There's no place in the United States quite like the sprawling Appalachian region.

And perhaps no other region in the country is dissected, explained and maligned from outside experts, politicians and think tanks. 

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We believe the capacity of a community articulating a vision of themselves for the world. 

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We believe in the agency of our neighbors. 

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We believe in projects that ignite new forms of civic pride and cultural identity. 

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We believe in the power of folks who don't see themselves as writers coming together to express this pride and identity. 

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This is why we created 

the Appalachian Ode Project.