THE ADVOCATE FOR  CHILDREN

Kelli Caseman, South Charleston

Executive director and founding member of Think Kids

CLOSING THE GAP

“I was born and raised in West Virginia, spending most of my childhood in Tyler County. After some time in North Carolina, I moved back to Charleston in 2004. The more I worked in West Virginia, the more I realized the gap in programs and services for children. Think Kids is my response to that, focused on finding ways to close that gap.”

THE FUTURE

“The smartest thing we can do as a state is invest in our kids. When Think Kids works on effective strategies to do this, we look at quantitative and qualitative data—at what’s happening in communities, which are a lot of good things. These communities really find ways to benefit their kids. We want to help and work with them. Together, we can nurture generations of compassionate, critical thinkers who can lead West Virginia in new directions.”

COMMUNITY FOCUS

“We’re eager to grow. We want to reach out and speak with more people about the challenges they’re facing in their communities to learn more about how we can help them. We’re interested in a more equitable response, giving people more of a stake in what’s happening to and around them. Too many outside groups come into West Virginia, make observations about how we should change, then leave without helping make the change happen. It’s cultivated a lot of distrust. We think the answers to West Virginia’s problems are already here. It’s time for us to invest in them.”

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER 2021 WEST VIRGINIA WONDER WOMEN

Learn more about our Wonder Women

Since 2014 WV Living magazine has been honoring West Virginia Wonder Women, amazing women who are raising the bar in their communities, serving as beacons of light in their industries, and forcing change for the greater good. WV Living is proud to celebrate these Appalachian mothers, millennials, and mavens proving that in a time full of uncertainty, divisiveness, and hate, love for one another is all we really need. No need for bulletproof bracelets or a golden lasso of truth—these women are creating a better West Virginia with their can-do attitudes and Mountain State spirit.