Clearfork Community Institute

Site Description:

The Clearfork Community Institute partners with the Woodland Community Land Trust, a community-initiated organization, whose mission is to purchase and hold lands for local residents who might otherwise be landless. This part of rural Appalachia has a majority of the land owned by out of state and out of country corporations. Through re-purchase of land, local residents have a secure base with which to begin holistic community development from a rural perspective. Students will have the opportunity to interact and build community with neighboring residents through visits to local churches and share meals with members of the community.

Site Resources:

http://www.woodlandcommunitylandtrust.org/home

Site Contact:

We discourage students from directly contacting the site; all reservations are made through the Center for Social Concerns.  Further emergency contact information will be provided to students upon enrollment in the seminar.

Marie Cirillo: marie@jellico.com ; 423-784-0095

Lodging:

Students provide their own bedding (sleeping bag, pillow, and/or blankets and sheets).

Travel:

Students will travel to the site on Sunday, October 16, and will return the following Friday, October 21.

Personal Expenses:

Students must pay for their own meals while they travel from Notre Dame to the site on Sunday and back to Notre Dame from the site on Friday or Saturday.  Students are requested to bring enough money to pay for these 2–3 meals, and it is also suggested that students bring extra spending money for personal purchases during their immersion.  The availability of ATMs varies with each site, and so in the interest of avoiding fees or running out of money, it is suggested that students have a reasonable amount of cash on hand before the immersion.

Meals:

Students will use Center credit cards to purchase groceries and prepare their own meals.