Kentucky BLAST responds to the history of economic, environmental, and political injustice in Central Appalachia and the lack of experience many students in California have with the region. The region has historically been supported and afflicted by the coal industry, which has led some to economic prosperity and numerous others to experience lifelong health issues, financial challenges, and environmental hazards. The two teams will respond to the urgent need for civil legal aid resources in Appalachia and the injustice perpetuated by coal mining companies upon their employees. Our goal is to help where we can and where we are needed in the offices we partner with.
The Kentucky BLAST trip will have two teams, one working with the Appalachian Citizens Law Center (ACLC) and one working with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (AppalReD Legal Aid). The two teams will respond to the urgent need for civil legal aid resources in Appalachia and the injustice perpetuated by coal mining companies upon surrounding communities.
ACLC works on environmental, public health, and workers’ rights issues facing eastern Kentucky, particularly related to the region’s mining history. ACLC represents coal miners and their families in black lung cases, protects clean water through legal actions, and collaborates with local activists to promote mine safety legislation, among other things. Our work will be based on the needs of ACLC at the time, but previous teams have worked on an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, written appeals for black lung benefits, and researched the legal landscape of coal mine bankruptcy and mine reclamation.
AppalReD is a non-profit law firm that offers free civil legal help to low-income people in eastern and south-central Kentucky. AppalReD’s attorneys, paralegals, and legal secretaries in six local law offices work hard to provide free legal services to fulfill clients’ basic needs, including adequate food and health care, safe housing, and protection from domestic violence through civil protective orders. Our work will be based on the needs of AppalReD at the time of the trip, but previous teams have assisted with divorce clinics, wills clinics, and flood insurance claims for the devastating 2022 floods in the region. Past teams have also attended court with clients seeking emergency protective orders and worked on wide-ranging research projects.
Time Commitment: We plan to have monthly meetings focused either on training or education leading up to Spring Break. Although meeting times will be determined based on participant availability, we will aim to meet during the lunch hour (12:45-2) or in the evenings. Additionally, students should be available to travel to Kentucky on the weekends prior and after Spring Break.
For more information, please contact the student leaders at kentuckyblast@berkeley.edu.