Interview with Kathy Tomsho, August 6, 1992

Interview Summary

Kathy Tomsho describes her early life moving from town to town in the Northeast United States. She talks about her decision to attend a Catholic university, Georgetown University. She talks about her college major, adjusting to college life, and her religious practices during college. She talks about how she learned about Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) and why volunteering there appealed to her. Tomsho describes the intense interview process for long-term volunteers at CAP. She talks about the screening process to make sure people are interested in communal living, her interviews with each individual program she might work with, and meeting and living with her fellow volunteers during her visit. Tomsho talks about her experience living in a community of other volunteers at CAP. Tomsho talks about her work in the adult education program at CAP. She talks about her students, why she prefers working with them in their homes, and how she is able to reach people who otherwise would not have the opportunity for education. She talks about how she has been received by the local people as a CAP volunteer. She talks about how she was asked to become the community coordinator for her volunteer house and the extra responsibilities that role entails. Tomsho discusses her thoughts on CAP's mission and philosophy and how they have changed since the early days.

Interview Keyword

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) Christians in Appalachia Childhood. Families. Parents. College environment College students--Religious life College students--Social conditions Education, Higher Universities and colleges. Georgetown University Communal living Community living Mt. Vernon (Ky.) Adult education

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Appalachian Region--Economic conditions Appalachian Region--Social conditions Christian Appalachian Project Social service, Rural Tomsho, Kathy Tomsho, Kathy--Interviews Religion. Catholics Faith. Spirituality. Volunteering Volunteers Voluntarism. Nonprofit organizations. Appalachian Region--Social life and customs Communities. Community Community development. Community involvement Community life. Community-based family services. Community-based social services. Culture. Kentucky. Lifestyles.

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.