NEW STATEWIDE AMERICORPS PROGRAM BEGINS

The PreserveWV AmeriCorps program is bringing eleven individuals from all over the country to serve historical and economic development organizations in their historic preservation projects.  The purpose of the PreserveWV AmeriCorps program is to promote historic preservation and heritage tourism in West Virginia through historic resource re-use, improvement, and development. Particular focus will be placed on non-profit capacity building through organizational policy development, volunteer management, and community engagement.  AmeriCorps members’ service will contribute to West Virginia’s economic development and environmental stewardship through historic resource improvement and capacity building.
Members applied with the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, and after a competitive application process, were selected and placed for one year of service at the following sites: Adaland Mansion in Philippi, the Cockayne Farmstead in Glen Dale, the Craik-Patton House in Charleston, Main Street Fairmont, Main Street Morgantown, the Marion County Historical Society, Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, and the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation.

Members received training last week and officially begin service at their sites on Monday, October 7.  Members will be meeting community residents throughout their year of service and engaging them to take part in extant and new community events.  They also will be meeting and working with community residents to help with economic development and historic resource re-use projects.  One of their goals is to involve local residents in these projects in order to meet community needs and promote local ideas.  Contact [email protected] for information about the service sites, projects, and ways to get involved with these projects.  All are encouraged to participate.
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This service initiative is administered by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, the statewide grassroots nonprofit dedicated to the support and promotion of historic preservation in the Mountain State.  The PreserveWV AmeriCorps members develop and participate in a variety of community projects related to historic resource improvement, historic preservation, heritage tourism development, and nonprofit organizational capacity building.  For more information, visit www.pawv.org.  PreserveWV AmeriCorps is funded in part by Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service, and by the Commission for National and Community Service.