July 1, 2022

This week, the Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC) announced the upcoming dates for its first policy summit occurring July 22-24, 2022. The inaugural event, being held virtually, will center around the core theme of Black storytelling as a precondition for policymaking. The multi-day regional summit seeks to amplify Black voices and influence effective, community-centered policies. Click here to view the agenda. “Black people are missing from the policymaking table. Participatory policymaking does not include us,” said Bishop Marcia Dinkins, founder of the Black Appalachian Coalition and executive director of Black Women Rising. Historically, Black communities have been silenced and their stories erased from the Appalachian region. Despite efforts to whitewash our existence, Black Appalachians have played a critical role in the social and economic development of Appalachia. From Black workers in the coal and steel industries to midwives in the care economy, Black people have had a powerful presence. These are the stories that have to be shared. These are the stories that serve as the precursor to advocacy and policy change. By changing the narrative, BLAC can begin to change the power structure of the region and confront the discriminatory practices which left Black Appalachians with fewer opportunities than their white neighbors. “Storytelling has the power to persuade decision-makers and provoke action to implement more inclusive policies. Now is the time to tell the story. Now is the time to build. Now is the time for Black people to be seen. Now is the time for us to be at […]