Women of Appalachia Celebrated

A conference Friday celebrated the Women of Appalachia and their cultural history.

Area women gathered at Ohio University Zanesville to hear Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Becky Hobbs discuss her involvement in the newly written musical "Nanyehi: Beloved Woman of the Cherokee." The musical is based on the life of Hobb’s fifth great-grandmother and Cherokee legend, Nancy Ward.

"I feel Nancy Ward is a person who made a difference in American history, she saved many lives being a peace maker between the Cherokee and the Americans," said Hobbs.

Interim Dean of the university Richard Greenlee said the focus of the conference is to bring attention to the achievements of women, especially those of Appalachian heritage.

"To me why this is most important is many times people do not understand Appalachia at all," expressed Greenlee. "It’s an invisible community and even more so the women of Appalachia."

Next year’s conference will focus on "Sisters of Science" to celebrate women of Appalachia in the science fields.