’s school readiness program provides about $60 worth of back-to-school possibilities to 1,200 people, from kindergarteners to parents working at community college and trade schools. The generosity of CAP donors makes these dreams possible. Your donation of $60 to school readiness - or where it is needed most - will allow the families of Appalachia to continue their educations. And their dreams.

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Improvements in Jackson County • In 1989, the median household income in Jackson County was $11,885. In 1997, the median house hold income had increased to $18,503. • The census figures in 2000 show a 26 percent in crease in the population of Jackson County since 1960. • In 1989, 38.2 percent of the people in Jackson County, and 45.6 percent of the children lived below the federal poverty level. In 2000 the level of pov erty has improved to a $ •§ level of 30.8 percent; the |g \ child poverty level has I T improved to 42.5. f J * Q_ O Shac indie ho u r the / regie