Investing in Appalachia's Youth Conference

October 2014

 
An Appalachian Regional Commission Conference
Hosted by the State of Alabama
October 8-9, 2014
Marriott Shoals Hotel
Florence, Alabama

Twitter: #ARCYouth2014

 

Many communities in Appalachia, especially those in rural areas, are facing the impacts of high rates of youth outmigration: the loss of potential workers, business owners, community leaders, and parents of the next generation. The Appalachian Regional Commission's October 2014 Investing in Appalachia's Youth conference focused on strategies communities can use to engage their young people and build a stronger future. Access to high-quality educational and employment opportunities are critical factors, but empowering young people to strengthen their involvement with the community is also key to success.

Conference sessions focused on critical strategies for reversing youth outmigration, including:

Presentation materials and videos from the conference are available below..


Conference Program
PDF: 509 KB


Conference Videos
Complete video playlist

Welcome: Jim Byard Jr., Director, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Opening Remarks: ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl

Keynote Address: Kim Phinney, Senior Director of Rural and Tribal Initiatives, YouthBuild USA, Westford, Vermont

Concurrent Session: New Business: Youth + Entrepreneurship
Moderator: Suzanne Fuller Harbin, Director of Advancement, Wallace State Community College, Hanceville, Alabama. Panelists: Laurie Daugherty, Executive Director, Governor's School for Entrepreneurs, and Associate Vice President, Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, Lexington, Kentucky; Miles Smith, Participant, Ohio–West Virginia Youth Leadership Association, Beckley, West Virginia.

From Our View: Young Appalachians Roundtable
Moderator: William Schumann, Director, Center for Appalachian Studies, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina. Panelists: Joshua Bell, Physician, Lakeside Clinic, Guntersville, Alabama; Brandon Dennison, Executive Director, Coalfield Development Corporation, Wayne, West Virginia; Lucy Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.

Concurrent Session Presentations
Presentations are posted with the permission of conference speakers. This list does not include all presentations given at the conference.