Headwaters:
A Strategic Action Plan for 2026-2030
A Note to Friends
Why we do this work
Our Purpose
At Brushy Fork Leadership Institute—part of Berea College’s Strategic Initiatives team—our purpose is simple. We’re here to strengthen local and regional leadership across Central Appalachia. We believe that when local folks take the lead in shaping their communities, everyone benefits. Strong leadership means stronger communities, and that leads to a better quality of life for all.
Our Purpose
Our vision is a future where Appalachian communities thrive because local people shape decisions. We want to see communities that are fair, welcoming, and full of opportunity.
Places where everyone has a chance to thrive.
What we hold close
Our Values
We hold a few core values close to our hearts.
We honor the voice and wisdom of local people because they know their communities best. We value unity and believe in treating everyone with respect and equality. We work together through collaboration, learning from one another as we grow and recognizing that risk-taking is a key component of progress. We believe in action… rolling up our sleeves and getting things done in ways that spark innovation.
And we care deeply about community, encouraging mindful living and leadership that puts people first.
These values are deeply embedded and reflected in our work and through Berea College’s Great Commitments.
How we make it happen
To make this happen, we focus on four high impact strategies.
First, we build a strong communication infrastructure that equips leaders with useful tools and resources to support their work and lifts up success stories that shape a more accurate narrative of Central Appalachian communities.
Second, we grow the community development field by bringing leaders together at our annual Leadership Gathering and by serving as an ally to regional partners and initiatives.
Third, we offer high-quality leadership programs that are designed with community needs in mind.
And fourth, we provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to help organizations adopt effective practices while offering coaching along the way.
Our impact speaks for itself:
-
100+
leaders from 10 counties in People Ready Communities
-
200+
Leadership Gathering attendees annually - from eight states, 33 sectors, and 100+ organizations
-
616
hours of technical assistance delivered to nonprofits last year
Looking ahead, we're excited about what's next.
We plan to expand the People Ready Communities program beyond Kentucky, create programming for leaders who have traditionally been underrepresented, and position Brushy Fork as a thought leader in rural leadership and community development.
Explore our most recent impact report below:
“In Appalachia, we take care of our own. Brushy Fork gets that.”
Partner voices throughout this plan were gathered anonymously by an independent consultant.
What we're noticing from the creek bank:
The heart is there
Central Appalachia is full of people who care deeply about their communities.
Every day, neighbors, local leaders, and organizations are stepping up to make things better— whether that’s addressing poverty, improving health, strengthening education, or creating economic opportunity.
The heart is there and the commitment is strong, but many folks doing this work are stretched thin. They often run on tight budgets and small teams, which makes steady leadership and practical support more important than ever.
“Everybody has mountains. But, nobody else had our stories.”
The need for leadership development is real.
When it comes to leadership development, there’s a real need for both individuals and organizations. Across the region, there are people who are ready to lead or already leading in quiet ways, but they may not have access to the training, mentorship, or encouragement they need to grow.
Nonprofits face similar realities. Staff and board members often take on leadership roles out of necessity, learning as they go, sometimes without the tools or confidence to feel fully prepared.
We also know that not everyone has the same opportunity to step forward. Women, young people, those in recovery, and LGBTQIA leaders, for example, are not always invited into leadership spaces in the same way.
And when established leaders step away, many organizations don’t have a clear plan for what comes next, which can leave teams scrambling to keep things moving.
Capacity challenges show up in practical ways
Capacity challenges show up in very practical ways. Nonprofits are working hard to handle board development, financial management, and strategic planning, but those tasks can feel overwhelming without the right support.
Grant writing and compliance add another layer of complexity—funding is critical, but the requirements can be time-consuming and confusing, especially for organizations without dedicated staff.
Individual leaders are also navigating partnerships, managing projects, and trying to build strong networks, often without much backup. In rural communities that work can feel especially isolating.
Folks need more chances to connect, to share what’s working, and to learn from one another.
There are leadership programs and technical assistance services out there, but they’re not always within reach. Cost, distance, and a lack of cultural connection can all create barriers.
Too often, opportunities are designed without Appalachian communities in mind, which means smaller nonprofits and emerging leaders in rural areas can get left out.
Brushy Fork is ready to be part of the solution.
Here’s how:
-
1.
We can keep growing our People Ready Communities program, creating leadership experiences that are welcoming, practical, and grounded in everyday life here in the region. Our hands-on approach connects learning to what people are already doing, so they can take new skills and put them to use right away.
-
2.
We can continue offering technical assistance that meets folks where they are. Whether that’s supporting a nonprofit with board development or helping a local leader think through a strategic plan, our goal is to make the work feel more approachable, more manageable, and ultimately more effective.
-
3.
We can keep growing our People Ready Communities program, creating leadership experiences that are welcoming, practical, and grounded in everyday life here in the region. Our hands-on approach connects learning to what people are already doing, so they can take new skills and put them to use right away.
-
4.
We can help lift up Appalachian voices on a bigger stage. By sharing success stories, tools, and approaches that grow from this place, Brushy Fork can help shift the narrative and show what’s possible when local people lead their own way forward.
