“We didn’t organize the citizens group to get folks from all over the county to call us,” says Robinett.  “We were focused.  But it happened.  People from all over the county started calling me about all kinds of environmental problems and other problems, and I wouldn’t turn them away.  I knew the nightmares we were having, and we had learned that the way to prevent disasters, other Dayhoits, from happening is that people need to be aware.”

            Joan Robinett has become the person to call in Harlan County if you want help making your voice be heard.  Her organizing skills were first put to use after it was discovered that the well water in Dayhoit contained carcinogens as a result of dumping by the National Electric Coil plant.  She quickly organized and became the chairperson of Concerned Citizens Against Toxic Waste.  It took seven years but the case against National Electric Coil was finally settled.  In the meantime, Robinett—and the surrounding community—had learned that Robinett had organizing skills that could be put to use on a host of problems in the area.  Since this discovery, she has worked on issues ranging from excessive water bills to lack of safe roads and illegal dumping.  Perhaps her biggest overall success has been getting community members to attend fiscal court meetings in order to learn more about the actions of their local government so that they can be sure that their voices are heard when decisions are being made.

“People watch for the court agenda to be printed in the paper and sometimes go to meetings even if their issue isn’t slated for discussion, just to see what’s going on.”

Summarized from:   Robin Epstein.  1999.  Citizen Power:  Stories of America’s New Civic Spirit.  Democracy Resource Center: Lexington, Kentucky.  Used with permission.

Visit the Democracy Resource Center web page to learn more about grassroots movements in Kentucky, or to order a copy of Citizen Power:  Stories of America’s New Civic Spirit.