CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One group is asking What’s Next, West Virginia? It’s an all-encompassing question about the state’s future that is the focus of a series of regional workshops now being held across the Mountain State.
Betty Knighton, who is with the group, described that series as “non-partisan community conversations about strengthening local economies.” The goal, she said, is innovative thinking about where West Virginia can go from here — in local areas and statewide.
“We’re building on what is currently happening and the strengths that we have and then coming up with ideas for developing additional work that can improve the quality of life here,” Knighton explained on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
The next regional What’s Next, West Virginia? workshop for community organizers will be held on Tuesday at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg.
Knighton said there are three main questions to answer. “One is, where are we now? The second is, where do we want to go? And then the third is, how are we going to get there?”
She said she’s seeing a lot of energy throughout West Virginia when it comes to discussing the state’s future. “I hope there will be a lot of synergy that occurs when people come together and try to put their heads together to figure out what those next steps might be for their community,” she said.
In addition to Tuesday’s Martinsburg event, regional workshops are also planned for Aug. 21 in Beckley, Sept. 3 in Charleston and Sept. 16 in Wheeling. Community leaders asked What’s Next, West Virginia? in Buckhannon last week.
More information about What’s Next, West Virginia? and the upcoming regional meetings is available here.