17 Small City Social & Cultural • Resources Marionette Dancer (Mock Turtle Productions) across Northeastern Pennsylvania process the profound social and economic impacts of the coal industry’s decline. These organizations had been part of the community for decades – established in 1981 and 1978 respectively, with roots extending even earlier – and were deeply embedded in local life. As a result, they were able to help residents process the loss of an identity that was beginning to dissolve in the late 19th century. In many places, however, comparable community organizations were not in place during early periods of economic transition. More recently, amid significant demographic change in several small cities, a new generation of organizations has emerged to help communities navigate change and bridge divides between longer-term residents and newcomers.
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