Radford University
Clinch River Valley Initiative (CRVI) Building Social and Economic Capital in Southwest Virginia with Oral History Collecting
Radford University continued its collaboration from 2016-17 with the Clinch River Valley Initiative (CRVI), a multi-member grassroots organization comprised of several Southwest Virginia counties, to collect oral histories, or river stories, from individuals who have grown up along the Clinch River. tHE 2017 ATP students asked interviewees about their education and work history, about what life was like growing up along the Clinch River, how life has changed over time, their recreational activities in or near the river, as well as their relationship with the river.
The project hoped to bolster community pride, identity, and sense of place. The collected stories will result in a book to be sold at Clinch River venues and online to both locals and tourists. Select audio clips from the interviews will be used in kiosks along the Clinch River. Radford’s ATP students hope that these activities will also help to support CRVI’s goals to 1) Offer environmental education to people of all ages and 2) Revitalize and market downtowns along the river, boosting entrepreneurial opportunities.
Radford's Live Presentation in Washington, DC
Contact Information:
Dr. Theresa Burriss
Chair, Appalachian Studies
Director, Appalachian Regional & Rural Studies Center
Radford University
P.O. Box 7014
Radford, VA 24142
Telephone: (540) 831-6857
E-Mail: tburriss@radford.edu
Previous Conference Participation:
2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009