Project 2027:
Redefining Leadership
Reimagining Appalachia
In Spring of 2027, Coalfields & Cobblestones will take its first group of young adults 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. The group will confront the darkest and brightest forms of humanity that often happened simultaneously.
We are also currently pursuing opportunities to tour places like coal-fired power plants, water treatment facilities, and other unconventional places. The focus is to explore places that are vital to daily life wherever you live, Appalachia or Europe. We hope that these sorts of experiences will not only strengthen the perspectives of Appalachia's young adults but help them find new approaches to everyday challenges, truly enabling them to Reimagine Appalachia and Rethink Leadership.
Below you will find brief descriptions of some of the activities that will be included in Project 2027. This is not a comprehensive list and there will be more to come in the near future!
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.
(photos: Wawel Castle & Dragon sculpture)
Kraków – Folklore, Faith, and the Fire of Imagination
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.
(photos: Kazimierz Jewish Cemetery, Auschwitz memorial stone)
Kazimierz and Auschwitz – The Weight and Strength of Memory
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.
(photos: Warsaw Uprising Monument, Building with Warsaw Uprising logo)
Warsaw – A City Rebuilt from the Ashes
Every place listed on the Project 2027 itinerary has been personally visited and experienced by Blake Moss, Founder 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.
Future additions to the itinerary will include mining and industrial heritage experiences in Poland’s Silesian region, along with visits to coal facilities, water treatment plants, and power stations that highlight the lives and work of everyday people. Blake will personally explore these sites during his upcoming visit in May 2026 to ensure they align with the program’s mission before they are added.