Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine

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  Now & Then (Volume 31, Issue 01, 2015)

  Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services, East Tennessee State University

  Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, Volume 31, Issue 01, published in 2015. The theme of this issue is The Best of 30 Years, Part II. This issue continues the retrospective series by revisiting works from 2000 to 2014, drawing together writing that reflects the changing conditions of Appalachian life in the early twenty first century. The collection moves across topics such as environmental conflict, outmigration, cultural representation, family and faith, and the realities of economic hardship, often grounded in personal narrative and lived experience. Several pieces address the tension between tradition and change, including the preservation of local practices, the influence of global connections, and the persistence of regional identity amid outside pressures. Others confront loss and resilience in the face of disaster, limited opportunity, and social challenges, while also recognizing community support and institutional efforts to provide stability and care. Taken together, these selections show how Appalachian voices have continued to respond to new circumstances while remaining rooted in place, offering a record of adaptation and continuity in the region.

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  Now & Then (Volume 31, Issue 02, 2016)

  Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services, East Tennessee State University

  Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, Volume 31, Issue 02, published in 2016. The theme of this issue is Justice in Appalachia. Framed by questions of justice and accountability, this issue brings together writing that addresses legal, environmental, social, and cultural struggles across Appalachia. Drawing on both historical memory and contemporary events, it documents labor conflicts, resource extraction, and public health crises alongside efforts to organize, protest, and seek reform. Contributors present personal narratives and community based accounts that examine issues of identity, including LGBTQ and Melungeon experiences, as well as movements for racial justice and intergenerational activism. The issue also considers the role of cultural expression, including music, poetry, and storytelling, in shaping and sustaining justice work. By connecting past conflicts with present day advocacy and reform, the volume reflects the ongoing efforts of Appalachian communities to confront inequality and pursue more equitable futures within the region.

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  Now & Then (Volume 32, Issue 01, 2016)

  Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services, East Tennessee State University

  Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, Volume 32, Issue 01, published in 2016. The theme of this issue is Cultivating Appalachia. This issue captures cultivation in Appalachia through reflections that focus on land, tradition, and community life as ongoing practices shaped by care, labor, and memory. Contributors describe relationships to place through stewardship, creative work, and the transmission of knowledge across generations, while also addressing change and uncertainty in rural life. Across the issue, preservation and adaptation appear in tension as communities negotiate continuity and transformation. Together, the pieces present cultivation as a recurring lens for understanding how people engage with place and sustain cultural and environmental connections in Appalachia.

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  Now & Then (Volume 32, Issue 02, 2016)

  Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services, East Tennessee State University

  Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, Volume 32, Issue 02, published in 2016. The theme of this issue is the Future of Appalachia. This issue considers the future of Appalachia at a moment of transition, pairing reflections on change with an awareness of the region's past and present conditions. As the paper magazine is ending, contributors reflect on economic uncertainty, environmental pressures, and shifting cultural forms, while also identifying opportunities for renewal and growth. The future is framed not as a fixed outcome but as something shaped by choices related to land use, industry, health, and community life, often requiring a balance between innovation and continuity. Attention to memory, resilience, and lived experience underscores the importance of drawing on a usable past while adapting to new realities. The issue presents the future of Appalachia as open and contested, shaped by those who remain, return, and invest in the region's long term well-being.