Written by Danna Barnett, Project Manager, EKY Runway Social Enterprise Accelerator, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR)

We opened the BRIGHT 2025 session in Hazard and Whitesburg with three days of intentional time together. At the Perry County Public Library, we stepped into a quiet room, unsure of what to expect. As the day moved forward, that quiet turned into thoughtful conversation. Introductions moved past surface-level details and into real stories. What emerged wasn’t just dialogue about leadership, but an early glimpse at how we might show up for each other and for the places we care about.

Day 1: July 9, 2025

Our session began with a warm welcome from the Leadership Kentucky team, Janice Way, Jennifer Phelps, Karen Butcher, and Elmer Whitaker. Each brought encouragement, clarity, and a sense of ease, creating an atmosphere that balanced structure with warmth and made it easier for everyone to be present and engaged. They set the tone for three days built on honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to show up fully.

As the day unfolded, we began to see the range of perspectives and life experiences in the room. People shared not just where they were from, but what shaped them and what they hoped to carry forward. Through icebreakers and introductions, we discovered that despite coming from different communities and career backgrounds, what stood out most were our commonalities. A shared sense of purpose took shape as people listened to one another with openness and care. That attention to each other early on set a tone of respect that carried through the rest of the session.

Hazard Mayor Happy Mobelini and Betsy Clemons, Executive Director of the Hazard/Perry County Chamber of Commerce, helped us feel at home, welcoming us with a gesture that was both thoughtful and fun. Naming us Dukes and Duchesses of Hazard and presenting us with keys to the city was a symbolic reminder that we were being invited into something local and personal, not just observing from the outside. Mayor Mobelini spoke about his hunger and commitment to creating economic mobility for the people of Hazard, a message echoed by his former students in the room, who shared stories of how he consistently puts youth first in his work. The welcome was more than ceremonial. It offered a glimpse into a community proud of its progress and determined to shape its future.

While at the library, Dr. Jordyne Carmack, Owner & CEO of AuthentiLEAD and 2023 Elevate alum, led us through a focused exercise on leadership identity that was more challenging than it first appeared. Choosing just three traits to describe ourselves from a long list forced us to consider not only how we see ourselves, but how we want to be seen by others. It sparked quiet reflection and meaningful dialogue, reminding many of us how rare it is to pause and think about who we are becoming. Hearing Dr. Carmack share her own path made the process feel more personal and possible. Her message was simple but resonant: we each have the time and authority to define who we are as leaders.

That evening, we gathered for food, music, and fellowship at Perry County Park. After dinner, a short hike offered space for movement and new conversations. It wasn’t just a meal. It was a continuation of the trust and energy that had been building all day.

Day 2: July 10, 2025

The next morning, we dove into place-based leadership at the Appalachian Arts Alliance. A panel of regional leaders shared insights into downtown revitalization and community development. The panel included Mayor Happy Mobelini, Perry County Judge Executive Scott Alexander, Downtown Coordinator Bailey Richards, Economic Development Director Zach Lawrence, and Tim Deaton, Executive Director of the Appalachian Arts Alliance. Betsy Clemons, facilitated the discussion, which touched on economic shifts, creative partnerships, and the steady work of rebuilding with intention. The real key to Hazard's success is selflessness, working together, dreaming big, and refusing to take no for an answer.

These conversations invited us to think more deeply about how we approach problems back home and how to build trust with those we serve. After the panel, Bailey Richards led us on a walking tour of downtown Hazard, sharing the stories behind buildings, murals, and the small businesses bringing new life to the area. Sometimes, it just takes one business drawing people in to help others see potential for their own ideas to take root and grow. Hazard and Perry County offer a clear blueprint of resilience in action and a relentless effort to revitalize their community through collaboration, creativity, and long-term commitment.

We also toured Dajcor Aluminum in Chavies, where we saw firsthand how modern manufacturing is creating jobs and strengthening the regional economy. The size and pace of the operation were impressive, but what stood out even more was the clear investment in people and process. Facilities like Dajcor are part of a larger ecosystem of opportunity, where technical training and industry partnerships can open new career paths in Eastern Kentucky. And for the curious, we learned that aluminum holds its color even when heated to over 1,000 degrees.

Our journey continued in Whitesburg, where we saw the heart behind so many efforts in this region. Through stories of entrepreneurship, recovery, food systems, and nonprofit leadership, we felt what’s possible when people come together with a shared vision and steady commitment.

In Whitesburg, we gathered for lunch and heard from Missy Matthews, President of Childers Oil and Double Kwik. She welcomed us to their beautiful headquarters, a space that reflects the company's deep roots and forward-looking impact. Missy spoke about the role of private business in community development and the responsibility of leadership at a regional scale. Her influence on tourism and momentum in Whitesburg is evident not only in the growth of her company, but in the energy and pride of the town. Her reflections on her father’s entrepreneurial journey and his faith in their family and the mountains stood out as a testament to what’s possible when someone invests in the place they call home. His vision helped build a business that continues to shape the town's identity and economic life, and that legacy is visible in Missy's own leadership and impact. That belief lives on through Missy's leadership, which continues to shape the region with clarity, care, and commitment.

Later, we heard from Valorie Horn, Director of the Cowan Community Center. Her work centers on youth development and building lasting spaces where people can grow, contribute, and feel a sense of belonging. She reminded us that a large part of leadership is following the passion of the people, leaning on your village, and trusting what you've built together.

We then learned about HEAL, Help End Addiction for Life, from Dr. Sydney Whitaker of Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation. This initiative, formed in partnership with Addiction Recovery Care, ARH, and other organizations, focuses on supporting individuals and communities affected by addiction. Dr. Whitaker shared the goals and impact of the program, followed by a powerful video featuring local testimonials. The stories we heard sparked honest reflection and left many of us thinking about what it would take to foster that same level of coordination, compassion, and momentum in our own communities.

Later in the day, we visited CANE Kitchen, Community Agricultural Nutritional Enterprises, Inc., where we met Brandon Fleming, Kitchen Manager, and Joe Hatton, Chef. Both shared personal stories of recovery and how that journey led them to serve their community through food, mentorship, and shared purpose. Their work at CANE is not just about feeding people, but about creating opportunity, dignity, and connection in a place that needs and deserves all three. We had a chance to shop from their Mountain Legend product line and enjoy a dinner that was as meaningful as it was delicious. Addiction takes many forms, and we don’t always know what others are carrying. We left reminded to move with empathy, to support local efforts, and to recognize that thriving ecosystems are often built by trust, consistency, and word-of-mouth support.

We ended Day 2 at the Levitt AMP Music Series in downtown Whitesburg. The evening brought great music, local vendors, and a strong sense of community. It was one of those moments where you could feel a town investing in itself, full of talent, pride, and possibility. Events like this remind us how much life and possibility exist when people come together around shared creativity, culture, and care for place. It's something worth experiencing for yourself.

Day 3: July 11, 2025

Day three started with breakfast at City Hall in Hazard hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. We then dove into our DiSC behavioral assessments with Karen Butcher. This gave us insight about ourselves and our cohort. Many of us felt seen and validated, and the assessment gave us a common language to understand behavioral trends and appreciate people different from us. It grew our self-awareness and empathy. One thing is absolutely for sure: no matter your style, we are almost all highly caffeinated and making to-do lists. We all came in wanting to learn how to support one another more effectively. That instinct brought us back to one of the first lessons of the week: finding our shared interest is often where everything starts. That foundation is where we build trust, and it’s often where the real work begins.

Throughout the session, certain themes kept rising to the surface. We talked about the courage it takes to be vulnerable and how leading with authenticity can open doors that credentials alone cannot. We reflected on what it means to find common ground, especially in divided spaces, and how important it is to work across lines rather than around them. There was ongoing conversation about rest and resilience, about showing up even when it's hard, and about using what we’ve gained to do more than just understand the issues. We want to be part of the solution.

By the end of the session, our Leadership Kentucky 2025 BRIGHT cohort was beginning to see the full picture, not just what the program had to offer us, but what we had to offer each other. We started to see how our individual stories are part of something collective.

On Friday morning, as we closed with reflection and learning, it was clear that this group is ready to grow. We didn’t just come to learn about leadership. We came to live it, practice it, and carry it back to the places we call home.

This first session of BRIGHT 2025 reminded us that meaningful change rarely begins with talk alone. It starts with presence, with listening, and with people willing to do the work together.