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Robert Allen, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience, discusses the environmental reclamation aspect of coal mining in Southwest Virginia, including Lee County, Dickenson, Wise and Buchanan Counties. He describes the coal industry with emphasis on union activities, environmental regulations, labor mechanization, community responses to coal mining, and the future of fossil fuels.

Records an interview with Nasser Abdulsalam Al Saadun of Harrisonburg, Virginia, who speaks about his experience coming to the Shenandoah Valley as a refugee from Iraq. Al Saadun discusses his work as an interpreter for the British and US armies and the events causing him to seek refugee status in the United States. He talks about growing up in Basra, the challenges he and his family experience as refugees in Harrisonburg, the experiences of refugees more generally, and his work with the Islamic Center of Shenandoah.

Juan Alvarado discusses his work as a forklift driver at a poultry plant in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He describes his early life, growing up on a farm Queretaro, Mexico, his day-to-day work at the poultry plant, and his plans for the future.

Records an interview with Daniel Anderson of Harrisonburg, Virginia, who discusses his life experiences. Topics include Child Protective Services (CPS) and foster care; mental health services, including The Barry Robinson Center, in Norfolk, Virginia; epilepsy, health care and Medicaid; the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Service Board (CSB) and Summit House; Our Community Place (OCP), an organization in Harrisonburg; and relationships with members of his family.

Examines the impact of incarceration on a prisoner's family members. This interview records the thoughts and feelings of the eight year old son of an incarcerated person serving a sentence in the Virginia correctional system.

Records an interview with an unnamed narrator who resides in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She discusses her life, including her experiences with homelessness. She describes her childhood, social services in Harrisonburg, Virginia, stereotypes and misconsceptions of people who are experiencing homelessness, and time she spent in the Mercy House, a family-focused homeless shelter in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She also discusses her current work, and her hopes for her children and step-children.

Records an interview with an unnamed narrator in the Shenandoah Valley, who discusses his work as a poultry processing employee with over thirteen years of experience in the poultry business. The narrator immigrated to the United States from Mexico when he was seventeen years old, and eventually settled in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He discusses his work experience at Cargill poultry plant in Dayton, Virginia, and discusses topics such as machine safety, benefits and insurance, and work on the assembly line.

Records an interview with an unnamed narrator, who owns and operates a multi-generational turkey farm in Rockingham County. He discusses various poultry breeds, including Nicholas and British turkeys; poultry feed and nutrition; changes in tactics of raising turkeys over time; predators; tunnel and static ventilation systems; the impact of automation on turkey growing; poultry diseases and disease prevention; various types of structures for confining turkeys; the FDA; the impact of noise on turkey health; the impact of heat and cold on turkeys; dealing with dead an decomposing birds; fuel and grain costs; the ethanol movement; and fertilizers. He describes his work for Wampler in the 1950s, as well as work with as a contract grower for other integrated poultry companies, including Pilgrims Pride, and the Coop (VPGC). He also mentions Cargill and Tyson.

Records an interview with McKnai Arefaine, of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Topics discussed include Arefaine's parents' experiences as refugees, growing up in Harrisonburg, racism, the Tigray language, Ethiopian food, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian American community in Washington DC, experiences serving as a translater, and her family and friendships.

Barbara Blakey discusses her life in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Blakey recalls teaching high school business and English classes at the Lucy Simms School, in Harrisonburg; her work in the NAACP; the advent of public housing in the Shenandoah Valley; and the impact of integration on education in this area.