When I was a young, I would place a card on the back tire of my bike and pedal, noisily, through my neighborhood. I built forts and etched my daydreams on the concrete in chalk. I grew up in a safe, thriving community. I graduated from a good school with invested teachers, who prepared me to continue my studies at WVU. It wasn’t until I was older that I began to realize that not everyone would get the same opportunities that I had.
As a member of WVU’s debate team, I began to observe, and process widespread disparity in opportunity. Often, opportunity alone determines one’s circumstances.
I researched rigorously, and traveled the country arguing for community-driven policy solutions. Then I came to realize that I had spent weeks, hours, whole days researching and advocating for solutions, but nothing had measurably changed.
I would spend the rest of my college career working with local nonprofits, and politicians attempting to level the playing field in tangible ways, mostly through workforce intermediaries.
West Virginians commonly refer to our little slice of the map as, “Almost Heaven.” Though, outside of West Virginia – to those who haven’t travelled through our Mountain Mama – our state is not as uniquely placed.
Despite the inconsistencies and falsehoods, the negative image of West Virginia tends to be the more indelible one.
That image could not be further from the truth. As our population ages, this problematic image will make it more difficult for West Virginia to retain young talent, and to attract it from elsewhere. Further, it will make it easier for others to ignore the positive things that are happening here.
We, all of us, must work to change it.
If we are to posit a more accurate image of West Virginia, it will take all of us from every corner of the state pulling together, and sharing our stories genuinely.
For the next year, I will be working with communities across the state to circulate positive, community-focused pieces about what is working here.
This is where you come in. If you are interested in discussing what’s working in your community, I would love to hear from you! I look forward to diving into this project with you, and spreading the insight that I gain from the experience widely.
Marissa,
Start-up(April, 2015) “Broadband Internet” firm in Berkeley Springs, WV. Mission is to provide up to 1,000 mbps(a gigabit) to atleast Morgan, Mineral and Hampshire Counties in WV. More if we can get some traction and support.
The internet is an important part of retaining our younger generation and an essential ingredient to our personal and economic well-being. Well, atleast IMO.
Perhaps, WVHUB could contact our three County Commissioners(Close, Ford, and Tuttle), the Morgan County EDA and the Berkeley Springs Morgan County Chamber of Commerce(Rebecca Stotler)and let them know how important this is to West Virginia.
Your voice and WVHUB’s voice can have an impact. I am asking for help.
Do you have the time? Here is a partial solution that change can be measured.
We are submitting by June 17 several USDA RUS Community Connect Grant Applications for the start of our WV “Middle Mile” concept.
When we lost our only supermarket, Alderson rallied to fund and promptly open a food store gem, supplied with both fresh local produce and produce from a wholesaler. Fresh meat and dairy products and lots of items to please our young vegans and SNAP-using seniors. Our Main Street has launched a dozen significant projects, including refurbishing an old Gulf station and volunteer staffing it as a Visitors Center. The list of good things happening in Alderson, through the efforts of retired professionals, young entrepeneurs and just good folks, is long. Please come and visit. I’ll fix you lunch and introduce you to some of our activists. And organize my thoughts and tell you specifics.
Melinda
Marissa, There are certainly helpful things non-profits and politicians can do… however, I’ve observed creation by committee usually becomes a ‘safe’ watered down affair. There are shining exceptions to this like the creation of the North Bend Rail Trail of which Kent can testify. Many of the other well intentioned groups I’ve volunteered with seem to engage in a process which sifts out exciting innovative ideas and settles with some form of dressed up mediocrity. Programs to encourage homegrown and imported artists including musicians, poets and others may help with idea and energy infusions. Also programs that teach creative thinking would help people break out of bad image boxes. Self images have to transcend before community or state images can change. You make a point of stressing youth in WV’s image. It’s important to inspire youth, another reason to court artists. When I was practicing as a freelance performer and goodwill ambassador in Murphy, NC a group of high school kids came up to me and said they just wanted to meet me because… They thought that life ended after high school. They’d observed that most other adults seem to die inside as they go through life, they noticed that at an advanced age I was still being myself and made Murphy a fun place to be. In short they were inspired to be themselves because they saw someone who’d escaped the deadening drudge many make out of life.