Appalachian Learning Initiative
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Appalachian Learning Initiative
@appli.org
2.2K followers 7.7K following 990 posts
The Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI, like “apply”) is a Morgantown, WV-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that conducts research on, reports data about, and advocates for issues impacting adults living in the Appalachian Region.

https://linktr.ee/APPLIOrg
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Appalachian Learning Initiative @appli.org · May 13
#DidYouKnow

Nearly 2 out of 3 adults (65.1%) living in the #AppalachianRegion #Read at or below an 8th grade level, including nearly 1 out of 4 (23.9%) who read below a 3rd grade level.

We're growing our #Appalachian #AdultEducation database, and could use your help.

cutt.ly/APPLI-Adult-...
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The image is a map of various counties within the Appalachian region of the United States, including sections of states such as Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and others up to New York. Counties are color-coded based on the percentage of adult literacy, with a focus on adults reading at or below the 8th-grade level. The color gradient ranges from red (indicating higher percentages of low literacy, up to 88.1%) to green (indicating lower percentages, at 36.5%). A color key on the right side accompanies the map, clarifying the percentage range each color represents. The map background is a simple gray outline of the United States, focusing on the Appalachian region. At the bottom, there is the logo of the Appalachian Learning Initiative along with contact information and social media icons. The data source is marked as the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020. The image features an artistic sunset landscape with a warm color palette of oranges, browns, and yellows. In the foreground, a large conifer tree stands silhouetted against the sky. The background shows rolling hills fading into the distance with the sun setting near the horizon, casting a soft glow. Birds are silhouetted flying in the sky. The scene is overlaid with bold white text promoting a survey related to adult education services in Appalachia. The bottom left corner displays the APPLI logo, and a QR code is adjacent to the survey link. The bottom right corner features "Follow us" followed by social media icons. The image features a multicolored map of the Appalachian region outlined by state borders on a gradient background transitioning from blue on the left to orange on the right. The map highlights specific counties within the region, each shaded in various colors including blue, red, orange, and beige. To the left is large white text stating, "Help Us Build the Appalachian Adult Education Directory." Below the map is a white link in large font: "https://cutt.ly/APPLI-Adult-Ed-Survey." The bottom left displays the logo of the Appalachian Learning Initiative with the website, "www.appli.org." In the bottom right corner, there is text reading, "Follow us @APPLIORG," accompanied by icons for social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, along with a QR code.
Reposted by Appalachian Learning Initiative
adapadvocacy.bsky.social
Mapped: Flu surges in most states www.axios.com/newsletters/... #axiosvitals
Axios Vitals - Mapped: Flu surges in most states
www.axios.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Reposted by Appalachian Learning Initiative
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GSK's 'functional cure' for hep B proves worth in phase 3 trials setting up approval push https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/gsks-functional-cure-hep-b-proves-worth-phase-3-trials-setting-approval-push
January 7, 2026 at 7:01 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

Many Hale County residents face barriers impacting educational attainment:

💰 More than 1 out of 3 residents lives in #Poverty

🎓 Nearly 1 out of 5 adults hasn't graduated #HighSchool

🏥 More than 1 out of 16 residents lacks #HealthInsurance

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) detailing statistics for Hale County, Alabama (Population: 14,888). Key data points include: 80.5% of adults read at or below an 8th Grade level, the highest rate shown; 34.4% earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 18.6% of adults haven't completed high school; and 6.3% lack health insurance. Data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
January 9, 2026 at 7:10 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

#APPLIOrg has been unable to identify #AdultLiteracy education providers serving Hale County.

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) detailing statistics for Hale County, Alabama (Population: 14,888). Key data points include: 80.5% of adults read at or below an 8th Grade level, the highest rate shown; 34.4% earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 18.6% of adults haven't completed high school; and 6.3% lack health insurance. Data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
January 9, 2026 at 7:05 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

Hale County, #Alabama, has the lowest rate of #AdultLiteracy among the state's #Appalachian counties, with more than 8 out of every 10 adults (80.5%) reading at or below an 8th Grade level.

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) detailing statistics for Hale County, Alabama (Population: 14,888). Key data points include: 80.5% of adults read at or below an 8th Grade level, the highest rate shown; 34.4% earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 18.6% of adults haven't completed high school; and 6.3% lack health insurance. Data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
January 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM
appli.org
#APPLIOrg operates entirely off of private #Donations. That makes your support more critical than ever, and any dollar amount helps.

Please consider supporting our continued #Research, #Reporting, & #Advocacy efforts in #Appalachia by making a #TaxDeductible donation:

https://www.appli.org/donate
A simple donation request graphic from APPLI on a cream background. The text asks for support for research, reporting, and advocacy in Appalachia, listing the donation link: https://www.appli.org/donate. The bottom features stylized horizontal bars in red, orange, and brown.
January 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

Many Macon County residents face barriers impacting educational attainment:

💰 More than 1 out of 3 residents lives in #Poverty

🎓 More than 1 out of 8 adults hasn't graduated #HighSchool

🏥 1 out of 11 residents lacks #HealthInsurance

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) detailing statistics for Macon County, Alabama (Population: 18,370). Key data points include: 76.5% of adults read at or below an 8th Grade level; 34.4% earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 13.1% of Marshall County adults haven't completed high school; and 9.1% lack health insurance. Data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
January 8, 2026 at 7:10 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

Macon County is served by Trenholm State Community College, which provides #AdultLiteracy educational services at two locations in Montgomery, AL.

Learn more about adult literacy and other statistics in #AL:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) detailing statistics for Macon County, Alabama (Population: 18,370). Key data points include: 76.5% of adults read at or below an 8th Grade level; 34.4% earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 13.1% of Marshall County adults haven't completed high school; and 9.1% lack health insurance. Data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
January 8, 2026 at 7:05 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

Macon County, #Alabama, has the 2nd-lowest rate of #AdultLiteracy among the state's #Appalachian counties, with more than 3 out of every 4 adults (76.5%) reading at or below an 8th Grade level.

Learn more about adult literacy and other statistics in #AL:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) detailing statistics for Macon County, Alabama (Population: 18,370). Key data points include: 76.5% of adults read at or below an 8th Grade level; 34.4% earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 13.1% of Marshall County adults haven't completed high school; and 9.1% lack health insurance. Data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
January 8, 2026 at 7:00 PM
appli.org
APPLI is dedicated to researching and reporting on the disparities impacting the lives #Appalachians and engaging in #Advocacy to develop solutions to address them.

Find your federal legislators using our Appalachian Advocacy Toolkit:

cutt.ly/APPLI-Advocacy
Promotional image for the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) Advocacy Toolkit. The graphic shows four large, translucent, color-tinted silhouettes of people with their hands raised against a sunset or sunrise over a mountain and forest landscape. The text reads: "Raise your voice and demand to BE HEARD" and "Appalachian Advocacy Toolkit." The short link is cutt.ly/APPLI-Advocacy.
January 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

Many Coosa County residents face barriers impacting educational attainment:

💰 More than 1 in 4 residents lives in #Poverty

🎓 More than 1 in 5 adults hasn't graduated #HighSchool

🏥 More than 1 in 14 residents lacks #HealthInsurance

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) detailing statistics for Coosa County, Alabama (Population: 10,268). Key data points include: 75% of adults read at or below an 8th Grade level; 25.3% earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 18.8% of adults haven't completed high school; and 7.4% lack health insurance. Data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
January 7, 2026 at 7:05 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

Coosa County, #Alabama, has the 3rd-lowest rate of #AdultLiteracy among the state's #Appalachian counties with 3 out of every 4 adults (75%) reading at or below an 8th Grade level.

Learn more about adult literacy and other statistics in #AL:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) detailing statistics for Coosa County, Alabama (Population: 10,268). Key data points include: 75% of adults read at or below an 8th Grade level; 25.3% earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 18.8% of adults haven't completed high school; and 7.4% lack health insurance. Data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
January 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM
appli.org
Each month, #APPLIOrg brings you the latest news about our research, reporting, and advocacy efforts in #Appalachia and beyond.

Already receiving our #Newsletter? Please like and share this post with your friends, family, and networks to help us broaden our reach!

https://cutt.ly/APPLI-Newsletter
A newsletter subscription graphic with a retro 1970s design featuring thick, curved vertical stripes in brown, gold, turquoise, and red against a pale tan background. The text invites users to "Get the latest news from Appalachian Learning Initiative," and provides the subscription link: https://cutt.ly/APPLI-Newsletter.
January 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow?

Macon & Hale Counties—the two counties in Appalachian #AL where the majority of residents are #Black—have the lowest rates of #AdultLiteracy proficiency in the region.

You can learn more on our website:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Map of Alabama showing counties color-coded by percentage of adults reading at or below 8th grade level, with higher rates in red and lower in green.
January 6, 2026 at 7:05 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow?

Nearly 2 out of 3 adults living in #Alabama's #Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade.

But, some counties fare better than others:

You can learn more on our website:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Map of Alabama showing counties color-coded by percentage of adults reading at or below 8th grade level, with higher rates in red and lower in green.
January 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow

Nearly 2 out of 3 adults (65.1%) living in the Appalachian Region read at or below an 8th grade level, including nearly 1 out of 4 (23.9%) who read below a 3rd grade level.

If you provide #AdultEducation services in Appalachia, please complete our survey:

cutt.ly/APPLI-Adult-Ed-Survey
A visually warm, sunset-colored image of rolling Appalachian mountains and a pine tree silhouette. Overlaying the image is a call to action from APPLI: "Do you provide adult education services in Appalachia? Take our Appalachian Adult Education Provider Survey!" The image includes the survey link: https://cutt.ly/APPLI-Adult-Ed-Survey, a QR code, and APPLI's social media handles.
January 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM
appli.org
In Fiscal Year 2025, #AL received $10,217,797 in federal funds from the U.S. #DepartmentOfEducation through the AEFLA, Title II of the WIOA, a 2% decrease from FY 2024.

Please like, subscribe, & share our posts!

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) highlighting adult literacy in Alabama's Appalachian counties. The text states: "Nearly 2 out of 3 adults living in Alabama's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level." The source is the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020. The image includes a large, dark red silhouette of Alabama with four white figures and two gray figures, visually representing the 2 out of 3 statistic.
January 5, 2026 at 7:05 PM
appli.org
#DidYouKnow?

~66% of adults living in #Alabama's #Appalachian counties #Read at or below an 8th Grade level.

This means that nearly 2 out of every 3 adults have trouble #Reading written instructions, books, & forms at home, work, & in social situations.

Learn more:

https://www.appli.org/alabama
Infographic from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) highlighting adult literacy in Alabama's Appalachian counties. The text states: "Nearly 2 out of 3 adults living in Alabama's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level." The source is the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020. The image includes a large, dark red silhouette of Alabama with four white figures and two gray figures, visually representing the 2 out of 3 statistic.
January 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM
appli.org
APPLI's #BookRecommendations are back, and this #Winter, we want to spark the fires of curiosity, learning, and action in our readers.

This season, #APPLIOrg is examining how populations can be controlled and manipulated by both corporations and governments:

www.appli.org/appli-reading-lists
A dark, moody illustration of a winter night scene over a lake, featuring a forest silhouette, a large full moon, and an eagle in flight. The white text reads: "This winter, let a book spark in you a fire." The image is a reading promotion from the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI).
January 5, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by Appalachian Learning Initiative
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How U.S. states' maternal mortality compares globally www.axios.com/2025/10/20/m...
How U.S. states' maternal mortality compares globally
Some states have rates comparable to El Salvador, Belize and Azerbaijan.
www.axios.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Reposted by Appalachian Learning Initiative
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via @kffhealthnews.org - Private Medicare, Medicaid Plans Exaggerate In-Network Mental Health Options, Watchdogs Say
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Private Medicare, Medicaid Plans Exaggerate In-Network Mental Health Options, Watchdogs Say - KFF Health News
A federal probe of Medicare and Medicaid plans run by private insurance companies found that the plan operators often overstated how many mental health providers were available in their networks. In s...
kffhealthnews.org
October 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
appli.org
Our organization focuses on helping adults living the #Appalachia find educational resources in the region to improve adult literacy and numeracy, and give advocates and residents tools and data for each Appalachian state.

www.appli.org

Every employee is 100% volunteer, and no salaries are paid.
Adult Literacy | Appalachian Learning Initiative
The Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) is a West Virginia-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focusing on adult literacy, adult numeracy, health literacy, and access to public services.
www.appli.org
July 22, 2025 at 4:51 PM
appli.org
It is MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER for #Appalachians to make our voices heard.

Check out cutt.ly/APPLI-Advocacy to find your #Representative in #Congress.
July 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
appli.org
NOW is the time to contact your #Representatives in #Congress.

Check out our #AdvocacyToolkit to find them and reach out today:

cutt.ly/APPLI-Advocacy
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The image is an illustration featuring five silhouetted figures raising their hands against a backdrop of a nature scene. The figures are colored in shades of orange, teal, and green, and appear to be cheering or demanding attention. Behind them, there are layers of illustrated mountains and a clear sky with a few birds. In the foreground, there are dark silhouettes of trees. The color palette consists of warm oranges, browns, and teals. In the upper part of the image, there is a logo of the Appalachian Learning Initiative, consisting of the letters "APPLI" underlined with a rainbow-like arc and the text "Appalachian Learning Initiative www.appli.org" underneath. Text next to the logo reads, "Raise your voice and demand to BE HEARD." Below is a URL, "cutt.ly/APPLI-Advocacy." At the bottom, the text reads "Appalachian Advocacy Toolkit."
July 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
appli.org
The #OneBigBeautifulBill poses a significant risk to #Appalachians who rely on these vital services to stay healthy and fed.

The #OBBB cuts $793 billion from Medicaid and cuts 20% from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
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The image is a map illustrating Medicaid coverage in the Appalachian region of the United States. The map highlights various counties across multiple states, with a color gradient ranging from light pink to dark purple representing the percentage of Appalachians relying on Medicaid for health insurance. Darker shades indicate higher percentages, with the darkest areas primarily located in central regions. A legend on the right corresponds to the color gradient, showing a range from 3.3% to 53%. The map covers parts of states including New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Below the map, it states that 4,351,101 Appalachians rely on Medicaid alone for health insurance, according to the American Community Survey, 2023. The image is a map highlighting SNAP utilization across the Appalachian region, covering parts of several states including New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. The map uses a gradient color scale from light yellow to dark green, denoting the percentage of Appalachians relying on SNAP benefits, with 1.9% in light yellow and 36.2% in dark green. Most areas display various shades of green, indicating diverse SNAP usage. The map also features Tennessee, North Carolina, and other neighboring states for context. A legend is provided on the right. The bottom left shows the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) logo and their website. In the center, a large text states that 3,880,086 Appalachians rely on SNAP, based on the 2023 American Community Survey. Social media icons are in the bottom right.
July 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM