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.
Nancy Raybin describes the growth and development of the St. Charles Clinic over time. She provides insight about what distinguished this one from others in East Tennessee, with emphasis on the value of applying business principles and establishing an economic model that together would facilitate long-term sustainability. She also comments on the effect different political …
John Kennedy describes the evolution of his career and transition to Washington in 1974. Upon suggestion from Eula Hall, Director of the Mud Creek Clinic, and with an official offer from Tom Ludwig, the union rep responsible for occupational health and safety initiatives, Kennedy began to manage the Kentucky and Tennessee programs under UMW’s Black …
John Kennedy details progression of the Black Lung Association (BLA) between 1972 and 1973, following its first successful objective in replacing Tony Boyle with Arnold Miller as president of United Mine Workers (UMW). For more information on John Kennedy’s involvement with the East Tennessee Research Corporation (ETRC) and work related to black lung, follow this …
Progression of the Black Lung Association under new union leadership, 1972-1973 Read More »
John Kennedy describes his introduction to the Black Lung Association in LaFollette, Tenn. The organization’s primary functions were twofold at the time. First, supporting legislation that would secure black lung benefits for coal miners, and along with it, providing legal aide in addressing miners’ claims. Second was union reform, which involved supporting Arnold Miller’s campaign …
John Kennedy’s introduction to the Black Lung Association in LaFollette, Tenn. Read More »
John Kennedy describes the deadly repercussions of severe conflicting political interests and struggle for power within UMW ranks, leading to the murder of Jock Yablonski and his family in 1969. Yablonski had opposed Tony Boyle’s re-election as Union President and lost, but retained his seat on the Board and was still considered a threat. Kennedy …
John Kennedy describes the initial inundation of legal clinics with Black Lung cases, due largely to nonexistent dust control in underground mines and extremely limited access to physicians and lawyers who could help with disease management. He provides further insight into the issue by discussing the indifference of United Mine Workers (UMW) under the leadership …
Contributed by John E. Davis, November 2019. The summer before his final year at the Vanderbilt Law School and during the summer and fall after his graduation, John Kennedy worked for the Student Health Coalition in 1971 and 1972. He provided assistance to former miners who were seeking black lung benefits and disability payments from …
