Create West Virginia

A guest post by Nell Fleming, Racial Justice Coordinator, YWCA Charleston

Why do some places prosper while others stagnate?  What are the key ingredients for a successful community economically and in spirit?

In 1969 Walter Cronkite announced to the nation in his evening news broadcast that the Environmental Protection Agency declared Chattanooga had the nation’s worst air quality. A few years later, the New York Times published an article noting that Chattanooga was the only major city in the South not experiencing growth.

Local groups are gearing up to respond with positive approaches to a hate group targeting out state. In addition to a creative approach announced earlier by Covenant House, the YWCA is organizing a Stop the Hate Rally in Charleston. Details from the YWCA: 

The Charleston Area Alliance, a combination "chamber of commerce" and economic/community development organization in our West Virginia capital city, is continuing its series of discussions on the role the arts plays in building the economy and a creative community.