The Power of Partnerships in Community Revitalization in Rural America We Are Not There Yet-But We Are Getting There: Connecting the Stakeholders/Resources Delivering Outcomes for Communities– Washington, D.C. May 27, 2016 Ron Daley – KVEC/Hazard CTC

Oldest K-12 educational cooperative in Kentucky serving 19 school districts is pulling scho0l districts, counties and communities together

Our Appalachian region serving 14 counties Densely populated and mountainous (approximate geographical size of Connecticut) High Poverty Rate Lowest Quotient of Well Being in Nation Declining coal industry-massive layoffs with potential for outmigration

The $30 million spanning four years is all about the 42,256 students served by 2,860 educators in 99 schools in 14 counties. Education is being transformed-a national model of excellence The “Appalachian Renaissance Initiative,” focuses on personalized/customized learning and empowering students with their voices and choices.

How Far Have We Come in 52 Years How Far Have We Come in 52 Years? President Lyndon Johnson listens to Tom Fletcher describe some of the problems of his Martin County community in April 24, 1964 in iconic photo symbolizing the War on Poverty.

We have been bleeding coal jobs for decades In 1914 at the peak there were 180,000 anthracite miners; by 1970 only 6,000 remained. At the same time steam engines were phased out in railways and factories, and bituminous was used primarily for the generation of electricity. Employment in bituminous (coal type in Kentucky) peaked at 705,000 men in 1923, falling to 140,000 by 1970 and 70,000 in 2003.

KVEC Region Census Data We’ve been bleeding population for decades, especially our young, talented and educated KVEC Region Census Data County 2014 Population %+/-(since 2010) 1940 Population Pike 63,034 -3.1% 71,222 Floyd 38,108 -3.4 52,986 Magoffin 12,913 -3.2 17,490 Johnson 23,262 -0.4 25,771 Wolfe 7,214 -1.9 9,997 Lee 7,594 -3.7 10,860 Owsley 4,508 -5.2 8,957 Perry 27,597 -3.9 47,828 Letcher 23,359 -4.7 40,592 Breathitt 13,409 -3.4 23,946 Harlan 28,163 -3.8 75,275 Knott 15,892 -2.8 20,007 Bell 27,778 -3.2 43,812 Leslie 10,918 -3.5 14,981 Region 303,749 (6.8% of state) 463,724 (16.3%) Kentucky 4,413,457 +1.7 2,845,627   Source: quickfacts.census.gov

Factors for Eastern Kentucky to not make same levels of progress as rest of Appalachia Failed to embrace regional approach. Region operated as City-States, competing instead of collaborating Coal/mineral severance tax funds not used as effectively Many institutions/organizations serving region based outside No public/research university based in Kentucky coalfields

Need paradigm shift in thinking and planning to address historic economic challenges and not just Band-Aids for immediate circumstances

Rural areas often lack connected civic capacity to plan collaboratively in their region The KVEC team created networks and forged alliances to connect citizens, organizations and resources in Appalachian Kentucky KVEC Consortia is model for regional approach sharing best practices

Establish First U.S. “Rural Edu-conomy Innovation Zone” Using Work Ready model to build community support for education Inform community about K-20 education Engage business and local leaders in education Tie education to economic and community growth Creating Global “Silicon Holler” Innovation Hubs

Preparing Region for Global Economy Implementing vision of U. S. Rep Preparing Region for Global Economy Implementing vision of U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers

STRATEGIES TO ASSIST REGIONAL PLANNING Using KY Work Ready Community program with organizations in each county to promote community and economic growth and the New Economy Open meetings held at different hours in day and evening Use as opportunity to get K-12 and older youth engaged Creation of Millennial Think (Do) Tanks to develop strategies to build New Economy and attract and retain creative talent to get youth more involved Create and sustain local leadership development programs/trainings

REGIONAL PLANNING - Continued Host meetings with professional learning (development) component to encourage team spirit and team planning Start with easy wins to build pride and sense of accomplishment Creation of community toolkit preparing communities for the New Economy and community team spirit Use The Holler.org to build an on-line community digital framework promoting county and regional work including data use

REGIONAL PLANNING - Continued Develop and use county contact lists to promote regional work Traditional and social media campaign to promote New Economy, community growth, and regionalism Use the largest roll out of Next Generation classroom technology in rural America and live feeds from Promising Practices/Action Research Summits to promote regionalism Create common strategic plan (contain elements of partner plans); plan based on data (create community, regional data base repository) ; and Goals/Outcomes/Sustainability based plans

SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region) positive bi-partisan initiative promoting regionalism and collaboration began in 2013. The KY Highlands Promise Zone is enhancing collaboration.

We Are Not There Yet-But We Are Getting There There is a Renaissance going on in Appalachian Kentucky But, a vision or dream without funding is a hallucination. Our federal agencies will enable our people to achieve their common vision and make the region's dreams become reality

Tying Education to Community Development: The Appalachian Renaissance Initiative “Power of Partnerships in Community Revitalization in Rural America” Ron Daley, Strategic Partner Lead Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC) Ron.daley@kctcs.edu 859-388-0406 www.Daleytalk.com To learn more about great work of students and teachers in KVEC consortia visit www.theholler.org