BRIGHT 2019 in Corbin
BRIGHT in Corbin Session Re-Cap
By: JaKaye Garth, BRIGHT Kentucky Class of 2019
On September 23-25, 2019 during the 4th session of BRIGHT KY our group of young leaders visited the Cumberland region. We spent the first day in Somerset where we toured The Center for Rural Development, enjoyed lunch catered by Culver's then traveled to Dunnville, KY and toured Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment. During the ride there and back each region was given the chance to talk to the rest of the group about their region. This was great because we didn't get the chance to visit all areas, but this allowed us to still get a peek inside what each region has to offer. After returning we attended a dinner service at Somerset Community College that was prepared by the SCC Culinary Arts Students.
The rest of this session was spent in Corbin where we heard from several leaders on their efforts in collaborating to beat the opioid epidemic, learned of resources to finance community projects, enjoyed lunch at Harland Sander’s Café and Museum and then visited the beautiful Cumberland Falls. Upon returning we had dinner at the Wrigley Tap Room and heard from Mayor of Corbin, Suzie Razmus, & classmate Maggie Kriebel, Corbin tourism director, on collaborating for downtown revitalization.
On the last day of the session, we mastered the art of hard conversations with Beth Silvers, learning how to professionally deal with conflict that may arise as we continue into our careers. We then spent the afternoon with Scott Kiefer from The Oliver Group and dug into understanding our Emotional Intelligence and how to use our strengths and improve on our weaknesses to better ourselves as leaders.
BRIGHT in Corbin Session Take-Aways
By: Jessica Bray, BRIGHT Kentucky Class of 2019
With the BRIGHT Kentucky session in the Cumberland Region, attendees learned valuable lessons to bring back to their communities. It is imperative that our communities work together, as indicated by the Executive Directors with Kentucky League of Cities, KACO, and KY Council of Area Development Districts. Appalachia could be stronger if we cross county lines and city boundaries to look out for everyone.
There is no denying that there is a substance abuse issue in Appalachia. Whether it is drugs or alcohol, addictions can affect families, work, and more. Thanks to efforts with Operation UNITE, local addiction recovery centers, and law enforcement agencies, addicts can receive treatment to help recover. There are also programs to help companies that want to give those in recovery to gain employment or training to get back on their feet. If anything, there is much more HOPE to help people improve their lives for a better home, workplace, and community as a whole.
Finally, the best way to expand a community is to tell its story. Those within the Cumberland region were able to tell the history and details that make us unique. Whether it is fried chicken, honey buns, or the natural beauty of Cumberland Falls, the stories of the people behind those things make this area a tourist destination.
