In the heart of Appalachia, where economic isolation and environmental challenges have shaped daily life for generations, young people are leading a movement for change through the Stay Together Appalachian Youth Project (STAY). In 2023, STAY organized a youth summit to develop cross-learning and co-create political and cultural strategies for their work. And through their Black Appalachian Young and Rising (BAYR) caucus, Black youth in the region are mobilizing around climate justice and shaping their vision for the future.

Strengthening BIPOC leadership is critical to transforming historical and systemic inequalities and pushing the needle toward environmental justice. STAY is a testament to the power of young people to reimagine Appalachia—not as a place of struggle, but as a home of resilience, culture, and possibility.