There is something truly unique and complex about coal mining communities in Appalachia, and Atlas Charles has experienced this firsthand. Growing up queer, nonbinary, and autistic in the Cumberland mountains of Southwest Virginia and southwestern West Virginia, Atlas understands the coexistence of hardship and beauty.

Today, Atlas uses their systems leadership skills to lead the complex work of co-creating thriving communities that balance economy and collective well-being. Their work centers equity, anti-oppression, and regeneration, while believing in and harnessing the existent wisdom a community already has.

Creating new Appalachian economies means honoring other people's experiences, showing up hand in hand, and building together a web of local anti-oppressive economies. This is the work Atlas does.

Their heart for the oppressed and for creating safe space for all people to be seen, heard, and thrive is palpable. This is our first Yes! We Rise Episode of 2023. Welcome!

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED

Be sure to check out more information on Atlas Charles along with the work they do at Rural Support Partners and with Economic Development Greater East. Additionally they were the Board President of Partners for Stronger Communities through 2022.

Read some books that were influential to Atlas’ work including: We Make The Road By Walking By Myles Horton and Paulo Freire and The Pedagogy Of The Oppressed by Paulo Freire.

Some other highly recommended books from Atlas include: Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown, and Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey.

The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats.

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The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.    

From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark. 

We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.