Esther Cunningham, a retired beautician and schoolteacher and a lifelong resident of Macon County, North Carolina, co-founded the Western North Carolina Alliance with David Liden. In 1980 she and others in her Macon County community of Carson grew alarmed about proposals to drill for petroleum on western North Carolina's two national forests, the Nantahala and the Pisgah. They organized to fight these proposals. Other environmental issues also came up in their meetings--first the question of clearcutting on the national forests and later the question of a proposed nuclear waste dump to be sited in the Blue Ridge. Cunningham, Liden, and other activists decided the region needed an environmental watchdog organization, and launched the Western North Carolina Alliance. Today the Alliance honors her with its highest award, the Esther C. Cunningham Award for service to environment and community.

Read and hear Esther talk about the WNCA.

Esther Cunningham Interview (IE 5 preferred format)
Esther Cunningham Interview (All browsers that support frames)