Wayne’s experience in the Accelerate WV program shows how powerful it can be when a community creates intentional, welcoming spaces for people to get involved. Accelerate is a community coaching program from the WV Community Development Hub that helps community members align around shared goals, a vision, and realize real success in moving that vision forward. Before Accelerate, volunteer engagement in Wayne was present but scattered. As Park Ferguson, Accelerate team member, shared, establishing ACCESS WV as a central hub has given residents a clear, consistent place to plug in. The Accelerate team from Wayne formalized non-profit, ACCESS WV, during their time in the program. Regular monthly meetings, open to anyone with an idea or an interest, have become a gathering point for community members, local elected officials, and even retired residents who want to stay connected. This structure helped signal that civic engagement isn’t reserved for a select few. The Wayne Accelerate team shows that low barriers to entry make it easy for people to stop by, listen, share, or volunteer when something resonates.

Wayne’s team has also leaned into personal, relationship-based outreach to grow volunteerism in a way that feels authentic to the community. Alex Romine, an AmeriCorps VISTA with ACCESS WV, shared their approach which includes inviting people onto the Heart of Wayne podcast to talk about their work, meeting with residents one-on-one, and engaging folks through other community groups. These methods have helped build trust and strengthen local networks. Alex’s relationship-driven strategies paid off during the GetOutWayne 5K, Wayne’s first in many years, where volunteers turned out to guide runners and staff aid stations. Lacey Ferguson, Accelerate team member, noted that volunteerism in Wayne often comes in waves, and the 5K proved how enthusiasm grows when people see fresh momentum and doable opportunities to pitch in. The team’s work with a marketing firm and the continued storytelling through the podcast have further reinforced the sense that positive things are happening in Wayne and that everyone is invited to take part.

At the same time, Wayne’s leaders are honest about the realities of sustaining volunteer engagement in a small rural community. After the energy of the 5K, the team began noticing signs of volunteer fatigue, reminding them that ongoing involvement requires ongoing relationship-building. Alex plans to return to personal conversations to learn why people got involved in the first place, while Park emphasized the need to broaden the volunteer base and deepen participation across projects. And, as Lacey highlighted, the steady presence of their AmeriCorps VISTA member has been essential because they have capacity to handle daily coordination and follow-through so volunteer energy can stay focused on meaningful contributions rather than logistics. Taken together, these efforts show a community that understands both the heart and the hard work of volunteerism: creating structures that make participation simple, nurturing relationships that make engagement meaningful, and continually adapting so that civic engagement remains strong over time.