We Belong to Each Other: STAYing connected through the pandemic

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Dear STAY Project Fam, How are you feeling? Have you taken a deep breath? Have you gone outside to feel the sun on your face?  We know the last week has been difficult and scary. Many of us have been uprooted from our schools, our routines, our jobs, and for some of us, the places where we finally felt safe. The future is uncertain, but what has come into clear focus is that we need each other now more than ever. Individualism is a lie y’all. We belong to each other.  Our strength is in our relationships and our kin networks that transcend state & county lines. Even when we are practicing physical distancing, we know how to show up for each other in social solidarity. We will provide strength and refuge in each other–– our resources are our relationships. We know how to invest in those relationships and build each other up as leaders. In the coming weeks we expect young people will need support paying bills, medical care, childcare, hot-spots for internet access, etc… The STAY Project and the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition are working on getting a mutual aid fund for young people in our networks who are being displaced and put out of work by COVID-19. This fund will prioritize Black, Indigenous, PoC. LGBTQIA, disabled, chronically-ill, and immunocompromised youth. If you are able to support this, please donate here.  It is important for us to stay connected and keep checking in with each other so please join us tonight– Tuesday March 17th at 7pm on our membership call so we can discuss the impact of COVID 19 on our lives as young people living in Appalachia and mobilize support, healing and connection for our community. Register at bit.ly/stayprojectcall.  Wash your hands, check on your friends and neighbors– we ain’t gonna let this isolate us.  Solidarity & kinship, The STAY Project Staff & Steering Committee  Visit our Resource Page on our website for information resources on COVID-19. If you need funds for organizing a response in your community please apply to our member support fund Donate to the COVID-19 Youth Mutual Aid Fund Register for the Call Join our Appalachian Youth Movement! 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. Be a part of a movement for youth and by youth that is working towards a just, sustainable, and equitable Appalachia! Did y'all hear that STAY is now offering financial support to members who are organizing projects/events in their communities? We are able to offer up to $200 to support members’ projects that align with our mission and core beliefs. Specifically, we are hoping to support projects/events that further STAY’s work of providing space for young Appalachians to gather, learn with/from, create, and work together. To learn more and to request support, fill out this form! When you give to the STAY Project 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|*