Appalachian South Folklife Center Program

Don West

https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/02/obituaries/don-west-86-dies-fought-for-the-poor-workers-and-blacks.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h_8TGx5RbY This is one of Don West's poems titled "My Poem" Do watch!

Appalachian South Folklife Center founders, Don and Connie West established the Center to assist and educate the young people of the mountains. Don was a successful poet, historian, educator, and activist. Don and his wife, portrait artist Connie West, created programs to instill pride in Appalachian cultural heritage and promoted a culture of self-reliance and personal strength. They were instrumental in helping young people further their educations and retain pride in who they are.

Each year ASFC assists families in need through their Service Work program. College, church and civic groups come to the Folklife Center to learn about Appalachia while performing volunteer work for folks in the area facing hard times. This program helps people with their home repair needs and provides other services to community non-profit and grassroots organizations. The program also allows volunteers to learn about Appalachian heritage and culture. Volunteers experience a deep sense of community with their teammates and learn specific home repair skills. The volunteer teams perform light construction such as building wheelchair ramps, painting of houses, roofing and minor repair of elder and persons with disability housing depending on the experience and skill levels of the team. The mission teams will be provided with the materials and tools necessary to compete the tasks.

Volunteer Schedule:

Sunday: Arrive at ASFC in the afternoon or evening. Orientation will be conducted after we arrive.

Here is a example of a "normal" day at the Appalachian South Folklife Center.

Monday through Thursday:

7:30 a.m. -- Breakfast as a group:

8:15 a.m. -- Gather to pray, receive work assignments and collect needed tools

9:00 a.m.--Arrive at work site

Noon -- Lunch (Work site determines lunch location)

4:00 p.m. -- Begin clean up of work site

4:30 p.m. -- Arrive back at the Center

6:00 p.m. -- Dinner as a group

After dinner-- Clean up, Reflections as a St. Nick's group (time will vary and may be before dinner) and Cultural Activity/Free Time. We will most likely have at least 3 cultural activities. These will be decided prior to departure for West Virginia. They may include an open mic night of music, day tour including trails, a tour of a mountain top removal site, a visit to the Three Rivers Avian center or other activities.

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