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 […]
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 […]
Strengthening the Backbone: FSCS Support Team Brings Home Big Wins from ASQ 2025
In February 2025, the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) support team at Partners for Rural Impact (PRI) traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, to attend the ASQ Lean and Six Sigma Conference—an annual event that brings together leaders in process improvement and continuous learning. Haley Thacker, Program Manager, along with her team of FSCS Coordinators—Lisa Callihan, Laura Wolfrom, […]
Empowering Student Voices: Pineville ISD Hosts Attendance Summit to Spark Change
On November 19, Pineville Independent School District (ISD) took a bold step to engage students in shaping the future of their school. In collaboration with Partners for Rural Impact (PRI) STOP-V program, Pineville hosted a dynamic Student Voice Summit. The event, facilitated by PRI’s Integrated Strategies Team, brought together student council members to explore innovative […]
PRI Employee Named Staff Member of the Month at Central Elementary School
Sabrina Cross was recognized as “staff member of the month” at Central Elementary School in Knox County, Kentucky, for the month of October. “I am honored to serve as the FSCS School Coordinator for Partners for Rural Impact at Central Elementary, dedicated to advancing the success of all Appalachian students,” Cross said. “I feel fortunate […]
Building Homes and Community in Letcher County
Shellie Williams realized her calling was to work with children from early on in her career, starting out at a childcare center in 2000. Now, she has been a Full-Service Community Schools Coordinator at Letcher County Central High School for two years. “There’s no place like Letcher County,” Williams said, calling to mind her hometown. […]
Helping Students Build Confidence and Independence in Jackson County, Kentucky
For Charity Rose, the most rewarding part of her job comes from working alongside the students she is serving, including her own children. “Being in the school, I can see what the needs are, and I can bring in programs and resources to meet those needs,” Rose said. “Not just for my own kids, but […]
One Caring Adult: Standing in the Corner for Students
One Caring Adult: Standing in the Corner for Students When Carlee Halsey graduated from Morehead State University, she knew she wanted to return to her hometown to serve the community where she grew up in Wolfe County, Kentucky. In her position as Full-Service Community Schools Coordinator at Red River Valley Elementary School, she gets to […]
‘It Takes a Village:’ The Whole Child Approach in Letcher County
‘It Takes a Village:’ The Whole Child Approach in Letcher County For Mandy Wynn, returning to the world of academia to pursue her GED and higher education sparked a passion and purpose for serving her community. She now embodies that purpose every day in her role as Student Success Navigator at Jenkins Middle High School […]