Telling a Different Story: Resilience in Appalachia
In this experiential learning course you will see examples of community change methods applied in the Appalachian context, meet leaders throughout the region working to solve problems, explore the ways investments in arts and culture led to regional revitalization – together with fellow students from around the world. Learn how these communities have begun to reframe the narrative about themselves – and how you can apply these lessons to your own community and bioregion.
The commonly accepted narrative about Appalachia is one of entrenched poverty, drug addiction and economic decline. While it is true that the region lags much of the rest of the nation in terms of economic, social and public health indicators, pockets of community resilience are evident throughout. This residential course examines several examples of communities coming together to lift themselves up. Over 12 days, discover multiple community development approaches and learn about community resilience, particularly in more rural environments.
Join us this summer for a deep learning experience in the Appalachian bioregion and immerse yourself in Appalachian community approaches that address critical issues including:
- Agroforestry and forest farming
- Farm to school and youth education
- Poverty reduction through local social economies
- Regenerative agricultural practices
Site Visit Partners
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is an intergovernmental knowledge and learning Centre working on behalf of the people of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). Based in Kathmandu, Nepal and works in and for eight regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. https://www.icimod.org We will visit Godavari Knowledge Park- ICIMOD
Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB). Established in 1992, ANSAB is committed to biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement in South Asia. It places community empowerment and economic incentives at the heart of its approach and has been consistently evolving, consolidating, institutionalizing and advancing the approaches and strategies for the promotion of community-based enterprises. (ED Dr. Bhishma) See details website https://ansab.org.np
Bhaskar-Tejshree Memorial Foundation (BTMF) was Registered in 2015 with the government as a non-profit organization in memory of late Dr. Bhaskar B. Thapa, a world-class geotechnical tunnel engineer and Late Tejshree Thapa, a renowned human rights activist, BTMF has currently two major areas of work lead (Chair) by Dr. Rita Thapa:
a) Cardiovascular Health Promotion and
b) Human Rights, Empower school adolescents of 10-19 years.
Share And Care Nepal (SCN). Share and Care Nepal was established in 1993 with a commitment to reach out to all in need without bias. Officially registered on January 15, 1994 as a Faith-Based Non-Government Organization (NGO), Share And Care Nepal is an integrated organization served the communities with love, compassion, dedication, and utmost concern for the marginalized people without any discrimination of creed, caste, and belief for more than 28 years.
Tentative Schedule in Appalachia
Starting and ending in Franklin, West Virginia
- June 15-17 – Franklin, West Virginia
The course begins with a welcome dinner at Future Generations University on June 15. At the opening dinner, course leaders Joey and Jenny will give some background on the Appalachian region as a whole and Central Appalachia specifically regarding its historically extractive economy. Spend the first couple of days getting oriented to the region and getting to know your classmates from around the world.
- June 18 – Harrisonburg, Virginia
Head east over the mountains into the Shenandoah Valley to meet some Future Generations University partners in the area before heading south and west to Charleston, WV.
- June 19-25 – Charleston, West Virginia
Spend the week in and around Charleston, the capital of West Virginia. Meet with community leaders in and around the Charleston area working to address issues such as food insecurity, literacy, the mental health crisis, and workforce development.
- June 26-27 – Pendleton County, West Virginia
Return to Pendleton County, home of Future Generations University, for a day of reflection and summation. The residential ends with a farewell dinner this evening.
- June 28 – Future Generations University
For those interested in attending, the commencement ceremony takes place at Future Generations University.
*Subject to change. Also, international students will have the option to apply for a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa, which may enable you to more easily schedule a visa interview at a US embassy. The J-1 visa, however, requires that you join a 3-week program, so you will need to arrive in the US several days before June 15 and depart several days after. More details on the J-1 visa will be forthcoming.
*Dates and schedule subject to change
Course Instructors
Joey Aloi
Joey is a born-and-raised Appalachian from West Virginia with years of experience in local food. He spearheaded aggregation and distribution efforts for KISRA’s Paradise Farms in Dunbar, and in this capacity was one of the founding members of the Turnrow Appalachian Farms Collective. He has also served as the President of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition. He came to his work in Appalachian foodways as an Appalachian Transition Fellow with the Highlander Research and Education Center. This work was not only a result of his connection to his homeplace, but a result of an education in Environmental Philosophy. In this capacity, he studied Philosophy of Food at the University of North Texas, where he wrote on hermeneutics and environmental aesthetics for his doctoral dissertation. Before that, he studied Philosophy of Technology in Montana, and wrote a Master’s Thesis on wilderness and culture. His published academic works touch on environmental ethics, economic transition, environmental justice, and the role of the forest in Appalachian foodways. He’s currently serving on the board of the Buckhannon River Watershed Association.
Jenny Totten
Jenny grew up in West Virginia and currently resides in Franklin, WV. She’s tried to flee her Appalachian roots more than once and finally found herself back home with her passion. Professionally trained as an aerospace and robotics engineer, she discovered after a series of beautiful adventures including Haiti, the 1890 extension system, and the WV nonprofit sector, that she prefers working with communities to engineer their own futures instead. Jenny has worked with both community development and local food systems in the region for over a decade, particularly supporting local level efforts and systems approaches to community change.
Her professional interests gravitate towards building rural economic models, supporting youth-based programs, entrepreneurship, applications of technology to rural development, and agroforestry pursuits. In addition to working for the university, she owns and operates a small cut flower operation and is the proud owner of an endless fixer upper house project in McDowell County. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys hiking, flatwater kayaking, trail running, and traveling to find new culinary and music adventures with her canine, Oliver. Jenny received both an MS in unmanned systems and BS in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech and is a member of the inaugural class of Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows, sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission. She is a past winner of the West Virginia Beacon Award, given to young people working to build leadership in their local communities.
Cost
This course is open to current students, alumni, students from other colleges and universities, and continuing education.
Current Future Generations University Students^
Non-students
Cost is based on a minimum of 15 students.
^Thanks to a generous donor, program costs for current Future Generations University students will be covered in shared accommodations. Students pay only for academic credits at the same rate as other courses.
^^Single accommodations may not be available at all locations.
What is included:
- Group transfers between Dulles International Airport and Franklin, WV
- Group transportation for group activities for the duration of the program
- Accommodation in shared rooms. Single rooms are available for an additional cost.
- A full program of site visits examining various aspects of community development throughout the West Virginia/SW Virginia region
- Meals: Continental breakfast daily; most lunches and dinners
- Gratuities (tips) for group meals and activities
What is not included:
- Travel between your home and Dulles International Airport
- Transfers to/from Franklin, WV, other than the group transfers
- Some meals, to allow you to explore on your own, and gratuities at those meals
- Items of a personal nature, such as toiletries, clothing, snacks, etc.
- Anything not specifically listed as included above or in the itinerary
Deadline Information
Registration deadline: November 1, 2025
Tuition due by: January 15, 2026
In planning your own future, you have an opportunity to support a just and equitable future for generations to come. One way to provide for Future Generations in your will is an outright bequest of cash, securities, real estate, or tangible personal property. You may give a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or a particular piece of real estate or other property.