• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Flood Recovery Loan
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
cropped mountain association logo with copyright.png

Mountain Association

Building a New Economy, Together.

    • Access expertise to grow your business or organization.

      Business Support

    • Start Here
      • Learn About Support
      • Apply to Work with a Consultant
      • Success Stories
    • Resources
      • FAQs
      • Tools & Templates
      • SPARK Nonprofit Collaborative
      • Client Login
    • Expand your impact with our flexible loans.

      Talk to Us About a Loan

    • Start Here
      • Learn About Loans
      • Start the Application Process
      • Success Stories
    • Resources
      • FAQs
      • Flood Recovery Loans
      • CrowdMatch Loans
    • We can help you save money.

      Apply for an Energy Assessment

    • Start Here
      • Learn About Our Energy Program
      • Apply for a Free Energy Savings Assessment
      • Success Stories
    • Resources
      • FAQs
      • Solar Financing & Support
      • Energy Savings Microloan
    • Start something in your community.

      Learn About Training

    • Start Here
      • Training & Ideas
      • 479 Main Street Project
      • Success stories
    • Training
      • Airbnb
      • Business Training
      • Creative Economy Training
    • We can help tell your story.

      Read Our Stories

    • Stories
      • All Stories
      • Business Support
      • Energy
      • Lending
      • Training & Ideas
    • Appalachia’s New Day
      • Press & Media
      • Communications & Policy
    • Building a new economy, together.

      (859) 986-2373

      info@mtassociation.org

      Sign Me Up for News

    • The Big Picture
      • What We Do
      • Just Transition
        • How It’s Working
    • Our Story
      • Our History
      • Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Equity Advisory Council
      • Careers
    • Impact
      • By the Numbers
      • Publications
  • (859) 986-2373

    info@mtassociation.org

     

    Building a new economy, together.
You are here: Home / Community Development / A Community Group Hosts “Courageous Conversations” and Celebrations of Diversity in Southeast KY

Community Development

A Community Group Hosts “Courageous Conversations” and Celebrations of Diversity in Southeast KY

May 2, 2023

Share:

From social media posts promoting equal pay and autism acceptance to sharing free coloring books about Holi, a festival celebrated by people of Hindu faith, and making Easter baskets for their local Black churches, Lake Cumberland Diversity Collective is helping community members learn more about the many cultures present in our Kentucky communities and issues that impact some individuals more than others. 

Two people stand in front of a microphone
Two people sing at the Juneneeth Jubilee in Somerset, Kentucky. Photo: Kayla Rider Photography, LLC

The Collective is a community-based organization focusing on diversity, inclusion, and belonging for all people in the region, which includes about ten counties in Southeastern Kentucky. Initially founded by three Black women in Somerset, Kentucky, after the death of George Floyd in 2020, their mission is to inspire and empower through educational resources, events, and courageous conversations so all community members feel represented, heard, and, most importantly, understood. 

“We know that this work is heavily layered and complex for not just our rural community but every member of our society. With our events, we try to create environments that allow individuals to feel curious and safe enough to challenge our and their biases, as well as the larger systematic issues,” Ashley Homrich, a representative of the Diversity Collective, said. “By providing more of these spaces and opportunities for our area, we hope to work our way to a place where we can create lasting change for the better of our collective community. For example, we hope to one day witness where none of our local schools have harmful mascots towards our Indigenous people or any other community and identity.”

A person holds a book called The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac in front of a little library at Pulaski Elementary.
Collective members regularly place books into free little libraries throughout the Lake Cumberland region.

The Juneteenth Jubilee is the signature event the Diversity Collective holds annually. They began hosting the celebration in 2020 to heal racially and continuously shine a light for people to reflect, unlearn racism, and share in the joy. The Jubilee showcases Black businesses and artists from Kentucky – from food trucks and crafters to musicians, storytellers, and poets. This year, they will feature the artwork of Kyle Miller, who passed away in 2022. The Collective invites people of all ages, races, and abilities to fully express themselves to help finish one of his late pieces. 

“For many, learning about diversity and practicing inclusion is an intentional shift from everyday life. Overall, we seek activities for the whole family; youth and elderly included,” Homrich said.

The Collective plans other events and initiatives throughout the year, such as hosting Black History Month events, putting together care packages for children when notified about struggles of not being represented, and writing cards for the LGBTQ+ community after the recent legislative session. They also regularly order and place books about diverse people and equity issues in the community through the area’s network of little free libraries. 

An art piece of a woman by the late kyle miller of lake cumberland / somerset region.
Art by the late Kyle Miller. The Collective is inviting the community to join in finishing one of his pieces at the June 17, 2023 Juneteenth Jubilee.

One of the organization’s main goals is to have courageous conversations, which means individuals must first get to a place of honest self-reflection. They strive to create a brave and compassionate space where all forms of communication are accepted and believed. For example, the Collective was recently part of a discussion with individuals representing Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in Nancy, Kentucky, where a battle that changed the trajectory of the Civil War took place. In the formal discussion, the organization was able to have a genuine and honest dialogue about classism within Kentucky and how we can learn from the terrible moments through our nation’s history to understand better how those events have set up our current systemic inequities. 

“This is a challenge to everyone in our community and within our organization, but it needs to be done; this will not happen overnight, but with open minds and hearts, it will. This work takes all of us. It’s easy to get frustrated and feel alone, but hopefully, we can offer a space where that full range of emotions is accepted, and questions are allowed.”

The Collective is building their network beyond their local area by developing partnerships with allied organizations throughout the state. For example, this year they are partnering with Unity Allies for their Juneteenth event, an organization that started in 2020 with similar goals to the Lake Cumberland Diversity Collective serving the area of Laurel County. 

For more information on how you can support the Collective (including sponsoring the Juneteenth event), please visit their website and Facebook page.

A sign that reads Nicaragua sits on a table.
The Collective supporting Kathya Sanchez, a local Nicaraguan American community member and business owner, at the Somerset-Pulaski Morning Rotary Club’s annual international dinner.

Cover image by Kayla Rider Photography, LLC

Author

Sonaya Johnson, UK Broadcast Journalism& Communications Class of 2025

Questions? Contact Ariel at ariel@mtassociation.org

Recent Posts

Rural electric coop kentucky 1

Energy

In Second Decision, Regulators Protect Kentucky Power Customers from Footing Bill for Cryptomining Company

Thank you to our partners at Earth Justice for putting together this release about the second of two cases regarding power discounts for crypto mining ... Read This Post

German drop noodle food truck irvine kentucky

Lending

Drop, Sauce & Roll: German Food Truck Serves Up Unique Noodles

Mark Vogt lives in Irvine, Kentucky, a beautiful town on the banks of the Kentucky River. Like many small-town residents, he was always wishing ... Read This Post

flood eastern kentucky climate change

Announcements

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.2 Million to Support Disaster Recovery in Eastern Kentucky

The Economic Development Administration recently announced an award of $1.2 million for disaster recovery in Eastern Kentucky following the 2022 ... Read This Post

Footer

cropped mountain association logo with copyright.png

For more than 40 years, we were known as the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED).

As we enter a new decade and a new look, we have become the Mountain Association. This change underscores our commitment to a new beginning that is more inclusive and welcoming to the people and communities we serve.

Donate Now 1

Get the Newsletter

Sign Up Now

  • Programs
    • Business Support
    • Lending
    • Energy
    • Stories
    • Training & Ideas
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Just Transition
    • Team
    • Our History
    • By the Numbers
  • More
    • Donate
    • Careers
    • Board of Directors
    • Publications
    • Sponsorships

BEREA
(859) 986-2373
433 Chestnut Street
Berea, KY 40403

Meetings by appointment only

info@mtassociation.org

We are happy to make any
accommodation to better serve you.
Inquire via phone or email.
If hearing or speech impaired,
please dial 7-1-1 for relay
services prior to calling.

 

HAZARD
(606) 439-0170
420 Main St
Hazard, KY 41701

PRESTONSBURG
(606) 264-5910
268 E Friend St, Ste 101
Prestonsburg, KY 41653

Copyright © 2023 Mountain Association | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Non-profit Disclosures

made by P&P