Cumberland | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Chapter: Cumberland

If you believe that Laurel, Knox, Whitley and Pulaski Counties would benefit from local people working together to make their communities better and stronger, then we invite you to be a part of the Cumberland Chapter of KFTC. 

Members from these counties and surrounding counties work together to create space for each other and work on four core areas. In addition to adding capacity to statewide issue campaigns, the Cumberland Chapter focuses on racial justice, voter rights, LGBTQ+ issues and fairness, as well as environmental justice. We bring people from the tri-county area and beyond together, and we make sure to have fun while doing it!

Our monthly chapter meeting is a great way to learn more, meet like-minded folks, and get involved.

Recent Activities

KFTC members continue to build New Power through the Power House workshops

KFTC Staff on November 9, 2018 in New Energy and Transition, Energy Democracy, , Just Transition, , Sustainable Energy, Cumberland, , Rowan County, Climate Justice, , Empower Kentucky, , featured, , workshop

Since April of this year, KFTC members across eastern Kentucky have helped host energy efficiency workshops in their commun

Cumberland chapter hosts "Anne Braden: Southern Patriot" film

Angel Hill on October 31, 2018 in Racial Justice, Cumberland, Racial Justice

More than 30 community members from the Corbin area gathered on Sunday to watch "Anne Braden: Southern Patriot" and have a conversation about the film. The event was hosted by the Cumberland Chapter of KFTC. Appalshop director Mimi Pickering led the conversation afterwards, which created a space for folks to talk about organizing for racial justice.

Fixing What's Broke: why Congress must support a Just Transition for miners with black lung and communities

Lisa Abbott on October 21, 2018 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, , Community Science & Public Health, , Energy Democracy, , Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, , Sustainable Energy, Big Sandy, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Rowan County, , Western Kentucky, Black Lung, , Climate Justice, , Congress, , Empower Kentucky, , Federal tax policy, , I Love Mountains Day, , Knott County, , Mine Safety, , OSM - Office of Surface Mining, , Power Plants, , RECLAIM Act

A new report from KFTC describes ways Kentuckians are organizing to demand action from Congress – and especially from Senator Mitch McConnell – in support of a Just Transition for miners with black lung disease, retired and laid off miners, and their communities.

To build a new economy in coal communities, the report says Congress should start by "fixing what's broke," including strengthening funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, passing the RECLAIM Act, and protecting miners' pensions.

Local black lung resolution is picking up steam

Lisa Abbott on October 16, 2018 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, , Communities Taking Action, , Energy Democracy, , Sustainable Energy, Big Sandy, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Rowan County, Black Lung, , Climate Justice, , Congress, , Empower Kentucky, , Federal tax policy, , Knott County, , Mine Safety, , Power Plants, , RECLAIM Act

Most recent update as of Jan 2, 2019: Sixteen local governments in Kentucky have passed local resolutions in 2018 calling on Senator McConnell and other members of Congress to do right by our miners and communities by passing the RECLAIM Act, strengthening funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, and protecting miners' pensions. 

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The resolution was first adopted by the City of Benham in Harlan County in September 2018. That action was followed quickly by local governments in the cities of Jackson, Morehead and Whitesburg, and in Breathitt, Knott, Letcher, Rowan and Pike counties. 

Knott, Letcher, Rowan and Pike counties became the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th local governments in eastern Kentucky to pass a local resolution calling on members of Congress to pass several bills needed to help sick, disabled, retired and unemployed coal miners and their communities. The fiscal courts in Letcher and Knott counties took the unanimous action at their respective monthly meetings on October 15, and Pike and Rowan counties acted the next day.

Update 11.30.2018: The Floyd County Fiscal Court became the 10th Kentucky community to pass the resolution on October 18. Magoffin County quickly became the 11th, followed by Ohio County, in Western Kentucky, Knox County, and the City of Lynch in Harlan County. 

Update 12.10.2018: Johnson County's Fiscal Court passed the 15th resolution in Kentucky by local governments calling on Senator McConnell and other members of Congress to do right by our miners and coal communities!

Update in late December: Harlan County's Fiscal Court passed the 16th resolution urging Congress to pass the RECLAIM Act, strengthen the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, and protect miners' pensions. 

President Trump and Andy Barr rally in Richmond, Kentuckians respond

Matthew Frederick on October 15, 2018 in , Central Kentucky, , Cumberland, , Madison County, , Wilderness Trace, Congress

President Donald Trump made a trip to Eastern Kentucky University on October 13, where he rallied supporters for Representati

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Regular Meetings:

The Cumberland Chapter generally meets on first Sunday of every month from 2-4 p.m. EST. The location rotates between the four counties each month. See our events list for the location of our next meeting.

Chapter Organizer:

131 N Mill St
London, KY 40741
(606) 261-4955

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