Black Appalachian Young & Rising (BAYR) is excited to bring Black youth living and working in Appalachia together for a special gathering on September 18-21 in North-Central Alabama (specific location TBA).

🐻 BAYR's mission is to empower black youth in Appalachian, and the annual BAYR Gathering is one of the primary ways we work to achieve that goal! To that end, the BAYR Gathering is a place where Black youth interested in addressing social justice issues and serving their communities spend a weekend in an open and supportive environment that facilitates idea sharing, leadership development, resource sharing & relationship building. Over the weekend, participants will be immersed in different workshops, activities & group discussions. 

👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽 This gathering is specifically for Black youth interested in:

• joining a growing black youth leadership network across Appalachia

• learning about relevant community resources they can take back home (i.e. trainings, materials, information, etc.)

• learning about the history and relevance of Appalachia, and how Black people have shaped the Region

• exploring Black Appalachian identity, art & folkways (sometimes called Affrilachian) 

• building an analysis of challenges that Black youth in the Region face and brainstorming solutions to those challenges 

• making life-long friends

• letting their hair down and experience a joyful, engaging fall-break black youth camp

• eating great food