Loyal Jones Appalachian Center

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.

08/19/2026

Look who showed up for Labor training yesterday!

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!🌻

07/27/2026

From Hazard KY to Knoxville TN we took a tour bus of 25 Berea College staff and faculty across Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee to learn more about Appalachia and introduce them to communities and organizations dedicated to preserving and uplifting Appalachian culture like Thompson Scholars Pine Mountain Settlement School Appalachian Arts Alliance Southeast Kentucky African-American Museum and Cultural Center, Inc. Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, Cowan Community Center, and so many more!

We are so grateful to be a part of this work.

07/24/2026

Way to go Seth Lewis!

On the verge of dropping out in his first semester, Seth Lewis ’15 stayed because someone told him he mattered. That moment set him on a path from Berea’s work program to founding the Appalachian Student Union and, ultimately, returning home to help lift families out of generational poverty through Kentucky’s Ready to Work program.

🔗 Read More from the Berea College Magazine: https://magazine.berea.edu/berea-in-the-community/working-from-home/
📷: Crystal Wylie '05

07/10/2026

Thank you Erica Chambers and Maddox Made for taking such wonderful pictures of Benny the Hellbender, John G Fee, and our turtle krewe staff wielders. Our students did a terrific job in their roles at the parade and we are grateful to have these moments documented so beautifully.

07/06/2026

Our little team put hundreds of hours into working on the Interdependence Art Parade over the past couple of months. It was a huge success and we are so grateful we got to be a part of this spectacular production alongside so many incredible Berean artists and community organizers.

More pictures and videos of the actual parade to come, to but for now please enjoy this photo we snapped of the people behind the scenes who helped make the magic happen.

07/05/2026

Today is the day! The Interdependence Art Parade is happening this evening and Benny the hellbender is excited to meet you all! This is the kind of parade that invites the audience to join as active participants and there are 3 main ways to engage:

1. Be a part of the procession. We invite you to dress in costume and walk the full length of the parade with us. We will meet at 6:00 pm at 446 Chestnut St (the lot by Berea Arts Council and Rebel Rebel Studio). This is a great chance to meet the artists, get a closer look at the costumes, and be immersed in the full experience.

2. Follow the Parade. If you want to watch the full story unfold, but would rather not dress in costume you are welcome to follow the parade on the sidelines from start to finish. The performance begins at 7:00, proceeds down N Broadway, and ends at the Folk Center around 8:30.

3. Find a comfy spot to watch! Bring a lawn chair, snacks, and settle in to watch the parade go by! We recommend finding a place on the lawn in front of Berea Tourism or Jefferson Memorial Park, as these are destinations where key points where the
story will unfold.

If it rains we will either delay or move the production into the Acton Folk Center. Bring a water bottle and comfortable walking shoes! Food trucks will be set up at different points along the parade route, Berea Kids Eat will be giving meals to those under 18, and Apollo’s Pizza will be open.

We hope to see you there!

07/04/2026

An through and through Appalachian Fourth of July poem from West Virginia by Jennifer Keener. Rarely has my heart felt so moved in these days. ~Chris

06/27/2026

Our team has been working hard in preparation for the Berea Interdependence Art Parade : A Community Art Spectacle, Mobile Concert & Story Performance! Come see us and several other local artists and creatives next Sunday on July 5th!

This the kind of parade that invites the audience to join as active participants based on their comfort level.

There are 3 main ways to engage:

1. Be a part of the procession. We invite you to dress in costume and walk the full length of the parade with us. We will meet at 6:00 pm at 446 Chestnut St (the lot by Berea Arts Council and Rebel Rebel Studio). This is a great chance to meet the artists, get a closer look at the costumes, and be immersed in the full experience.

2. Follow the Parade. If you want to watch the full story unfold, but would rather not dress in costume you are welcome to follow the parade on the sidelines from start to finish. The performance begins at 7:00, proceeds down N Broadway, and ends at the Folk Center around 8:30.

3. Find a comfy spot to watch! Bring a lawn chair, snacks, and settle in to watch the parade go by! We recommend finding a place on the lawn in front of Berea Tourism or Jefferson Memorial Park, as these are destinations where key points where the story will unfold.

We hope to see you there!