Find Who Can Make Change
Understanding who holds the power to act on your concerns is the first step toward creating positive change. This page is designed to help you identify the right decision-makers, find their contact information, and effectively communicate your questions or requests for action.
Whether the concern is local or reaches across state lines, the first question is the same:
Who has the authority to act?
Key decision-makers in Appalachia
In Appalachia, different decisions belong to different people and public bodies. Local elected officials, county commissioners, and planning and zoning boards may handle local government and development decisions. Utility regulators, state agencies, and state legislators address other issues, while members of Congress and federal agencies have authority in specific federal matters.
Not everyone who can help has the authority to act.
Community organizations, environmental and historical preservation groups, local news outlets, researchers, and engaged residents can help share information, ask questions, and bring public attention to an issue.
Our goal is to help you identify who can act and who can help others pay attention.
A story of successful action: Saving the New River
The fight to save the New River in North Carolina and Virginia is a powerful testament to community action. In the 1960s and 1970s, Appalachian Power a proposed two massive dams threatened to flood communities and alter over 70 miles of this free-flowing river. Local residents, farmers, conservationists, and community groups united. They organized, shared critical information, contacted decision-makers, and kept public attention focused on the project for years. Their persistent efforts led to a remarkable victory: the dams were stopped, and in 1976, part of the New River was granted federal Wild and Scenic River protection.
The individuals involved were not all professional activists or policy experts. They were ordinary people who understood what was at stake and kept showing up, asking questions, and asking others to pay attention.
Tools and resources for effective action
We aim to remove barriers between your concern and effective action. Here you will find practical resources to help you identify the right decision-maker and communicate clearly:
- Authority navigator: Plain-language explanations of which offices or agencies handle different types of issues.
- Official directories: Links to reliable government and agency contact information.
- Letter templates: Ready-to-use templates for asking questions or requesting specific action.
- Communication guidance: Tips for asking clear questions and making specific requests.
- Follow-up strategies: What to do when you do not receive an answer or need to follow a decision further.
These tools are designed to make it easier to go from “I care about this” to “I contacted someone who can act.”