Sandy Elledge, retired Executive Director of Episcopal Appalachian Ministries (EAM) and staff member for the Commission on Religion in Appalachia (CORA), discusses her experiences in southern Appalachia, emphasizing women-initiated grassroots movements and the role of churches in economic and environmental activism. EAM was a tripartite organization emphasizing education, advocacy, and mission work in Appalachia. As director, Elledge coordinated service groups, supported work camps in mining communities in and around south-west Virginia, and helped to fund community projects founded by women. EAM was financially dependent on various national organizations, and worked closely with CORA, an umbrella organization that provided a bridge between church resources and grassroots movements in Appalachian communities.