What's a Coal Cracker? Think you know? It's a question being posed by young Coal Region journalists to launch a new Mahanoy City-based youth-led media project titled, appropriately enough: Coal Cracker.

Young participants are inviting the public of all ages to stop by the Mahanoy City Public Library, at 17-19 West Mahanoy Street, during regular hours of operation to answer the question: "What's a Coal Cracker?" by writing on, drawing on or decorating a 24" x 36" poster.The exercise is a way to explore our diverse perceptions of what it means to be a part of the Coal Region community.From long-time residents to newcomers, folks with family who've worked in the mines or those of us with no historical connection to the anthracite industry, Coal Cracker wants to know what you think about what it means to live here.The experiment launches on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 3:30 p.m. with a brief ceremony at the Mahanoy City Library.The large poster will then be on display and available for feedback through mid-January. Those who can't make it to the library can use the hashtag #CoalCracker on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to share photos or ideas. The results may be published in Coal Cracker's inaugural issue expected during spring 2014.Coal Cracker is a project of Heron's Eye Communications, a publishing, marketing and project management firm with offices in Schuylkill and Pike counties. Participation is free and open to young people ages 12-18.