Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Lawson.
Hi Josh, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I come from a blue-collar working-class family in central Appalachia. Most of my professional experience was confined to retail and labor until about seven years ago, when I left my job as a postal carrier for a temporary position as a community organizer working on a statewide ballot initiative dealing with the intersection of criminal justice reform and substance use disorder treatment. That move led to many new relationships, challenges, and opportunities for me to learn and grow, with one opportunity leading to another. I started a small business, pastored a church, published two books, ran for public office, and earned a master’s degree. Most of my work came to center around my community’s attempts to respond to and heal from the opioid overdose crisis. Eventually, I also became a college educator, helping local entrepreneurs explore and develop new ventures aimed at the public good.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Most of the struggles I’ve faced have been overcoming my own self-limiting beliefs. I grew up with a scarcity mindset, as many of my Appalachian neighbors did and still do, because we’ve faced a long history of extraction and exploitation that has left an indelible mark on our collective psyche. So, it wasn’t easy leaving the security of a federal job to embark on a new path in my mid-thirties, especially since my wife and I were a single-income household with three growing kids and no money in the bank. I’ve had a lot of support along the way that made all the difference, but the biggest barriers have been internal: learning to trust myself, finding the courage to act in spite of fear, and shedding the belief that there aren’t enough resources to accomplish my goals.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Recover Appalachia was born when the two major streams of my professional life – advocacy for people in recovery and entrepreneurship education – merged. Our mission is to empower rural communities with an entrepreneurial mindset by helping those who are navigating recovery, re-entry, and displacement develop skills to boost their economic mobility. We believe in a world where a person’s future is not bound by their past, and from that vision we are helping create a new model of inclusive economic development that builds communities from the ground up – empowering local people to pursue homegrown solutions to the many problems facing our region. What sets us apart from other workforce development organizations, especially those that serve returning citizens, is our focus on entrepreneurial mindset education. We see the external barriers that often prevent successful re-entry along conventional employment pathways for this population, so we give them the skills and connections they need to create their own opportunities for meaningful work.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Our work stands on the shoulders of powerful thought leaders such as the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative, whose flagship courseware is part of the training we offer at Recover Appalachia. Their founder and CEO hosts a podcast called The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project where he has conversations with entrepreneurs, educators, and changemakers who are unlocking human potential through entrepreneurial thinking. Our shared approach is based on a core conviction that entrepreneurs are not born but made, and that entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business but about creating value in the world by solving problems for other people. If you can find a way to do this using your own skill set and interests, then you can empower yourself with opportunities that may not be available to you otherwise. We believe this approach can be compelling for returning citizens who face significant barriers to employment and social acceptance, and the data that is just starting to come in from our pilot program delivery suggests the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.recoverappalachia.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RecoverAppalachiaProject
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/recover-appalachia-nonprofit/
