MEMBER PROGRAMMING 2025: SSI and BAYR Gathering
Register Now for the STAY Summer Institute!
STAY Project Summer Institute, July 24-27th, Kingston, TN
The annual STAY Summer Institute is one of the primary ways we work to achieve our mission of empowering youth in Appalachia! WE’RE SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR ANNUAL STAY SUMMER INSTITUTE 2025! SSI is happening Thursday-Sunday, July 24-27th, 2025 in Kingston, Tennessee this year! REGISTER NOW by going to bit.ly/STAY2025 or going to the link in our social media bios! Registration for SSI 2025 will close on ** MONDAY, JUNE 30th at MIDNIGHT in your timezone!**
We invite youth 14-30 years old living across central and southern Appalachia to the STAY Project Summer Institute to JOIN us! SSI is a for youth, by youth space for young people to make friends, have real talk about our struggles and our dreams, to share skills with each other, to learn, to cackle really loud with each other, and to have fun! We’re going to ground in the political reality of what we are facing as youth right now and to make a plan of action about what we want to do about it. Share with your folks, bring a friend, REGISTER TODAY!!!! WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!!
Black Appalachian Young and Rising — GATHERING in the fall
BAYR Regional Gathering, September 18-21st, Alabama
Are you a young Black person interested in addressing social justice issues and improving your community? You’re invited to participate in a weekend full of activities related to leadership development, community service, bonding and FUN in September 2025! Youth will have a unique opportunity to gather in a beautiful natural setting and engage in workshops & group discussions that encourage joy, creativity, personal development, and a connection to Black history and liberation!
👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽 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
Submit the interest form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_r79GDLoL7ujlEEx3BxTOdQ0lrptPBvP1FTishUUHd9lZ2g/viewform