Spencer Linn

APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT

For my service scholar project, I worked alongside the Appalachian Service Project in a group to help rebuild the house of homeowners over the course of a summer week in rural Appalachia. This trip was my third time serving alongside this group, and I likewise knew that not all of the negative stereotypes of Appalachia were indeed factual. Usually, Appalachia’s public image is portrayed as poverty-ridden, lacking infrastructure, rural, racist, and devoid of hope. However, through interactions with local Appalachian homeowners during the Appalachia Service Project over the years, I first hand experienced joy, hope, and tenacity stemming from this region that directly contrasted the negative perception that was commonly placed on the region. Although I was fortunate enough to experience the Appalachian region’s positive aspects and potential for greatness, this does not deny the reality that the region is in desperate need of critical repair. Primarily at a first glance, the region’s poverty rates, education, and general well-being are all in strikingly worse conditions than the rest of the United States. When encountering, first-hand, all of these conditions, I was instantly shocked and led to wonder what events led to this area’s fate. Was the region of Appalachia always in this condition, and if not, how did it become this way? Also what steps could we take to improve the Appalachian region’s overall condition? I believed that by uncovering more of Appalachia’s core issues and addressing them, I could promote positive change towards the region. Throughout this project, I was also able to directly utilize knowledge from both AP Economics and AP Government. In fact, during research, it was easier to tie together knowledge that I found using general economic ideas and principles from AP Economics. As I began my research, I immediately delved into the conflicting history of the region in an attempt to find the ultimate root of the issues that plagued the Appalachian region.

Many people don’t realize that the Appalachian region ranges from Mississippi to New York and consists of nearly 250,000 square miles. Nearly twenty-five million people inhabit this region with 42% of residents living rurally compared to the nationwide average rural population of only 20% (Appalachia Then vs. Now). Yet it was not always like this. In the early 1900s, the Appalachian region was seen as a land of boundless opportunity to businessmen and common people intending to make a simple living for their families. Why was the Appalachian region seen as so profitable though? It primarily boils down to coal. The availability of coal in the Appalachian region was enticing as many mines began to almost instantaneously pop up, all holding hopes of financial gain. With a sudden surplus in demand for labor, many Americans traveled into the region and settled down, greatly boosting the economic progress of the region. By 1940, nearly 140,000 people or one-third of West Virginia’s workforce consisted of miners in these same coal mines (Quartz). However, this honeymoon period buckled under its weight as the coal operation continually expanded. To maximize profits, large coal mining companies went beyond simply buying out mines, but they began buying the land around mines and entire towns. Monopolies began to dominate the region and soon coal mining became one of

the only viable forms of labor as other occupations lost relevance. Foreign investors even took on this new enticing investment opportunity, buying nearly 93% of WV land in 1910 and 75% of land in eastern Kentucky (Quartz). As towns were slowly monopolized, overall prices greatly increased and many common goods and amenities began facing artificial shortages. Owners also negotiated with police forces establishing mine guards to prevent unions and strikes among the workers. Thus coal mines could get away with giving workers unethically low wages, reducing coal’s overall price, and in turn, artificially increasing coal’s overall quantity demanded. The coal industry was even further boosted by government corruption as coal companies lobbied politicians for subsidies, corporate tax reductions, and reduced safety protocols. Thus, coal became an artificially cheap good which, in reality, generated large deadweight losses. Worse, this resource of coal was finite, so over time as the Appalachian mountains’ coal supply ran out, the industry slowly began to burn and fizzle. Companies would strip-mine land by destroying mountain sides yet would leave this destroyed land unaltered and uninhabitable. Furthermore, the destruction of entire forests left little space for further investments or opportunities for economic growth. Alongside its economic consequences, strip mining also led to increased flooding, infrastructure damage, and an overall increase in the leaking of deadly elements such as arsenic, selenium leading to increased overall mortality and birth defect rates in the Appalachian region. Ultimately all these events catalyzed by the coal industry ravaged the region. Yet if all these phenomena occurred in a period from the earlier 1900s to the 1950s, how are the effects of the coal industry felt in Appalachia today?

With the presence of a monopolistic pyramid scheme on coal, consequences were inevitable and ultimately occurred during the Coal slump of the 1950s and 1960s. Following both the surge of electricity and oil markets, alongside a decrease in the overall finite supply of coal, the supply and demand of Appalachia’s once elusive produce vastly decreased and revenue tumbled. Many mines were forced to sell themselves to even larger companies and ownership was moved even more so out of the region. Moving to today, there are only 11,600 working miners in West Virginia, or 2% of their overall workforce (US Census Bureau). Most of the jobs once dealing with extracting coal have now been replaced by the services industry with 21.3% of Appalachian citizens holding a bachelor’s degree (Appalachia then vs. now). As the dying coal industry grasps onto its last bit of influence, it annually works to produce more and more coal each year, all the while providing less income and fewer jobs. In fact, politicians will frequently rally the Appalachian people into voting for policies that intend to re-glorify the dying industry and provide many new jobs through mines. Thus more government funding will be directed to a dying industry and tax dollars will be used in an effort that bears little fruit. In 2009, West Virginia residents paid nearly $42.2 million in tax dollars alone to these coal companies (Quartz). Like the abandoned mountainsides of previous mines, many of these coal mining communities were largely abandoned by their companies and stripped of jobs. Likewise, Appalachia has a 5% unemployment rate compared to the US average of 4% (US Census Bureau). There is also a steady outmigration as the population grows nearly twice as slowly as the rest of the United States. Currently, the region does not provide much economic opportunity, and usually, people tend to leave this region rather than stay in Appalachia and attempt to make the region better.

In day-to-day life, the impacts of the coal industry are still directly felt by citizens. The

difference in poverty rates between Appalachia and the United States average immediately sticks out when contrasting data. While 11.8% of US families are impoverished, 16% of Appalachian families face poverty every single day (Appalachia Service Project). Due to little economic activity, large stretches of Appalachia are food deserts, disabling inhabitants to make healthy decisions. While in Appalachia, I noticed that there were not any proper grocery stores within forty minutes of the school where we stayed. I specifically remember how some group leaders were forced to allocate extra time to drive to a standard grocery store. The rest of us volunteers could only buy food from a local Dollar General or surrounding gas stations and fast food joints. One of the direct effects of these Appalachian food deserts is shown in statistical data from 2008 to 2014 which stated that heart disease was the death of 250 out of every 100,000 Appalachian citizens, nearly 42% more than the US average (Quartz). This allostatic load, caused by negative environmental factors, stress from living, and poor nutrition further increases negative conditions such as diabetes, stress, and obesity. Strip mining plays a direct role in worsening the health of not only miners but also general citizens who are exposed to harmful airborne substances. A lack in overall wellbeing and mental health in the region also holds consequences with issues such as the Opioid Crisis which hit the region particularly hard. While the Appalachian community is recovering from all these crises, it still is not fully back to its former glory before its exploitation from coal industries. Thus there is a prevalent sense of hopelessness surrounding the Appalachian region in that it will never mirror the rest of America. In particular, I was shocked by the differences in the region’s culture and perspectives. Schools instead of being college preparatory held classes for skills in trade such as welding, carpentry, or other more practical classes. Thus high school graduates are forced to find local jobs within the region and those who manage to “make it out” hardly hold any desire to ever return. These education systems including high schools are especially hurt by decreased funding as less economic growth and disfavor over taxes leads to less overall federal spending on education. The coal industry particularly steals funding from the education sector as large subsidies are given to companies in an attempt to boost the economy.

In the presence of all of this negative information, the Appalachian region may almost seem like a lost cause or “unfixable.” That being said, the region’s overall conditions are improving with time. For instance, wages steadily increased since 1950, and 42% of Appalachian’s population growth in recent years was from underrepresented minorities (NPR). This secondary statistic is particularly surprising as the Appalachian region tends to usually be portrayed as all-white. Yet perhaps with time this region will begin to diversify itself. Housing too has improved, but this being said, 7.5% of homes in Appalachia are still in a bad state (Appalachia then vs. now). One particular piece of legislation, the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, intended to further the economic development in the construction of the Appalachian Development Highway System and saw much success as well. Against seemingly insurmountable odds, hope shines through as a strong force of people intend to fortify their home of Appalachia.

The Appalachia Service Project intends to aid the region in the process of reconstruction by providing free home repairs to local homeowners. Every year it brings in nearly 15,000 volunteers to provide full repairs to a total of nearly 350 houses. This effort is spread out in 20 to 30 communities as volunteers stay weeks at a time in local churches, schools, and community centers. Appalachia Service Project’s mission is to ultimately end poor housing

conditions in central Appalachia and revitalize the spirit of many homeowners. By encouraging connection between volunteers and homeowners, Appalachia Service Project reports that service recipients experience newfound desires to seek new education and improve upon themselves. Although they may not be able to solve all the issues of the Appalachian region, the Appalachia Service Project intends to solve this one major issue by ensuring safer, warmer, and drier homes for the citizens of the Appalachian region.

Looking beyond this organization, however, there is much work that still needs to be done if the Appalachian region wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with other more economically developed parts of the country. There’s infrastructure to be established, systems to be rebuilt, and ideas to be rethought. If we truly want to positively change this region we must all work together and think creatively. Appalachia’s downturn was primarily catalyzed by the desire for immediate albeit short-term profits. If this region truly wants to turn a new foot it must invest in long-term industries and expenditures such as education. One such way is through increased voter awareness and education. By placing value on education, a new generation of youth can be raised not to leave the region, but to stay and build it into a far better overall community. If citizens of both Appalachia and the entire United States work together, we can rebuild this community to greater heights than ever before.

WORKS CITED “About the Appalachia Service Project.” Appalachia Service Project, 17 Mar. 2021, https:// asphome.org/about/. 24 Feb. 2022 “Appalachia Then and Now: Examining Changes to the Appalachian Region since 1965”

Appalachian Regional Commission, Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness and

West Virginia University for the Appalachian Regional Commission, 23 Feb. 2015, https:// www.arc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AppalachiaThenAndNowCompiledReports. pdf. 24 Feb. 2022 Baird, Sarah. “Stereotypes of Appalachia Obscure a Diverse Picture.” NPR, National

Public Radio, Inc., 6 Apr. 2014, 24 Feb. 2022 https://www.npr.org/sections/ codeswitch/2014/04/03/298892382/stereotypes-of-appalachia-obscure-a-diversepicture. 24 Feb. 2022 Guilford, Gwynn. “The 100-Year Capitalist Experiment That Keeps Appalachia Poor, Sick, and Stuck on Coal.” Quartz, Atlantic Media Co, 11 Dec. 2018, 24 Feb. 2022 https:// qz.com/1167671/the-100-year-capitalist-experiment-that-keeps-appalachia-poor-sickand-stuck-on-coal/. 24 Feb. 2022 “How Healthy Is Magoffin County, Kentucky?” U.S. News & World Report, National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics, 24 Feb. 2022, https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiestcommunities/kentucky/magoffin-county. 24 Feb. 2022 Joshi, S., & Gebremedhin, T.(2012). “A spatial analysis of poverty and income inequality in the Appalachian region.” The Journal of Rural and Community Development. Rural

Development Institute, Brandon University. https://journals.brandonu.ca/jrcd/article/ view/580/128 24 Feb. 2022 Lewin, Phillip G. “‘Coal Is Not Just a Job, It’s a Way of Life’: The Cultural Politics of Coal

Production in Central Appalachia .” Oxford Academic, Oxford University Press,

Standard Journals Publication Model, 19 Oct. 2017, https://academic.oup.com/socpro/ article/66/1/51/4558515?login=true. “QuickFacts Magoffin County, Kentucky.” United States Government, 2021, https://www.census. gov/quickfacts/fact/table/magoffincountykentucky/PST045221. 24 Feb. 2022

APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT

Once a year, a group of Nashville high schoolers from youth groups, adult volunteers, staff, and families of Appalachia come together to create a temporary albeit beautiful community. Such groups are annually founded through the Appalachia Service Project (ASP), an organization whose communities taught me the importance of varying perspectives and perseverance through adversity.

I’ve always been inspired by the hope and tenacity that’s intertwined among all the communities in my four years at ASP. Upon arriving in Appalachia, a sense of optimism was instantly illuminated. Although our homeowners lived in manufactured homes in a region of extreme poverty, they still maintained an inner sense of positivity and self and always worked to take the next right step forward. This sense of persistent optimism was contagious and also appeared within our groups of volunteers. I specifically remember working for an entire day in establishing a new foundation for flooring only to find it was unlevel an hour before we packed up. Upon learning that it was necessary to restart a day’s progress on flooring, our group, rather than being disappointed, instead excitedly started creating new plans and approaches to solve this new problem. These communities continually show me a shining example of living and never losing hope. Yes, I may go through difficult patches, but if I’m passionate about what I’m working towards, I must keep moving forward.

While working, however, camaraderie alone is insufficient in solving intricate issues, but rather it is the connection among a diverse group of perspectives that enables us to complete the impossible. During ASP, I worked for homeowners who ranged from an elderly woman with twenty-four cats to parents in their thirties with five children, and an ever-changing service group that draws in a new pool of eager volunteers every year. This combination of viewpoints from different ages, socioeconomic statuses, and cultures is enriching socially and directly improves our efficiency in projects. Specifically, one year we lacked enough ladders to apply siding to the seventy by fourteen foot wall we were replacing. However, utilizing the local knowledge of our homeowner, we were able to borrow the nearby school’s scaffolds, enabling us to start installing siding more efficiently than ever before. The difference in our backgrounds in our group fostered humility and gratitude as all our volunteers grew appreciative for amenities such as our education and homes where we could live both comfortably and safely. Likewise, our interactions between our homeowners cultivated hope that these home improvements were a minor aspect of a larger overall upward trajectory in our homeowner’s lives, even as they faced the harshest conditions.

Ultimately, the week of ASP ends, and thus our community parts. However it is the brevity of these communities that make them truly beautiful. Every time, a new group of youth will be assembled, and a new family will be paired. Thus, every community I’ve been part of, though all serving a common purpose of repairing a home, is able to bring together a diversity of perspectives to work against the odds that ultimately brings about a better future for every one of its participants.