SUPERPOWERS: Seeing opportunities and making connections
Executive Director, RenewAll
Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, Lauren Kemp had easy access to recycling. But when she went to college at Marshall University, she was surprised to learn that environmentally friendly options weren’t as abundant. She and a group of like-minded students approached the Student Government Association about implementing a $5 “green fee” to support sustainability efforts. Students voted to support the measure, which still exists today and has led to the campus becoming a leader in energy efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling.
Although Kemp didn’t know her simple question, “Where can I recycle this plastic bottle?” would turn into a decades-long movement, she did realize how great it felt to get involved on campus. She continued community improvement efforts as part of her sociology capstone. She and her classmates learned that there was a need for a year-round farmers market to connect locals with farm-fresh produce and goods, which ultimately became The Wild Ramp in Huntington.
Kemp earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology and her master’s in public administration. She first worked for a small business development center called Unlimited Future. She also became involved in the River to Rail initiative, which brought together law enforcement, business owners, political leaders, and residents to fight blight and crime to create a more positive experience for the entire community.
“I wanted to make a really deep investment in this community, because I see the opportunity it has to contribute to the development of Huntington and the entire region,” Kemp says. “We just need to put the pieces together.” Now, as executive director of RenewAll, she gets to help assemble that puzzle. The nonprofit is focused on sparking community transformation in West Huntington through initiatives like supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, raising capital for real estate projects, and installing art in public spaces. “I see opportunity, and I think that’s the thread that goes throughout my career. I feel passion around opportunity and being inspired by other people’s aspirations, dreams, and skills. I love having a role in weaving all those pieces together.”
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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.
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