The Opening Ceremonies will welcome ASA attendees to Lexington, Kentucky, and kick off the conference with a range of voices addressing the conference theme, “Appalachian Understories.” The speakers include Venus Evans from the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission, Affrilachian poet Shauna M. Morgan, and author Anne Shelby. This public event will be in the Social Staircase area of the Gatton Student Center, on Thursday, March 12, 2020, 4pm-6pm. Light refreshments provided. Sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.