By Mike Templeton

We are extremely happy and grateful to report that the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition, along with nine other community groups in greater Cincinnati, has been awarded a grant by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation in recognition of, in their words, our “efforts to uplift and unite all members of our community.” This comes at a time when small non-profit groups such as ours are struggling to keep our foothold in a changing political climate. In a recent article on this blog, we detailed some of the ways the defunding of important services on a national level is having a negative impact on local groups like the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition, whose mission is to advocate on behalf of people whose voices are often not heard. It is therefore more important than ever that we have been honored by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

As one of ten organizations to receive this grant award, UACC is proud to be singled out as one of the groups working to create communities across the entire city and to be recognized by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) as worthy of this honor and the grant that comes with it. In some recent articles, we have talked about our long history of urban Appalachian advocacy. One of the most crucial aspects of urban Appalachian advocacy has always been the process of building alliances and partnerships across communities. As urban Appalachians, we have always understood that our best interests, and the best ways we can serve greater Cincinnati, is by recognizing that all the communities that make up our city are tied together in ways that are too numerous to count. The Greater Cincinnati Foundation community grant is clear recognition of our efforts over the years. With this grant and recognition, we also understand that we have been further entrusted to continue our work of building communities in greater Cincinnati.

The GCF states in their announcement of the awards that, “In recent weeks, we experienced hateful attempts to divide us. This caused many of our neighbors to feel unsafe and brought challenges and uncertainties to the people and institutions that work tirelessly to make our region more vibrant and inclusive.” As a response to this climate of mistrust and ill will, the GCF has awarded these honors and grants to demonstrate that they are “committed to doing everything we can to build a vibrant region where every person has a fair opportunity to reach their full potential.” Building community and empowering people to reach their full potential are central to everything UACC does and has always done.

Core members Elissa Yancy and Maureen Sullivan were instrumental in obtaining this grant. Their dedication and hard work have been driving much of what forms the backbone of the UACC in recent years. Maureen Sullivan, of course, has been steering our ship for a very long time, often through some stormy seas, but always toward further success. Of this recent award, Elissa Yancy had this to say: “This investment and recognition speaks to the history and power of our region’s Urban Appalachian community. To be one of only 10 organizations selected as harbingers of hope by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation will allow UACC to deepen our work in, with and for community. We have long been bridge-builders, so to be lifted up alongside organizations like the Holocaust and Humanity Center, the YWCA and The Heights Movement, is both an honor and a point of pride for UACC.” Building bridges, creating community partnerships, building alliances with other groups—all of this has been integral to the work of UACC. It is with a tremendous sense of honor that we can share such recognition with other groups in greater Cincinnati who have distinguished themselves as community-builders.

The award and the recognition really speak to what goes on behind the scenes with UACC. While this blog does reveal some of that activity, it is simply not possible to keep up with what each member of UACC are doing at any given time. This award has drawn the intense work of Elissa Yancy and Maureen Sullivan into the light. You can be certain that other activity of a similar nature is unfolding as I write this. The work of the UACC research committee comes to mind. When something like the studies on neighborhood health are finally revealed, we are seeing just the tip of the spear of the work of Core member Michael Maloney. When we get the chance to read the study on the urban Appalachian neighborhood of Peck’s Addition, we are seeing the fruit of weeks and months of research by Core members like Ashley Hopkins and her colleague at Miami University-Hamilton, Matthew Smith. The culmination of painstaking research and documentation by UACC Core members put UACC in the running for the Greater Cincinnati Foundation grant, and it is this kind of hard work and dedication that the grant has ultimately recognized.

Elissa Yancy highlighted the fact that, “As a small nonprofit, UACC benefits greatly from support like this, and for us, $25,000 goes a long way!” This grant and the honor could not have come at a better time for everyone singled out by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. The Urban Appalachian Community Coalition remains steadfast in our commitment to the communities that make up greater Cincinnati. The other recipients of this award are just as committed to building community and strengthening bonds across community groups. Especially as we make our way through difficult times ahead, this grant and the honors and trust that come with it will make for efforts that will far outlive our current moment. From our earliest days, urban Appalachians have always placed the highest importance on community. With the recognition we receive from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, we will be able to continue our efforts to make greater Cincinnati a place of inclusion and mutual support.

Michael Templeton is a writer, and independent scholar. He is the author of The Chief of Birds: A Memoir published with Erratum Press and Impossible to Believe, published by Iff Books. He is also the author of Collected Apoems, forthcoming from LJMcD Communications and the awaiting of awaiting: a novella, with Nut Hole Publishing. Check out his profile in UACC’s Cultural Directory. He has published numerous articles and essays on contemporary culture and works of creative non-fiction as well as experimental works and poetry. He lives in West Milton, Ohio with his wife who is an artist.