Pre-Existing Conditions

On paternalistic industrialism: Alexander Arthur and the American Association

Power and Politics in Health Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

John Gaventa describes the British paternalism characteristic of late 19th-century industrialists, a philosophy that harnessed absentee land ownership in pursuit of capitalist economic gain. He references Alexander Arthur, Scottish-born entrepreneur, engineer, and president of the American Association, the British investment group that funded absentee land acquisition and industrial development across the Cumberland Gap, as a …

On paternalistic industrialism: Alexander Arthur and the American Association Read More »

The Elliot’s cement picnic table, a neighborhood fixture

Pre-Existing Conditions, Remaining Challenges, Stories / By

Howard Elliot III, grandson of Howard and Elsie Elliot from St. Charles, Va., discusses the region’s declining population and its effect on housing. He shares the story of his efforts to salvage his grandparents’ front yard cement picnic table, which heralded from a local program for retired miners known as “The Happy Pappys”. Follow this …

The Elliot’s cement picnic table, a neighborhood fixture Read More »

Population decline and water runoff in southwest Virginia: Bonnie Blue

Pre-Existing Conditions, Remaining Challenges, Stories / By

Howard Elliot III, grandson of Howard and Elsie Elliot from St. Charles, Va., elaborates on how steady population decline in southwest Virginia has created barriers to his work relocating rail lines. He names Bonnie Blue as a good example of why justification for the expense of construction projects like these is increasingly difficult to secure. …

Population decline and water runoff in southwest Virginia: Bonnie Blue Read More »

More on local opposition to the Petros Clinic

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Power and Politics in Health Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

Kate Bradley expands on the issues she explains are often characteristic of small, rural communities and how such things as ignorance and jealousy impeded their efforts to build a community clinic in Petros, Tenn. She describes a few specific examples of local opposition and details their collaborative lobbying in response, featuring Irwin Venick, Bill Corr, …

More on local opposition to the Petros Clinic Read More »

“We had to work with one hand and fight with the other”

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Origin Stories, Power and Politics in Health Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

Kate Bradley narrates the process by which Mountain Peoples Health Council (MPHC) acquired land to build the Petros Clinic. She describes the stiff political atmosphere in Nashville, where she went to plead her case before a judge, and explains why local response to MPHC being granted the land was less than enthused: ignorance and jealousy. …

“We had to work with one hand and fight with the other” Read More »

On the Bradley’s motivation to organize a community clinic in Petros, Tenn.

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Origin Stories, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

Kate Bradley frames the initiative to organize a local health council and community clinic as a direct response to the Petros health fair’s preliminary identification of needs. She details early fundraising efforts, including Pat Kalmans’ key role in securing grant money, and outlines the clinic’s legal incorporation, naming John Kennedy and John Williams not only …

On the Bradley’s motivation to organize a community clinic in Petros, Tenn. Read More »

Key players in the health fair and early days of the clinic in Petros, Tenn.

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Origin Stories, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

Caryl Carpenter, Rick Davidson, and Irwin Venick meet with Kate and J.W. Bradley to discuss the Petros health fair and community clinic. They list several of the early players involved with both, including Wanda and Gary Lang, Bob Hartmann, John Gaventa, Perry Steele, Cathy Stanley, Pat Kalmans, Bill Dow, and Bill Greenberg, a reporter for …

Key players in the health fair and early days of the clinic in Petros, Tenn. Read More »

On core tenets of sustainability and the role of business planning in community organizing

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Philosophies/Evolving Concepts, Power and Politics in Health Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

Nancy Raybin delves into the core tenets of sustainability (such as governance, self-preservation, and long-term impact metrics) to further stress the value of bringing business planning to community organizing. Follow this link for access to the full-length interview. Recorded October 28th, 2021.