Generation West Virginia (GWV) is the statewide organization dedicated to attracting, retaining and advancing young people in the Mountain State. We’re proud of the last decade of our work as we’ve transitioned from a startup nonprofit to a statewide organization whose impact and perspective is recognized and respected as a leader in community and economic development. GWV has grown quickly from a budget of $75,000 to $1.2 million. Having been a fully volunteer-run organization ten years ago, we’re now a dedicated team of eleven full-time staff members carrying out programs that make it possible for more young people to stay, move to, or come home to West Virginia after having left, including:
Why Our Work Matters
The most recent Census showed that West Virginia has the highest rate of population decline in the country -- we lost 3.2% of our population from 2010-2020. We work each day toward a vision of West Virginia where young people don’t feel like they have to choose between their home state and the life they want and deserve. This problem affects everyone, not just young people. On a personal level, everyone is tired of seeing their loved ones and friends leave the state. At the economic level, population decline reduces our state’s tax base, meaning we have less money for public infrastructure like schools and roads, making it harder for young people to stay here. It also makes it harder for employers to choose to do business in WV because they have to worry about finding the workforce they need. In other words, this work is the most foundational economic development strategy for West Virginia. And with a mission that impacts everyone in West Virginia, we have an amazing opportunity to bring everyone we meet along with us in our work.
Our programs address population decline both on an individual and macro scale. We connect people with the jobs, skills, and communities of support they need to stay in West Virginia through NewForce, the Impact Fellowship, and our statewide network of Local Generations groups. We also know there are larger systems at work that make it harder for young people to choose West Virginia, which is why we also lead a community-based effort to expand foundational broadband infrastructure and use the lessons we learn through all our work to advocate for policy solutions needed to advance our mission.
Learn More!
Check out our website to learn more about what we do and why we do it: www.generationwv.org.
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