Early this December (2025), my team and I found ourselves in the heart of DC, awaiting to present our findings and recommendations for Fayette County to the funders, external stakeholders, and other participants of the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI). The Annual ACRI Conference, hosted by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and East Tennessee State…
Tag: ACRI
Grappling with Anxiety, Fear, and Pride: ACRI, Connellsville Presentation
The Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative presentation in Connellsville this past November (2025) served as a vessel for many firsts for me, and presumably for some of my colleagues. Until now, I’ve never had the opportunity or privilege to stand before a room full of relevant stakeholders and present to them findings and recommendations pertaining to…
What’s in Store for Social Capital?: ACRI, 1st Visit
Our first opportunity to hit the ground in Fayette County was nothing short of informative and a little eye-opening, to say the least. My peers and I were received with incredible hospitality at the Touchstone Center for Crafts, nestled inside Farmington’s woods. The location itself is a nifty, unique residency and center for the arts,…
Adventures in Fayette County
On October 3rd through October 5th, I embarked on an adventure with The University of Pittsburgh’s Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI) cohort to Fayette County, Pennsylvania. This trip is part of the ongoing 10-year commitment and collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and the Fayette County Cultural Trust. I was particularly excited about this trip,…
Fayette County: A Neighbor a World Away – Final Reflections
At the beginning of the Fall semester of 2024, I was presented with an incredible opportunity to deepen my knowledge about Appalachia through a unique learning experience that integrated academic study with practical community involvement. This initiative was made possible through an inspiring collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and the Fayette County Cultural Trust….
Our Commitment to the Community: Fayette County Presentation
Friday December 6th, 2025, The University of Pittsburgh’s Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI) cohort comprised of (Urban Studies, Sustainability, Political Science and Business) returned to Fayette County to present our final deliverables to the community. In our continued partnership with the Fayette Country Cultural Trust, these findings we presented to the community members as well…
ACRI – Final Thoughts
Overview When I first heard about the Appalachia Regional Resilience Consulting Project, I was especially interested because of my personal connection to the area. While I am not from a small town myself, my parents come from a small town in North Carolina. Earlier in their professional careers, they ended up moving to the Philadelphia…
Final Reflection
How has your perception of the Appalachian region (and Fayette County in particular) shifted as a consequence of the work you’ve done this semester? When I began this project, my understanding of the Appalachian region and Fayette County, in particular, was limited to what I had read or heard from secondhand sources. Appalachia, to me,…
Final Presentations and Returning to Fayette County
Experiences On December 6th, the Business cohort along with the other ACRI cohorts (Sustainability, Urban Studies, and Political Science) returned to Connellsville to present our final deliverables to the community. Our community partners, the Fayette County Cultural Trust, graciously hosted us at the Connellsville Canteen where we were able to gain valuable feedback from the…
Visiting Fayette County
Overview On October 3rd, 2024, our cohort embarked on a 3-day journey to Fayette County with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of the area and its unique needs. We visited three major towns: Connellsville, Uniontown, and Brownsville. This trip was an incredible experience for both me and our cohort. The people we encountered…