Celebrate WV Day by taking steps to strengthen your WV community
Celebrate WV Day by joining efforts to build stronger West Virginia communities!
On June 19-20, WV Forward welcomes community members and state leaders
across West Virginia to participate in an interactive AARP Rural Livability
Workshop and uncover innovative ways to elevate the livability of
our cities and towns.
Since the majority of West Virginia's counties are designated as rural, the upcoming workshop -- free of
charge -- is a great introduction to better understand how West Virginia communities
can improve their quality of life, become more age-friendly and connect with national
resources to implement livability efforts.
Developing strong, positive communities where West Virginians of all ages can live,
work and play bolsters local economic development and West Virginia's image
as a place where people want to raise a family, invest in a community, launch
a business, start a career, go to college, buy a second home or retire. Ensuring
we have "livable" communities also helps attract and retain talent
to fill and create jobs, draw in business investments, expand community development
and drive economic growth.
To fully take advantage of this opportunity, we invite all West Virginians,
particularly our rural residents, to participate remotely. Active participation
by online attendees is strongly encouraged.
While the workshop will be held in Portland, Maine on June 19-20, AARP will
livestream the two-day conference and provide an interactive PollEverywhere
app for those who cannot attend the workshop in person.
See full agenda here.
Livability experts nationwide will discuss:
- creating intergenerational communities
- strengthening transportation options
- improving housing affordability and choice
- enhancing community infrastructure (including broadband and economic development)
- preparing for extreme weather and disasters.
WV Forward is hosting North Central West Virginia leaders to participate remotely and learn about promising practices that can be replicated in their communities. Community leaders statewide can do the same! Host a watch party and convene on how we can move WV Forward by developing thriving communities!
Register today for the 2019 AARP Rural Livability livestream
presentation
.
Simply download PollEverywhere in advance (instructions are in the registration
link), and engage in the conversation on Twitter using @AARPLivable and #AARPRural
before and during the event. Viewers can also send questions via email at
livable@aarp.org.
This is one of the many ways WV Forward is collaborating with AARP West
Virginia and other local organizations to support the livability of
cities and towns across the state. If you have questions or comments, please
contact WV Forward Research Scholar, Priscila Santos, at
priscila.santos@mail.wvu.edu.
Learn more about Focusing on Rural Livability:
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/tool-kits-resources/info-2019/rural-livability-focus-group.html
See AARP's full publication library for Livable Communities:
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/about/info-2018/aarp-livable-communities-publications-library.html