New Power and Black Gold

What do these have in common? They converged among a crowd of hundreds in Hazard this weekend.

Celebrating our history and envisioning our future, Eastern Kentuckians from around the region brought their families out and KFTC was there to greet them with New Power!

On Saturday, at Perry County's Black Gold Festival, twenty Kentuckians pledged to support New Power political leaders who will move our state and region in a direction we deserve!

Numerous members worked together all weekend to gather over 100 petition signatures for restoration of voting rights, tax reform, clean energy jobs, and preservation of our mountains and streams.

Despite our success, fear was definitely in the air. Folks with ties to the coal industry and old power shared their concerns with us in various ways.  People are afraid that old power is the only option.

"Change comes hard in the mountains and folks are afraid of changeâ€, says Truman Hurt, retired miner of Montgomery Creek and Perry County Chapter Chair.

New Power can't come soon enough for East Kentucky. This was evident in every whisper from women, gray with wisdom, leaning across our table to tell us, "I'm glad you're here. I love these mountains
.