I’m Willa Johnson, and I’m a filmmaker from Letcher County, Kentucky.

Through my lens in Worthy Ground, I explore how communities in Central Appalachia are recovering from disaster, rebuilding resilience, and reclaiming the value of the ground beneath their feet.

My connection to this story runs deep. At nine years old, I watched as a coal silt pond swept away my backyard, an early lesson in what it means when the place you trust to be home changes in an instant.

Years later, I lost my home and belongings in the 2022 Eastern Kentucky floods. I’ve learned how quickly the world seems to move on after a disaster, even while people are still picking up the pieces, reassembling their worlds bit by bit. Read more…