The first African American to be appointed as the state’s poet laureate, she also is a member of the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame and a recipient of the North Carolina Award for Literature.
Attendees at the recent forum heard about the devastating impacts and discussed realistic ideas for prevention, treatment and recovery in the community.
The event theme of “Giduwagi ― Appalachian Historical Ecology” was topical and philosophical, reflecting both the changing landscape of Southern Appalachia and attitudes toward the natural resources of the mountains.
Courtney A. Lewis, assistant professor in the University of South Carolina’s Department of Anthropology and Institute for Southern Studies, will speak at WCU and in Cherokee.