MAAV News
Blue Ridge Montañitas Festival Celebrates Appalachian & Latino Culture, Music, & Dance In Shenandoah Valley
The Blue Ridge Montañitas Festival is a first-of-its-kind music festival, a vibrant celebration of music, culture, and community set against the backdrop of the breathtaking mountainous views of Luray, in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The festival is scheduled to take place September 28, 2024, from 11 am – 7 pm, and will bring together a dynamic lineup of musicians and dancers, along with educational programming, for an unforgettable experience that highlights the unique spirit of the Latine and Appalachian community.
Researcher’s journey turns to forests’ understory
Beneath the Central Appalachian Forest canopy lies a rich, biodiverse world of native plants helping to fill North America's medicinal herb cabinet.
Living monument reveals the treasures of Appalachian forests
The Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument Storywalk Trail debuted with a celebration that was open to the public at Flag Rock Recreation Area in Norton, Virginia.
New trail highlights Appalachian medicinal plants and forest foods
Central Appalachia is often called “the coalfields,” but a group in Southwest Virginia is working to celebrate another thing that makes the region unique: it’s one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. In Norton, a new interpretive nature trail opened this week, highlighting plants that can be used for medicine and food.
Two historical Black buildings in Bluefield added to National Register
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — At the corner of Logan and Wayne streets on the north side of town sit two nondescript buildings, one brick and one concrete. They are not much to look at. Some might call them neighborhood eyesores.
Franklin County NAACP requesting town council for a new future memorial site
A letter sent by the Franklin County NAACP to the Rocky Mount Town Council formally requests the location change
Hotel Thelma and Travelers Inn placed on National Register of Historic Places
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - Two Greenbook locations in the city of Bluefield, West Virginia now make up a newly established district among the National Register of Historic Places.
70 soldiers in United States Colored Troops from Franklin County to be honored with monument
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - Soldiers in the United States Colored Troops fought for their freedom in the American Civil War. 70 of them were born in Franklin County.
Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia announces next round of projects to receive funding
After announcing the first round of funding this past winter, Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia has added five more projects to its list, making for nine total projects funded through the Mellon Foundation.
Grants will help communities share untold stories across Appalachia
Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia has awarded two rounds of funding to projects that seek to bring long-overdue attention to overlooked people and places.
Pound receives grant for monument to region’s labor history
The town of Pound has recently received a $217,000 grant from Virginia Tech’s Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia program to construct a monument paying tribute to the region’s labor history.
Path hasn’t been smooth for Franklin County monument to its Black Civil War soldiers
The current plan is to place the statue at Rocky Mount’s Veterans Memorial Park. But the decision came after a close vote of the commission that oversees the park.
Sociology Professor Leads Appalachian Forest Biodiversity Monument Project
Professor Shannon Bell has been spending many of her days in the forests of far-southwest Virginia, working on three different grant-funded projects focused on preserving threatened forest ecosystems and building sustainable futures for Central Appalachian communities.
Historic Calfee School in Pulaski hopes to start renovation in 2023
“Little feet will be back in the school again, but it’ll be all shades, different colors,” said one of the Pulaski school’s former students. If plans come together, the old school will house a daycare center, kitchen, museum, computer lab and more.
Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia awards first-round funding
Four projects highlighting the region’s diversity have received more than $300,000 in funding from Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia – an initiative focused on sharing the untold stories of historically marginalized, oppressed, and excluded communities in the region.
Round 1 Projects Announced
Read the Press Release announcing the funding of our first round projects.
A troubled Appalachian town almost ceased to exist. Two years later, it’s coming back.
The town of Pound in Wise County has paid down its debt and hired several new employees, and it’s pursuing a number of revitalization projects. “I don’t think anyone expected us to come back,” says Pound’s vice mayor.
Media from Blue Ridge Listening Session
View photos and videos from our Blue Ridge Listening Session in Galax on 10-26-23