Earth Conservancy is thrilled to announce the expansion of WeReclaim! to a new location through our partnership with the SHINE After School Program of Luzerne County at Wilkes University, hosted at Maple Manor in the Hazleton Area School District. This exciting new chapter focuses on middle school students, engaging them in exploring the rich history of mining in the Eastern Middle Anthracite field and understanding the lasting impacts of legacy coal lands. Together, we’re discovering ways to restore and reclaim these landscapes for a more sustainable future.
Particularly powerful: our discussion of the Lattimer Massacre – a tragic event that occurred less than three miles from the Maple Manor school. Students learned how 19 unarmed miners lost their lives while striking for fair wages and better working conditions, connecting them deeply to their community’s past struggles for justice.
As part of the Interdependence Hexagon Project, students will now begin creating their own artworks. Done in the shape of a Hexagon, the collages will express what they’ve learned from local history, as well as their hopes for environmental change.
Learn more on the WeReclaim! program webpage.