Brandon Dennison Named the First Ashoka Fellow in Central Appalachia

Congratulations to Brandon Dennison for being named the first Ashoka Fellow in Central Appalachia.  Brandon is the CEO of Fahe Member Coalfield Development Corporation, located in Wayne, WV. 

Ashoka is a world-wide network of social entrepreneurs with nearly 3,500 Fellows in 92 countries.  Their Fellows are people who are defined as “change makers,” leaders who seek innovative ways to improve the world.

Coalfields works towards creating a renewed and more prosperous economy for the people they serve. Since 2009 they have created several social enterprises based on local assets, created more than 40-on-the-job training positions, provided more than 200 professional certification opportunities, and redeveloped more than 150,000 square feet of dilapidated property.

Coalfields is well known for their 33-6-3 model which affords trainees 33 hours of paid labor, 6 hours of higher education class time, and 3 hours of life-skills mentorships.  The program focuses on formerly out of work people with an emphasis on former coal workers.

Once again, congratulations to Brandon Dennison for the designation of Ashoka Fellow and for the positive impact Coalfields has on our Appalachian communities.