Flowing along the spine of the mountain range from southern New York to northern Mississippi, Appalachia is home to people who are deeply rooted to the land they inhabit. The terrain presents challenges, but also provides gifts of jobs, beauty, and freedom. The region often conjures notions of mining and music—yet there are other aspects that touch on the depth of cultural pride, familial ties, and connection with the land.

Soul of Athens, an annual student-driven multimedia project, carries on the storytelling tradition to uncover why people call Appalachia home.