IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT OUR FUTURE, WEST VIRGINIA Free What’s Next, WV? Workshops Give Residents Tools to Talk and Work Together to Strengthen Local Economies Many West Virginians believe the time is right for deep, productive conversations about our state’s future. But until now there have been few opportunities for residents to connect in broad ways—across sectors and points of view—to begin building a more diverse and vibrant economy that can adapt to 21st century opportunities, challenges, and changes. What’s Next, West Virginia? is a statewide series of community conversations about strengthening local economies. These nonpartisan conversations are designed to encourage thinking, talking, and actions based on West Virginians’ own ideas for helping their communities—and the state—move forward. “What’s Next, WV? was founded on the belief that we as West Virginians have a role to play in determining our own economic future. That we have options to weigh, together,“ said Catherine Moore, a West Virginian who is helping coordinate the initiative. “It was born out of the need to talk with each other about our current conditions, the future we want, and the choices we have to influence what tomorrow’s economy will look like.“ On August 14, 2014 residents of Gilmer County and north-central West Virginia took a lead organizing role in bringing What’s Next conversations to their area by attending a regional workshop in Buckhannon. The event ran from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at WV Wesleyan College at the Social Hall of the Benedum Campus Center. Other regional workshops will be held in Martinsburg on August 19; in Beckley on August 21; and in Charleston on September 03, 2014. At these workshops, the WV Center for Civic Life will provide free training and materials to help organizers plan and implement the dialogues in their communities. Participants will learn ways to connect what is happening in their area, reach out to involve new people, develop local coalitions and partnerships, facilitate productive conversations, and move from dialogue to action. They are encouraged to come with others from their community who want to help do this important work. “What’s next, WV?“ is a question that can be considered by a group as small as a neighborhood or school, and as large as the entire public sphere. It’s a question that can be asked in a town, a county, a workforce, a sector, or an elected body. And it’s a question that can be answered most completely with a diversity of voices, ideas, and viewpoints. Real economic transition for West Virginia will mean finding not only new employment opportunities, but also new ways of talking and working together. What’s Next conversations provide a way for people to come together in discussion and analysis of our state’s needs in a democratic process that includes a wide array of voices and allows for fresh, innovative thinking to emerge. What’s Next is being organized by a broad and growing coalition of partners from nonprofit, philanthropic, government, educational, and faith-based organizations across the state. This coalition has been working for over a year to develop relationships, build connections, and create processes to support productive conversations about the economic future of West Virginia. Workshops are free, but registration is required at whatsnextwv.org/regional-workshops. Find out more about What’s Next, WV? at whatsnextwv.org. For questions, contact the West Virginia Center for Civic Life at [email protected] or 304.344.3430.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 08:57:36 +0000
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