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Despite the common narrative that Appalachian youth are leaving the region for opportunities elsewhere, many of them are taking action to build a just and sustainable economy in eastern Kentucky. This past weekend, young people gathered at the Benham Schoolhouse Inn for the Solutions Summit, a youth-led and youth-focused event hosted by the KSEC. The summit is a space for young Appalachians to discuss what it means to work toward a just economic transition and talk about the importance of an economy that is good for workers, keeps wealth in Appalachian communities and protects the region's resources. WYMT attended and covered the event. Read an excerpt, then click here to read WYMT's full article and watch the video. “Corbin's had a revitalize main street movement with the restaurants, we would like to see that everywhere,” said Jon Johnson, a KSEC member and Eastern Kentucky native. “We really think that we as young people, we have the opportunity, we have the knowledge, and we have the passion to create our own future.” Read an excerpt from "Environmental activist at USC heads a global group focusing on climate change": In high school, Soren got involved with an organization called the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition, which connected environmentally conscious students at her campus with others around the state — mobilizing campaigns that involved concerns such as increasing awareness about the jobs available in alternative and renewable energies. That topic of "solidarity" brought people to a panel in Lexington Wednesday night. It was organized by Take Back Cheapside and the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition. Vote to protect jobs, people - Letter To The Editor, Lexington Herald-Leader
I attended the Kentucky Manufacturers Conference as a member of the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition. I support Kentucky manufacturing jobs and wanted to learn more about the industry. But instead of hearing about ways government and industry officials are working to bring safe, well-paying jobs to one of our nation’s poorest states, I got an earful of jubilation for cutting the regulations that safeguard our workers, communities and environment. At one point, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely, a former Arch Coal executive, listed all the environmental policies that President Donald Trump has rolled back, grinning the whole way through as if it’s so grand that more people will now get cancer, suffer and die for having to drink polluted water or breathe toxic air. The person charged with protecting Kentucky’s environment, and consequently public health, applauded Trump for approving the leaking Dakota Access Pipeline, removing critical stream protections and scrapping the Clean Power Plan. I’m sure Snavely is gleeful now we’ve withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement. Corporations in Kentucky and across the country are getting away with murder because they have government officials in their pockets. It’s time to vote with our ballots and our wallets, and make ourselves heard. Cameron Baller Lexington, KY Excerpt from "Renewable Energy, Focus of Ky Student Environmental Event": The Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition is sponsoring a series of events to educate young Appalachians about opportunities in media, energy, food and creative sectors. Excerpt from "Environmentalists protest scheduled speech by EPA head as President Trump considers withdrawing from climate deal:" More than 100 gathered at Lexington’s Triangle Park to protest a cancelled appearance by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt Wednesday. KSEC helped coordinate a march and rally against EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt outside the Kentucky Manufacturer's Conference and Trade Show on May 31st. Pruitt was scheduled to speak at the conference but cancelled the evening before the event. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported on the event. Excerpt from "Controversial EPA chief skips Lexington speech, but groups still protest:" The groups represented at the protest were the Sierra Club; Kentuckians for the Commonwealth; the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition; Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light; Indivisible KY; Kentucky Jobs with Justice; the Kentucky Alliance against Racist and Political Oppression; and Rubbertown Emergency Action Task Force. KSEC helped coordinate a march and rally against EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt outside the Kentucky Manufacturer's Conference and Trade Show on May 31st. Pruitt was scheduled to speak at the conference but cancelled the evening before the event. KSEC partnered with Sierra Club, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light, Indivisible KY, Jobs with Justice Kentucky, Kentucky Alliance against Racism & Political Oppression, and Rubbertown Emergency Action Task Force to host the protest. Lexington's WUKY covered the protest, quoting KSEC member Emma Anderson of the Centre Environmental Association. Excerpt from "Pruitt Protesters Promise A Fight On Climate Accord:" Emma Anderson, a soon-to-be senior at Centre College, says the environmental about face has her fellow students speaking up. WEKU covered the KSEC Just Transition Working Group's Solutions Spotlight on Appalachia's growing tech industry. For this Spotlight, Shawn Lind of Appalshop’s new Mines to Minds Program and Izzy Broomfield from Mountain Tech media spoke to how they see this new industry playing a role in a just, economic transition and how young people can prepare themselves for careers in technology without having to leave the region. The Solution's Spotlights are part of the JTWG's bigger project, The Solutions Tour, an effort to ensure that youth voices are a part of the discussion around economic transition, that young people know how to engage in economic decision making in their communities, and to show that people are already forging their own paths towards a diversified economy in Central Appalachia. Excerpt from "SE Ky Meetings Aim to Help Workers Move into Tech Jobs:" The Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition is sponsoring the Solution Spotlight sessions. |
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