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How might the collaborative creation of monuments affect conceptions of dignity in place in Appalachian Virginia?
Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia (MAAV) provides resources to advocates and organizers in the region to create monuments that represent community-defined visions. By the end of 2026, MAAV will support the creation of 10 monuments that highlight collective struggles for the vitality of people and our shared environment.
With a multi-million dollar grant from the Mellon Foundation, MAAV seeks to set standards for equitable university-community collaboration. Additionally, MAAV offers technical support funded teams to build capacity for work that is by and for communities.
I work with MAAV as a Consultant to develop our participatory evaluation process. I support project teams to examine and address their own questions and document aspects of their creative process. I also work with MAAV’s staff to document their approaches to ethical storytelling and engagement.
Prior to my consulting role, I worked from January to July 2023 to:
- Develop facilitation guides and materials to create an arts-based community engagement process. We critically engaged inherited symbols in Appalachian Virginia in order dream of the next generation of monuments that elevate stories of grassroots movements.
- Advise on and support strategic planning, arts and culture strategy, project design and management, administrative leadership, and initiating and sustaining community partnerships.
