Participation Type
Roundtable
Session Title
Session 9.13 Urban Appalachians
Presentation #1 Title
Rising from the Ashes – Urban Appalachians in Greater Cincinnati, 2015
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The music of community, connection and advocacy for urban Appalachians continues to resound through the hills of Greater Cincinnati in the wake of the recent demise of Cincinnati’s Urban Appalachian Council. This roundtable will use the Story Circle format to share the Cincinnati Appalachian movement‘s continuing evolution and involve participants in sharing experiences of connecting Appalachians in urban settings in ways that honor and nurture their sense of identity and culture. The Urban Appalachian Council in Cincinnati served as a focal point for community, Appalachian identity and cultural celebration, and much more, from the early 1970’s until it was no longer able to sustain itself and the organization dissolved in early 2014. Unwilling to let go of the invaluable role that UAC had played in the lives of so many, a small group of UAC founders, former staff, and loyal friends used their skill at community organizing to convene a group of Stewards to rebuild the connective tissue that was lost with UAC’s passing. The Stewards serve as conveners, inviting others to join in strengthening community connection, support, and self-care. We are breathing new life into the traditional UAC missions of cultural celebration, advocacy, and research, and we are establishing connections to, and advocating for, critical services needed by our Appalachian families and communities. In this session we will share the mosaic of stories that comprise this nurturing movement in Cincinnati, and we will invite others to share their stories so we can learn from and support each other.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Debbie Zorn, granddaughter of Appalachian migrants to southwestern Ohio, served on the Board of Cincinnati’s Urban Appalachian Council and, for five years, as its President. Professionally, she directs an academic center that provides program evaluation services to the community and, as such, helped to evaluate many of the programs and services of the UAC. Presently she serves on the Core Team that is supporting the continued development of the Appalachian movement in Cincinnati.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Michael Maloney is a community organizer, social researcher, consultant and activist. Born in Breathitt County, Kentucky, he was founding director of the Urban Appalachian Council in Cincinnati and headed the Appalachian Area Office of Catholic Social Services of Southwestern Ohio. He has taught Appalachian studies, planning, and philosophy courses at several area colleges and universities. Michael serves as leader of the Core Team for the continuing Appalachian movement in Cincinnati.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Maureen Sullivan, an urban Appalachian, was on the founding board of the Urban Appalachian Council in 1974, and later served as Executive Director from 1982 through 2010. Building on the foundation established through Ernie Mynatt's community work and Mike Maloney's organizational skills, during her tenure UAC supported a network of community based organizations providing youth, environmental leadership and educational development, cultural programs, research and advocacy. She serves on the Cincinnati Appalachian movement’s Core Team.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
An Affrilachian from southeastern Ohio, Omope Carter Daboiku's childhood was steeped in the culture of her mixed race ancestry situated in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Her professional storytelling experience spans 25 years of international performance. She has sung and traveled with MUSE: Cincinnati's Women's Choir, and she has published both poetry and short stories. Omope's storytelling and musical performances have contributed immeasurably to the urban Appalachian experience in greater Cincinnati and Dayton.
Rising from the Ashes – Urban Appalachians in Greater Cincinnati, 2015
The music of community, connection and advocacy for urban Appalachians continues to resound through the hills of Greater Cincinnati in the wake of the recent demise of Cincinnati’s Urban Appalachian Council. This roundtable will use the Story Circle format to share the Cincinnati Appalachian movement‘s continuing evolution and involve participants in sharing experiences of connecting Appalachians in urban settings in ways that honor and nurture their sense of identity and culture. The Urban Appalachian Council in Cincinnati served as a focal point for community, Appalachian identity and cultural celebration, and much more, from the early 1970’s until it was no longer able to sustain itself and the organization dissolved in early 2014. Unwilling to let go of the invaluable role that UAC had played in the lives of so many, a small group of UAC founders, former staff, and loyal friends used their skill at community organizing to convene a group of Stewards to rebuild the connective tissue that was lost with UAC’s passing. The Stewards serve as conveners, inviting others to join in strengthening community connection, support, and self-care. We are breathing new life into the traditional UAC missions of cultural celebration, advocacy, and research, and we are establishing connections to, and advocating for, critical services needed by our Appalachian families and communities. In this session we will share the mosaic of stories that comprise this nurturing movement in Cincinnati, and we will invite others to share their stories so we can learn from and support each other.
