Margaret Ecker describes what impressed her most about people and communities in the mountains, highlighting Byrd Duncan’s role in establishing and maintaining the Briceville Clinic. She also mentions J.W. Bradley and Marie Cirillo. Rosie Hammond reflects on other characteristics, such as their being so genuine and generous. Follow this link for full-footage of Margaret Ecker’s …
John Williams shares a fun Bill Dow anecdote as the ETRC and BLA panel comes to a close. Full footage of the 2017 ETRC panel featuring John Williams, John McArthur, Lark Hayes, and Neil McBride.
John Williams and Neil McBride share a list of the East Tennessee Research Corporation’s range of legal issues addressed between 1974 and 1977, including but not limited to: coal industry regulation, industrial development, environmental litigation, barriers to independently-run rural health clinics, and black lung. Full footage of the 2017 ETRC panel featuring John Williams, …
Dick Burr and John Davis discuss the characteristic anger of the first generation of community organizers with the Student Health Coalition. They conclude that, albeit a driving force, this was sometimes counter-productive to the SHC mission. Full footage of Dick Burr’s interview from March 25th, 2021.
Kate Bradley and Marie Cirillo share some laughs thinking back to the effort Student Health Coalition (SHC) participants put toward demonstrating modesty and respect so as to cultivate relationships with community members. But sporting bowl cuts, long skirts, and duct-taped shoes humorously conveyed their perception by the community as “welfare kids”.
Maureen O’Connell and Charles “Boomer” Winfrey reflect on Bill Dow‘s character and personal philosophy about community organizing. They describe him as an other-oriented person driven by creative, actionable service and mutually respectful relationships best illustrated by his perception of and interaction with the locals as his heroes. Recorded on May 20, 2013. Full footage …
Maureen traces the development of her involvement with Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM) and the Student Health Coalition (SHC), beginning with her 1969 introduction to Marie Cirillo and research presence in Clairfield, Tenn. Recorded on May 20th, 2013. Full footage of interview with Maureen O’Connell and Charles “Boomer” Winfrey.
Dal Macon briefly shares about some of his post-Student Health Coalition (SHC) community projects, including having served on the board of Marie Cirillo‘s Community Land Trust and organized outreach efforts through the Center for Health Services (CHS) at Vanderbilt University. Full footage of interview with Dal Macon.
Brought to us by Margaret Ecker and others involved in its 2013 production, this special collection of insights from several Student Health Coalition (SHC) figureheads in the 1970s features Bill Dow, Bill Corr, Carolyn Burr, Dal Macon, and Marie Cirillo–among many more. Each of them reflects on the impetus behind the SHC’s work, its guiding …
I became involved with the Appalachian Student Health Coalition when I was an undergraduate at Vanderbilt. In 1977, the summer after my graduation, I worked as a community organizer in Copperhill, Tenn., where the Coalition concentrated on environmental and occupational health issues. In the fall of 1977, one of the co-directors of the SHC resigned …
David Morrow on the personal legacy of his student activism Read More »
