Project 2027:
Redefining Leadership
Reimagining Appalachia
In June 2027, Coalfields & Cobblestones will take its first group from Appalachia across the Atlantic to explore Poland, a country whose resilience, faith, and creativity mirror our own story in Eastern Kentucky.
This experience is designed to open minds, build global connections, and show how two underestimated regions shaped by hardship and hope can learn from one another.
Participants will engage with both the challenges and strengths that define communities in transition, gaining a deeper understanding of how growth, identity, and opportunity develop over time.
We are also pursuing opportunities to visit sites tied to post-mining economic recovery, advanced water infrastructure, and the Solidarity movement, one of the largest labor movements in the world.
The goal is simple.
To explore the places that shape daily life, whether in Appalachia or Europe, and to bring those lessons home.
This experience is not just about exposure.
It is about perspective, problem solving, and the ability to see new paths forward.
Below are examples of the types of experiences that will be included in Project 2027, with more to be added as the program continues to develop.
In Kraków, we’ll visit Wawel Castle, where legend says a brave shoemaker outwitted the terrifying Wawel Dragon. This story shaped Polish identity much like tales of Mothman or Bigfoot shaped Appalachian folklore — reminders that stories can give ordinary people extraordinary power. Participants will explore how myth and creativity help communities define who they are and what they believe in.
Kraków – Folklore, Faith, and the Fire of Imagination
Wawel Castle, Krakow
Wawel Dragon Statue, Krakow
The group will walk through Kazimierz, Kraków’s historic Jewish district, where centuries of culture and tragedy live side by side. We will visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, facing one of history’s darkest truths while learning from the courage and endurance of those who survived. These places teach that remembrance is not about sorrow alone — it is about empathy, humanity, and the strength to rebuild.
Kazimierz and Auschwitz – The Weight and Strength of Memory
Auschwitz memorial stone
Kazimierz Jewish Cemetery, Krakow
The final days will be spent in Warsaw, a capital city that was almost completely destroyed during World War II and rebuilt by its people brick by brick. We will stand at the Warsaw Uprising Monument and visit the POLIN Museum of Polish Jews, learning how courage and identity can survive total loss. Walking through Warsaw today — modern, vibrant, and scarred — reminds us that rebirth is never simple, but always possible.
Warsaw – A City Rebuilt from the Ashes
Building with Warsaw Uprising symbol (top of tall building)
Warsaw Uprising Monument
Coming Soon…. The Silesia Region
The Silesian region of Poland has a deep mining history that has shaped its culture, economy, and identity.
Much like Appalachia, it faced population loss and economic decline as its traditional industries faded.
Today, Silesia is beginning to write a different story.
Through investment, cultural pride, and a shift toward new industries, the region is experiencing a resurgence. People are returning, including younger generations and those who feel a connection to the region, even if they never lived there.
Silesia is not just a place with a shared past.
It is a place showing what a future can look like.
Coal infrastructure at the IGNACY Museum
In May, Coalfields & Cobblestones Founder and President Blake Moss will travel to the Silesian region to learn how a place shaped by extraction is redefining its future.
He will meet with organizations, institutions, and local leaders who are actively rebuilding the region through economic development, workforce innovation, and cultural investment.
The visit will include time on the ground at key sites, including the Ignacy Mine Museum, offering a direct look at how Silesia is preserving its identity while moving forward.
This is not just a visit.
It is the groundwork for Project 2027.
What is learned, who is met, and the relationships formed will directly shape the experience and help carry these lessons back to Appalachia.
Every place listed on the Project 2027 itinerary has been personally visited and experienced by Blake Moss, Founder and President of Coalfields & Cobblestones. Nothing is added until it has been seen, felt, and understood in person. This approach ensures that every stop, story, and partnership reflects real connections and that each experience can truly inspire Appalachian participants when they travel the same path.