The Change Maker

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Romelia Hodges, Fairmont

Director of communities of color at West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute and chief inspirational officer at the Dunbar School Stop Program

ADVOCACY NORMALITY

“I watched my mother provide what we now know as the clothing voucher program in West Virginia. I watched her fight for food stamps for individuals who barely had enough to eat in food deserts. I watched her fight for social justices that we see folks still fighting for today. I thought that was normal—I just thought that’s what every mother did.”

THE ORIGINAL CONTACT TRACER

“March 15, 2020—an event that was attended by eight different churches from three different counties with visitors from all over the state. It happened to be the day before the governor announced the state of emergency and lockdown, and it ended up as the state’s first outbreak.The original contact tracing that I did was based off of a picture that I had from within the church. When a person confirmed with me that they had tested positive, I would put a red X over their head, and because I personally knew these folks, I could call them up.”

WHAT’S NEXT

“My community is suffering with the opioid epidemic. My community is suffering from a lack of mental health resources. My community is suffering with health disparities. My community is suffering from lack of harmony amongst each other, as is the United States. I’m going to do whatever I can to change that.”

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.