Why Be at School? Because the Future Is Built One Day at a Time
As National Attendance Awareness Month begins, I think back on 30 years in education—and it’s not the ceremonies or milestones I remember most, but the everyday moments that shape students’ lives. The morning a student shows up after missing a week. The teacher who pauses long enough to ask, “What’s going on?” in a calm […]
Rural AmeriCorps: Building Communities from the Inside Out
— Dreama Gentry, President and CEO, Partners for Rural Impact AmeriCorps is often framed as an urban program, where young people travel to unfamiliar cities to serve and strengthen those urban places. As a result, the current conversation about defunding AmeriCorps centers on the devastating impact that cutting AmeriCorps programs would have in urban places. […]
Turning the Page on Our Literacy Crisis Will Require All of Us
Editor’s Note: This blog post is co-authored by Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith, President & CEO of the National Center for Family Learning, and Dreama Gentry, Chief Executive Officer of Partners for Rural Impact. Both are native Kentuckians with decades of experience leading transformative education and literacy initiatives. In George Ella Lyon’s children’s book Come a […]
Hearts and Minds United: How Monthly APPC2C Partner Meetings Are Building a Better Appalachia
When the Appalachian Cradle to Career Partnership (APPC2C) convenes its monthly partner meeting, the energy in the (virtual) room is undeniable. Despite the distance between counties and computer screens, every person shows up with one shared purpose: to build a better Appalachia—one student, one family, one system at a time. These monthly meetings are where […]
From Behind the Lens to Big Dreams: Meet Ella Harris
Meet Ella Harris — a cheerful, mindful, and kind soul who has been shining on our communications team with her creativity and positive energy! A Social Work major at Lincoln Memorial University, Ella brings confidence to her role—always ready to try something new, snap a great photo, and seek new opportunities. Throughout her internship, Ella […]
Fleming-Neon Library Makeover Opens New Chapter for Student Learning
A quiet transformation has taken place at Fleming-Neon Middle School—one that promises to inspire students for years to come. Thanks to a partnership between the school and Partners for Rural Impact’s Letcher Promise Neighborhood, the school’s long-outdated library has undergone a complete renovation, turning a neglected space into a vibrant hub for learning, collaboration and […]
Shiners: A Packed House, Powerful Stories, and the Heart of Appalachian Kentucky
On Sunday, June 22, the Cinemark Theater in Richmond was filled wall to wall—not just with people, but with pride, emotion, and applause—as Shiners: Voices from Owsley County made its Kentucky debut. This wasn’t just a film screening. It was a moment. A celebration of youth, place, and the transformational power of storytelling. Shiners, directed […]
Turning the Page: How Library Revamps in Harlan County Are Changing the Game for Students
If you step into Cawood Elementary today, you will find a space that looks like a vibrant and creative reading lounge for students. Colorful furniture, STEAM tools, and cozy reading corners are just a few of the major refurbishments the library received. “Our library looked like a time machine when I was in elementary school, […]
Featured on StriveTogether: A Closer Look at Our Work in Appalachian Kentucky
We’re proud to share that the Appalachian Cradle to Career Partnership (APPC2C) has been featured on the StriveTogether blog in a new story titled Postsecondary Completion: A Community Strategy for Economic Mobility in Appalachian Kentucky. This piece highlights the power of place-based partnerships in rural communities—and how our region is rethinking what it means to […]
Connected and Committed: Christine and Kevin Build Bridges in Perry County Schools
Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) thrive on relationships, leadership and heart—qualities Christine Cornwell and Kevin Smith bring to their roles every day in Perry County, Kentucky. As FSCS coordinators with Partners for Rural Impact (PRI), both are deeply rooted in their communities and committed to helping students and families thrive. Christine Cornwell: Creating Space and Spark […]