Partnership AmeriCorps Receives Award
During October’s 2024 Volunteer West Virginia Conference in Flatwoods, Mon Forest Towns Partnership AmeriCorps, Sam Kniery, was recognized for his year of service with the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA) program, receiving the Outstanding AmeriCorps award for his work across the region.
Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area’s 2023-2024 AmeriCorps Program Service Members gather for photo at the Monongahela National Forest’s Stuart Park Recreation Area.
In an AFNHA press release, Mon Forest Towns Executive Director Josh Nease remarked…
“Sam came to Mon Forest Towns Partnership (MFT) as our AmeriCorps volunteer in September 2023. His diverse skillset and his desire and willingness to engage with and serve our communities is what made his work so impactful. Sam’s work advanced important initiatives in most towns. A few specific examples include: he supported community organization and planning in Durbin, helped to revitalize the pollinator garden in Marlinton, designed and assisted in printing of new Mon Forest Towns banners in Richwood, and organized a very successful community engagement event in Elkins. This was all on top of the professional quality work he was doing to build our new Mon Forest Towns organization. Sam excelled in everything he took on, in the sense that if Sam didn’t know how to do something, he took it upon himself to learn. So, if something needed done he would figure out how to do it and then make it happen. Sam goes above and beyond in everything that he does. His desire to serve is unmatched and his love of the Monongahela National Forest and each one of our unique towns is evident in everything that he does. I knew early on that Sam is a tremendous asset to our organization and region and we have been able to secure funding to bring Sam on as our second Mon Forest Towns employee starting on October 1. One year later, our organization is much better connected to our towns and to the region than we would have been without him.”
During the conference, Sam had the opportunity to speak about his experience working with the Partnership…
Mon Forest Towns AmeriCorps Sam Kniery speaks during the Volunteer WV Award Ceremony.
“The Mon Forest Towns Partnership, which today supports the development of a sustainable recreation economy in twelve historic mountain towns across eight counties in the Monongahela National Forest region of West Virginia, was established in 2017 with a seemingly simple realization- we are stronger together. When we raise our voices together for a common goal, shared challenges become shared opportunities, and each of our unique stories finds a common thread in the quilt of our lives.
Ever since childhood, many of us are told “do something you love and you will never work a day in your life,” however, this past year, I encountered, what I feel, is an even deeper truth- surround yourself with passionate people, and you will never find something not to love. Every day, I have had the distinct honor of serving alongside countless community members and AmeriCorps committed to making a difference across the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, and the world. From spiny mussels to square dances, discovering the endless wellspring of passion for all of life’s wonders, big and small, constantly inspires and empowers me to climb higher, reach farther, and love more deeply.
As an anthropologist, I study the relationship between people and place- how we shape the landscape, how the landscape shapes us, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that West Virginia is special. I swear time moves slower on country roads, that the shadows curling around a rhododendron’s leaves in the forest’s understory are deeper, that the night skies are filled with an impossible number of stars. Its communities, likewise, are filled with an immeasurable spirit- their music a little richer than one might think physics would permit, their deep connection to history untethered from the clock’s hands, their compassion seemingly greater than a heart can hold. A community member in Richwood, West Virginia, once told me, “The mountains here are like a warm hug, they hold you tight,” I have found the folks here are no different.
The forest’s story may be one of loss, a tale of fire and flood, of forgotten towns and railroad ghosts- but it is also a tale of triumph against the odds, perseverance in the face of disaster, and a relentless, burning desire to build a better tomorrow. Out in the woods, you can find old signposts, embraced by lichen and moss, that remember the volunteers whose saplings now stand as towering trees around you; out in the woods, you can find fresh-faced volunteers with saplings of their own. Due to the ceaseless dedication of passionate people to protect what they love, the future of the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, and West Virginia is bright- I would encourage everyone to come along for the ride.
I want to offer a special thanks to my supervisors Josh Nease and Jack Tribble, the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area staff, my fellow AmeriCorps, and our Mon Forest Towns representatives for supporting me during my journey—I could not have done it without you.”
For more information about becoming an Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area AmeriCorps and serving with the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, visit https://www.appalachianforestnha.org/americorps-positions