Google “environmental justice in Appalachia” and nearly every returned link will exclusively describe the impact of coal extraction on the region. It’s no surprise, then, that here in Pulaski, VA, many of us only feel peripherally connected to that conversation. Although we have had a few coal mining operations in this County historically, most of […]
Finding Truth in Noah Thomas’s Death
I have spent the majority of my adult life working on, consulting with, and learning about truth and reconciliation commissions. These bodies are generally tasked with investigating human rights abuses or other injustices so that a community or nation can learn from the past, establish accountability for what happened in some way, and make recommendations […]
Death in a Small Town: A National Tour
What if we woke up tomorrow in a completely different small town? Would we feel at home in Summerville, GA, with 4 colleges just a county over? Or in Hartford, KY, among generations of coal miners? I imagine our neighbors in Greensburg, IN, heading off to the Honda plant every day, would be a little […]
On expanding Medicaid: “Virginia’s money needs to stay in Virginia”
One of my hardworking colleagues just found out that her family’s health insurance premiums are about to go from about $250 to $1200 a month. Upon hearing that, I was tempted to sarcastically exclaim, “Thanks Obama” and rethink my limited support for the Affordable Care Act. But then I looked into the reason her premiums […]
Pulaski Explainer: How rising healthcare costs hinder our schools
If your news feed looks anything like ours right now, it is probably full of stories about Russia, the proposed new Pulaski County Middle School, and the Senate’s health care plan, in that order. We’re not going to touch the Russia story at this point, but we do want to take a look at how […]
A letter to an old friend
While some of you were drafting letters to our Board of Supervisors on the subject of the middle school last week, I wrote a note to their boss who also happens to be an old friend. My dear P, We need to talk. Other than my parents, grandparents, and middle sister, I’ve known you for […]
Middle School Economics: The Maker Myth
Since the School Board has officially sent its funding request for a new consolidated middle school facility to the Board of Supervisors, spirited public debate on how to best service the estimated $45 million debt has become common. From workplace water coolers to traditional fast food breakfast groups and social media comments, local people are […]
How we will win the middle school battle and beyond
When I first read comments from a certain Board of Supervisors member last week, I, like many others, was angry. But over the weekend, I began to see this middle school fight as a welcome opportunity to build and strengthen relationships across the entire county not just because it’s the right thing to do, but […]
The greatest town in the world, but for whom?
If you haven’t been to downtown Pulaski lately, you should visit. It’s difficult to keep track of all the exciting developments. As the lyrics go in my new favorite musical, “Look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now…history is happening in [Pulaski] and we just happen to be in the greatest […]
Morgan is Missing: Broadband Access Requires Leadership
Recently I received a letter from our member of Congress, H. Morgan Griffith, regarding some questions I had for him about broadband access. I appreciate that he noted that “many families and businesses in rural areas of the country, including parts of the Ninth District,… need access to fast and reliable broadband.” Acknowledging there is […]