I feel like this has gotten lost along the way somewhere but I was recently reminded that DEI isn’t exclusive to minorities. It also includes impoverished Appalachia. A lot of people in Appalachia will get preferential treatment when applying to universities, med school, law school, etc. For instance, if there are two candidates applying for a post grad program and they have very similar grades/experience the person from an impoverished Appalachia community will most likely be admitted over the other person with a middle/upper class upbringing.

So if you’re from this community you may have been part of a DEI program and didn’t even realize it!

EDIT: Clarifying - I’m not commenting on the efficacy of the program. I do think it’s beneficial but I am just saying that the area has been affected by it. Also, the provided example is very very very basic and I understand there is more that goes into it. It was just for illustrative purposes.

I want to start by saying that I am from West Virginia, and I am planning on leaving this place most likely for good upon my graduation, I don’t think that people outside of the Appalachias would understand how poverty/Narcotic stricken my community is. I feel as if I have to go although my family is here, and it’s understood that they will live and die here. I just am such a family oriented person and I love this place I was born, but the misrepresentation of my state and the lack of economy with our largest economy slowly dying making jobs almost non existent, not to mention the health issues related to coal mining cause. In my opinion WV’s future has no happy ending, and I can’t allow myself to one day live or raise a family in a state that is almost last in every aspect of the nation. I plan on studying abroad after graduation. I guess the point I’m trying to get to is I love my family and would hate to be away from them, there’s just nothing here that I can benefit from.

Please keep this community i

https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/how-appalachia-got-its-name/