Hillbillies Coalition

The Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) represents over 320,000 workers in the paper, oil, chemical, automotive parts, atomic energy, industrial minerals, grain processing and cement industries.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary federation of 65 national and international labor unions. Today's unions represent 13 million working women and men of every race and ethnicity and from every walk of life. We are teachers and teamsters, musicians and miners, firefighters and farm workers, bakers and bottlers, engineers and editors, pilots and public employees, doctors and nurses, painters and laborers—and more.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents more than 780,000 members who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government. The IBEW has members in both the United States and Canada and stands out among the American unions in the AFL-CIO because it is among the largest and has members in so many skilled occupations.

A group of distinguished writers from Appalachia including Sharyn McCrum (author of the award-winning BALLAD novel series), Homer Hickam (author of October Sky), and Scott Nicholson (journalist and author of gothic thrillers set in the region). They have launched a petition drive to halt the series.

Since 1888, the International Association of Machinists in the U.S. and Canada has fought for good wages and job security, safe workplaces where workers perform their responsibilities free from harassment, and dignified and secure retirements.

The Service Employees International Union represents more than 1.5 million working men and women. They work in Health Care (hospital, nursing home, clinic, and home care workers), in Building Services (janitors, elevator operators, and security guards) in Industrial & Allied trades (industrial, racetrack, and ballpark workers), and are Public Employees (federal, state, county, municipal, and school employees).

The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union represents more than 120,000 working men and women in the US and Canada. The primary goal of the BCTGM has not changed over the years: To bring economic justice in the workplace to all workers in our jurisdiction and social justice to all workers throughout the United States and Canada.

The Sacramento Central Labor Council AFL-CIO represents 140,000 working families in Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, and Sacramento Counties in central California.

The Kentucky AFL-CIO represents 110,000 workers and their families all across the Commonwealth.

The Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union represents over 320,000 working men and women in the United States and Canada. It was formed on Jan. 4, 1999 by the merger of the United Paperworkers International Union with the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union. PACE represents most of the people who make paper and refine oil in the United States. In addition, their members make chemicals, nuclear materials, pharmaceuticals, automobile and truck parts, appliances, small engines, motorcycles, boxes, tissues, toys, cement, corn sugar and many other products.

The Communications Workers of America, America's largest communications and media union, represents over 650,000 men and women in both private and public sectors, including over half a million workers who are building the Information Highway. One of the most geographically diverse unions, CWA members live in approximately 10,000 communities.

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) is the world's largest labor union organized by flight attendants for flight attendants. AFA represents over 50,000 flight attendants at 26 airlines, serving as a voice for flight attendants at their workplace, in the industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill.

The United Steelworkers of America represents over 700,000 members in virtually every state of the U.S. and province of Canada. Its members reflect the many changes in our economy. Workers in every manufacturing industry, retail, health care, service and public sectors call the USWA their Union.

The United Mine Workers of America is a growing union with a diverse membership that includes coal miners, clean coal technicians, health care workers, truck drivers, and school board employees. UMWA members live and work throughout the United States and Canada.

BlindSpot Records of Huntington WV helps good artists get their music into better circulation and get the exposure they deserve. BlindSpot strives to be a hardworking label to match the effort put in by the bands they are privileged enough to represent.

The West Virginia Prevention Resource Center supports individuals, agencies, and organizations that provide prevention programs in West Virginia. Its mission is to build and support a comprehensive, interactive prevention system for West Virginia.

The Appalachian Consortium is a nonprofit educational organization comprised of colleges, universities, public agencies, and other organizations located in the Southern Highlands. Founded in 1971, its purpose is to promote the heritage of Southern Appalachia and improve the quality of life for the people of the Southern Highlands.

The Kentucky Center is Kentucky's premier performing arts center, offering entertainment from grand opera to poetry readings, from Broadway shows to bluegrass. Its education programs reach into every corner and county of the state helping develop creativity and foster appreciation for the arts, especially for the power of art to change lives and lift spirits.

Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises is an association of 33 community-based nonprofit housing organizations whose mission is to make decent housing affordable to low/very-low-income people in Appalachian Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative (SAWC) was founded in 1974 with the mission to support the work of Appalachian writers through public readings, workshops, gatherings, and the annual journal, "Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel."

The mission of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen is to establish art and craft as a vital influence by promoting excellence through education, collaboration, leadership and service. The guild's members work in fine art and contemporary and traditional craft.

The purpose of the Rural Education Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association is to promote scholarly conversation about the lives of rural people, places and schools through educational research and to provide a forum for dissemination of the findings of this research.

Kentucky Appalachian Ministry (KAM) is a "congregationally based" mission center of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Homeland Ministries and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

AppalachianPower.com seeks to help sustain, preserve and enhance Appalachian culture.

The Franciscan Center for Social Concern is located at St. Bonaventure University in Cattaraugus County, NY. Their mission is to instill the values of justice, peace and the integrity of creation in all members of the university community.

The Center for Documentary Studies, an interdisciplinary educational organization affiliated with Duke University dedicated to advancing collaborative documentary fieldwork that heightens historical and cultural awareness and serves as a catalyst for change.

MCC U.S., Appalachia, a international faith-based relief, service, and peace agency, working with relief and development partners in Appalachia since 1964.

Appalachia Service Project, a faith-based housing ministry that works with 15,000 volunteers annually to repair and build homes for low-income people in Central Appalachia.

Kentucky Foundation for Women, which promotes positive social change by supporting varied feminist expression in the arts.

Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Pikeville Unit #134, Pikeville, Kentucky.

Hazard-Perry County Community Ministries, Hazard, Kentucky.

Stephen L.Henry, MD, Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Read Lt. Gov. Henry's comments.

National Asian American Telecommunications Association, which supports the creation and distribution of media about the Asian American experience.

Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit organization that combats hate, intolerance, and discrimination through education and litigation, and Tolerance.org, the center's Web project. Read comments from Morris Dees, Co-Founder.

Southern Foodways Alliance, which works to celebrate, preserve, promote, and nurture the traditional and developing diverse food cultures of the American South.

The California Hunger Action Coalition (CHAC) is a broad-based membership organization of food program providers, consumers, and anti-hunger advocates from throughout the state. United in their belief that access to adequate, nutritious and safe food is a fundamental human right, the coalition advocates for freedom from hunger for all Californians.

Middlefork Financial Group, Inc. Hyden, Kentucky, which purchased space for the Rural Strategies advertisement in eight community newspapers and donated funds to the campaign.

Hyden Citizens Bank, Inc. Hyden, Kentucky.

Farmers State Bank, Inc. Booneville, Kentucky.

Farmers & Traders Bank, Inc. Campton, Kentucky.

National Rural Health Association, a 2,000-member organization that seeks to improve rural healthcare and provide leadership on rural issues.

Nebraska Farmers Union, representing 4,500 farm and ranch families in Nebraska. Read remarks by their president John Hansen.

Michael Moore, filmmaker, and michaelmoore.com.

Homestead Affordable Housing, Wichita, Kansas.

Frontier Housing, which creates affordable housing for rural communities in northeastern Kentucky.

Independent Television Service (ITVS), which funds and presents documentaries and dramas on public television, new media projects on the Web, and the weekly PBS series Independent Lens.

National Civic League, a 109-year-old non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening citizen democracy by transforming democratic institutions. Read comments by Christopher Gates, President.

Appalachian Association for Justice, a Pikeville (Kentucky) College student organization.

Bell County (Kentucky) Chamber of Commerce. Read the chamber's resolution opposing CBS's proposed program.

Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy, which works to bring civil rights organizations and community groups into the debate over the future of the U.S. media environment.

Northeast Michigan Affordable Housing, Oscoda, Michigan.

Nemaha County Development Alliance, Auburn, Nebraska, a rural community development organization that promotes small-business development, entreprenuership, and the engagement of youth in civic life.

Rudy Abramson, author of Hallowed Ground: Preserving America's Heritage, and Spanning the Century: The Life of W. Averell Harriman, 1891-1986 Read Rudy's column about The Real Beverly Hillbillies.

Janice Mason Art Museum, Cadiz, Kentucky, providing opportunities to enjoy the work of local and regional artist and learn about the creative process.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Dimmit County, Inc., which serves nine southwest Texas counties with housing and economic development services.

The Kentucky Gazette, Frankfort, Kentucky, and Lowell Reese, publisher, who donated space for the Rural Strategies advertisement.

Southern Rural Development Initiative, a regional collaborative of 34 member organizations working to increase philanthropic and development capital for the South's poorest rural communities. Read comments from Jason Gray, Policy Director.

Stop Abusive Family Environments (SAFE), which provides three southern West Virginia counties with domestic violence prevention services, microlending, and affordable housing.

Anne Shelby, author of Homeplace, The Someday House, and What to Do About Pollution Read Anne's column about The Real Beverly Hillbillies.

Loyal Jones, author of Laughter in Appalachia, Faith and Meaning in the Southern Uplands, and numerous other books on Appalachian culture. Read Loyal's column about The Real Beverly Hillbillies.

Rural School and Community Trust, a nonprofit organization that works with a national network of rural schools and community groups striving to improve the quality of education and community life and to improve state policy on education. Read comments from the Rachel Tompkins, President.

Fenton Johnson, author of Geography of the Heart: A Memoir and Scissors, Paper, Rock.

Gurney Norman, author of Kinfolks: The Wilgus Stories and Divine Right's Trip.

Coachella Valley Housing Authority, which provides affordable housing and community services to Riverside County, California; Indio, California.

Watts Mobile Homes, Hazard, Kentucky, serving central Appalachia with mobile home sales for more than 30 years.

Video/Action, a nonprofit organization that produces video productions in collaboration with educators, artists and activists for broadcast and educational outreach campaigns.

Center for Rural Affairs, a research, education, advocacy, and service organization that seeks to help rural people shape the quality of their lives and the futures of their communities.

Appalshop, a multi-disciplinary arts and education center that produces and distributes work on the culture and social issues of Appalachia.

Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program, which provides a wide array of services, including energy assistance, emergency assistance, weatherization, housing preservation, and homeless programs in a ten county area.

Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc. and its sister organizations Southern Mutual Financial Services Inc., Southern Mutual Housing Development Corporation, and Southern Research & Development. Their mission is to increase health and prosperity in Louisiana's rural communities.