top of page
Want to be in the loop?
Subscribe below to receive the latest project updates, events, job listings, and announcements from LiKEN!
Search
Community Wealth


No Community Without “U:” What CECs Mean to LiKEN
LiKEN Knowledge is an organization that doesn't just want to invest in communities, but one that wants to be rooted in all communities. Without our strong, empowering, knowledgeable, and passionate CECs, none of these opportunities would be possible.
Madison Mooney
Nov 26, 20253 min read


On the Rebound: A Tale of White–Tailed Deer in Kentucky
By the 1800s, unregulated over-hunting had reduced this population to 12 million, and by 1900, because of an increase in commercial hunting practices, as few as 300,000 white–tails remained, and the deer had vanished from much of their historical range. By the year 2000, though, things had changed. The passage of the federal Lacey Act created regulations for the trade of illegally harvested wildlife, and penalties for violating these regulations. This effectively destroyed th

Randal Caudill
Nov 20, 20257 min read


Tire-Fighters: Reflecting on Kentucky River Cleanup Week’s Successful Conclusion
Of course, it was far from a picnic in the park. We grunted and did quite a bit of primal screaming, but it was all worth it to have made the difference! To quote volunteer Katie Bowling Johnson, “Doing a battle cry while lifting a 600 lb tire with your childhood bestie brings out some primal Appalachian pride!”

Matthew Sparks
Nov 11, 20254 min read


Toxic Tires in the Kentucky River's South Fork
We think of tires as mostly an unsightly nuisance, but the problem is not just an aesthetic one. Not only are tires unsightly, they are dangerous to our health. Tires pose an incredibly alarming source of toxins to our environment and drinking water. When tires break down, they leach toxic chemicals into our waterways. They are in fact: SILENT KILLERS.

Tina Johnson
Oct 30, 20255 min read


A Season of Growth: LiKEN’s Summer Highlights
Summer is always a busy time for LiKEN, and this year has been no different. From creek clean ups and youth paddle camps to Tribal-led...

LiKEN Team
Sep 11, 202510 min read


Rooted in Place, Rising Together
LiKEN Program Updates, Spring 2025 At LiKEN, our work is rooted in relationships to place, to people, and to the knowledge that connects...
Phill Barnett
May 21, 202518 min read


Rising Waters, Falling Snow
Frontline Flood Relief in Leslie County by Matthew Sparks Middle fork of the Kentucky River in front of Leslie County High School (Photo credit: Matthew Sparks) Your second catastrophic flood hits differently. Especially when it literally hits your hometown. I consider most of southeastern Kentucky my home—like many deeply rooted families here, I’m connected by blood or marriage or the Appalachian experience to most of the surrounding counties. This kinship compelled me to ac

Matthew Sparks
Mar 10, 20253 min read


Agroforestry Updates: Forest Farming Spring 2024 Recap
Updates on Community Wealth from Healthy Rivers and Forests, Sharing Successes in Agroforestry, and more.
Phill Barnett
Jun 27, 20242 min read
bottom of page
