THE MILLENNIAL MIND
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Sara Wood-Shaw
Moundsville Mayor
SUPERPOWERS: Collaborating and building relationships
Sara Wood-Shaw, the youngest mayor ever to serve on Moundsville’s City Council, strives to make daily change in her hometown. Growing up in this community made Wood-Shaw appreciate it and its potential. After attending WVU, she worked outside the United States for a few years, developing community projects in places like Ghana and Tanzania. The work sparked her interest in community and economic development and, ultimately, she felt called to go back to her hometown and get to work.
Wood-Shaw has been on Moundsville City Council since 2018 and, since December 2022, has also served as mayor. She notes that she was younger than anyone on Council by 25 years when she was first elected. She wants to get young people to stay and contribute to Moundsville and to make it the most it can be. “We need different generations to bring different perspectives.”
Wood-Shaw’s goal in her current position is to be an active mayor. “I want to make sure people have resources, both personal and political. I want to be listening and be very accessible to people.” She’s energized by her work as mayor. “I love what I’m doing. I like every day, because every day is different,” she says. “There is always something new to be brought to Moundsville, and that initiative is always exciting.”
Written by Elizabeth Howard
This story has been updated from the version that appeared in print to clarify Wood-Shaw’s status as youngest person on Council and youngest mayor.
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