2018 CHEF Reflections – Thomas Burless, Kingsport Housing & Redevelopment Authority

At Sewanee, I participated in a program called Housing Sewanee where I volunteered once a week helping to build a house for a low income family. Through this volunteer experience, my university’s Office of Civic Engagement reached out to me and sent me the CHEF internships through Fahe. I applied to Kingsport because it was the best way to take what I did with my major and apply it to something I want to do in the future. And that is how I ended up in Appalachia. My experience here so far has been nice. Everyone is friendly and willing to help out when needed. I have no complaints about Appalachia so far.

The CHEF Gathering Tour at Fahe’s office in Berea, KY was very informative for me. It introduced me to many important people within Fahe and also to the other interns in the CHEF program who I hope to have a relationship with throughout the summer. It also helped that I was able to put into words what I am doing with KHRA and the mission of KHRA because it shows how much I have learned so far. It was interesting to see the different properties and people at Fahe works with, especially Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women in Richmond, KY.

The work that Fahe is doing in the region is very important and crucial to the survival of this area, and it is also something that I have wanted to get involved with since I first started at Sewanee Housing.