Regional Overview
Appalachia is a term used to include a region stretching from West Virginia to Alabama that surrounds the Appalachian Mountains. Over twenty million people live in Appalachia, an area roughly the size of the United Kingdom. It is one of the most impoverished regions in the United States. The closing of coal mines in the 1960s left abandoned communities with few resources to economically rebuild.

Quick Facts
Poverty rate: 15.3%
Per capita income: 81% of US average
High School completion rate: 67%

Our Partners:
Covenant Church: We will be visiting the Covenant Church in Jonesville, VA to uplift them and their ministry. The Covenant Church there also has a camp called Covenant Mission Mountain, where North Parkers have poured their sweat into building over the ears. While in the area, we will also be visiting a local school to talk about "the college experience' - something many of the teenagers never consider an option.

Appalachian Service Project: We will be partnering with Appalachia Service Project for a few days in the local Jonesville, VA area. They are a reputable organization that has done work in Appalachia for many years, but has more projects that need to be accomplished than volunteers that come. Through them, we will be able to help a family in need through construction projects.

Global Outreach: We will be partnering with Global Outreach for a few days in order to get an in-depth look at poverty and towns that have collapsed since the coal mining industry fell apart. There we will also be able to encourage the local missionaries and help people of the area that are in need. We will also visit a school in this location to get kids excited about he potential of a college education.

Kayford Mountain and Larry Gibson: The last day of our trip we will have the opportunity to visit Larry Gibson on top of Kayford Mountain where he owns land. Kayford Mountain (with the exception of the little bit that Larry owns) has been destroyed by mountain top mining. We will be able to see firsthand the devastation mountain top mining causes and hear from the local people about how it has affected them.

Trip Description
The focus of this trip is to explore the social justice issues of poverty and the environment while working to strengthen local ministries, helping families in need, and encouraging high schoolers to pursue a college education.  We will see how poverty came to be so dominant in this area of the country, and what poverty means to the people who live it – what the “culture of poverty” looks like. Within environmental issues, we will explore the coal mining industry and mountain top mining to see the effect these industries have on the local people.

If you are interested in traveling through some of the most beautiful parts of America, experiencing a whole new culture, and helping the ignored and oppressed within the United States, this is the trip for you.

Team Preparation
All Appalachia GP team members must commit to attending all preparation meetings, usually one hour a week, starting up after returning from Winter Break, plus the all day training on January 17th, 2009. At our meetings we will have fun and get to know each other, as well as learn about the area we are traveling to and the social justice issues we will encounter. We will talk about fundraising and do some group fundraisers, but in the end all team members must pay for their entire trip by February 27, 2009. Our meetings will include prayer and devotionals, so although anyone is welcome, these will be activities you will be expected to participate in.

Important Dates
September 14th – Global Partnership Expo 9:30PM
November 10th – Spring and Summer GP trip applications due
November 9th-17th – GP Interviews
November 19th – Spring and Summer GP teams announced
November 16th-22nd – GP auction online
December 2nd - Fundraising Meeting 6:00PM
January 17th – Mandatory all-day GP team retreat
February 27th – All donations/payments due
March 1st – Commissioning of Spring GP Teams at collegelife
March 7th-14th – GP trip to Appalachia