Create West Virginia

Make no small plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical plan once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our children are going to do things that will stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon, beauty.

Think big.

- Daniel Burnham, 19th Century Architect who planned the Chicago World’s Fair

So much of what we all desire as citizens centers on the community we live in. Our friends, our schools, our jobs, our parks, where we shop...Why do some communities thrive while others struggle? What tangible and intangible characteristics make up a "creative community" that delivers opportunities and quality of life for all citizens? 

Quality of Place is the sum of a community’s parts—its built environment, its assets, its personality as experienced through all five senses. In these sessions, we’ll invite participants to assess their own communities in comparison with contemporary American ideals, and we’ll explore Wheeling, a community that is applying creative solutions to its challenges.

Quality of Place is the sum of a community’s parts—its built environment, its assets, its personality as experienced through all five senses. In these sessions, we’ll invite participants to assess their own communities in comparison with contemporary American ideals, and we’ll explore Wheeling, a community that is applying creative solutions to its challenges.

Many folks have been to a lot of conferences...and well, we aren't always eager to go to another one! Sitting in boring seminars, eating bad food, listening to panel speakers without much to say...who needs more of that?

Wheeling, WV: The fourth annual Create West Virginia conference is coming to the Friendly City October 17-19, 2010. This statewide celebration of creative community building is designed to spark new economic growth in West Virginia.

The rise of many new Generation West Virginia groups across the state is one of the most positive developments in many years. For young people to finally have a place where they can connect, organize and spark change in West Virginia is exactly what has been needed for quite a long time.

You know how people have some relatives that you dont' really know that well, even though they don't live that far away? For whatever reason, you just never hung out with them much growing up.

Then one day, you actually take some time to get to know them. Maybe you hung out at a family reunion, or they took the initiative and reached out to invite you over. And they turn out to be really cool and you hit if off quite nicely.