The Mountain Association for Community Economic Development turns 40 this year. To help celebrate this milestone, the organization has taken a step back to reflect on the amount of just economic transition that’s taken place in the region over the past 40 years. They’ve been collecting stories, and have compiled them on a new website, “Stories from the Mountains.”
Renew Appalachia is proud to share some of those stories over the holiday months, as a way to spread the hope and joy that is present when the people of eastern Kentucky begin to rebuild their communities together, with an eye on the future.
In this video, Kimberly Shepherd talks about what it means to her to receive a college degree to help improve her life, and the life of her young daughter, Brooklyn. MACED was able to provide Kimberly and her fiancé, Roy, with a business loan and technical assistance to open their mobile welding service after this video was produced.
For more information about “Stories from the Mountains,” check out their website.
