Hindman Settlement School Ironwood Writers Studio Fosters Creativity in Appalachian Teens

For more than four decades, The Hindman Settlement School in Knott County has hosted the Appalachian Writers’ Workshop, the premier annual gathering of writers who create a reliable space for writers to learn from each other regardless of achievement. In 2022, as a way for the Settlement to expand and deepen its impact in fostering Appalachian literature, they created the Ironwood Writers Studio to help high school students in Appalachia become a part of a writing community. The program also includes the Visiting Writers Residencies as an opportunity for published writers to work directly with high school teachers to build creative writing lessons into their existing curriculum.

“We are so excited about the opportunity to partner with the Hindman Settlement School,” states Larry Pemble, Managing Director of the James Baker Hall Foundation. “The school's impact in Central Appalachia is unmatched. Their mission-focus around the power of literacy and literature and the foundation’s goal of keeping the unique voice of Kentucky heard match up beautifully."

The foundation will be supporting the Ironwood Writers Studio for high school students as well as the Visiting Writers Residencies. Ironwood is a week-long residency program for high school students from the Appalachian counties served by the Hindman Settlement School. During the week, participants take daily classes with published regional writers in genres like poetry, fiction and nonfiction. The week gives students the opportunity to explore different genres of writing, feel valued as new members in the Appalachian creative community and to build a network of peers who share common interests.

The second component of the grant, Visiting Writers Residencies, provides an opportunity for published writers to go into high schools served by the Hindman Settlement School to work directly with teachers to build creative writing lessons into their class curriculum. The visiting writers introduce students to Appalachian literature and provide experience in writing various genres over the course of class sessions. One of the goals of the grant is for the program to serve as a feeder for interested students to the Ironwood Writers Studio and hopefully, the Appalachian Writers’ Workshop as their writing skills develop.

The Hindman Settlement School has a very long, deep history of providing educational and service opportunities to the people of the mountains while keeping them mindful of their heritage. Today, their major focus includes education and service programs, programs that address cultural awareness and addressing issues of health and food insecurity through increased access to nutritious locally grown food. For more information about the Hindman Settlement School, visit www.hindman.org.