Create West Virginia

How to Connect Our Communities

The technology track of the Create WV Conference offers sessions on using technology to attract and develop creative workers in your community. Many creative workers can live and work anywhere with reliable, modern broadband Internet access – the critical new “utility” for the 21^st century. Wireless access makes it easier to work in public places alone or with other creative workers. They also expect their communities and government to make things easier by putting services online. Access to other specific types of technology can attract certain creative sectors (flexible manufacturing, media studios, industrial kitchens, etc.). The session topics are:

Improving Internet Access in WV

Facilitator: Larry Baker, Professor Glenville State College

Lee Fisher, Board of Directors Gilmer-Braxton Technology Research Institute

Session 1, 10:15 Tuesday

In this session we will learn how Glenville State College, partnering with the Center for Appalachian Network Access, helped provide wireless and DSL broadband access for Gilmer and

Braxton

Counties

. Come and learn about the people, process and technology involved in getting a community online, and of course the lessons learned from a real project.

Creative Community Technology

Facilitator:

Jeff Samples

, President Terradon Communications

Session 2, 11:30 Tuesday

You need to use various technologies to communicate with your own Create WV Team, your community and the creative workers you are trying to attract. Learn about Websites, Blogs, Discussion Groups, email, web conferencing, conference calls and other technology that can connect your community to each other and the rest of the world.

Getting More People to Embrace Technology

Facilitator: Marcel Fortin, CEO NATCOR

Session 3, 1:45 Tuesday

Frankly we need more people using computers and the Internet in WV so they can gain access to e-learning, e-health and other services. Discover ways to get people excited about using technology such as selling on eBay. Come and learn about various programs that get people excited about using technology.

How to Connect a State (and a Nation)

Facilitator: Brian Mefford, President Connected Nation

Session 4, 3:00 Tuesday

The president of Connected Nation will discuss the Connect Kentucky project that promises through its “Prescription for Innovation” to have full broadband deployment by the end of 2007, to dramatically improve the use of computers and the Internet in Kentucky, provide a meaningful online presence for all Kentucky communities, and start e-Community Leadership Teams in every county. Come and see what our neighbors are doing and what we might apply here.

Research & Development as Talent Magnets

Facilitator: Jamie Gaucher, WV Development Office

Session 5, 4:15 Tuesday

Technology-based economic development almost always centers around a research facility. Talented, creative researchers are drawn to places doing innovative work not done other places. New companies often spin out from their research, creating exciting, high-paying new jobs. Come and hear about ways to attract researchers and what is going on already in WV.

Using E-Government to Make Life Easier

Facilitator: Kyle Shaffer,

CTO

State

of

West Virginia

Session 6, 9:45 Wednesday

Putting government services online saves time and money. Come and learn about what’s being done nationally, at the state level and in counties here in

West Virginia

.  Learn how a simple web site for local city and county government offices is easier than you think and pays off in many ways.

Improving Access to Healthcare with E-Health

Facilitator: Dave Campbell, CEO Community Health Network of West Virginia

Session 7, 11:00 Wednesday

Access to healthcare is important to all of us and of course is important to creative workers. In some of our rural areas it is miles to the nearest emergency room. In this session we look at ways technology can bridge that gap with virtual medical services. This is a growing trend some communities may be able to leverage today.

Transcending Cultural Clash

Rebecca Kimmons, an actor, singer, writer and partner in Katalyst Development Strategies, has been giving readers across West Virginia some things to think about in a series of Creative Community op-ed pieces. The latest was recently published in the Charleston Gazette this past Sunday.

With creative flair, she sometimes gently, sometimes directly forces us to think about why things are the way they are in West Virginia. Better yet, she challenges us to get inspired and determine to make things different.

Earn LED Credits at Create WV Conference

The West Virginia Development Office has approved the Create WV Conference for 11 LED credit hours. For information on training credit programs, please visit their approved calendar of events.

In the Resource track of the conference, attendees will learn about a variety of state, federal, foundation and other programs designed to equip them with skills and investment sources. The West Virginia Development Office has been extremely helpful in supporting the Create WV initiative and is an official sponsor of the conference.

Tolerance and Diversity - A Key Foundation for our Future

Over the next few days we will post detailed outlines of each track delivered at the Create WV Conference Nov 12-14, 2007, at the Stonewall Resort. We encourage you to provide feedback, ask questions and forward to friends and colleagues who may get a lot out of these important discussions.

There has been a lot of discussion about tolerance and diversity in West Virginia over the past few months. The Megan Williams nightmare, immigration debates and the fact that West Virginia was the only state in the U.S. to get whiter during the last census update have all combined to force West Virginians who care about our future to scratch our heads and begin some open, honest dialogue.

The following agenda for the Tolerance track is designed to continue this dialouge and hopefully provide some blueprint action items for each community  interested in becoming more inclusive. NOTE: You might consider forwarding this to your local religious leaders, business and community group leaders or others with a strong interest in this topic. 

Preparing for Immigration

Facilitator: Mark Grey, Director of the

Iowa

Center

for Immigrant Leadership and Integration
Session 1, 10:15 Tuesday

West Virginia

has a declining and aging population. Other states with similar situations have reversed the trend through immigration. We need to find creative workers to move to our state and one way to make that happen is to invite them from other countries. This session will discuss the idea of active immigration as a way to economic development.

Sharing Power (or "Playing Well with Others")

Facilitator: Mark Grey, Director of the

Iowa

Center

for Immigrant Leadership and Integration
Session 2, 11:30 Tuesday

When you attract people to your community to grow your economy it is important to make them feel welcome. One important way to integrate them into the community is to involve them in decision making. Instead of fostering an “old guard” versus the newcomers mentality, the community can actively find ways to come together as one community. This session will discuss practical ways for people to share power and governance of their community.

Building an Inclusive Community – Part 1: Assessment

Facilitator: Maggie Potapchuk, founder of MP Associates
Session 3, 1:45 Tuesday

Learn how to use the Inclusive Community Assessment tool, created originally for predominately white communities, based on work in

Clarksburg

,

West Virginia

.  We will discuss different ways to assess your community’s readiness, and how to leverage assets that already exist in your community to mobilize interest.

Building an Inclusive Community – Part 2: Strategies

Facilitator: Maggie Potapchuk, founder of MP Associates
Session 4, 3:00 Tuesday

The first part of this workshop will be to share what other

U.S.

communities are doing to address race and ethnic relations and inequities, and some of their outcomes to date. During the second part, we will explore issues facing communities trying to create a welcoming environment for creative workers and residents, such as tensions between new residents and current residents, power-sharing dynamics, and other challenges.

Engaging Youth in Creating Communities

Facilitator: Cindy Carlson, Director of the

Hampton

Coalition for Youth
Session 5, 4:15 Wednesday

Many communities want young people who are skilled in leadership, teamwork, and citizenship. They want young people to thrive and respond to business and industry demands in their community. They want a community where youth would want to live and work after college. This session will review some example programs that aim to accomplish these goals and discuss successes and lessons learned.

Building a Case for Diversity

Moderator: Paul Sheridan; Panel: Al Emch, Diane Strong-Treister, Ryan Gates – Session 6, 9:45 Wednesday

Being inclusive and hiring a diverse workforce is not only a good and moral thing to do, but it is also good business. Research shows that companies with more diverse management and workers make more profits. Come and hear WV business people tell their stories of how this has worked for them.

Addressing Hate and Bigotry

Facilitator: Paul Sheridan – Session 7, 11:00 Wednesday

Creative workers like and need new ideas to keep them fresh and creative. They are not attracted to areas that have an image of intolerance, hate and bigotry. How should we address these issues in order to create livable communities for all the residents and attract more creative workers? This session will discuss these issues and offer practical examples.

Create WV Sponsors Support Innovation

A groundswell of support from business, academic and non-profit organizations is helping us develop the Create WV Conference into a valuable resource for West Virginia communities. We would like to thank the following organizations for their support in building a creative, dynamic West Virginia for the 21st Century and encourage you to interact with them during the event.

If your organization is interested in joining in support of this exciting initiative, please contact Angela Brown at [email protected] or (304) 342-6972.

Conference Sponsors

• Microsoft Corporation - Premier sponsor
• American Public University
• Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP
• Spilman Thomas and Battle
• West Virginia High-Tech Consortium Foundation
• Jackson Gas

Special Create WV Insert Supporters in The State Journal

• WV AFL-CIO
• University of Charleston
• Commercial Insurance
• Direct Online Marketing
• Entrepreneurship Alliance
• FestivALL Charleston
• Fifth Third Bank
• TGG Brand Marketing + Design
• Katalyst Development Strategies
• Maple Creative
• Mythology LLC
• New River Gorge Preserve
• Spilman Thomas & Battle
• Steptoe and Johnson
• Thrasher Engineering
• Toothman Rice PLLC
• WesBanco
• West Virginia State University
• West Virginia High Tech Consortium Foundation
• WVU College of Business and Economics
• WVU Institute of Technology (WVU Tech)

Update: Conference Attendees and Speakers

It has been an exciting few months launching the Create WV initiative. People from all over the state are coming on board with ideas, insights, participation and support to help us create an innovative, open culture that thrives in the new global economy.

We are encouraged by the response so far to the Create WV Conference, held Nov. 12-14 at the Stonewall Resort. We are particularly eager to see representation from academic, artistic/cultural and local governments in addition to traditional economic development groups. Here is just a sample of the kinds of the organizations who have signed up early to attend:

• Fayette County Commission
• National Coal Heritage Authority
• Fairmont State University
• West Virginia Development Office
• Gateway New Economy Council
• Marshall University
• Glenville State College
• Tri-County Partnership
• City of Lewisburg
• City of Glenville/Gilmer County
• Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone
• Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research and Innovation Center (MATRIC)

We are also very excited about the lineup of track speakers (keynote speakers were announced earlier) who will deliver hands-on insights and resources to attendees in areas such as Technology, Tolerance, Education, Quality of Place, Strategies, Tactics and Resources.

A full list of agenda topics and speakers will be released shortly, but here is a glimpse into the expertise that will be on hand:

• Dr. Stephen Kopp, President, Marshall University
• Senator Brooks McCabe, McCabe-Henley
• Dr. Peter Barr, President, Glenville State College
• Brian Mefford, CEO, Connected Nation (leader of ConnectKentucky)
• Dr. Jan Fox, CIO, Marshall University
• Jamie Gaucher, Tech-Based Econ Dev and Small Business, WV Development Office
• Lourdes Karas, Appalachian Education Initiative
• Maggie Potapchuk, MP Associates

• Jacqueline Proctor, Deputy Commissioner WV Division of Culture and History

• Terrell Ellis, Terrell Ellis and Associates

• Jeanne Mozier, Author, Founder of Star Theater

Shaping Our Identity so the NY Times Won't Feel the Need

For decades, urban media giants have been intrigued by West Virginia and Appalachia. New York newspapers were fascinated by the Hatfield-McCoy feud and published articles in the late 1800's and early 1900's that stamped our identity within the minds of those outside the state, building negative images that remain in surrounding areas to this day.

Modern journalists take a slightly more sensitive approach, but still seem compelled to focus their writing and cameras on stereotypical images and themes. (There have been, and continue to be, many who find inspiration in Appalachia, of course.) Even today, New York journalists and cultural leaders seem to lead the way. The themes of suffering, loss and longing are just too enticing.

We've all been taught that picking at a scab won't allow it to heal as quickly. We are adamant that outsiders don't pick our scab, but we certainly seem to enjoy doing it ourselves. 

Brand and PR consultants will tell you that the way to fight a negative image is to "starve" it and replace it with a new, more compelling image. In other words, you can't fight a negative image by continually protesting it...that almost always reinforces the original image. We must build a powerful new image of who West Virginians are and what life in West Virginia is like. Not something that isn't true or glosses over reality, but one that is life-affirming, exciting and relevant in the 21st century. The truth is, much of what we have in West Virginia, the rest of the world is longing for. If we could just add a few more wi-fi hotspots, some innovative education reform, growth-friendly tax structure and decent coffee shops, we may be on the cusp of something great.

Maybe we should start teaching image and PR 101 in elementary schools so we can start with how we see ourselves. Joking...kinda.

Rebecca Kimmons has been publishing a compelling series of op-ed pieces in a variety of WV newspapers challenging us to rethink who we are and where we want to go. We encourage you to join the conversation on this blog and the Create WV Conference to help create the new West Virginia stereotype.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/opinions/x1119732369

http://wvgazette.com/section/Opinion/200710068

Big Ideas...Really, Really Big Ideas

It's been pointed out that many of us in this state are a little gun-shy about sticking our neck out too far with far-fetched ideas for fear of [insert reason here - ridicule, "didn't work last time" or "we could never do that here" comments, etc.]. In other words, we censor our own creative inclinations and stifle potential innovation.

Today, we would like to invite all of you who are connected to the Create WV initiative to let your hair down. Put on a new persona. Take a few risks and stick your neck out again. It feels good, and we promise it won't get chopped off (at least not on this site).

We'd like to highlight some of the most exciting, innovative ideas at the Create WV conference in some creative ways, so we invite you to respond to this post or submit your ideas on the Create WV site. Pick any area - arts, culture, education, business, diversity, etc. - and give us your best "big idea" that could be a tipping point for major improvement in West Virginia's Creative Community and/or New Economy.

The big idea doesn't have to be complicated, but it should have the potential for major impact. What's on your mind? 

Kentucky Finding its New Economy Groove

I was never sure which family in the Hatfield-McCoy feud was on the West Virginia side and which one was on the Kentucky side. Maybe they were all just sprinkled around the whole area. In any case, it made for an interesting competition.

Perhaps it's time to rekindle some competition with Kentucky, only this time with a healthier tone. Kentucky (particularly Eastern Kentucky) shares a similar heritage and culture with West Virginia. Coal mining. Moonshine. Bluegrass and folk music. Appalachian arts and crafts.

Unfortunately, it has also shared economic and educational challenges as well. Whereas WV ranks 51st in the percentage of citizens with colleges degrees (counting Washington, DC), Kentucky ranks only 48th. WV ranks 50th in the recent Kaufman Foundation-sponsored New Economy Index, Kentucky 48th. Tiny bragging rights, for sure.

However, Kentucky can brag on their more recent efforts to change the direction of their future in the globalized New Economy. Ten years ago they began aggressively recruiting Ph.D.-level talent to their university research centers. They have developed nationally-respected innovation conferences which have helped to stimulate their own creativity and brand themselves as an innovative region. And they have aggressively embraced technology, broadband connectivity and education as the foundation for their future. And yes, they are marketing their efforts well.

Our Appalachian neighbors should inspire us to reach higher and dream bigger dreams for our own hills.

Creativity's Impact on Image and Growth

Byron Clercx is a creative man with a mission. A native of Sioux Falls, SD, and a long-time Pacific Northwest artist, Clercx is now a Professor and the chairperson of Marshall University's Art & Design department in Huntington. He specializes in sculpture and taught a variety of art courses at the University of Idaho from 1993-2004.

Why is Clercx important to West Virginia? Because he has been using his vision and position to spread the message of "economic growth through aesthetic enhancement." In simpler terms, how to grow your town's image and opportunities by the infusion of public art.

"Civic art" has been a growing initiative in many parts of the world. Berkeley, CA, Aurora, IL, and Austin, TX, are just a few examples of where major priority is being placed on this angle of economic growth.

Byron Clercx and the WV Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA WV) have been leading an exciting dialogue about the future of the "Old Main" 4th Avenue corridor in Huntington. Local citizens have an opportunity to define a new vision for what visitors and citizens (current and potential) will experience as they enter and engage with the city. Clercx's vision is that a burst of creativity will infuse the thinking around this project and impact everything from streetscapes to flood retaining walls to trash cans. As he puts it, "Why not deliver a memorable image that can't be found anywhere else?"

Hard research on the "real" economic impact of civic arts projects is lacking. While arts organizations have begun to deliver more sophisticated reporting on the impact of arts and cultural programming for a region, there has been little research on the impact of "public art" projects that tend to help brand a city as unique and compelling. Clercx provides many anecdotal examples, however, of just how powerful the images are and how effectively they help burn a city's image into the minds of visitors. Best of all, many of the creative examples cost the same or less than the "boring" versions of the same public fixtures.

This and other exciting topics will be discussed at the Create WV Conference Nov 12-14, 2007, at the Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV.