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.
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.
“ 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.”
Freedom to Be Event: The ACLU of West Virginia is planning a bus. You can find information in the comments section of the Facebook page related to this event.
Appalachian Queer Youth Summit: The ACLU-WV is thrilled to announce another Appalachian Queer Youth Summit from August 6 to 10.
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.
Executive director Andrew Schneider “spoke to Anna Sale of the Death, Sex & Money podcast to talk about what it's like lobbying for LGBTQ+ rights in a deep-red state like West Virginia.” You can find the link to the podcast on Slate.com from the Fairness West Virginia Facebook page.
Fairness is starting to build its calendar of PRIDE events for the summer. See it here.
“Our friends at the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston are hosting this amazing benefit concert on May 16, 2025, 7:00 pm. Free Admission! The concert will feature musical selections from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. There's no charge for admission, but feel free to bring a donation! You generous contributions will go to supporting our work at Fairness.” (Please see the PDF for more info).
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
"West Virginia's largest LGBTQ+ Pride Parade & Festival. Join us Saturday, June 1st at Summers Street and Slack Plaza in downtown Charleston WV. FREE TO ATTEND! See more here.
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.