This week's Appalachian Vibes Mini features Appalachian author and civic leader/advocate Joan Vannorsdall. As a writer for Blue Ride Country Magazine, she got an idea for a bi monthly column that begs the question, how are small towns in Appalachia reclaiming their identities after years of declining population and industry shifts? Joan travels to one of seven states in Appalachia every other month to investigate first hand how small communities in Appalachia are making a come back and how they tell their stories.

In this App Vibes mini, Vannorsdall reads her story about Harlan Kentucky.

Thank you to Mountain Stage from WVPB for allowing Appalachian Vibes to use the audio from a 2006 Darrell Scott performance of “You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive”
Thank you to Darrell Scott for writing such an important and haunting song.
Thank you to Joan Vannorsdall for reading her story.

Read more of her work at blueridgecountry.com