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Our
Story
The Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on conducting research regarding, reporting on, advocating for, and building technological solutions to address issues related to adult literacy, adult numeracy, health literacy, and access to public services in the 13-state, 423-county Appalachian Region.
APPLI's mission is to work toward a world in which every adult living in Appalachia, and across the United States, has equitable access to:
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Free or low-cost educational opportunities to improve their ability to read and perform basic mathematics
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Information about public health and infectious diseases that is timely, accurate, and easy to understand
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High-quality, affordable, and accountable healthcare and social services to improve their quality of life
Our
Mission
Our
Values
APPLI believes that all people have the fundamental right to robust, equitable, and accessible education, healthcare, and social services regardless of:
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Race, ethnicity, or national origin
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Sex (including gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation)
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Disability
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Age
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Religious beliefs (or lack, thereof)
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Income
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Health status
Our Board of Directors
Marcus J. Hopkins
Marcus J. Hopkins is the Founder & Executive Director of the Appalachian Learning Initiative. Marcus has over fifteen years of experience working in the field of Public, Sexual, and Reproductive Health with an emphasis on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Substance Use Disorders. His work includes patient-centric research, reporting, and advocacy, health communication, program development, and policy development and analysis. Marcus is a West Virginia native who lives in Morgantown, WV, with his seven cats, Erdrick, Squeaker, Baumren, Angelo, Marcello, Pearl, and Pyewacket.
Matt Cox, PhD
Matt Cox, PhD, is the Founder and CEO of Greenlink Analytics, a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organization in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Cox holds a PhD in Public Policy from Georgia Institute of Technology with a focus on Energy and Environment. Dr. Cox is an energy and climate policy expert and is the primary designer of several energy policy and technology software models. Dr. Cox has authored over 100 scientific articles on energy efficiency and renewable energy, and his research has informed energy efficiency policy adoption and design at the local, state, national, and international levels, with policy recommendations adopted by several cities and states, the U.S. government, and 12 other nations.
Michael McKenna, MPA
Michael McKenna, MPA, is the Borough Manager for the Borough of Myerstown, PA.
Tasha Graves, AS
Tasha Graves, AS, is a stay-at-home mother to six children aged 1-21. She holds two Associate of Science degrees in Elementary Education and Child Psychology from Northeast State Community College and is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and Communication from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. She has over ten years of experience working in the non-profit sector with Girls Inc. of Kingsport.
Audrey Peters, MA
Audrey Peters, MA, serves as an Associate Professor at Northeast State Community College on the Blountville, TN, campus. She holds a Master of Arts degree in English from East Tennessee State University and two Bachelor of Science degrees in English and Political Science from Vanderbilt University.
Kate Woodworth, MS
Kate Woodworth, MS, is the Adult Services and Community Engagement Librarian at the Kingsport Public Library in Kingsport, TN. She holds a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina.
Directors Emeritus
Eddie Hamilton, MBA
Eddie Hamilton was a Founder Board Member of the Appalachian Learning Initiative
Our Consultants
Graphic Design
McLean Fahnestock, MFA
Visual Design
Ryan Klassa
