Loyal Jones Appalachian Center

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Loyal Jones Appalachian Center We are dedicated to a future in which Appalachian communities seek progress through democratic participation, social justice, and environmental stewardship.

In the summer of 1970, Berea College created the Appalachian Center. Early documents state its purpose:

* To give concentrated leadership to Berea’s Appalachian activities
* To stimulate student and scholarly interest
* To bring together existing outreach programs and to guide the creation of new services
* To relate Berea College’s efforts to those of other Appalachian institutions
* To serve the nation as a source of information about the Appalachian Region…. Berea College President Willis D. Weatherford pushed for the Center’s creation at the request of a faculty committee. It was the first college or university Appalachian Center. Now four decades into its mission, the Center teaches courses and serves as an umbrella for a group of programs that serve the campus community and the broader Appalachian region. The Appalachian Center is also home to many programs, and you can learn more about each one by visiting www.berea.edu/ac.

Benny enjoyed his first Mountain Day! ⛰️
10/07/2026

Benny enjoyed his first Mountain Day! ⛰️

We have a lot of exciting music event opportunities coming up that we are eager to share! Friday Oct 2, 7:00-9:00 pm - O...
10/01/2026

We have a lot of exciting music event opportunities coming up that we are eager to share!

Friday Oct 2, 7:00-9:00 pm - Open Mic: Halloween/Harvest Edition
Join us in the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center for our first Open Mic of the semester! All are welcome, community members and students alike. Bring something to share that reminds you of the fall season! We will have some hot apple c***r, tea and fall themed snacks at this event.

53rd Annual Berea College Celebration of Traditional Music Oct 9th-11th A festival of roots music and dancing on Berea College campus celebrating home-made music as passed on from person to person in the Appalachian Region and the musicians who play it. We have a fun-filled weekend scheduled f with a stellar cast of musicians and activities for all ages. Find a full detailed schedule of events here https://www.berea.edu/centers/loyal-jones-appalachian-center/events-2/annual-celebration-of-traditional-music

We are looking forward to making music with you all!

Attention writers and lovers of Appalachian Literature! We have an exciting opportunity coming up next Wednesday Sept 16...
09/08/2026

Attention writers and lovers of Appalachian Literature!

We have an exciting opportunity coming up next Wednesday Sept 16 with Appalachian Review and critically acclaimed author Carter Sickels, whose book "The Prettiest Star" won several awards in 2021 including the Weatherford Award!

Check out the available offerings and come to whatever you can. These events will at the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center and are free and open to the public. The schedule is as follows:

10-11.30-Public Workshop with Carter Sickels

Noon-1-Reading by Carter Sickles (Lunch provided)

3-4-Public Conversation-Carter Sickels interviewed by Jason Kyle Howard

No need to RSVP. Just show up when you can! See you there.

Join the Appalachian Center at this year's Hellbender Festival with Kentucky Riverkeeper and meet our giant hellbender p...
09/03/2026

Join the Appalachian Center at this year's Hellbender Festival with Kentucky Riverkeeper and meet our giant hellbender puppet Benny in person! The Festival will take place on at on September 12th from 12-3pm, at Kelly's Landing (8949 Old Richmond Rd). There will be food trucks, informational booths, live animals, crafts, and an opportunity to kayak on the river! Kayak rentals will be available or you can bring your own! The event is free and open to all ages.

Come out and celebrate Kentucky's wonderful state amphibian with us!

LJAC Director In Absentia, Chris Green, hanging with Doc in Boone, N.C. In the early 90s when dwelling on Meat Camp Rd ...
09/01/2026

LJAC Director In Absentia, Chris Green, hanging with Doc in Boone, N.C. In the early 90s when dwelling on Meat Camp Rd on Snake Mountain, Chris lived just 20 miles from Watson.

The Loyal Jones Appalachian Center mourns the passing of Wendell Berry (1934-2026). Berry was an author, activist, and t...
09/01/2026

The Loyal Jones Appalachian Center mourns the passing of Wendell Berry (1934-2026). Berry was an author, activist, and thinker who had a profound impact on Kentucky, Appalachia, and beyond. Berry received an honorary doctorate from Berea College in 1983.

Rest in peace Dolly Parton. The entire world is wrestling to come to terms with this tremendous loss, and we are all jus...
08/26/2026

Rest in peace Dolly Parton. The entire world is wrestling to come to terms with this tremendous loss, and we are all just trying to find our own way of grieving. For our part, we honored Dolly yesterday afternoon by placing a black pinball in the Dolly Parton Pinball machine and rallied to put together a memorial display in her honor.

Additional opportunities to honor Dolly are in the works, but for now we invite you to comment below with a memory of Dolly, whether it be within the Appalachian Center or beyond. Consider this a space for us all to grieve together.

Look who showed up for Labor training yesterday!
08/19/2026

Look who showed up for Labor training yesterday!

Our sunflowers always bloom just in time to greet the students as they return to campus. You will find them in front of ...
08/11/2026

Our sunflowers always bloom just in time to greet the students as they return to campus.

You will find them in front of Stephenson Hall waving gently at folks on their way to class. Be sure to wave back!🌻

Address

205 North Main Street CPO 2166
Berea, KY
40404

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