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Stewards Individual Placement Program

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West Virginia READY


West Virginia READY

2024 Project Year

After a successful pilot year, In conjunction with our 32-week WV READY program, Stewards IP and Appalachian Conservation Corps are proud to announce our WV READY 2023-2024 project year, focusing on needs to grow or support our partners' outdoor economic projects. These members will assist their host sites with seasonal outdoor programs, youth development opportunities, asset mapping and identification, and provide communications and other marketing assistance for local outdoor opportunities. READY to make a difference in your community? We're excited to partner with you! Site applications are due Friday, September 15 by end of day. Fill out yours here.

Launched in 2022, the West Virginia Rural Engagement Ambassadors for Development and Youth (WV READY) is a new program that pairs AmeriCorps members with governmental and nongovernmental agencies to assess, develop, and grow West Virginia’s regional outdoor recreation economy. WV READY combines community organizing with rural economic development. Strategically placed in communities across the state, these individuals will strengthen current and emerging programs.

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Our partnership with our sister program Appalachian Conservation Corps provides us with a unique opportunity to offer strategic conservation crew efforts following the work completed by the READY intern. This not only lends itself favorably to the sites but creates additional opportunities for West Virginian youth seeking experience in conservation.

“Seeing people who have the same investment in improving quality of life for communities and can see how special West Virginia is. In the back of my mind, I’ve always thought that I was going to have to leave the state to have a good future, even though this is home. I had the chance to see people who have made it here and enjoy what they do. We were shown that it is possible...”

- Anonymous feedback from 2023 WV READY member training

According to the West Virginia Tourism Office, the state’s tourism industry supported 44,400 jobs in 2022, and, traveler spending increased to $4.9 billion, $1.3 billion in earnings, and $754 million in state and local tax revenue. The outdoor recreation economy now supports more than 18,000 jobs throughout the state.



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In order to assist with the careful work towards developing and expanding this economic sector in West Virginia, READY members will provide support for the following:

  • Create a community asset map to determine best avenues to spur the outdoor economy in assigned communities
  • Identify outdoor economy plans created, but not quite yet implemented
  • Help explore the community’s abundant economic opportunities and assets

Previous projects and member activities have included:

  • Building and supporting outdoor education camps for youth
  • Outdoor community event planning
  • Mapping regional recreation sites
  • Initiating recycling programs
  • Managing volunteers for litter cleanup/park beautification events
  • Outdoor educational outreach programs
  • Mountain bike trail maintenance planning
  • community outreach/ grassroots movement


Interested in becoming a WV READY member? Stay tuned for employment opportunities!

Position Title/DescriptionSupporting OrganizationNational Service CategoryState/Location
Stewards WVREADY Fellow - Town of FayettevilleWVREADYAmeriCorpsFayetteville, WV
Stewards WVREADY Fellow - City of BluefieldWVREADYAmeriCorpsBluefield, WV

RECRUITER CONTACT

For questions about the WV READY program, please contact:

Raquel Fagundo

Rfagundo@conservationlegacy.org

304.860.8190





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Stewards is proud to partner with Volunteer West Virginia in support of the WV READY program.