At one time, coal was ingrained in West Virginia’s culture: coal mining was the inevitable job each family member would work. Coal miners supported their families and coal supported the United States to allow for its rapid growth. But when America moved on from coal, what happens to the miners, their families, and communities left behind? Today, West Virginian coal miners face a grim reality. Industrial decline didn’t only affect their finances, but also their health and the health of their communities and landscapes. Now an opioid crisis, job instability, and physical destruction of mountains have left behind reeling communities struggling to hold it all together. What was once a vibrant space is somewhere people try to escape.

In their haunting Devil Put the Coal in the Ground, Hutchinson and Sabean share personal accounts from residents, revealing how they have been deeply impacted by this drastic change. They are faced with decisions: how do they fight back against this decay? Having supported America for so long, how will coal communities find support for themselves and find the strength to support each other?

Following the film, we will feature a panel discussion with experts on coal communities, the opioid epidemic, and efforts to reimagine Appalachia’s future, featuring:

Kristina Brant, Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology, Penn State
Jacob Hannah, CEO, Coalfield Development Corp.
Stephen Motyka, President, Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance

Pre-registration is required here, https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kyd6w3BUQCyc73Ncdh1YRA#/registration