Five organizations putting in the work.
Mountain state organizations are creating new ways to better assist the diverse communities inside and outside West Virginia—and the positive change they seek sometimes comes in surprising forms.
Education Elevators
Education Elevators is a local program that pairs West Virginia businesses and organizations with local schools and students, creating mentoring bonds and support teams that can go a long way in changing a student’s life. These role models just may learn a thing or two from their mentees as well.
Stars That Shine
Stars That Shine helps at-risk girls and young women see their potential and find success in life. Giving guidance at such a critical time in their development, Stars That Shine stays by each girl’s side through every step in the process of building a bright and happy future.
The Military Working Dog Team Support Association
The Military Working Dog Team Support Association is dedicated to helping “both ends of the leash” when it comes to these unique K9–handler partnerships. Since its founding in 2006, volunteers have shipped over $1 million worth of supplies and gear to active duty MWDs and their handlers across the armed forces.
AbleGamers
AbleGamers works tirelessly to create an inclusive community to help combat social isolation in people with disabilities. From peer counseling to engineering research to working with the top gaming companies in the world, staff and members have been fighting for inclusivity and accessibility in the gaming world for nearly two decades.
The Appalachian Prison Book Project
The Appalachian Prison Book Project started out as a graduate course at WVU in 2004, but has since grown into something bigger. Volunteers have sent more than 50,000 books to incarcerated people across Appalachia. A focus on educational justice and community engagement drives the organization’s work in challenging mass incarceration.
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