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Create WV: Tackling West Virginia’s Chronic Issues, Embracing New Opportunities

09.10.15

Yeah, there’ll be lots of fun stuff. When you hold a conference in the middle of one of the best outdoor playgrounds in the country, people are going to want to get out and run around.

But, at the 2015 Create WV Conference we’ll be bringing tough conversations into the public arena.

How can cutting-edge community development promote creative post-coal land use?

This year, we’re challenging the broadband issue: what’s really keeping us from better access? Create WV will host an open conversation with key players in this debate and look at what communities can do to connect.

We’re also looking at the gender gap in West Virginia politics: what’s keeping women from political office?

And, we’ll be tackling head on the “post-coal” conversation that has divided and deadlocked so many communities across the state. How can cutting-edge community development promote creative post-coal land use? And how do the places and people of West Virginia move on when everything they know is crumbling?

Education and the modern classroom is on the bill, too, as is an examination of the West Virginia workforce of the the future.

Exploring the new and exciting worlds where democracy, technology, social good and entrepreneurship meet.

Some of this discussion will be organic. Some of it will come from the After Coal documentary, which examines how both Wales and Eastern Kentucky have handled these issues. Another great documentary, Most Likely to Succeed, looks at the history of our country’s education system, and how we can innovate within it to offer education that meets our needs.

Two world-class keynote speakers, Pia Mancini and Bill Habicht, will lead our exploration of the new and exciting worlds where democracy, technology, social good and entrepreneurship meet. As always, there’s a heavy entrepreneurship element to our conference. You’ll be able to find out how to go from idea to startup, then from startup to operational business. You’ll also discover ways your town can make its atmosphere more welcoming to entrepreneurs and creatives.

(Plus, our Entrepreneurship Café will see the audience award a $5,000 cash prize to one lucky winner!)

The 2015 Create WV Conference will be the kind of event where you can learn from people in your shoes in a different county. We’ll challenge assumptions, shoot down obstacles, get right to the meat of the issues, and use creativity and collaboration to create the building blocks of a new West Virginia.

Plus, there’ll be zip lining.

Plug in, get involved.

Weelunk: City Takes Reins of Abandoned Buildings to Spur Downtown Investment in Wheeling

09.09.15

Photo by Weelunk

By Steve Novotney/Weelunk

The owners of the structures were not actively marketing the properties, and they also were not protecting the interiors from the evils of Mother Nature. Floors were collapsing on the inside, and bricks were falling on the outside at the time Wheeling’s elected officials voted in favor of purchasing six buildings within the 1100 Block of the downtown district.

“We have taken calls from interested parties. People are very interested in several areas of downtown Wheeling.”

After marketing buildings for a few years to anyone who wished to see inside them, city council members and Mayor Andy McKenzie voted in favor of demolishing the former homes of G.C. Murphy, Rite Aid, Juniper, Feet First, River City Dance Works, Velez Dentistry, and Howard’s Diamond Center. The razings began in April 2012, and today the space is lush with green grass and an art project called “Passages: Peggy’s Park.”

The park, funded by the Hess Family Foundation, will provide an illuminated walkway and benches, and will feature large-scale vinyls of photographs of several historic Wheeling structures. Storyboards will tell the tales involving each of the buildings. The park can be disassembled and moved if and when a developer enters into an agreement with the city of Wheeling, but as of today that is not the reality.

The Regional Economic Development Partnership along with the municipality recently funded the taking of soil samples in the area, but McKenzie said the activity was a part of the marketing process.

“Nothing was going to happen in that area with those buildings… now that area is wide open for something new.”

“We have taken calls from interested parties, and the soil-sample was one of the first questions that have been asked,” the mayor explained. “There’s nothing definite at this time, and that’s why the new park continues to move forward, but the phone has been ringing. People are very interested in several areas of downtown Wheeling.

“That was the goal when we voted in favor of purchasing them, and then voting in favor of the demolition project. Nothing was going to happen in that area with those buildings, and we found that out as we conducted tours through them,” he continued. “There were asbestos issues and roofing issues, but in the end of cost of redeveloping those buildings was just too much to people who toured them, so now that area is wide open for something new.”

Read the full story at www.weelunk.com

Follow the author on Twitter @Weelunk

Sharing: Is One Simple Idea the Solution to Our Physical Activity Dilemma?

09.08.15

Photo by Let’s ROCK, baby!/Flickr CC

It’s no secret that getting more excise is a key to helping West Virginia improve health outcomes across the board.

But, the on-the-ground reality, particularly in our rural counties, is that not everyone has access to the gyms, playgrounds and sports fields that encourage regular exercise and activity. When money is tight, what to do? The answer could be as simple as good old sharing.

Here, Claire Butler with the American Heart Association talks us through the basics of Shared Use Agreements. This could be the solution your community has been looking for. If you are interested in a Shared Use Agreement for your community, contact The Hub’s Christina Hunt at c.hunt@wvhub.org

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Good health is important to West Virginia residents—certainly no one is proud of our collective contribution to the national obesity epidemic. Changing the trend in our state is complicated. There’s no quick fix or one-size-fits-all answer. However, we have to start somewhere, and the small changes we make now are what will have a big impact down the road.

Getting more exercise on a regular basis is a start. Leading more active lives has a myriad of benefits, including setting an important example for West Virginia’s youth, but it isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

Most schools already have running tracks, pools, gymnasiums, fitness rooms and playgrounds. Unfortunately, school districts often feel that the risks of making these available to the public outweigh the benefits.

Local schools can play a critical role. Most schools already have a variety of safe facilities, including running tracks, pools, gymnasiums, fitness rooms and playgrounds. Unfortunately, school districts often feel that the risks of making these available to the public outweigh the benefits. Many schools close most facilities after school hours due to concerns about liability, security, maintenance and possible costs.

The Shared Use Limited Liability Protection for Schools bill passed the West Virginia Legislature in 2015 with unanimous bi-partisan support, opening doors to schools and their facilities across the state.

But what does Shared Use really look like?

When Kenna Elementary School in Jackson County rebuilt their school a few years ago, providing great places for outdoor play was a big part of the design. But these facilities were never intended to be used by only the school’s students.

Instead, all community members were encouraged to see the school as a place to play and exercise, and the facilities were made available on a scheduled basis. Special events were organized, including a Halloween Health Walk around the quarter-mile track, and a community talent show using the outdoor stage.

At Kenna Elementary School, all community members were encouraged to see the school as a place to play and exercise, and the facilities were made available on a scheduled basis.

Whether it’s playing on playgrounds, using the track, or pickup basketball games, a school is often that hub of the neighborhood where kids can come together and use property that’s already safe and maintained and kept up.

Shared use of school recreational facilities after school hours provides easy access to safe places to get active. Studies show that when people have free recreational opportunities close to home, they are more prone to get active.

Let’s break down barriers for getting more exercise on a regular basis across our state! Find out if your local school system allows access to recreational facilities after school hours, and start the conversation in your community about the need to take steps for a healthier West Virginia and how shared use can be part of the solution.

Help illustrate shared use in West Virginia with your personal stories! How has using school facilities after hours impacted you, your family or your friends? How might being able to use school recreational facilities after hours positively impact you, your family or your friends?

Take one easy but important first step by visiting www.heart.org/SharedUseWV

With Kent Spellman’s Retirement, a New Era Beckons at The Hub

08.31.15

It is with an odd mixture of excitement, sadness and great anticipation that I share with you my plans to retire as the Executive Director of The Hub in 2016.

My work at The Hub over the past seven years has been a capstone experience for me. I’ve poured a great deal of myself into The Hub, and so I’ve naturally had some moments over the past year or so when the thought of letting go seemed so perilous.

But, I know that the time is right.

It’s time for me to make space in my life for neglected personal aspirations. And time to move The Hub into younger, more creative, more innovative leadership. And time to allow The Hub to evolve beyond the limits of my vision and capacity.

I’m preparing for this transition with great joy. I’m happy about the work The Hub is doing and am extremely fortunate to have a staff that is dedicated and skilled.

I am grateful for our great board of directors and the support they provide. I’m excited about the opportunities West Virginia has before it, and the potential we have to realize those. And I am constantly impressed with the remarkable partners across the state that join us in this work, and optimistic about the direction the winds of change are blowing.

It is healthy for an organization, especially one like The Hub that is focused on innovation, constant evolution and regular reiteration, to experience a leadership change that will bring fresh thinking and new perspectives to the work.

We are going through a process of reimagining The Hub, and developing a vision of what we can do in the coming years to advance community and economic development across West Virginia.

To help with the transition, I’ve appointed Stephanie Tyree to be our Deputy Director. In Stephanie, and her colleagues at The Hub, I’m fortunate to have a remarkable staff that understands and embraces the culture we have created – a culture that is so central to our success. It’s exciting to think about what they might do in the coming years!

In October, we will begin a comprehensive search for this new leadership. Keep an eye out for the job posting. We are looking to cast the net far and wide, and hope you can help us unearth any potential candidates.

Meanwhile, we are going through a process of reimagining The Hub, and developing a plan to achieve the vision of what we can do in the coming five years to advance community and economic development across West Virginia. We expect that plan to be in place by March 2016, so the new leadership will have an effective guide.

I look forward to my continued work with all of you in the coming months. I have been humbled by what you are doing and the great things you are accomplishing. You have enriched my life and taught me so much. Thank you!

Gazette-Mail: Hello, Blossom – Iconic Charleston Diner Sprouts Back to Life, Again

08.29.15

Photo by F. Brian Ferguson/Gazette-Mail

By Rachel Molenda/Charleston Gazette-Mail

A local couple has leased and plans to reopen Blossom Dairy, on Quarrier Street, in Charleston. The iconic restaurant closed in 2012, after a failed attempt to reopen it.

Tim and Valerie Street, owners of the EZ Street bar in St. Albans, got the keys to the iconic Quarrier Street eatery on Wednesday, Valerie Street said Thursday morning.

Construction is scheduled to start Monday. Street said she hopes it will take four to six weeks to get the space ready to open.

“We definitely want to give it a new facelift,” she said, “but we don’t want to take away the retro aspect of it.”

While EZ Street is a bar, Street said Blossom will remain a restaurant, catering to downtown lunch business and dinner crowds.

“It will be gourmet sandwiches and salads and soups,” Street said.

The couple plans for the restaurant to be known for a variety of coleslaws to match its signature sandwiches. A brisket sandwich would be paired with horseradish slaw, for example. Blossom will have an ice cream bar and serve up classic frozen treats, but the Streets are making space on the menu for liquor milkshakes, too.

Construction is scheduled to start Monday. Street said she hopes it will take four to six weeks to get the space ready to open, but she said eight weeks might be a more realistic estimate.

The Blossom Dairy Co. opened in 1927 and operated several stores in Kanawha County. Local restaurateur Bill Sohovich opened the Quarrier Street location in 1984 and kept it open until fall 2010. Three partners reopened it a couple of months later, but that version abruptly closed its doors in July 2012.

Read the full story at www.wvgazettemail.com

Follow the author or Twitter: @rachelmolenda

Gazette-Mail: Tobacco Tax Increase Would Send West Virginians to Community College

08.25.15

By Samuel Speciale/Gazette-Mail

Sen. Jeff Kessler wants to make community and technical college in West Virginia free for qualifying students, a promise he said can be funded by raising the state’s tobacco tax.

On Monday, the Marshall County Democrat told the Gazette-Mail he will introduce tobacco tax legislation in January that could raise more than $100 million in additional revenue each year. That money will then be used for substance abuse programs and workforce development initiatives, including community and technical college financial aid akin to what is offered through the state’s Promise Scholarship.

Amidst a decade of cuts, the average in-state tuition has increased nearly 70 percent since 2004.

“What I’ve seen over the past few budget cycles is that we keep cutting funds to higher education,” Kessler said, adding that slashing the state’s budget, especially education appropriations, to favor tax breaks is “counterproductive” and prohibits economic growth.

“We’re trying to cut our way to prosperity,” he added. “And that’s just not happening.”

Funding for higher education in West Virginia has been reduced three times over the last three years. That has cut state spending on colleges and universities to its lowest level in almost a decade. Just this year, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin approved more than $7 million in cuts to the state’s two-year and four-year colleges.

Amidst a decade of cuts, the average in-state tuition has increased nearly 70 percent, or nearly $2,400 since 2004, according to Higher Education Policy Commission data. Enrollment also has decreased.

“That makes it more cost prohibitive for our kids to go to college,” said Kessler, the state Senate Minority Leader. He also is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor.

Kessler’s plan is not new. If molded after his past attempts to raise the tobacco tax, it could increase West Virginia’s comparatively low tax of 55 cents per pack to $1.55 within three years.

Funding for higher education in West Virginia has been reduced three times over the last three years. That has cut state spending on colleges and universities to its lowest level in almost a decade.

The state’s current tax is 44th among states. At $1.55, it would be the 11th highest in the country.

Of surrounding states, only Virginia has a lower tobacco tax at 30 cents per pack. Kentucky has a 60-cent tax, while Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland charge $1.25, $1.60 and $2, respectively.

Only 26 percent of West Virginia’s working-age adults have at least a two-year degree, and only about 40 percent of the state’s 18- to 24-year-olds are currently enrolled in college. At 17.3 percent, West Virginia also has the lowest bachelor’s degree attainment rate in the country, nearly 11 percentage points below the national average.

Read the full story at wvgazettemail.com

Follow the author on Twitter @samueljspeciale

Ritchie County Mom Tackles Lack of Physical Activity Options in Rural WV

08.21.15

This week The Hub heard from an amazing woman in Ritchie County by the name of Meggan Hostuttler. Meggan has spent the last three years on a weight loss journey that has seen her lose 90 pounds and complete many 5K races and half marathons with her son, Logan. She is currently training for the NYC Marathon, raising money the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.

But while Meggan says she was lucky to have a lot of help from her family and employer, many people in places like Ritchie County fight an uphill battle from the start as they do not have affordable access to things like gyms, healthy eating classes and daycare that are necessary to transform your lifestyle.

I’ll let Meggan tell you her story…

I was always unhappy with my weight, even as a young child. But I lacked the commitment and self-confidence it took to make a lifestyle change to better my health. I battled bullying in high school and missed out on so many memories growing up because of my weight.

In August 2012, I was at the beach with my family and was taking pictures of my oldest son, Logan, in the lifeguard chair. I found myself repositioning him to cut down on the number of rolls showing on his belly. I took that photo through tears because I realized it was my fault. He was modeling his eating habits on my own, as well as my lack of physical activity. I decided, right then, that it was time to make a change for myself and for my children. When I got home, I rid my house of all processed foods, we eliminated fast foods, and we started exercising as a family. Our journey had begun.

I realized it was my fault. He was modeling his eating habits on my own, as well as my lack of physical activity.

But if I was going to help him, I had to push through myself.

I started with workout videos and completed one cycle but became bored. But I began to see some progress, which gave me a little boost of confidence that I could finally make this happen.

I needed something different. I read endless articles. I had tried all the fad diets and failed miserably. I saw a post on Facebook about a 5K run and became intrigued. I thought “I’ll give running a shot.”

I started out with 1/4 of a mile, which was miserable for me. But I kept a journal with some short-term and long-term goals for myself and for my son. One of those was to be able to run a mile without stopping. It took a few months, but we checked that off. We kept adding distance until soon we were running three miles consistently.

One goal was to be able to run a mile without stopping. It took a few months, but we checked that off.

Logan signed up for his middle-school cross-country team, and I signed up for a program through my employer called Running 101. I found it helpful to take advantage of the encouragement, training plans and tips. My family and I signed up for our first 5K to support a friend. Logan did great for his first time!

My time was not what I had hoped, but I quickly realized the running community was exactly where I belonged. The encouragement and support that I felt was incredible. There was none of the judgment or belittling I had feared.

We were persistent in our training, and signed up for new races. The pounds began to drop for both of us and the quality family time we were spending together was amazing!

We were persistent in our training. The pounds began to drop for both of us and the quality family time we were spending together was amazing!

Since that first race, my family has completed multiple 5Ks across multiple states as a team! My family is stronger together and we cherish every mile.

But one thing that has become painfully obvious to me during this process is the lack of access many people in my community have to affordable fitness centers, healthy cooking classes, and other resources and support that is necessary to help people start this difficult journey.

There is a huge need and virtually zero access.

Our community does have a gym in Harrisville, but it is only open two evenings per week. There are few, if any, affordable and accessible group exercise programs or personal training programs to allow folks to get on the right path.

Our community does have a gym in Harrisville, but it is only open two evenings per week. There are only a few affordable and accessible group exercise programs or personal training programs to allow folks to get on the right path.

There are only a few exercise groups that meet within the county, but I think sometimes the costs associated with fitness classes discourages people from participating.

There are a few exercise groups that meet within the county but I think sometimes the costs associated with fitness classes discourages people, particularly in rural areas, from participating. Free group exercise sessions that are open to all fitness levels would be great! It’s a lot easier to do it with friends to help you out!

I grew up in a very loving home but physical fitness and healthy eating was not a priority. I felt like I was starting at square one when I tried to learn the ins and outs of healthy eating. There are endless articles online, but for most people in Ritchie County it is really difficult to find tools and resources to help people learn about proactive and affordable things they can do to improve their health.

If the community was promoting healthy living, more people would step outside their comfort zone and participate.

The other issue is child care. There are plenty of youth groups or kids looking for community service that would be willing to volunteer in exchange for those hours if the opportunity was there. I have done all of this virtually on my own (I do have great family support!) because linking people up is nearly impossible without a common, organized goal – which should be getting fit!

Lastly, do not underestimate how important community support is to encouraging people to take those first steps. I was so intimidated to run in my local area. I was so embarrassed to put myself out there. Then people started seeing changes and all of a sudden I started passing runners and walkers on my same routes that would thank me for inspiring them.

If the community was promoting healthy living, more people would step outside their comfort zone and participate. There are multiple 5K races in and around my county, however, it often boils down to being able to afford to do them. I know a $20 entry fee doesn’t seem like much to most, but it’s a lot when you are living paycheck to paycheck.

We agree with Meggan that the places in West Virginia that have the greatest need to support physical activity and healthy lifestyles are the places with the fewest affordable resources.

If you want to get involved in a movement to help change that, get in touch with me at the email address below.

Young West Virginian Throws Down Challenge to Millenials

08.17.15

At the Our Children, Our Future workshop in Huntington last week, Ciera Pennington, 22, local girl made good, threw down the challenge to her fellow Millenials and Gen Z-‘ers…

“Find your passion, and get involved.”

My name is Ciera Pennington. I’m 22 years old, and have been involved in Our Children, Our Future for a little over a year.

I got my start with one of the Our Children, Our Future partners, WV FREE, as an unpaid intern during my junior year of college. By my senior year, I was working full-time as a field organizer.

Find your passion. There is so much good you can do for the community you care about, even as a teen or young adult.

My passion is for getting people involved in the democracy that governs them, and in being an active part of their community. I got to see first-hand how knocking on doors can turn voters out to the polls, how organizing as a community can change the minds of our elected officials, and how people want to be involved and make a difference, but don’t always know how.

After leaving WV FREE, I accepted a job in Virginia. In just two short months, I returned to West Virginia. Virginia was great – I didn’t have to dodge potholes that could eat my car. But it wasn’t West Virginia.

It wasn’t organizing my community. It wasn’t making the place and lives of people I love any better, all of which this coalition and each partner organization has been proven to do.

So my purpose today is to urge all of the young individuals in this room to start getting involved now.

Find your passion – whether it be knocking on doors and getting people to vote or organizing events to make citizens aware of environmental issues. There is so much good you can do for the community you care about, even as a teen or young adult. Reach out to the people in this room today; I can personally attest to how much they want you to come get involved and to how much they will invest in you.

Millennials and generation z’ers can feel like we are too young to do anything, like nobody will listen, or that nothing we do will help anyway. But that’s simply not true. We come with new, fresh ideas that others want and that will help make a difference.

It’s so important that we seize these opportunities to get involved. Often, our voices get lost because millennials and generation z’ers can be complacent – we feel like we are too young to do anything, like nobody will listen, or that nothing we do will help anyway.

But that’s simply not true. We come with new, fresh ideas that others want and that will help make a difference.

And not only a difference to others, but a difference to ourselves. Being passionate about something, learning new things, meeting new people – all of that helps you grow and learn more about yourself and who you want to be. I would not be who I am today without the people I’ve met and experiences I’ve had during my time as an intern, organizer and mentor for various organizations and people.

So, go get involved! Go register to vote, and turn-out to vote! There are not enough young people voting, which is sad because that’s where we have a lot of power for change. You may have only one vote, but that vote means a lot. (Trust me – I know this because I worked for a guy who won by a mere 9 votes!)

Anyway, thank you all for the hard work you do! I’m constantly inspired and motivated by each of you, and I hope that some of you will be motivated by my story and begin getting involved.

Interested in trying something new?
See what all the fuss is about – learn more at ocofwv.org/StudentPowerMovement

Meet Kody. He Needs You to Roll Up Your Sleeves.

08.13.15

Meet Kody Crawford and the Guyandotte River.

For the past three months, Kody has been working in and around Wyoming County to help clean up the river and promote it as a recreational asset to the region.

Kody sees this work as being incredibly important to increasing recreational tourism in the southern coalfields.

He recently kayaked part of the Guyandotte to get a first-hand look at what the river has to offer.

“This glorious resource can be such a benefit for the region and can be a source for recreation for locals and visitors.”

“Overall, the experience was incredible; the river was very enjoyable and exciting,” Kody says. “There is plenty to see and so much fun to be had.”

But, Kody says, efforts must be taken to make the river healthier. And so that’s what he’s doing.

“The underlying fact remains that the river is dirty and needs to be cleaned,” he says. “This glorious resource can be such a benefit for the region and can be a source for recreation for locals and visitors.”

Kody is currently working with the Guyandotte Water Trail Alliance committee, a group of people and organizations dedicated to helping this waterway reach its full potential. They hope to organize a river clean up in late summer or early fall, before it gets too cold.

Want to learn more? Here’s Kody’s email address, or you can call him at 304.465.3720.

Charleston Gazette-Mail: $20 Million To Spark WV Schools Science, Tech Research

08.05.15

Megan Kennedy/Charleston Gazette-Mail

Five West Virginia universities will see a share of $20 million to boost their science initiatives.

The National Science Foundation awarded the grant money to West Virginia’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to invest in the schools’ research initiatives. The funds will last for a period of five years.

West Virginia University, Marshall University, West Virginia State University, Shepherd University and West Virginia Wesleyan College will split the money.

The National Science Foundation awarded $20 million to West Virginia’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to invest in the schools’ research initiatives.

The proposal submitted by the state to the National Science Foundation, which was ultimately awarded, is called “Gravitational Wave Astronomy and the Appalachian Freshwater Initiative,” which will focus on water resources and gravitational wave astrophysics.

Regulations on bodies of water in West Virginia are not as strict as some other states, giving researchers some freedom to work with streams, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water, said Paul Hill, chancellor with the Higher Education Policy Commission.

The money will be used to bolster the universities’ programs, hire faculty and to purchase new, current technology and equipment to make the students’ resources as up to date as possible in the science industry, Hill said. Universities will also work with their current leading scientists to investigate bringing other distinguished researchers to West Virginia.

The grant application was spearheaded by Jan Taylor, director of the division of science and research with the Higher Education Policy Commission.

“We have a real chance to make a change in West Virginia,” Taylor said.

The idea for the proposal came after Taylor collaborated with the universities to find each school’s strengths in their science industry. Once the strengths were identified, they worked to create a viable proposal that would benefit the state, she said.

Read the full story at wvgazettemail.com

Follow the author on Twitter: @wvschools