Coalfields & Cobblestones

Coalfields & Cobblestones Coalfields and Cobblestones (C&C) strategy is simple, lean into what Appalachia does best, build real relationships.

C&C will help Appalachia develop global connections that translate into local solutions, helping diversify and strengthen our economy.

Last month, our Founder and President, Blake Moss, returned from a two-week networking and relationship development trip...
06/22/2026

Last month, our Founder and President, Blake Moss, returned from a two-week networking and relationship development trip to Poland. The trip took him from Kraków in the south to Gdańsk in the north, with a major focus on the Silesian Region.

Through meetings, tours, and conversations across the country, Blake saw how much Appalachia and Silesia have in common. Both regions have deep coal mining histories, strong local identities, and communities working through major economic transitions.

Most importantly, the trip reinforced something central to our partnerships in Poland moving forward: Appalachia and Silesia have a lot to learn from each other.

Over the next few weeks, we will be announcing a new Polish addition to the C&C board, a local partnership that will bring a Polish college graduate to Pikeville, and the beginnings of an in-depth exchange that will showcase two very different strengths of Silesia and Appalachia.

Thank you to all of the people in Poland that made this trip happen. Stay tuned and stay curious!

Poland’s story is not just about history. It is about what a place can become when it refuses to let hardship define its...
05/06/2026

Poland’s story is not just about history. It is about what a place can become when it refuses to let hardship define its future.

Silesia shows the power of industrial heritage. For generations, coal miners powered Poland’s economy and built communities around work, sacrifice, and pride. Gdańsk shows the power of ordinary people. The Solidarity Movement started with workers who believed their voices mattered, and their courage helped change the direction of an entire country.

After the fall of communism, Poland had to rebuild, adapt, and decide what kind of future it wanted. The country opened itself to the world, joined the European Union, strengthened its economy, and built international relationships while still holding firmly to its language, culture, currency, and identity.

That balance is what makes Poland so important for Coalfields & Cobblestones. Poland did not erase its past to build its future. It carried that past forward. Coal towns, shipyards, working class pride, cultural strength, and national resilience all became part of a larger story of transformation.

Now Poland stands as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Ranked 20th globally, Poland is on pace to rival economic powerhouses like France and Germany, and they are still looking forward.

For Appalachia, that matters. Poland is proof that places built on industry, hard work, and strong identity do not have to be left behind by the modern world. They can adapt, grow, and build something stronger without losing what made them worth fighting for in the first place.

04/30/2026

Blake Moss, founder of “Coalfields and Cobblestones”, is currently preparing for a return trip to Poland in hopes of forming partnerships between Poland and Appalachia.

The Solidarity Movement | Gdańsk, Poland 🇵🇱By 1980, Poland is under harsh communist rule as a Soviet satellite state. Th...
04/22/2026

The Solidarity Movement | Gdańsk, Poland 🇵🇱

By 1980, Poland is under harsh communist rule as a Soviet satellite state. The country has, over time, developed a strong sense of pride through its heritage in coal mining and shipbuilding. At this time, Gdańsk is one of Europe’s top shipbuilding hubs.

Communism did not call for the best working conditions, and in 1980 a worker was fired right before her retirement. This was the spark that engulfed the country and communist Europe.

Workers did not stand for this and demanded basic rights. At one point, 10 million workers (around 1 in 3) in Poland were a part of this movement.

The USSR and communist Poland were not fond of being told what to do and in 1981 rolled tanks through Gdańsk and crushed the movement, so they thought. Solidarity just went underground but only got stronger.

By 1989, the communist government had no choice but to negotiate with Solidarity. This led to a domino effect throughout Central and Eastern Europe that many say expedited or caused the collapse of the Soviet Union and its communist bloc.

This is just one of many examples of how normal people in Poland have done big things even while being underestimated.

Sound familiar?

It was sometime in the mid-1600s in the Silesia region of Poland. No one knows the exact date. A small group of miners s...
04/17/2026

It was sometime in the mid-1600s in the Silesia region of Poland. No one knows the exact date. A small group of miners stood over a hole in the ground, digging not for glory, but for survival. What they pulled from the earth was not just coal, it was the beginning of something that would eventually power entire economies across Europe.

Now let’s fast forward to the 1800s. That small hole in the ground had turned into an industrial machine. Railroads stretched across the region, smokestacks filled the skyline, and entire communities were built around mining. Silesia became one of Europe’s most important coal regions. By the 1900s, hundreds of thousands of miners were not just building an industry, but a culture, one rooted in grit, sacrifice, and pride.

By the late 1970s, Silesia hit its peak. Nearly 400,000 miners powered Poland’s economy. But just as fast as it rose, it fell. After 1989, mines closed, jobs disappeared, and entire communities were left searching for what came next. What was once the backbone of a nation became a test of resilience almost overnight.

Today, Silesia is still writing its next chapter, growing through technology, services, manufacturing, and modern industry, while holding on to the heritage that made it what it is. And much like Appalachia, the region refuses to let go of the identity that built it. No two places are the same, but these stories align closer than most would ever assume.

In May, our President Blake Moss will be spending time in Silesia, visiting mines, meeting with locals, and learning from the region firsthand. The goal is simple. Figure out how places like Silesia and Appalachia can work together to build something stronger together.



In less than one month, our Founder and President, Blake Moss, will be returning to Poland to help solidify partnerships...
04/15/2026

In less than one month, our Founder and President, Blake Moss, will be returning to Poland to help solidify partnerships and programming for Project 2027, our first flagship program.

Over the next month, we’re going to walk you through exactly why, out of everywhere in the world, Poland is where we’re starting.

Poland has a deep coal mining heritage, a strong family driven culture, and has pulled off one of the most impressive economic turnarounds in modern history. It’s also home to the Solidarity movement, one of the most powerful worker led movements the world has ever seen.

There’s a reason we’re paying attention.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll break down how these lessons connect directly to Appalachia and how they can help us take control of our future and build something stronger right here at home

Coalfields & Cobblestones is a little different, so here’s the simplest way to understand what we’re building:First: The...
04/12/2026

Coalfields & Cobblestones is a little different, so here’s the simplest way to understand what we’re building:

First: The more you see, the more you know. Seeing more gives people better perspective and helps them understand what’s possible.

Second: You don’t do business with people you don’t know. This is about getting out, meeting people, and building real relationships. That’s where opportunities come from, and it’s what we’re best at.

If you’re curious, let’s talk!

Welcome to Coalfields & Cobblestones (C&C).Appalachia’s greatest strength isn’t talked about enough, the ability to buil...
03/26/2026

Welcome to Coalfields & Cobblestones (C&C).

Appalachia’s greatest strength isn’t talked about enough, the ability to build real relationships.

C&C is built on that idea.

We’re connecting overlooked and underestimated communities around the world to create new opportunities, new perspectives, and real economic growth here at home.

This starts with Project 2027, but it doesn’t end there.

We’re building something bigger: A new generation of Appalachian leaders who understand the world, and know how to shape it.

It’s time to tell our own story.

Rethinking Leadership | Reimagining Appalachia

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Pikeville, KY
41501

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