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Appalachian Policy Summit Focuses on Three Goals

Thu, 08/26/2010 - 08:49
Approximately 140 people from six states assembled in Charleston, WV August 11 through 13 for the 2010 Appalachian Summit. Members of the Central Appalachia Regional Network (CARN) organized the summit as a way of bringing diverse participants together to discuss and prioritize various policies affecting the region.
U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller sent a video welcome to the convening that highlighted his views on global warming and carbon capture. Anita Graham-Brown, director of the Institute for Emerging Issues, set the tone of the conference by discussing new possibilities for rural development. Ms. Graham-Brown cited that the lack of a rural plan by the current administration, points to adapting urban approaches. She also urged the audience to advocate for and watch for rural connections in new programs.
Ms. Graham-Brown moderated a panel of Appalachian policy representatives from around the region. They provided insight on a variety of policy opportunities that spanned the Summit’s four main areas of Education, Economic Development, Health, and Environment. Panelists included Jason Bailey from Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, Richard Shinn of the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, Juliet Terry of Vision Shared, and Ray Daffner of the Appalachia Regional Commission.
For the remainder of the Summit, attendees largely participated in a process to prioritize issues and opportunities starting with the four main focus areas. Priorities from those breakout sessions were brought to the whole group for further examination. Electronic voting was used to prioritize the top three policy priorities. Breakouts were held around each of the three topics in order to establish goals and next steps. Discussions were framed around what might be accomplished in the next 24 months.
The three policy topics prioritized by attendees were broadband, green jobs, and local control of assets. Each topic breakout session explored issues, existing assets, and other potential partners not at the table. Potential policy strategies for the three policy topics include:
  • Broadband – Engage existing broad band policy related entities to ensure local, rural representation and access for all Appalachians.
  • Green jobs – Create integrated state systems between the supply side (training, workforce development) and the demand side (incentives for increasing energy efficiency.)
  • Local control of assets – Pass legislation in each of the six states that ensures philanthropic and community investment directed at the local level.
Watch the CARN website for updates on these initiatives and for opportunities to participate.
Dr. William Turner of Berea College gave an inspiring closing keynote. Dr. Turner presented a history of policy work that has excluded Appalachian African Americans, sometimes due to the small percentage of their population. He exhorted those in the room that as policy is developed to be very inclusive of all Appalachians.