~~The 2016 Appalachian Media Institute interns speak about their experiences in this year’s Summer Documentary Institute and thoughts about the region and their futures within it.

Since 1988, Appalshop’s Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) has provided opportunities for young people from central Appalachia to explore their communities and develop their creative skills through the arts and media. This is a pivotal time for central Appalachia as we work for a transition to a more diversified regional economy, and this year AMI focused on Envisioning Our Future. Six youth from eastern Kentucky participated in this 8-week program providing training in documentary storytelling and a chance to explore, produce and share youth-led visions for the region’s future. They spoke with WMMT’s Kelli Haywood and the full interviews are available as part of Mountain Talk Monday on wmmt.org and our podcast.