Harlan County | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Chapter: Harlan County

In Harlan County and eastern Kentucky, we have a rich culture, natural beauty, valuable resources such as mountains, forests and water, and a history worth preserving. We are a chapter of KFTC because we believe that these assets and characteristics define who we are, and in preserving and protecting them we are defending a way of life and leaving what is most special about this place for future generations.

Harlan County residents helped create KFTC, and we are one of its earliest chapters. Our local chapter was built on the dedication and struggles of many who came before us, and since 1981 we’ve continued their efforts. Through the years, we have been involved in successful campaigns to save the upper elevations of Black Mountain (Kentucky’s highest peak) from strip mining and logging, help communities win water lines and a new bridge, and so much more.

Today we are working to build new power in the mountains to protect the water and a way of life threatened by destructive mining methods, while  supporting KFTC’s broader efforts to make coal mines safer for miners, fully fund schools and keep college affordable, bring clean energy jobs to this area and expand voting rights.

Recent Activities

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. 

Benham & Jackson are first Kentucky cities to pass a local resolution supporting miners and communities

KFTC staff on September 15, 2018 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, Harlan County, Black Lung, , Congress, , RECLAIM Act

The Benham City Council in Harlan County and Jackson City Council in Breathitt County are the first local governments in Kentucky to pass a local resolution calling on members of Congress to pass three bills needed to help sick, disabled, retired and unemployed coal workers and their families and communities. Benham’s city government took the unanimous action at its monthly meeting on September 13. Jackson's city government adopted the resolution one week later on September 20, 2018.

Advocates hope other local governments may soon follow their example. A similar resolution was adopted several weeks ago in Virginia by the City of Big Stone Gap.

A community conversation with the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

KFTC Staff on April 6, 2018 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Voting Rights, Just Transition, , Campaign For Our CommonWealth, , Communities Taking Action, , Sustainable Energy, , Tax Reform, Big Sandy, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Rowan County, Empower Kentucky, , Federal tax policy, , Health Care, , Housing, , Immigrants' Rights, , LGBTQ equality, , Racial Justice, , State Budget, , Voter Empowerment

2018 0329 PPCNCMR Benham KY stevepavey (40 of 43)On March 29, nearly a 150 people from across Kentucky and central Appalachia gathered in Harlan County for a community conversation with each other and with Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, as part of the national listening tour of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. 

Kentuckians tell McConnell time is up, pass RECLAIM now

KFTC staff on March 14, 2018 in Coal and Water, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, Big Sandy, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Western Kentucky, RECLAIM Act

Senator Mitch McConnell is in a position to direct more than $100 million to economic and community development projects in communities hardest hit by the decline in coal mining.

Kentuckians held an action outside his Lexington office today asking him to waste no more time in doing that.

“The time is now to pass the RECLAIM Act,” said Lyndsay Tarus, the Economic Transition Coordinator for the Alliance for Appalachia. “This is a jobs bill. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has estimated that 4,600 jobs could be generated through the RECLAIM Act across the country.

Harlan, Cumberland chapter members excited about 2018 work

KFTC staff on March 6, 2018 in , Cumberland, , Harlan County

In January and February, two eastern Kentucky chapters have started the year off with a bang.

Harlan County chapter members met on January 25 and did some deep visioning on what they want the chapter to work on over the course of the next year, bringing long-time members as well as folks new to KFTC together.

“I'm excited for the direction the chapter is moving in. I believe this can be a great thing for Harlan County, and it can move Harlan in a very positive direction, for the benefit of all who live here,” Lily Milovnik, a Harlan County High School student, said in regards to the January chapter meeting.

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Chapter Feature:

DSC_0931"Many of us are working to create a better future for our children and grandchildren - and we've got lots of possibilities and real ideas about how to do that. We've got a bright future if we want it."

- Carl Shoupe, Benham, KY

 

Visions from Black Mountain coverVisions from Black Mountain

Residents of Benham, Lynch and Cumberland share their visions for the unique Tri-Cities area.

Regular Meetings:

We meet every other even month on the second Thursday at 6 p.m. We move our meeting locations around the county. Check the calendar!

Chapter Organizer:

131 N. Mill Street
London, KY 40741
606-261-4955

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