Create West Virginia

Morgan Spurlock Understands WV

Has anyone seen the article in this week's The Gazz, "Workin' in a coal mine"?  It highlights Morgan Spurlock's TV show "30 Days" and an episode filmed in WV about coal mining.  I'd like to point out his comments about the recent WV support for Hillary Clinton.  "I don't think WV is racist," he said.  "I think WV supporting Hillary Clinton has to do more with jobs."  Morgan states that he has a good understanding of the state since he was born and raised here.  I'd like to hear more about his viewpoint especially after he worked so closely with miners in Beckley coal country during the filming.  Why does he think it's about jobs and not racism?  If that's true, then why does the national media hunt out the few people that they know will discuss the race card rather than employment.  If West Virginians are more concerned with jobs, then what can we do to make sure that gets on the national news rather than the race card? 

Thoughts.....

Josie

Governor Manchin's Take on the WV Democratic Primary Results

The negative buzz that rippled across the country regarding how West Virginia Democrats decided to vote during the primary election has reached the point where Governor Manchin felt compelled to respond. He called into a Fox News political show and defended the state as a place where a personal approach to campaigning, not racial prejudice, is to account for Clinton's landslide victory.

Several Mountain State citizens have shared their angst and frustration over how WV has been portrayed by bloggers and media pundits the past several weeks. Columnists such as Leonard Pitts took WV to task in his Sunday column, decrying the "2 in 10" voters who indicated race played a major role in their vote. Exit polls show that he is right.

But what he and the other pundits left out was the fact that almost every state has a "2 in 10" problem of their own. While WV and Kentucky were among the highest states who had voters indicating race played the primary or a major role in their vote, it was only by 1-2% higher than PA, Ohio and many other states. Even Connecticut, considered a progressive and liberal state by many, indicated 15% of their voters used race as a key voting factor.

WV has a troubling percentage of race-tinged votes. We, like other states, need to deal with that. Combined with the Megan Williams incident, the race-themed issues brought up at WVU during the RichRod fiasco and now this, it's truly doing long-term damage to the state's reputation. A PR professional could argue that all the build-up of positive PR around WVU athletics and other positives has been set back tremendously with these kinds of incidents. While many may shrug, it is important to understand the implications of image on economic and community development, not to mention everyone's quality of life.

What is the best response? How can West Virginia address this national image issue without sounding defensive? How can we work on our "2 in 10" problem while also pointing out the hypocrisy of people in other states pointing the finger at WV while they have their own problem in this area? We'd love to hear your ideas.

Creative Salon Discussion Regarding Promoting Arts in Huntington

Mountainside Media and Stone Strategies invite the public to a free, facilitated discussion regarding promoting the arts in Huntington on Thursday, June 5, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Mountainside Media offices, located at 1009 Fifth Avenue in downtown Huntington.

The focus of the discussion will include “the economic impact of the arts in Huntington,” and “Networking, nurturing and promoting fine and performing art and artists.” Invited guests include Jacqueline Proctor, Deputy Commissioner, West Virginia Division of Culture and History; Laura Evans, Executive Director, Huntington Symphony Orchestra; and John Gillispie, Public Relations Director, Huntington Museum of Art.

Creative Salons are designed to bring smart thinkers and passionate activists together – to learn more from each other and identify solutions for a better future. Each Salon session features invited guests with special expertise. The discussion is focused on a specific topic, research article, book or social issue.

There is no charge to attend, however participants are asked to RSVP by calling 304-523-6162 or register online at www.mountainsidemedia.com.

To read discussion highlights from the first Creative Salon click here.

Place Track Leader 2008: Jeff Miller

The Place Track covers a lot of ground. Just the concept of “sense of place” alone, which deals with a community’s personality, touches on identity, architecture, public art, public spaces, and overall look and feel (or public face of a community). The track also covers the concept of “third places” – where people like to hang out when not at home or work – which delves into the broad topic of how to create a cool place. And, then there is the concept of place as the environment we live in or the outdoors in general. This gets us into historic preservation, sustainability, land use and being green. We found the guy who can cover all this ground in Jeff Miller.

Jeff Miller is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hunter/Miller + Associates headquartered in Charleston, WV. He is a Designer, Planner and Problem Solver. Hunter/Miller’s mission is to creatively solve problems relating to revitalization, sustainability, preservation, in the built environment, in business and in organizational structure. Jeff’s list of projects (and awards) from his long career is too long for this post, but the breadth of these projects is what makes him a perfect Track Leader for Place.

Jeff has served under contract for the last two and half years as Managing Director of Projects and Technical Services for the Vandalia Heritage Foundation and its sister organization the Vandalia Redevelopment Corporation. In addition, he has become extremely active in the Revitalization efforts in the North Central West Virginia area and has begun to expand that involvement to all areas of the State.

Please join me in welcoming Jeff to his newest design and problem-solving role as Place Track Leader. I know Jeff will let you know what he comes up with for this year's Place sessions.

FIRST Class Creative Work in WV

We enjoy telling the rest of the state and the world about the great creative work already being done here in West Virginia. That includes all fields - arts and culture, creative design, scientific research, technology, entrepreneurship and more.

Here are a few things we've recently heard about that we're proud to share. Do you have others? Please drop us a line anytime at [email protected].

• FIRST Video - FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a robotics competition for high school students started by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway personal transport. They also organize events for younger students such as the FIRST Lego League. Definitely a group you should consider forwarding to your local science and math teachers. These competitions take place in large arenas – including the championship finals at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. This video was created by Morgantown's own Pikewood Creative and will be shown on large screens at these venues as an intro to the competition.
• Laurie Helgoe, Ph.D., a practicing psychologist and author in Charleston, recently published her latest book Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength. It was recently received a "starred" review by Publishers Weekly, a huge honor! The book is available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is available widely on July 8.
• Mark Wolfe, an artist in Charleston, is displaying a photographic installation at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, titled “FRINGE,” now through June 30. This new installation features local residents who the artist feels “exude or demonstrate ideas, manners or talents that go against the so-called mainstream values of the general public.”

Share your creative news with us and let's keep building awareness around the great creative endeavors across all spectrums here in the Mountain State!

West Virginia Kids do the Google Doodle

Google recently asked K-12 kids to get creative with their logo and draw around the theme "What if...?" Out of thousands of entries around the country, 40 regional finalists were chosen ...Check out West Virginia's fine representation in grades K-3 and 7-9 (WV is in Region 3).

Great job Daniel and Sean!

Tolerance Track Leader 2008: Crystal Good

Crystal Good is one of those people I feel like I have known longer than I really have. Someone that you hear so many good things about that you feel like you know them before you’ve really ever had a conversation. Once you have that conversation you discover those good things you heard were true, and the conversation is so easy and warm you walk away thinking I’ve known Crystal for years. What you know is that Crystal is passionate about art, cultures and diversity, all of which she communicates very well.

I know we met last year at the Create WV Conference (I think we met before, but see above). She had either just started her current job or was preparing to make the transition. Crystal is the Assistant Director of Covenant House, an organization offering direct services for people in need while creating social change through advocacy and education. I knew the wonderful women that started Covenant House, and Crystal is a perfect fit to continue and grow their legacy. As a recognized community leader and advocate, one of her key responsibilities at Covenant House is to lead, expand, and encourage community diversity initiatives addressing health, education, housing, employment, and communications among people of varying cultural and religious backgrounds.

Prior to joining the Covenant House team, Crystal was the Communication Project Manager for Jackson Kelly, where she served on the firm’s Diversity Committee.  She was instrumental in initiatives varying from assisting minority law students with LSAT test preparation, to coordinating the Global Sullivan Principals community workshop, to producing of cultural events in partnership with the West Virginia Islamic Association, West Virginia State University, and the Diversity Leadership Academy.

A former arts educator with Museum In The Community, she has developed and traveled throughout rural West Virginia spreading the history and practice of African-American poetry. A well-known Charleston Poetry event organizer, she is a member of the writing collective The Affrilachian Poets.

You can see why we are excited to have Crystal on our Create WV team leading the Tolerance Track. I’ll let Crystal tell you about all the great sessions and speakers she is working on. Just expect the best, you know her.

-->Rob

WV Education

An article, "Teaming up on Tech," in yesterday's Charleston Gazette, 05/21/2008, disscused the different efforts in our WV Educational system to promote learning.  It's exciting to see and hear the progress that happens within our state. 

The article discussed a movement towards "student-centered" education with the "use of computer-based programs and Web sites."  Mark Moore with the Dept of Education's Office of Instructional Technology is leading a seminar to teach the educators about the new movement.  Hop on the website www.Thinkinfinity.org and check it out.  Its is a useful tool for our teachers in this "student-centered" educational movement. 

As a community, I'd like to see support for our educators and parents to promote this type of learning and progress the development of our students in WV! 

Josie

Thinkfinity.org

Everyone I had the wrong link for the posting WV Education is actually www.Thinkfinity.org.  Sorry about that everyone.

Education Track Leader 2008: Tim McClung

Let me introduce you to the Education Track Leader for the Create WV Conference this year. Gang, this is Tim McClung … Tim, this is the Create WV posse. (Tim says hi) The Education Track was popular last year and we all think it is going to be even better this year. Tim calls it the Education Track on steroids and knowing Tim for the past seven years I believe him.

Tim was one of the first people I met after moving back to Charleston, WV. At the time we met Tim was working at the WV Development Office after wrapping up a career as a Systems Engineer for IBM that lasted over 18 years. His focus was on expanding the State’s efforts in public/private research and development (R&D), entrepreneurial initiatives, equity financing and technology-based economic development. His interest in entrepreneurship led him to the University of Charleston where he started and became Managing Director of the Entrepreneurship Center. Tim now works for Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Inc. focusing on science and technology enterprises.

Two things Tim has always been passionate about are helping to develop West Virginia’s economy and education. He even talked me into helping to teach an entrepreneurship class. His connection to Create WV goes back to the beginning. It was Tim that convinced me that we should just call Richard Florida and ask him about WV and our creative economy. I'll let Tim tell you more about what he has planned for the Education Track. Just be prepared for something creative, exciting and on steroids!

-->Rob