To say we’ve covered some ground this year would be an understatement. Alliance members and staff have been around the world! Earlier this month, we traveled as a group to Borikén (Puerto Rico) for the Gulf South to Appalachia Formation‘s Governance Assembly, marking a significant step forward in interregional organizing and solidarity-building. The gathering brought together frontline community leaders to explore the deep connections between historical colonization and today’s energy extraction industries. We examined how systems of power and disenfranchisement continue to shape our communities and landscapes across our regions.
Through workshops, dialogue, and shared meals, participants strengthened relationships across our member groups while building a shared analysis of the forces impacting our lands. The assembly achieved concrete outcomes:
- Attendees developed and agreed upon a governance structure that centers community voices
- We established clear representation pathways; and
- We formed working groups to carry the movement’s priorities forward.
Gulf South 2 Appalachia Governance Assembly attendees. photo: Taysha DeVaughan
This gathering in Borikén—itself a territory with the only non-voting representation in Congress—reflects the Alliance for Appalachia’s commitment to building solidarity across extracted landscapes. We’re rooting our work in the lived experiences of those most affected by extractive industries while honoring the legacy of resistance that connects Puerto Rico, the Gulf South, and Appalachia. Together, we’re creating the democratic structures needed to protect our mountains, waters, and communities for generations to come.
Photo: Taysha DeVaughan
Many of our member organizations are directly involved in this formation, and we coordinate regional priorities with the Alliance for Appalachia coalition. Contact us if you’d like to get involved! It’s these kind of vibes:
Photo: Dee Parker
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