January 2019 Newsletter Meet the STAY Project Steering Committee!

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SAY HELLO TO THE STAY PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE! Happy New Year STAY Project Family! We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Aria Taibi, Faith Johnson, Garett Nunley, Jules Kessler, Mabel Moon, Mekyah Davis, and Nolan Slone will be joining the STAY Project steering committee! Ari Baker and Katelyn Damron will also continue to serve as representatives on the committee. Aria Taibi, 27 They/Them East Tennessee "My vision of the future of this region may be a little idealistic, but I see a lot of cooperative living and homesteading taking place where communities are close-knit, supportive and self-sustaining. I want to see more ecologically sustainable ways of living, particularly with regards to food and energy. Politically, I want to see leaders of color, women and LGBTQ people at the helm of our communities, making decisions that benefit everyone. I want our economies to be invested in what we can provide for each other, rather than extractive." Faith Johnson, 16 Hillsboro, WV "Appalachian liberation is a vision that I can feel, but sometimes can struggle seeing. When I’m in the presence of so many young, wise visionaries and makers, my vision of Appalachia is something I can see. Opportunities and freedom come with a legacy that is going to outlive you, I, and the trees. Our future is truly the present." Garett Nunley, 20 He/Him/They/Them Tazewell County, VA "I want our leaders to be more accountable and responsive to their communities, where young people are heard and respected, where everyone is provided with resources to learn and grow to their fullest potential. I want to build an Appalachia where we can love and cherish each other, our culture, and our communities despite the trauma that has been imposed on many of us by the systems at place here." Jules Kessler, 20 He/Him Greenbrier County, WV "I think that Appalachia always has and continues to be a uniquely apt context to build new structures that emphasize and prioritize our solidarity and freedom. I believe that we must no longer rely on the law, the lawmakers, and the state for our freedom, but must build our own systems and ways of knowing that offer us our freedom.That means new economies; that means health care and mental health care for all; that means deconstructing and reconstructing our understandings of gender, race, class, and government." Mabel Moon, 18 She/Hers Pocahontas County, WV/Staunton, VA "My dream would be an end to extractive industries that have plagued Appalachia for too long that take everything from our coal to our children. I dream of a more sustainable future where our economy, government, and media is run by young people who have ties to the land and communities; People who give a damn whether or not there is toxic waste in our communities or what image the national media is spreading about Appalachia. When you are connected to the place you come from, you care more about what happens to it. The youth will rebuild Appalachia to satisfy their own needs and the needs of the earth. The future of Appalachia will composed of young folk standing in solidarity to form a more perfect union of cornbread, red bandanas, and raised fists." Mekyah Davis, 22 He/Him Big Stone Gap, VA "I envision for our communities, the opportunity for youth to grow and be invested in at an early age. Ideally, there would be centers where youth could go to get counseling to deal with the trauma that some people could never imagine, that they have endured at such an early age. Multicultural centers with libraries where people can go to enjoy recreational activities designed for the betterment of their future, as well as give them a safe-haven from the world that can be oh so cruel at times. I want marginalized youth to know that they are somebody worthy of accomplishing anything they set their mind to, and most importantly they deserve respect." Nolan Slone, 17 He/Him Martin County, KY "I envision a future in Appalachia where youth of any ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, cultural preference, etc. should feel safe and accepted in Appalachia. Youth will be able to stay in their hometowns if they wish and truly be able to openly be themselves in a way that they aren't right now. Appalachia needs to be a place of absolute equality, and opportunity." Katelyn Damron, 20 She/Her Tornado, WV "I envision a future in Appalachia that is sustainable and independent. There is a day coming in our community when people will be able to truly live their best lives here. No one should have to suffer disproportionately because of where they come from, and no one should have to leave such a beautiful place because of fear of social ostracization or lack of economic stability." Katelyn is serving her second year as a steering committee member! Ari Baker, 29 They/Them Maryville, TN "I want young people in my community to feel at home right where they are, to have space to be loved as their whole selves, and have access to the tools they need to create a beautiful, meaningful life for themselves and their families." Ari is serving their second year as a steering committee member! As we welcome our new STAY leaders on board we also want to say goodbye to a few folks who rolled off the steering committee this December. Please join us in saying thank you to Oakley Fugate, Lill Prosperino and Olivia Lowery for bringing their time, passion, love, humor, and skills to the STAY Project during their steering committee tenure. We love y'all and can't wait to continue working with y'all and supporting y'all's amazing work! Coming up for the STAY Project Be sure to check thecalendar page on our website to keep track of STAY Project happenings! Hey y’all! On January 20th at 7:00pm we’ve got a membership call about what it means to be a member of STAY, what opportunities to engage are coming up and how STAY can support the projects you are already doing in your community. Hop on to learn a little and share a little! Register here: bit.ly/staymembership Come hang out, listen to good music, and celebrate Appalachian Love Week with us at the Boone youth Drop-In Center in Whitesburg, KY. Be a STAY Project Member! Wanna join the STAY Project? We’ve added a membership form to our website! If you are between the ages of 14-30 and living in Appalachia and want to be a member of the STAY Project, head on over to our membership page and fill out the form. If you are a current member go ahead and fill out the form to update your information. Come be a part of the movement for youth and by youth that is working towards a just, sustainable, and equitable Appalachia! When you give to the STAY Project this #GivingTuesday you are nourishing a grassroots movement by youth and for youth in Appalachia. We could not do our work without the support of a community that believes in us. Thank you for believing in us! Donate to the STAY Project Share Tweet Forward Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*