The Beehive Collective comes to Appalachian State starting Thursday, April 25, and will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sanford Mall.

Hosted by Appalachian State University Renewable Energy Initiative, the Appalachian Studies Department and the Appalachian Popular Programming Society Heritage Council, the Collective will be displaying their “True Cost of Coal” campaign.

The Beehive Collective will have a large poster that tells the history of coal mining in this region through smaller elaborate pictures.

The organization spent two years interviewing individuals from the region and gathering stories that would tell about coal mining and its overall negative effects.

“It will tell a more complete, more complex history of coal,” said William Lindley, a representative in the Appalachian Studies department. “The banner features really intricately drawn details. All the characters are portrayed by animals and plants that tell stories that are easier to listen to, because it is harder to stereotype an animal.”

Josie Hoggard, chairperson of the APPS Heritage Council, said the event would hopefully raise awareness of the negative effects of coal mining in the region.

“The true cost of coal on so many things is not positive most of the time,” Hoggard said.

Beatrice Mandoza will represent the Beehive Collective through the storytelling. All students are welcome to attend and participate in the discussions.

“The storytelling becomes interactive,” Lindley said. “Part of the value or function of this is that it’s not just a lecture on a topic. It’s very informative, but it’s relayed in the form of stories. Storytelling is the most personal way we share things.”

The goal of APPS Heritage Council and Appalachian Studies Department is to promote the history of Appalachia as well as interaction with the region. ASUREI advocates the conservation of energy through replacing the university’s already existing energy sources with ones that are cleaner and renewable.

Jamie Trowbridge, an ASUREI public relations officer, said the Beehive Collective will help to promote both energy management and the history of the Appalachian region.

“The Beehive Collective does a really remarkable job with folk history,” Trowbridge said. “Retelling historical narratives is important.”

Story: CHELLA MCLELLAND, Intern A&E Reporter