Regional News, Events, and Activities
The following information concerning state-wide and area news, events, and activities is updated at the beginning of each calendar month. Please check with the originating organization to check on possible cancellations or changes that might have occurred since they were originally posted here. See Local News for non-CCSJ events and activities organized and/or occurring in the Morgantown area. See WVU News for Social and Environmental Justice related activties and events organized or occurring at West Virginia University.
Juneteenth in Fairmont
Restorative Justice Training
"Join Us for a Transformative Day of Restorative Justice Training in Morgantown on Friday, June 13th! This program will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the West Virginia University College of Law.
“Since the fledging WV Restorative Justice Project began we have heard over and over again that people across West Virginia are eager to build practical skills in restorative justice. That’s why we’re bringing together nationally recognized practitioners and people who want to learn and connect for a full day of immersive, skills-based learning in Circle Keeping and Restorative Justice Dialogues.
Register today or here to secure your spot for $60, which includes the training, continuing education credits (if applicable), a continental breakfast, and lunch. The institute is approved for the following CEUs/CLEs:
· Attorneys: Approved for 7.8 CLE credits
· Addiction and Prevention Professionals: Approved for 7.0 CEU credits
· Social Workers: 6.75 CEU credits pending approval
If cost is a barrier please contact Lida Shepherd at Lshepherd@afsc.org . We hope to see you there!
west virginia now
West Virginia NOW has a Facebook page and a web page. Or email Amanda Ray, the state NOW president, at amandajray@yahoo.com.
Huntington: "Our newest chapter is up and running! Contact huntingwvnow@gmail.com to involved."
Kanawha Valley: KVNOW meets on the 4th Thursday of every month at the Public Library.
ACLU WEST VIRGINIA
See more about ACLU West Virginia here or Facebook. Email them at mail@acluwv.org.
“PAID FELLOWSHIP AVAILABLE: Are you passionate about civil liberties and social justice? The ACLU of West Virginia is now accepting applications for our Equity & Justice Fellowship for positions starting as early as June.
This year-long fellowship is designed for students and activists from historically marginalized communities who are underrepresented in WV advocacy and policy-making spaces. Applications are open to students and citizen activists alike. Focus areas include legal and policy advocacy, research, communication, organizing, development, and nonprofit management.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no deadline, and positions can begin as early as June 2025. Apply today at: https://action.aclu.org/webform/wv-fellowship
Questions? Contact Mollie Kennedy at mkennedy@acluwv.org”
“ Registration is now OPEN for the Our Voice, Our Power Summit. This free three-day event brings together young Black people and other young people of color to learn about organizing and building community and resiliency.”
Appalachian Queer Youth Summit: The ACLU-WV is thrilled to announce another Appalachian Queer Youth Summit from August 6 to 10.
“This camp will bring together teens ages 15-19 who either identify as LGBTQ+ or come from LGBTQ+ families from across West Virginia and give them the tools they need to organize and advocate for the issues they care about.
“Campers will learn how to talk to legislators, how to run meetings, tell powerful stories, and more, and will participate in a collective action to better the lives of LGBTQ+ people after the camp concludes.
“Perhaps most importantly, AQYS campers will get to be themselves around people who understand them.
“This year's camp will be held in Morgantown! As always, participation is totally free and travel stipends are available for those who need them.
Please contact Mollie Kennedy atmkennedy@acluwv.org with any additional questions.
FAIRNESS WEST VIRGINIA
Fairness West Virginia is a civil rights advocacy organtization dedicated to the fair and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender West Virginians.
Check the Fairness West Virginia Facebook page for information about bills of current concern, especially those attacking transgender West Virginians.
Fairness has a calendar of PRIDE events for the summer. See it here. There are events scheduled from June 1 to June 28 in chronological order in Shepherdstown, Wheeling, Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Wheeling (again), Morgantown, Charleston (again), Huntington (again), Fairmont, Lost River, Berkeley Springs, and Elkins. More may be announced.
Follow Fairness West Virginia on Facebook.
WEST VIRGINIA TRANS COALITION
"The West Virginia Transgender Coalition is a grassroots organization that works to ensure the wellbeing, safety and lived equity of all trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community members within the state of West Virginia.”
For more information, please go their Facebook page.
Rainbow Pride of West Virginia
For more information about this group's events go to Facebook or their website."
WEST VIRGINIA BLACK PRIDE FOUNDATION
This group organized in December 2021 in Charleston “to illuminate the experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color in West Virginia and provide them with a safe space of fellowship,” according to a story in the Juneteenth edition of Black By God: The West Virginian. For more information, email WVBPfoundation@outlook.com or Kasha@wvpfoundation.com.
SUPPORT BLACK BY GOD: THE WEST VIRGINIAN
According to its website, “We are an emerging news and storytelling organization centering Black voices from the Mountain State. We provide a more nuanced portrayal of the Black experience in the Appalachian region.” Crystal Good is the editor/publisher/founder of Black By God.
There is a weekly online edition and a quarterly print edition.
To contact Black by God, email Info@Blackbygod.org or call 304-207-0352. The mailing address is 2156 University Ave. Suite 400, Morgantown, WV, 26505. To make a tax-deductible donation, go to blackbygod.org/donate.