About
The Sunup Initiative is a coalition of community members who are working in partnership with local and state organizations to promote Racial Justice in Corbin and beyond.
Possibilities
Opening spaces for constructive conversations about race in our community.
Promoting the voices & experiences of people of color in the tri-county area.
Creating understanding, dialogue & action around the forced removal of African Americans from Corbin in 1919.
Building & transforming relationships to advance diversity & inclusion in Corbin & beyond.
In The News
Times-Tribune
March 14, 2024
Sunup Visits Corbin Tourism Board over Depot Signage
“Members of the initiative asked Corbin Tourism Director Maggy Monhollen various questions about the recently installed signage, including questions about the research done to accurately make the signs; the language used on the signs; and if there was a possibility that the Tourism Commission of the signs being altered, or new signs created, to include information about the forced removal of black residents from Corbin 100 years ago.
At the meeting, Tourism Director Monhollen said this: ‘The Tourism Commission Board will table this discussion, and should there be any interest moving forward with further discussion, we would reach out to the Sunup Initiative to determine how to go about doing that.’”
Times-Tribune
August 10, 2023
Community invited to Visit our informative Nibroc Booth
“I hope I can be an example for youth in Corbin to show that they can take action and that they can be the change they want to see in their community. This work is important because it shows the youth of Corbin that change and progress in their hometown is possible.”
Times-Tribune
june 14, 2023
2023 SUnup Editorial after hiatus
“This work is important to me because I want everyone to be able to enjoy the small town benefits that Corbin has to offer. Working with Sunup allows me to do my part in making Corbin a more accepting place for everyone.”
Times-Tribune
june 13, 2023
Human rights clash goes viral
“I had Kentuckians for the Commonwealth reach out [and] Sunup Corbin. Many people in the LGBTQ+ community are reaching out giving us resources for the community here,” Anderson said.
“We want to make them uncomfortable because their hatred is unwelcome here,” Ray added.
News-Journal
January 15, 2021
Sunup Initiative to host Trash Clean Up event in Corbin
“We thought it would be a good idea to do something that helps support Corbin and the City of Corbin’s mission of being welcoming and inclusive for all people that join our community, whether it’s a tourist, a new citizen or somebody coming home for the holidays…”
News-Journal
November 5, 2020
Approximately 100 people tuned in to see Corbin 1919 documentary Friday night
“…bringing the event to light is not about associating the residents of Corbin with those that participated in the 1919 incident, but about bringing out all of the facts.”
Times-Tribune
June 4, 2020
Over 100 protestors in Corbin show support for ending racial injustice Thursday
“Over a hundred community members and supporters, several carrying signs, lined the sidewalks of Corbin’s Nibroc Park Thursday evening as part of a peaceful protest to honor those who have recently lost their lives to racial injustice.”
Times-Tribune
June 1, 2020
Sparking conversations: Sunup Initiative hosts candlelight vigil
“Individuals from across the Tri-County area were in attendance for the vigil. Individuals lit up Sanders Park for about an hour as individuals walked to the center of the park and shared their personal thoughts on racism and other topics.”
News-Journal
January 21, 2020
Free brunch held in Corbin Sunday to remember MLK
“Food is always a great way to bring people together, and the Sunup Initiative and the City of Corbin partnered Sunday to do that with a brunch in honor of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Times-Tribune
October 26, 2019
Erasing the black spot on Corbin’s name with a welcomed Week of Diversity
“I would argue that talking about it will educate more of us about exactly what happened on Depot Street on Oct. 30, 1919, so we all are able to tell our neighbors, the tourists that stop in town and those who believe we still have a black spot on our town from the 1919 incident that Corbin isn't that town.”
News-Journal
September 20, 2019
Racial justice reps speak to corbin city commission
“This is just a group of community member that wants to make a change to help Corbin progress and to highlight that for the world. Corbin is not the same Corbin of 1919. ”
News-Journal
July 25, 2019
Letter to the Editor: Project will highlight African-American voices in SE Kentucky
“This project seeks to explore, document, and share African American experiences and life-histories in southeastern Kentucky, specifically in Knox, Laurel, Clay, and Whitley Counties.”
Times-Tribune
july 13, 2019
Corbin woman, Racial Justice Initiative planning event to remember 100th anniversary of racial cleansing
“I felt like it was my duty… to be someone from Corbin who can represent what I know about Corbin from growing up here my whole life but also to be able to challenge people as well.”
Times-Tribune
june 26, 2019
Group tackling racial justice issue in Corbin
“As the 100th anniversary of the 1919 Racial Riot of Corbin rapidly approaches, it seems that there are few who are aware of this piece of history, or its importance. As a native of Corbin, I was never made aware of this event, and the amount of misinformation and missing pieces in the story has really surprised me.”
Times-Tribune
June 17, 2019
Pair to keep community updated about racial justice work
“These letters will update the community about racial justice work in the area.”
Times-Tribune
March 30, 2019
Corbin Racial Justice Initiative hosts community conversation
“It allows people to discuss how racism impacts people of color in their everyday lives, and why it’s important for people in our community to hear or reach that experience, and try understand what role we much play in combating hate.”
Times-Tribune
FEbruary 26, 2019
Community should check out Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and Corbin Racial Justice Initiative
“The good I have seen and continue to see in this small county far outweighs the bad. But, in order to be better and to make way for future generations, we have to continually define, re-assess and evaluate those things that we say are important to us, even if it is on a difficult topic.”
Times-Tribune
February 23, 2019
Organizations hosting documentary screening, conversation on racial justice
“We are trying to open up the conversation and to provide a safe space for people of color to join the conversation about racial justice and how we move forward being a more just community.”
Times-Tribune
February 20, 2019
Public invited to join in conversation of African American contributions to Corbin
“The CRJI wants to move the conversation forward, to learn from our past into a stronger future, and we hope to start that with community conversations where we invite all people of Corbin and surrounding communities to participate, to add their voice to this conversation.”
Times-Tribune
October 30, 2018
Over 30 attend screening of "Anne Braden: Southern Patriot
“Community members got to watch the film "Anne Braden: Southern Patriot," followed by a community conversation that was led by director Mimi Pickering that created a space for attendees to talk about organizing for racial justice.”
Times-Tribune
OCtober 26, 2018
Community invited to free screening of 'Anne Braden: Southern Patriot
"Our goal for this event is that people will leave with a better understanding of the severity of this problem … hopefully attendees will be encouraged to stand up against racism in the future."