“The hydroelectric generating plant shows that local green initiatives like this one can be financially feasible and create reliable sources of income and acceptable rates of return on investment,” said Berea College President Lyle Roelofs. “At the same time, it displays to our students and everyone else both the College’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the viability of state-of-the-art renewable energy technologies.”
Tag: Community
Brushy Fork Leadership Institute to Host 2021 Leadership Summit
By: Jacqueline Corum
Central Appalachian leaders will address the inequities exposed by the pandemic and other social issues
The annual Brushy Fork Leadership Summit, a strategic initiative of Berea College, will be conducted online Sept. 13 to 24. This year’s “Adaptive Leadership in Uncertain Times” summit will bring together nonprofit and grassroots leaders to explore questions about how to design, fund and deliver programming in uncertain times; develop skills for adaptive leadership; and make connections to strengthen their organizations and their work.
Continue reading Brushy Fork Leadership Institute to Host 2021 Leadership Summit →
Nurturing Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities, and a Healthier Future
Garden kits packed for distribution to families.
Written by: Elora Overbey, Grow Appalachia
Cigna Foundation Grant Furthers Berea Wellness Hub in Partnership with Berea Kids Eat
Grow Appalachia, a Strategic Initiative of Berea College, has received a $30,000 grant from the Cigna Foundation to work in partnership with school systems and the surrounding communities to supplement existing programming for children to help close nutrition gaps both within and outside of the school environment. The gift is part of the grant program, Healthier Kids For Our Future®, a five-year, $25 million global initiative focused on improving the health and well-being of children made possible by Cigna and the Cigna Foundation.
Grow Appalachia’s Berea Kids Eat Program has worked directly in Berea since 2016 to fight childhood hunger, increase healthy food access and support community food resiliency. To date, the program has served more than 400,000 meals to youth while supporting health and wellness initiatives and food security programming for low-income communities.
Cooking kits prepared for distribution to families.
“We’re really excited that Cigna has helped to fully braid together all the goals of Berea Kids Eat, which is not just about reducing food insecurity but also increasing healthy food access by building food skills at the household level for the future,” said Martina Leforce, coordinator of Berea Kids Eat.
Continue reading Nurturing Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities, and a Healthier Future →
New Study Reveals Berea College Makes $202 Million Impact on Local Economy
A newly-commissioned study reveals that Berea College’s operations make a yearly economic impact of more than $202 million in Madison County. The study quantifies the economic impact of Berea College on the local economy. It looks at the impact generated by all operations of the College.
Although the economic impact generated by the college goes throughout the Appalachian region, this analysis focuses on Madison County. The $202 million is a measure of the total dollar value that flows through the Berea-Madison County economy because of the operations of Berea College. The exact amount is $202,413,426 for the 2016-17 academic year. Continue reading New Study Reveals Berea College Makes $202 Million Impact on Local Economy →
Dr. Kennaria Brown Recognized for Work in Police Diversity Training
Work featured in national magazine
“Empathetic, strong and fearless” were some of the words describing Dr. Kennaria Brown, associate professor of Communication at Berea College, in a feature article by Rachel James Clevenger published in the January issue of Private University Products and News Magazine. Continue reading Dr. Kennaria Brown Recognized for Work in Police Diversity Training →
Promise Neighborhood Brings $30 Million to Support Education
A $30 million Promise Neighborhood grant to serve Perry County in eastern Kentucky has been awarded to Partners for Education at Berea College. The five-year grant will provide children and youth in the community with comprehensive services and school supports and is aimed at improving outcomes for all students and their families.
Project Director Michael Hughes, a lifelong Perry County resident, has spent much of his career as a teacher and administrator. Hughes said, “We can have a positive long-term impact on the children in the community because the seed money from this five-year grant will be teamed with the long-term work of the local businesses and organizations who are our partners.” Continue reading Promise Neighborhood Brings $30 Million to Support Education →
President Roelofs to be Interviewed on “Community Conversations” Program
Berea College President Lyle Roelofs will be the guest of program host Jeff Rubin on this week’s broadcast of “Community Conversations” on Richmond radio stations WEKY-AM and WKXO-FM. They will discuss the importance of good town/gown relationships and President Roelofs will talk about the long and beneficial relationship that Berea College has had with the community that grew up around it. Listeners can tune in to the hour-long program, which begins at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 on 1340 WEKY-AM or 103.5 WKXO-FM. Continue reading President Roelofs to be Interviewed on “Community Conversations” Program →
Empty Bowls Addresses Hunger Through Raising Funds and Awareness
On Wednesday March 18, members of the Berea community will have the opportunity to help address local hunger needs by purchasing a simple meal of soup and a hand-made bowl, donated by the Berea College ceramics student volunteers or local potters. Continue reading Empty Bowls Addresses Hunger Through Raising Funds and Awareness →
Local Event to Help Ebola Victims in West Africa
When the Ebola crisis was at its peak last fall, Berea College students determined then to do something about it. Now local residents can, too, by participating in the “Stop Ebola” event on February 1, 2015.
Striving to live out the College’s commitment to learning, labor, and service, and inspired by the passionate plea of Gyude Moore, a Berea College alumnus from Liberia, the students began planning how they could help stem the crisis, even before it reached America’s shores. Continue reading Local Event to Help Ebola Victims in West Africa →
Berea College Selected by Carnegie for 2015 Community Engagement Classification
Berea College students work on the annual “Hunger Hurts Food Drive,” sponsored by the college’s Center for Excellence in Learning Through Service.
Berea College is one of 240 U.S. colleges and universities selected by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to receive its 2015 Community Engagement Classification. This classification, which must be renewed periodically, was first awarded to Berea College 2008. Continue reading Berea College Selected by Carnegie for 2015 Community Engagement Classification →