I really enjoyed your project. I think that this case study is a perfect example of a large scale policy with good intention that did not take the time to engage local commuinties on implementation and had unintend effects on the people of West Virginia. It is unfortunate SLA was not implemented prior to the closing of coal mines but I see pontential for it to still be used in West Virginia today. 

HI Ashley,

This project is very helpful in helping decolonize the coal miners. This is a huge project because of its challenges and impacts as it relates to a lot of socio-economic aspects that require strong collaboration of 3-way partnership. In this setting, either liberating the coal miners from what they are doing for a living or stopping this mining business are both great challenges. I would love to see the process of how would the community improve their quality of life when they gradually change their work from mining to doing something else.

Overall, this is a great project and wish you can make great positive impacts on the community.

Hello Ashley,

Your project is so relevant in the present day where we are all talking about environmental conservation.It is saddening to know that apart from environmental degradation many of the miners lost their lives.I hope that soon the people of WV engage in other safer livelihood activities as correctly said no economic gain if theres loss of human life.

Ashley,

Very useful illustrations, but you need to cite your sources.  "One SL Approach" could just as easily say which approach, or combination of approaches.  Or whether you did it yourself, adapted from x and y.

This is a private comment.

Ashley,

Very interesting personal story, background on mining in WV and pictures. You put a lot of work into this. What specific SLA tools could be used today to uplift those living in poverty? And how?

Heather 

Thank you all for your comments. Heather, throughout this study I learned the value of understanding different perspectives of participants. Taking the time to evaluate the perspective of all participants involved, including those that are most vulnerable, will go a long way on creating effective decision making. I the case of closing coal mines in WV, the most vulnerable group were completely overlooked. The aggressive assault official began in 2012, so 8 years later and the majority perspectives of communities members is that their livelihood was unjustly taken from them. This community backlash could have been avoided if the local citizens were provided with a growth plan to new opportunity.