Restoring Hope to Rural America
Wise, Va. • Whitesburg, Ky. • Prestonsburg, Ky.
WISE, VIRGINIA
Wise, Virginia is a rural coal town facing many of the challenges confronting rural communities across America, including poor access to health care. Nationwide, nine million rural Americans are uninsured, and over the past 25 years, 470 rural hospitals have closed. The Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps provides essential health services to people in remote areas who cannot otherwise afford it. RAM stops in Wise each year, serving over 1,200 volunteers helped over 7,000 people from the surrounding counties with all types of medical, dental and optical needs.
In Wise and neighboring counties, nearly a third of working-age adults report having a disability. Nationally, working-age Americans with moderate disabilities are almost 30 percent more likely to live in poverty, and those with significant disabilities are 225 percent more likely to live in poverty. The Junction Center for Independent Living is part of a nationwide network of CILs: non-residential, grassroots organizations designed and operated by individuals with disabilities. The Junction Center aims to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and economic self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities in rural Virginia.
[Winbush and Crichlow, 2005; Carsey Institute, 2006; USDA, 2004; Census Bureau, 2007]
Video
John Edwards talks with James Lowe during a discussion about health care in Wise, Va. on July 18, 2007.
Blog
- Wise, Virginia
Today, the Road to One America runs through Appalachia where Senator Edwards will emphasize the importance of strengthening families. Poverty in America is not a problem the government can solve alone - it is one we must address together with families and communities taking responsibility. Promoting healthy families and communities is an integral part of that equation. Read more
WHITESBURG, KENTUCKY
Whitesburg, Kentucky is home to the Center for Rural Strategies and Appalshop, a non-profit arts and education center. The town, like many in the rural America, struggles to keep its college-educated young people from leaving to find greater economic opportunity. The region's ratio of high school drop-outs to four-year college graduates is 3.5 to 1, one of the highest in the nation. Appalshop's Appalachian Media Institute Program offers arts internships where young people learn to produce broadcast narratives of the challenges facing youth in Appalachia.
[Beale, 2004]
Photos
PRESTONSBURG, KENTUCKY
Prestonburg, Kentucky, is known as "the star city of Eastern Kentucky" and is the county seat of Floyd County, among the poorest 2 percent of counties in the United States. In 1968, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy concluded his tour of the impoverished regions of Southeastern Kentucky with a speech at the Floyd County Courthouse.
[U.S. Census Bureau, 2007]
Video
John Edwards speaks about poverty at the Floyd County Courthouse in Prestonsburg, Ky. on July 18, 2007.
Photos
Events
1:30 p.m.
John Edwards delivers a major speech on ending poverty in America
Old Floyd County Courthouse
Prestonsburg, Kentucky
How You Can Take Action
5:22 p.m. CDT - Marks, MS
In Marks,MS we had one of the most moving moments of the tour. On our walk down Cotton Street we stopped at the home of Mrs. Sammie Henley. Mrs. Henley told Senator Edwards about hosting students during Freedom Summer in 1964. She also talked about the flood that came in 1968, and how Dr. King rowed a boat up to the house at the start of the Poor PeopleÂs March when he famously described the situation as "an island of poverty" surrounded by an ocean of wealth.
We also learned the last presidential candidate to come to Marks was Robert F. Kennedy.
4:36 p.m. CDT - Canton, MS
One woman spoke of the back breaking work they do at the plant and what it was like to work in those conditions while pregnant. Other workers spoke about having their time on the clock shaved or not getting paid for overtime. ItÂs not right and itÂs why we have to address these problems
11:11 a.m. CDT - NOLA; Wheels up, headed to Canton
We're boarding the plane and headed for Canton, MS. More when we get there.
10:57 a.m. CDT - NOLA; Visiting Cafe Reconcile
Just stopped at Cafe Reconcile, which provides jobs to at-risk youth living in NOLA. We met dozens of kids who are working there and getting training for careers in the food service industry.
Again, another great example of folks in the community taking the initiative, rolling up their sleeves and building something to improve the community they love. And the food is excellent!
10:32 a.m. CDT - NOLA; Thoughts about NOLA
Just wanted to post a thought that has been sticking with me as we've traveled around NOLA. Over and over we have heard stories of folks getting caught up in red tape. Much of the city looks exactly as it did immediately following Katrina. The level of frustration among the residents is incredible but the commitment to the community is amazing.
It is frustrating to see how hard people are working to rebuild the community they love, and how little, if any, support they are getting from the federal government.
10:12 a.m. CDT - NOLA; Visiting Kingsley House
We're at the Kingsley house, a community outreach center that provides help to thousands of NOLA residents. John met with a group of children kids enrolled in the Head Start program. Currently there are over 600 kids in NO on the head start waiting list. I could tell he was moved - those 600 kids need the services provided by that program, and they're not getting them.
7:44 a.m. CDT - NOLA; At the "Good Morning America" taping
I'm standing backstage at the GMA taping. It's going well - John is speaking with passion about why 37 million people living in poverty is a disgrace, and what we can do to fix it. Ms. Tyler, the woman who owns the house John helped rebuild in December, is here and it was good to see her again. Kwame Asanti, the president of the Louisiana NAACP is here too - it is always good to see him, and hear about the amazing work he and the NAACP are doing to help rebuild and get people's lives back on track.
4:58 a.m. CDT - NOLA; En route to shoot "Good Morning America" segment
It's 4:58, dark and early, and we are getting in the car to go shoot the "Good Morning America" segment. More after the coffee has kicked in.
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