Interview with Michael Maloney, November 26, 2017

Interview Summary

Michael Maloney describes the period of peak Appalachian settlement in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood between 1959 through the mid 1970s through his experiences as a community organizer. This interview is rich in the institutional details and human relationships of community work. Michael recounts leaving the Seminary to volunteer for the Main Street Bible Center in 1964 as he was recruited by Ernie Mynott, the founder of the Appalachian movement in Cincinnati. He did intensive community organizing for two years as part of the larger movement for Appalachian cultural identity and basic services for those newly arriving in the city from rural communities. After a break, Michael returned in 1968 to work in the Pilot Cities program and its Hub Services Center and he also helped found and direct the Urban Appalachian Council. He reflects on the challenges of pushing the City to address housing issues, and the personal friendships, organizational cooperation and tensions between the Appalachian community and leaders and the African American community and leaders during this period.

Interview Keyword

Appalachian's in Over-the-Rhine Community Organizing Cutter Junior High School Denhart Housing Ernie Mynott Hub Services Main Street Bible CenterMichael Maloney Pilot Cities Program Roger Haynes Santa Maria Center Shirley Galahan Stinton Substandard Housing Turner Hall Twelve Street Health Clinic Urban Appalachian Council War on Poverty Washington Park Elementary School

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