STORIES

Rolling Pepperoni is collecting stories. We believe in stories as a preservation and celebration of culture. We believe stories, like food, are best when shared. As we grow together, bridging urban and rural communities, we wanted to get a little closer to what it means to live here. We believe culture is defined by and belongs to all its people. So we asked folks from all over to answer the question: What is Appalachia?

Featured
rashod.jpeg
Visionary Artivism in Pittsburgh: Rashod Brown
Read More →
Cultivating Belonging in Eastern Kentucky: Annie Jane Cotten
Cultivating Belonging in Eastern Kentucky: Annie Jane Cotten
Read More →
Inheriting Appalachian Love: Mekyah Davis
Inheriting Appalachian Love: Mekyah Davis
Read More →
Honeycomb Rolling Pep-34.jpg
A Twist on a Classic: DJ Mack
Read More →
Climate in Rural Systems Partnership
Climate in Rural Systems Partnership
Read More →
Policy for Pabulum: The 2020 Pittsburgh Food Action Plan
Policy for Pabulum: The 2020 Pittsburgh Food Action Plan
Read More →
A Piece of The City: Kirsten Lowe-Rebel’s Architectural Artistry
A Piece of The City: Kirsten Lowe-Rebel’s Architectural Artistry

Architecture-inspired art and craft from our friend Kirsten

Read More →
Image from iOS (4).jpg
Generations Build on Generations of Organizing: The Fight to #StopTheStation
Read More →
Pawpaw Preservation: An Appalachian Delicacy
Pawpaw Preservation: An Appalachian Delicacy
Read More →
42333025_2118902178426114_6122304957929488384_o.jpg
Happenstance, Magic, and the art of seth
Read More →
Young Appalachian Entrepreneurs Work Together
Young Appalachian Entrepreneurs Work Together
Read More →
"It Took Me a Lot of Tries to Win That Bike Race": Resilience and Cycling with Stefanie Sydlik
"It Took Me a Lot of Tries to Win That Bike Race": Resilience and Cycling with Stefanie Sydlik
Read More →
Pennsylvania Farm Bill
Pennsylvania Farm Bill

The Pennsylvania Farm Bill is the first of its kind. We spoke to Raqueeb Bey, of GROW Pittsburgh and the Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers League, as well as Scott Sheely from the Pennsylvania Departme of Agriculture about what makes it so unique. Read more about what rural farms can learn from urban ones, and vice versa.

Read More →
Big John Isner and Chuck Corra of Appodlachia Porch Talks #3
Big John Isner and Chuck Corra of Appodlachia Porch Talks #3
Read More →
Todd McCormick of ASCEND Climbing Gym Porch Talks #2
Todd McCormick of ASCEND Climbing Gym Porch Talks #2
Read More →
Nellie Rose Textiles and Holler Mask Force: Porch Talks #1
Nellie Rose Textiles and Holler Mask Force: Porch Talks #1
Read More →
Born in a Ballroom: Find It, Embrace It, Take Care of It
Born in a Ballroom: Find It, Embrace It, Take Care of It

Deep in the mountains of West Virginia, Helvetia has a population of 59 people. It was settled by Swiss families in 1869, and has managed itself a microcosm of preservation. Swiss food, music, and folkways are cherished as part of an active tradition. Recipes, music, and more can be found on their website, www.borninaballroom.com

Read More →
Custom RP Shelves by Krystle Fitzpatrick of Earth & Fern
Custom RP Shelves by Krystle Fitzpatrick of Earth & Fern

Krystle Fitzpatrick has been crafting objects from wood using laser machines for over four years. With a collaborative spirit, she started a project with Rolling Pepperoni, to make a set of custom display shelves just right for RP’s scrumptious handmade rolls. Krystle met the challenge!

Read More →
From East to West PA: Culture Writing with Jaclyn Sternick
From East to West PA: Culture Writing with Jaclyn Sternick

I am Jaclyn Sternick, a Story Coordinator for Rolling Pepperoni. At a young age, my family nurtured my love for the outdoors and the arts. I started to find my voice through writing in high school. I moved to Pittsburgh from Eastern PA halfway through college, and I’ve lived here ever since.

Read More →
Water Crisis in Central Appalachia's Martin County, KY
Water Crisis in Central Appalachia's Martin County, KY

America’s water infrastructure is aging, and it’s an issue all over Appalachia, including Pittsburgh. Rolling Pepperoni went to Martin County, KY, where a combination of contaminated water and failing infrastructure threatens the population of 12,000.

Read More →
Hope In Spades: What is Appalachia?
Hope In Spades: What is Appalachia?

Rolling Pepperoni’s first year of asking folks about Appalachia is coming to an end. We’ve learned so much and have more questions than answers heading into Volume 2 of RP’s Story Series. Here are some musings on those answers. Thank you for a magical first year!

Read More →
Pottery and Supporting the Arts with Scottie Wiest
Pottery and Supporting the Arts with Scottie Wiest

Scottie Wiest is a resource unto herself. Learn about her commitment to community and to clay traditions.

Read More →
Blashford3.jpg
Puppetry and Pepperoni

Mark Blashford is a well-loved alum of the University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts Graduate Program. I interviewed him to learn more about what brought him into the field and how he’s continuing the tradition in his own way.

Read More →
Book cover.jpg
THE WV Pepperoni Roll!

Candace Nelson’s book, The West Virginia Pepperoni Roll, was published in 2017, and Rolling Pepperoni is honored to be a part of it! Candace understands the significance of the pepp roll tradition, and we talked with her to learn more about its meaning in Appalachian culture.

Read More →
zaheen garden.jpg
Sustainability and Community

With the help of Millvale Sustainability Coordinator Zaheen Hussein, Rolling Pepperoni was recognized by Sustainable Pittsburgh as the most sustainable micro-business in 2017. We talked with Zaheen about his work in Millvale, how our actions impact Earth, and what we can do to achieve a more sustainable future.

Read More →
Lyn Ford: Storytelling and the Affrilachian Identity
Lyn Ford: Storytelling and the Affrilachian Identity

Lyn Ford has a story for everyone, and I mean everyone. She uses stories to unite community, to share history, and to connect with others. She told me she laughs every day. She is a published author of several collections of stories, including Boo-tickle Tales, Hot Wind Boiling Rain, Affrilachian Tales, and Beyond the Briar Patch. The following is a conversation between two story tellers.

Read More →
Hawley's Halley
Hawley's Halley

“The town has come a long way since its days of harboring as a safe haven from Halley’s comet, though I think some of the lessons from that day remain.”

Read More →
Todd and the Beast Coast
Todd and the Beast Coast

What’s the coolest rock you’ve ever climbed? Here’s suggestions on some big ones from Todd McCormick, rock climber aficionado and part of Ascend Pittsburgh, a local rock climbing gym.

Read More →
Calloused Hands and Hearty Laughs
Calloused Hands and Hearty Laughs

Juliana Carr is a singer/songwriter based in New Jersey after living in Brooklyn, NY. Juliana has worked with RP Story Coordinator, Felicia Cooper in multiple projects including the Ironweed Tales and Porto Domi. Rolling Pepperoni asked her what Appalachia is to her.

Read More →
A Place Woven of Stories
A Place Woven of Stories

Felicia Cooper is a storyteller, a puppeteer, a human woman and works collecting and coordinating stories with Rolling Pepperoni. Appalachia is woven of these stories gathered by listening: to the wind, to the banjo playing around a campfire, to the people around us.

Read More →