Jan 8 Resource Shift Changing Course: Federal Grant Fills Gaps In Rural School Funding A group of students from South Floyd Middle School had seen the nearby elementary school suffer damage from floods year after year. When they joined the school’s newly formed engineering team, they came up with a low-cost solution. “We’ve designed portable flood levees,” team member Preston Crase explained. The plastic bins are filled with a […] By Benny Becker Jan 8 Resource Shift Changing Course: Federal Grant Fills Gaps In Rural School Funding Benny Becker
Dec 8 Resource Shift Changing Course: “Tiny House” Project Tackles Big Problems In Coal Country The sound of power tools blends with teenage chatter as students clamber around, under, and over a trailer bed that they’re busy turning into a home. They’re part of a project called “Building It Forward,” which has vocational classes building tiny houses as a way of gaining practical skills and new confidence. Just a few […] By Benny Becker Dec 8 Resource Shift Changing Course: “Tiny House” Project Tackles Big Problems In Coal Country Benny Becker
Nov 22 Resource Shift Changing Course: A School Cooperative Aims To Remake Coal Communities Betsy Layne High School serves rural Floyd County in the eastern Kentucky town of Stanville, population 206. Students there produce a video program called “Bobcat Banter” where they usually talk about sports and student life. But early last year “Bobcat Banter” introduced some special guests. “We’re here with Mr. and Mrs. Gates from the Gates […] By Jeff Young , Mary Meehan and Benny Becker Nov 22 Resource Shift Changing Course: A School Cooperative Aims To Remake Coal Communities Jeff Young, Mary Meehan and Benny Becker
Oct 6 Resource Shift “Matewan” Revisited: Film Unearthed Region’s Buried Labor History Thirty years ago the premiere of a small-budget, independent film had an out-sized effect on how many people in Appalachian coal country thought about their region and their past. “Matewan,” directed by John Sayles, depicted a bloody chapter in the fight to organize coal miners in the 1920s, exploring themes of class struggle and pacifism […] By Jeff Young Oct 6 Resource Shift “Matewan” Revisited: Film Unearthed Region’s Buried Labor History Jeff Young
Sep 25 Resource Shift A “Like” From Zuck: Facebook Founder Visits Rural Kentucky Schools Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in West Virginia and Kentucky over the weekend to see some innovative ways that schools are using new technology. Zuckerberg has been traveling the country working on his New Year’s resolution to speak with people in every state. On Sunday, he met with educators and students from across […] By Benny Becker Sep 25 Resource Shift A “Like” From Zuck: Facebook Founder Visits Rural Kentucky Schools Benny Becker
Jun 16 Resource Shift Struggle To Stay: The Personal Stories Behind Population Loss “I’d love to be able to stay here,” said 32-year-old West Virginian Mark Combs. “The people are great. But it’s just dying. If you want to succeed you’ve gotta leave.” Mark is an actor and an Iraqi war veteran. He thinks there has to be a better life, or at least better economic opportunities, elsewhere. […] By Glynis Board Jun 16 Resource Shift Struggle To Stay: The Personal Stories Behind Population Loss Glynis Board
Apr 26 Resource Shift Safety Concerns Force Postponement Of Rally Opposing White Nationalists UPDATED April 27, 2017: Organizers say they have postponed a counter-rally organized by local youth due to “previously unforeseen credible threats to the safety of our attendees and our community,” according to organizer Ariana Velasquez. The “Rally for Equality and American Values” had previously been moved from a centrally located city park to the local […] By Benny Becker Apr 26 Resource Shift Safety Concerns Force Postponement Of Rally Opposing White Nationalists Benny Becker
Dec 23 Resource Shift Picturing The Future: A Coal Community’s Comeback Can a photograph help a community grow? One photographer is shedding some light on ongoing efforts in a region looking for some new ways to sustain itself. Rebecca Kiger is a documentary and portrait photographer raised in West Virginia. The images she captures are often exceptionally emotionally evocative. She says it takes a lot of […] By Glynis Board Dec 23 Resource Shift Picturing The Future: A Coal Community’s Comeback Glynis Board
Dec 21 Resource Shift How To Help Those “Fighting For Breath” Listening to the Branham family describe how they’ve been affected by Mackie’s black lung is heart-wrenching. Our profile of the Branhams and the NPR investigation of black lung cases have gotten a lot attention, and in many cases I’ve seen the stories shared on social media with a warning that they’re likely to make you […] By Benny Becker Dec 21 Resource Shift How To Help Those “Fighting For Breath” Benny Becker