Create West Virginia

The "soul" of the Create WV Conference is in its seven tracks and 42 different learning/feedback sessions. You will learn exciting ideas from national and local speakers, hear creative initiatives already happening in West Virginia communities, identify resources and meet tons of interesting people.

Track sessions and speakers are taking shape now and will include the following topics (NOTE: Subject to change):

• Education/Talent Track – How your community can embrace and thrive from 21st century skills and embrace lifelong learning. Tentative sessions include: 
  • Edutopia - Public education in the Digital Generation
  • New Tech Network- Powering the Future of Learning
  • Globaloria - Cutting-edge innovation in WV's public education system
  • WV Innovation Zones Act - Imagination,Wisdom at Work
  • Marshall University - Creating a new high school experience
  • Big Picture Schools - Transforming Education One Student at a time
  • Microsociety - Bringing Real Life to Learning
  • Trade Tech High - A GreenBuild Tech Academy
  • PaCyber Charter - Build your own school..out of choices, not bricks
  • Key Community Learning - Cultivating Multiple Intelligences
  • NewSchoolsAmerica - School Districts Remaking Public Education
  • Teachers Union Reform Network - Teachers Unions Leading From The Future
  • Star Academies - Solving WV's Dropout Crisis
  • WV for Education Reform - Innovation, Change and Choice
  • WV Professional Development Schools Network - Statewide School/University Partnerships
• Business Innovation Track – How your community or organization can thrive on new economy growth and job-creation principles.
  • Virtually Connected - How businesses and communities can use social media to reach their goals
  • Beyond Borders - How building a global focus can draw new wealth into West Virginia's borders
  • Creative Destructive - How industries and communities are effected by innovation and how to "creatively destruct" on your terms
  • Innovation Gone Green - Who has been doing what in the green industry movement in WV? 
  • Art Deco - How artists, once again, are transforming communities into thriving destinations for entrepreneurs and other creatives
  • Why West Virginia? Storytellers - Discover the resources available for your community to create a community message that doesn't draw visitors, but citizens and entrepreneurs who will help develp growth and prosperity
• Quality of Place Track – How arts, culture, aesthetics, design, sustainability, historic preservation, "third places" to hangout and other elements shape the quality of a place in a way that attracts and retains much-needed creative talent to your community.
  • When Thinking Small Wins Big
  • What's a Building Worth? - Understanding the untapped asset of West Virginia's historical and/or unused structures
  • Making Things Happen Politically
  • Best Places to Live - Marketing your assets
  • Schools as Econmomic and Community Growth Engines
  • Where Have We Come From? - A view into our self percpetion and how it effects our future
• Diversity Track – How your community and organization can embrace innovative people, ideas and policies; protect the rights of all individuals; and learn to see diversity of all types as a major community asset.
  • The Block - A rural-urban cultural exchange between Rand, WV, and Harlem, NY
  • Image Builders - How is West Virginia's image in regard to diversity and inclusiveness helping or hurting us? What can be done about it? 
  • Developing Cultural Niche Opportunities - From string band to folk to hip hop, there are many opportunities to grow income and cultural experiences in our state
  • The Benefits of Protecting the Rights of All People - What's the upside to ensuring all people are protected and feel included in our state? 
  • The Role of Faith Communities in Building the Creative Community
  • Class Matters - How does the creative economy benefit people at all income and education levels? Is championing the "creative class" elitist or a powerful opportunity for all? 
• Technology Track – How communities, organizations and individuals can stay connected and improve their lives through today’s social media, computer and communications technologies.
  • Hurdles and Solutions for Tech-Based Economic Development in WV 
  • The Tech-Empowered Government
  • How to Introduce and Develop Your Great Idea
  • Breaking Down Collaboration Barriers Among WV Institutions
  • Overcoming Money Barriers to Launching Startups
• Resources and Tactics Track – How do you connect people, generate ideas and then turn those ideas into action that improves lives and create new opportunities?
  • Steps to Engaging Citizens - How it really works in communities
  • Sustainability - What's love go do with it? 
  • Partnering with Your Local Government - What you should and shouldn't expect
  • Realizing a Creative Community
  • Developing Leadership Skills for the New Economy
• Community Projects Track (Create Huntington) – How do you engage cynical residents in a struggling community, help them envision a brighter future, re-ignite their passion and empower them to make a difference? NOTE: This track is experiential and requires off-venue participation at various sites within Huntington. Shuttle transportation is provided.
  • Rebuilding a Sense of Community - Reclaiming beauty and buy-in in the community
  • Town and Gown Collaobration - Partnering with colleges and universities for mutual benefit
  • Elephants in the Room - Dealing with crime, social problems and other tough issues