Building Bridges: Tradition, Transition, and Transformation in Appalachia

In Appalachia, the historic infrastructure that once transported extracted resources beyond its borders now stands as a reminder of transitions past. Yet, the presentation of Appalachian culture to the broader world often contrasts sharply with the lived realities of its people. Appalachians are no strangers to transitions—indeed, we have navigated them for generations.

As we face the next Appalachian transition, a critical question arises: how do we ensure it is just? As our communities weathered historic storm Helene this past summer (the second of two major climate events in the past two years), see historic levels of federal funding entering our communities, and are witnessing the largest generational transfer of wealth in history, we must seize this moment to capture, retain, and deploy these investments in innovative and deeply collaborative ways. Thus, bridging the the natural richness of Appalachian culture, people, and history with the transformative measures that will prepare our region for what comes next.