Building and connecting ministries, and providing education and training relevant to Appalachia

Annual Goal: $32,449.00

Year to Date Gifts: $1,640.00

UMAMN, formally the Appalachian Development Committee, was established at the 1972, General Conference as the United Methodist effort to address poverty in Appalachia and it was directly related to the National Program Division of GBGM. The goal was to provide resources and administrative assistance to agencies, conferences, and boards that were strategizing and implementing programs in Appalachia. Our major areas of work are advocacy on public policy, networking which brings leaders together for learning and sharing, interpretation of area needs and concerns to those requesting information and resourcing through church materials, and models of ministry and hunger and poverty grant programs (which is a separate Advance Special).

The overall goal of the project is to alleviate the injustices impacting the lives of Appalachian families, such as hunger, poverty, environmental degradation. Long-term, UMAMN hopes to develop the ministries necessary to address the root causes of Appalachian issues, as well as advocate for the region as a whole to support beneficial policies.

UMAMN wants to see the elimination of the economic, social, and environmental injustices in Appalachia. Specifically, we want to see a reduction in the poverty rate, reduction in the unemployment rate, improved health and wellbeing, and stronger, healthier, happier families. And ultimately, UMAMN wants to develop disciples for Jesus Christ.