Connecting Mining Communities from Appalachia to Wales: Policy Forum & Candidate Meet n Greet
This evening of community discussion on practical policy solutions for a Just Transition will begin with a reception and Letcher County candidate 'meet n greet'. Special guests from the mining community of Wales return to join us again with film clips and discussion about that country’s experience with the decline of coal mining in the 1980's. A panel format will allow Mair and Hywell Francis to share tangible lessons about policies that shaped their own country's economic transition, while building a local perpective and plan with panelists Evan Smith of Appalachian Citizens' Law Center and another local guest yet to be confirmed.
This event is hosted by Appalshop, KFTC, and Appalachian State University, with funding from the Chorus Foundation.
Featured speakers
Hywel Francis is Labour Member of Parliament for Aberavon, Wales. Raised in a coal mining family, Francis is Professor Emeritus at Swansea University where he was the founder of the South Wales Miners' Library (1973), the Valleys Initiative for Adult Education (1987) and the Community University of the Valleys (1993), and a prime mover in the creation of the Richard Burton Archives (2010). (Website)
Mair Francis is president of the DOVE Workshop, a women's training centre in the Dulais valley of Wales. During the 1984-85 miners' strike she was actively involved in the woman’s support group for the miners. Her experiences with the strike led her to found the DOVE workshops. She has participated in international exchanges with women's organizations from coal mining areas throughout Europe. Mair is currently the Senior Parliamentary Assistant for Hywel Francis.
October 7, 2014 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Event Organizer:
Tom Hansell
Event Venue:
Appalshop Theater
Event Location:
91 Madison Ave.
Whitesburg, KY
Issue Area(s):