Are you interested in joining the committee that makes the Gathering possible? The Gathering Committee helps to decide content and programming and is a great way to get involved with AFN. If you'd like to join, email Jess Mullins Fullen. |
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Did you know that AFN no longer has a cap on how many groups you can join and participate in? Check out the upcoming group meetings below, and send us an email to have your information added to the group contact list to get involved!
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| Sept 10 | 3:30 - 4:30 PM *Downtown Revitalization is now the Creative Capital Group!
What we're working on? |
- Recent meetings have outlined new tools for mapping broadband needs
- Space for discussion around capital stacks and how they are leading to major projects in funder communities
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| - The intersections between arts and civic engagement
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Strategizing around philanthropic advocacy in the arts in its many forms
- Deeper dives into body of literature from the previous decade about arts, culture, and Place-keeping.
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Other Upcoming Group Meetings: - Health - September 19 at 3 PM
- Place-Based - September 24 at 3:30 PM
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Energy and Natural Resources - September | TBD (rescheduled due to ARC conference)
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Another friendly reminder: We have co-chair vacancies in the Place-Based and Health Groups. If you have an interest in serving in a leaderful capacity to shape work that will radiate from the network, please contact contact us.
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AFN Steering Committee & Group Co-Chairs Gather
In mid-August, the AFN Steering Committee and Group Chairs gathered virtually and in person at Natural Bridge State Park in Slade, KY for the annual summer Steering Committee retreat. Visioning and planning for the future of the network was in full swing. Stay tuned for the exciting updates to come! |
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| Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation's 80th Year
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As highlighted with a special feature in West Virginia Executive Magazine, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation celebrates 80 "incredible years of grantmaking". We are delighted to know and work with the trailblazers and community rooted changemakers at Benedum, and congratulate them on their many years of service! |
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Members Highlighted in Philanthropy Issue |
In addition to Benedum, many of our WV members were highlighted in the most recent issue of West Virginia Executive Magazine for their incredible work and diversity of approaches in the Mountain State. Read the full edition it here and look out for features with other familiar names like The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, and Sisters Health Foundation!
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The Innovate Fund Makes a Major Announcement |
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Mountain Association Supporting Green Energy Retrofits |
Mountain Association is financing solar panels and green-energy, cost saving retrofits with a $500 million grant from the EPA. This work is already having major positive impacts on the ground in Eastern Kentucky communities hard hit by the 2022 floods. Read more about their work and partnerships in this article from The Kentucky Lantern.
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Press Forward Nationwide Open Call Update |
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Press Forward's first nationwide Open Call had an overwhelming response. As a result, they are taking additional time to review all the applications, with our own Ryan M. Eller is among the reviewers.
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Note: If you have organizations in your area who applied, please know that winners will be announced in October. All applicants will know their status by Oct. 1. A second open call for applications will follow and we highly encourage any news organization in Appalachia to consider an application.
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Press Forward Central Appalachia Coordinating Committee |
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Nominations were finalized by the Steering Committee to form the initial Coordinating Committee for a Rural News Fund, which will be the mechanism that grants are made for the Press Forward Central Appalachia chapter. This committee held its first official meeting on August 29th. | - Eli Flournoy, Sugarbush Valley Impact Investments & Media Growth Partners (Co-chair)
- Ryan Eller, Appalachia Funders Network (Co-chair)
- Baylen Campbell, Invest Appalachia
- Betsy Whaley, Mountain Association
- Garrett Blaize, Appalachian Community Fund
- Nina Clark, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
- Stephanie Hyre, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
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economic opportunities in rural areas by addressing barriers to accessing federal programs.
A public signing ceremony is being organized, and we look forward to plugging in any AFN member who wishes to enhance public-private partnerships with this strategic work. |
Pictured: Stephanie Randolph and Garrett Blaize, Steering Committee member and Co-Chair, respectively, in D.C. at the White House Convening of Philanthropies in August, where this new partnership with Rural Partners Network was announced. |
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What's Good In Appalachia? |
The Battle of Blair Mountain and Eighth of August, Emancipation Day |
A group of miners in front of Laura Mine in Red Star, West Virginia in 1908.
Photo by Lewis Hine, 1908, Library of Congress. Source: The March on Logan County |
August 8th is an auspicious day in the region. Contemporarily, observation is wider spread amongst Black Appalachian communities throughout the mountain south. But the history of the day is an over 150 year commemoration of the legal emancipation of enslaved peoples in Greenville, a town in Appalachian Tennessee (a state which at the time of its writing, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation did not include).
For many black Appalachians, celebration of August 8th predates the observation of Juneteenth, now a federally recognized holiday. To learn more about Emancipation Day, check out this PBS spotlight, as well as this article, resource list, and informational brochure from Black in Appalachia.
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Other News That Caught Our Eye |
Do you have news or opportunities for collaboration you want to see highlighted in the next newsletter? Let us know! |
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