Appalachian Social Activist Helen Lewis Honored in Craddock Center’s Songs and Stories Program

Actress Brenda Bynum and musician Don Saliers created and performed a tribute to the life of Dr. Helen Lewis at the Craddock Center’s annual Songs and Stories program on Jan. 31^st in Cherry Log.  Helen Lewis, an Appalachia native, uses activism, her teaching position and her training as a sociologist to show students in Appalachia how their communities can come together and challenge ideas that others have about life in Appalachia.  Her philosophies and research helped form the basis for Appalachian studies programs throughout the southeast.  Currently semi-retired, Helen Lewis lives in Morganton and still advises Appalachian studies programs.

Brenda Bynum spent time with Helen Lewis interviewing Lewis about the “small stuff” in Lewis’ life which colored the “big stuff” that Lewis taught her students and influenced her activism.  Then, Bynum and Saliers used songs influential to Lewis such as “Amazing Grace” and “Miners’ Blues” interspersed with Bynum’s stories about Lewis to present a chronological development of Lewis’ ideas about poverty, race and corruption in Appalachian towns where Lewis lived.  Bynum and Saliers developed their performance with assistant from their former Emory University colleague, Dr. Fred Craddock, founder of the Craddock Center.

“Happy & Hope. We Deliver” is the mission of the Craddock Center , located on Fred Craddock Drive in Cherry Log.  It delivers happy and hope to 940 Head Start and Pre-K programs in seven counties in the tri-state area through music, dance and storytelling classes, free children’s books distribution and summer reading camps.  The goal of these programs is to improve the emotional, mental and physical well-being of children knowing that happy and hopeful children will create a community with greater integrity.  Other programs include a free semi-annual Preaching Workshop. Dr. Craddock, founder of the Center, is the minister emeritus of Cherry Log Christian Church and taught theology at Emory’s Candler School of Theology.