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CELTS has received a Learn and Serve America innovation grant for “Energy and Empowerment in an Appalachian County,” an initiative to study energy needs and assets in Madison County.
The integrated three-year community-based research project will bring together multiple community partner organizations and multiple academic departments with their specific expertise. This collaborative and coalition-based approach will produce data toward the goals of improving financial security of low-income families in Madison County; benefiting the environment by reducing demand for coal-based electricity; and empowering community members to become actively involved in transforming the policies, infrastructure, assumptions and behaviors that drive energy use in Kentucky today.
CELTS is in the third year of the project. One goal of the project is to establish a model for a long-term, interdisciplinary CBR focus that involves multiple community partner organizations, faculty, and students all working on issues of energy and empowerment. To this end, we strive to cultivate and support such projects with the Energy and Empowerment Community-Based Research Grants (E&E Grants).
2007-2008 Energy and Empowerment Community-Based Research Grants
In year one, two E&E Grants were utilized and one other project initiated. Berea College students Erin Finsel and Phil Hawn worked with HomeGrown HideAways to construct the first code-approved Earthbag home in Kentucky and a code-approved Strawbale/Cob art studio during the summer of 2008. Dr. Richard Olson was the faculty sponsor of this project. Another project took place during the same time period. Berea student Beth Bissmeyer conducted an energy survey in partnership with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC), sponsored by faculty member Dr. Meta Mendel-Reyes. A third project supported by CELTS was Berea student Nathan Hall and MACED’s work on community biodiesel research. As a part of Campus Sustainability Week (October 20 – 24, 2008) students and community partners presented the work from their Summer 2008 projects at a luncheon.
For more information contact
Ashley Cochrane or Megan Naseman.
2008-2009 Energy and Empowerment Community-Based Research Grants
In year two, three E&E Grants were used to support CBR projects. During the fall of 2008, an interdisciplinary capstone course led by Dr. Richard Olson, brought together graduating students from the following programs: African and African American Studies, Appalachian Studies, Peace and Social Justice Studies, Sustainability and Environmental Studies (SENS), and Women’s Studies. The students in this course partnered with Sustainable Berea for their Transition Town Project, which sought community input to create a plan to reduce the City of Berea’s energy needs.
The second project of the year happened during Short Term of 2009. The Grant-Writing course (ENG 227), taught by Kate Egerton, partnered with Sustainable Berea and Madison County Home Energy Improvement Program, Inc. The students wrote portions of grants for each of the two organizations.
A third project was a partnership among the Health in Appalachia course (HLT 210), taught by Dr. Kris Wright, Kentucky Environmental Foundation, and Judith Weckman, of the Berea College Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. In the Spring of 2009, HLT 210 students created and administered a survey for health professionals about their knowledge of health impacts from coal-fired power plants. After the survey, students invited participants to a forum to discuss the results. This project supports the work that KEF and a coalition of other groups in the region are doing to propose alternatives to a new coal-fired power plant in nearby Clark County, Kentucky.
Energy and Empowerment Community Networking
Another goal of the project is to support communication among community groups working on energy and empowerment issues here in Madison County. We work towards this goal by co-organizing community gatherings among active and interested individuals and groups. For links to the websites of participating organizations or to sign up for the online list serve please visit the Energy and Empowerment Group Page.
Energy and Empowerment Project Dissemination
In additional to improving communication, another goal of the project is to disseminate information gathered through CBR projects and community networking gatherings to members of the community as well as individuals working on similar issues in other locations. To work towards this goal, we have presented and/or tabled about the Energy and Empowerment at the following local locations: Madison County Fiscal Court (shown on Madison County Government Access Channel 46), Berea First Christian Church, Berea College Networking Lunches, 2009 Madison County Home Energy Expo, and Berea College Service-Learning Expos. In addition, we have presented at the following conferences: Just Connections March 2009, Energizing Kentucky April 2009, Campus Community Partnerships for Sustainability April 2009. Please contact Megan Naseman to schedule a presentation for your organization.
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