Big Creek People
in Action
Working for economically vibrant,
democratic, and socially just
communities for the 21st century.
Mission
Big Creek People in
Action is a nonprofit
organization that was
founded in 1990 by
citizens of McDowell
County, West Virginia.
BCPIA serves the
community by providing
programs in early
childhood development,
education and literacy,
leadership development,
volunteer service, arts and
culture, housing,
recreation, and
collaborative partnerships.
Mission Statement: “The mission of BCPIA is to foster a community in which
people learn, work, play, and grow together and prepare themselves for success in
the 21st century. BCPIA's vision of McDowell County is one of empowered and
self-sufficient people living in communities that are economically vibrant,
democratic, and socially just.”
History of McDowell County
McDowell County was formed in 1858 from part of Tazewell, VA. It derived
it's name from the governor of Virginia in 1843, James McDowell. It is the
southern-most county in West Virginia, in which the coal communities have
been an integral and defining aspect of the community. The closing of many
major coal operations has led to an increase in poverty and unemployment
while health care and education have deteriorated. For example, the county
has the highest illiteracy rate in adults in West Virginia and the
unemployment rate is consistently double that of the state and more than
triple the national rate. Since 1980, over 60% of the residents have left the
area, primarily seeking employment and higher standard of living.
McDowell County has approximately
25,000 residents today, with the Big
Creek District having 6,500
residents. Almost 90% of families with
children are low resource.
In 1990, Caretta residents established
Big Creek Mountain People in Action, Inc.
to address family, community, and
economic concerns in the area.
Poverty in Appalachia
“This trip opened my eyes to a part of America I never knew existed. I had seen and served the urban
poor, but I didn’t think we still had such rural poverty in our country.”
- Sean, Notre Dame student
McDowell,
WV
While the situation of poverty in Appalachia is lessening, the most stressed
areas are in West Virginia, the heart of Appalachia.
Key Issues in McDowell, County
45000
There has been a significant
decrease in population since the
1950’s mainly due to lack of jobs
after coal mines closed. This
decrease has lead to increased
healthcare issues as the average
age of citizens increases.
$41,994
40000
Average Per-Capita Income
35000
$29,696
30000
25000
20000
$16,931
15000
Population Changes in McDowell County
10000
120,000
5000
Population 18,747
100,000
Population Change -
0
West Virginia
This chart compares the average percapita income among McDowell County,
the state of West Virginia, and the US.
Clearly, McDowell lags behind the rest of
the United States.
Data taken from ePodunk (tm)
Copyright © 2004 ePodunk Inc. All rights reserved.
80,000
US
population
McDowell
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
1900
-20,000
1920
1940
1960
1980
-40,000
Year
Date taken from the Bureau of Census
2000
2020
Flooding in McDowell County
“The state of West Virginia has a tough task in front of them, and I have to give them credit for the plans
and projects they’re drawing up for McDowell County. The plans aren’t always popular with people in
McDowell, but the situation is so complicated, at least they’re trying to do something.”
- Sean
Flooding has become a significant problem in McDowell County due to effects of mountaintop
removal. There have been two major floods in the past 3 years; they have caused death and
loss of hundreds of structures in the area. After one of the floods, over 1500 people were left
homeless.
McDowell County was declared a federal disaster area, but community organizations and
citizens have worked hard to rebuild their community both physically and financially. BCPIA,
federal grants, McDowell Mission, and other organizations have contributed to the
reconstruction of the community.
Mountain top removal
“The people want their mountains back. I don’t think
it would solve their deeper, social problems, but it
would at least get their homes and schools out of
the flood plains.”
- Sean
Mountaintop removal has become the
dominant form of surface coal mining in the
state. The process involves blasting off
hilltops, and dumping leftover rock and dirt
into nearby valleys.
Much of the state has been flattened, and
hundreds of miles of streams have been
buried.
A surface mine reclamation site
Aerial Photos of a mountaintop removal project
Emergence of Health Care
and Problems with Diabetes
“It was a hard trip for me, because I didn’t feel that I could do much for the people there.
How do you bring people hope when they feel economically and geographically trapped,
addicted to drugs and unable to get a good education?”
- Claire, Notre Dame student
There has been a significant increase in
Affordable healthcare is a major issue diabetes mortality rates in West Virginia
in this part of the country. The majority compared to the US.
of the residents get by on very low
income, and healthcare/health
insurance is considered a luxury in
most cases.
The incidence of cancer, diabetes and
other illnesses associated with coal
mining is high in this region, which is
only compounded by the shortage of
healthcare professionals.
Poor health across the region
causes more widespread diabetes1/3 higher in Appalachia than in
the rest of the US.
Data from the West Virginia Health Statistics Center, 2001
Rates of Diabetes Mortality per 100,000 population
West Virginia
35
US
30
25
20
rate (per
100,000)
15
10
5
0
1970
1975
US
1980
year
1985
West Virginia
1990
1995
Education
Over a fourth of the small schools in West Virginia have been closed due to
consolidation.
The state seized control of the McDowell County school system in November 2001,
after inspectors with the WV Department of Education found violations of education
laws and regulations in the school system. Many decisions have been made without
holding public hearings and without a vote of the elected McDowell County Board of
Education.
Challenge West Virginia, an anti-consolidation group, has
representatives from every county and meets every month.
They discuss and take action on issues regarding school
consolidation in various regions of the state. These issues
include longer bus rides for children, less time for extracurricular activities, and less interaction of teachers with their
students. This group is the core of a statewide network of
education activists who, through interaction and sharing, are
helping define education issues and developing action
strategies and platforms around educational policy issues.
After attending a Challenge West Virginia
meeting, Sean responded, “It seemed like
everyone’s hands were tied: the people in
McDowell, the residents trying to help
through love, the officials trying to help
through government action...“
Accommodations
During the week volunteers stay in the
dormitories at the Caretta Community Center.
BCPIA can sleep up to 50 people. Beds and
linens are provided so there is no need to
pack a sleeping bag. 6 showers are also
available, so don’t forget to bring shampoo,
soap, shower shoes and a towel!
Dormitory
There is a kitchen with a stovetop,
oven, refrigerator, freezer, and
microwave. Bring your own food
and cook enough to share!
The kitchen and dining area
Accommodations
During the week volunteers participate in a
number of activities, both work and
education related, so pack accordingly. Be
sure to bring clothes to work in as well as
casual outfits to wear to other events. The
weather of the area varies, so pack
sweatshirts!
Most importantly, don’t forget items
such as cameras and journals so
you can remember your
Appalachian experience.
A view from the window of a
dormitory at the Caretta Community
Center
Rebuilding a porch at a local home
A Day At Big Creek
9 AM: Wake up, prepare breakfast in kitchen, plan day.
9:30 AM: Begin project. Many of these take place at
the Caretta Community Center, and focus on
renovating the former school into accommodating
housing for visitors. We built a storage closet, made a
laundry room, and painted offices and other rooms.
Some projects took place in the community—for
example, reading to elementary students, speaking
with high school students, or cleaning homes in the
community.
12 Noon: Lunch. Cook your own meals!
1 PM: Continue project. Often a few members of the
group will go with Marsha on a trip somewhere in the
community—the library, city hall in the city of War to
meet the mayor, or just around the hills to show how
long the bus ride is for students.
Evening: Cook dinner on your own. Activities such as
a trip to a mine, square dancing, bowling, a one-woman
play, or live music.
11 PM: Bedtime.
Carl Rutherford
provides some
bluegrass
entertainment
Things to Do
Surrounded by the beauty of the
Appalachian Mountains, there is
much to do near BCPIA. Some of
the activities include hiking, square
dancing, touring a mine, visiting
Coalwood, the home of the famous
Rocket Boys, and visiting the local
schools.
“Our trip to a coal mine made me
realize that it is one of the most
physically taxing and dangerous jobs
around, yet the people hardly share in
any of the wealth that the coal mines
extract from W. Virginia. This to me is a
social injustice that must change.”
- Claire
Things to Do
Back to School
One day, we were able to visit
both the elementary school, to
read to the children, and Big
Creek High School, to tell the
students about Notre Dame and
answer their questions about
college. While talking with the
students about their future plans,
we were on one hand
encouraged at some of their
ambitiousness, but also weary of
the situation they faced.
“Education is a blessing. We
take for granted the fact that we
graduate from high school, yet
for many people in WVA it’s the
exception.” - Claire
Marsha Timpson takes us to her high School,
Big Creek, also the school of the “Rocket Boys”
Things to Do
Dancing the Night Away
One night, we were invited to
join a group of residents in
nearby Welch for an exciting
night of square dancing. The
couples were so welcoming to
us, we felt right at home.
“I never knew how much
square dancing involved...I
was really impressed!”
- Margaret, Notre Dame
student
Square dancing at the Moose Lodge in
Welch...don’t miss this one!
Things to Do
Rocket Boys
Driving to Welch, we
were able to see a few
points of interest in
Coalwood, such as the
original home of Homer
Hickam and the rocket
launching site.
“It was fascinating to see
up close a piece of
history and celebrate the
hope that Homer’s story
brings to the community.”
- Margaret
Reflections
You can take the people out of West Virginia, but you can’t take
the WVA out of the people…
Almost heaven, West
Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains,
Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older
than the trees
Younger than the
mountains, blowing like a
breeze
Country roads, take me
home
To the place, I belong
West Virginia, Mountain
Mama
Take me home, country
roads
~John Denver
This song by John Denver
accurately reflects the
overarching sentiment that
one experiences when
immersed in the people
and geography of
McDowell County, West
Virginia. Yet my time in WV
also led me to question a
lot of things I’d never
thought about.
Caretta Community Center
“At Home in the Web of Life”
1995 Appalachian Bishops Pastoral Letter
“To dwell within these mountains is
to experience in their height,
God's majesty, in their weight,
God's strength, in their hollows,
God's embrace, in their waters,
God's cleansing, in their haze,
God's mystery. These mountains
are truly a holy place.”
“I felt at the same time sadness and hope. Sadness because the living
conditions are so harsh, the opportunities so limited, and the young
people so eager to move away. But hope, too, because of the efforts of
loving people like those at the community center, who don’t have it easy
themselves, either.”
- Sean