Harlan County, KY used to be one of the largest coal-mining towns in America. The coal industry, which had been the very core of the town’s economy since its beginning, has left a declining job market and strained resources behind. The county, like many other Appalachian counties, has had to seek solutions to unemployment, food insecurity, struggling educational systems, and aging populations amidst a history of socioeconomic isolation. Harlan County is a self-sufficient community of warm and supportive people just trying to keep their struggling economy alive. This year’s AB trip will seek to address issues in education inequities, health disparities, and economic struggles of its residents in the wake of the fallen coal mining industry boom. This region will have a lot to offer as we journey to Harlan, KY for Alternative Spring Break 2016.
