About Willa

I ‘ve spent nearly two decades of experience as a communications professional and community organizer throughout Central Appalachia. Born and raised in Letcher County, Kentucky, I have a deep passion for lifting up the stories of people in the region who work to recover, rebuild, and thrive. I currently serve as Disaster Recovery Communications Coordinator at Invest Appalachia, where I uplift local leadership and share stories of recovery and hope across the region. My work focuses on amplifying the work of community-led recovery, bridging local and national narratives, and fostering trust between impacted communities and recovery stakeholders.

My long-standing history in Central Appalachian community and resilience includes leading youth programs, mutual aid efforts, and regional collaborations focused on long-term recovery and resilience. I recently served as the Appalachian Helene Response Fund Manager with the Appalachian Funders Network, supporting recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.

I am a mother to a kind and active son and can often be found at home reading, crafting, or dreaming up my next creative project.

About  the Worthy Ground Project

Worthy Ground is a project of Invest Appalachia, made possible through generous funding by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

Invest Appalachia is a social impact investment platform focused on Central Appalachia. Through the Invest Appalachia Fund and Catalytic Capital, the organization uses blended capital to make investments that improve the quality of life in our region.

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy is the only full-time resource dedicated to helping donors maximize their impact through expert resources, community-driven grantmaking, and philanthropic consulting services.

The strategic partnership behind Worthy Ground aims to ensure that Central Appalachian disaster recovery efforts are shaped by the people most affected.

The partnership aims to create space for stories of resilience to guide long-term investment into the region.



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