Morehead State University
Strengthening Appalachia: How Active Communities Can Save Our Region: STUDY 1 (Farrell): A Historical Analysis of Worker Cooperative Networks and Their Implementation in Appalachia
Institution
Morehead State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
John Hennen; Joy Gritton
Abstract
The Appalachian area of the United States, which includes sections of eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, and southern Ohio, is a culture-rich area, but several pervading issues continue to dub the Ashland, KY-Huntington, WV, area as one of the worst places to live in the United States (2013 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index). The survey discovered high levels of unemployment, poverty, unaffordable health care, and discontent among Appalachian citizens, with water pollution and coal mining accidents furthering concerns to the area. As a citizen of the Appalachian region, these issues inspired me to find solutions from elsewhere in the nation that struggled with similar issues in hopes to reproduce the solutions in the Appalachian area. Efficient, environmentally conscious, and applicable solutions were discovered through an examination of leading systems established in Boston, Massachusetts, Austin, Texas, and Cleveland, Ohio. Using the worker cooperative model introduced by leading political economist, Gar Alperovitz, a plan to improve the Appalachian area and its economy was devised through this research through the creation of worker-owned businesses, where workers have a politicoeconomic stake in the success of their company. In addition to creating a more democratic system, worker cooperatives in the Appalachian area would conduct themselves in a manner that is more respectful of the environment, more willing to create and follow safety regulations to prevent coal mining accidents and workplace injuries, and more effective in producing stable, well-paying, community-oriented jobs. All of these alterations are desperately needed in Appalachia, and through education, legislation, and activism, change will happen.
Strengthening Appalachia: How Active Communities Can Save Our Region: STUDY 1 (Farrell): A Historical Analysis of Worker Cooperative Networks and Their Implementation in Appalachia
The Appalachian area of the United States, which includes sections of eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, and southern Ohio, is a culture-rich area, but several pervading issues continue to dub the Ashland, KY-Huntington, WV, area as one of the worst places to live in the United States (2013 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index). The survey discovered high levels of unemployment, poverty, unaffordable health care, and discontent among Appalachian citizens, with water pollution and coal mining accidents furthering concerns to the area. As a citizen of the Appalachian region, these issues inspired me to find solutions from elsewhere in the nation that struggled with similar issues in hopes to reproduce the solutions in the Appalachian area. Efficient, environmentally conscious, and applicable solutions were discovered through an examination of leading systems established in Boston, Massachusetts, Austin, Texas, and Cleveland, Ohio. Using the worker cooperative model introduced by leading political economist, Gar Alperovitz, a plan to improve the Appalachian area and its economy was devised through this research through the creation of worker-owned businesses, where workers have a politicoeconomic stake in the success of their company. In addition to creating a more democratic system, worker cooperatives in the Appalachian area would conduct themselves in a manner that is more respectful of the environment, more willing to create and follow safety regulations to prevent coal mining accidents and workplace injuries, and more effective in producing stable, well-paying, community-oriented jobs. All of these alterations are desperately needed in Appalachia, and through education, legislation, and activism, change will happen.