Serving Appalachia

Appalachia is full of potential. We’ve known that for well over 150 years. Though the region has had its struggles, our goal is to help people address those difficulties through education, service and leadership.

The majority of Berea College students come from Kentucky and Appalachia by a long-time mandate from the Board of Trustees. A significant number also come from economically distressed and at-risk counties in Central Appalachia as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Berea seeks to recruit, enroll, and educate the best and the brightest from Kentucky and Appalachia. We also aspire that many of our graduates continue to reside in Kentucky and Appalachia to make our region an even better place to live and work.

To people from the mountains, Appalachia is like no other place on earth, and they can often feel that their identity will not be welcome outside of the place they call home. Charity ’24, of Fogertown, Kentucky, frequently engages with this notion in her work and music at Berea College, where every aspect of her Appalachian background is not just welcomed—it’s celebrated.

At Berea, Charity plays in the Bluegrass Ensemble, works in the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center, and leads hymns during Campus Christian Center worship services. In the Appalachian Studies department, Charity even designed her own major. These experiences have helped her find more ways of appreciating her Appalachian identity, but Charity says it’s the people of Berea that make it feel like a second home. Read her story here.

We give back to the region through various programs that encourage students and Appalachian residents to learn and serve together.

Center for Excellence in Learning Through Service

The Center for Excellence in Learning Through Service (CELTS) is the home of student-led volunteer programs, service-learning, and the Bonner Scholars. Each year, Berea students volunteer their time in tens of thousands of hours in our town and beyond.

Entrepreneurship for the Public Good

The Entrepreneurship for the Public Good (EPG) program teaches students how to practice and implement entrepreneurial leadership in rural communities.

Brushy Fork Leadership Institute

Brushy Fork seeks to strengthen local and regional leadership in Central Appalachia. Its vision is to foster local people to lead effectively the development of Appalachian communities, resulting in an enhanced quality of life.

Loyal Jones Appalachian Center

The Loyal Jones Appalachian Center anchors the Appalachian Studies department, houses the Appalachian Review and Appalachian Symposium, and celebrates and studies all things Appalachian. In addition, LJAC promotes democratic participation and social justice, environmental and economic stewardship, and empowers citizens to build upon their rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Student Craft

In the late 19th century, Berea College began honoring the region through traditional Appalachian crafts like weaving, woodworking, and broomcraft. That handmade tradition is still alive today with students creating beautiful and practical art that is for sale through our craft catalog.

Grow Appalachia

Food insecurity is a serious problem in the Appalachian region. That’s why one of our strategic initiatives is Grow Appalachia, which partners with organizations, communities and families to create healthy, resilient and economically viable food systems.