A Portrait-Story Project

“Voices for Appalachia – A Portrait-Story Project - Written and Narrated by Hundreds”

Each of the following stories is a unique perspective of everyday life in the mountains. They contemplate the relationship between land and the struggle for empowerment in a place where coal extraction has provided both a livelihood and a threat to the people. Today, much of the region faces rural poverty, educational disadvantages, pollution, contaminated drinking water, and many other serious public health problems.

The project is housed and displayed at the Judy Bonds Center for Appalachian Preservation. There's a good chance that you or someone you know is included in the collection of over 500 stories, written by hand by the portrait subject, from 2007-2009. Judy Bonds' story is at page 85.

To see the stories, click here.

To find out more information about the project and the artist, Francesco Lovascio di Santis, visit http://portraitstoryproject.org/