Current RAIL Programs
Adult Education
RAIL operates a successful GED preparation program and adult literacy initiatives to increase the capacity of the population's workforce and improve the livelihood and wellbeing of the community. Approximately 100 residents without a high school equivalency were able to participate in a comprehensive adult literacy program and work toward earning their GED.
If you are interested in volunteering with this effort please email Keisha Jeffrey at keisha@wvartinitiatives.org or call 304-294-6188.
Housing Repair
RAIL currently hosts a variety of groups and organizations that take part in our housing repair program for impoverished and elderly members of the community. The housing repair program has successfully improved and repaired hundreds of homes for Wyoming County residents since its inception in 2001.
If your group is interested in volunteering to improve the quality of life of rural Appalachian citizens through RAIL's housing repair program, please contact Linda Stockbauer at lstockbauer@railwv.org or call 304-294-6188.
Business Incubation
RAIL offers space for business startups inside the Mullens Opportunity Center for a very low initial monthly rate. All participating businesses receive free utilities and high-speed internet service with their rental.
Cultural Preservation
RAIL is currently engaging in many endeavors to acquire, preserve, and restore historical and cultural sites in southern West Virginia. The historical sites from the coal camps and past heritage of the region are slowly deteriorating, and with them the last remnants of a bygone era that was integral to the formation of the region and development of the nation as a whole. Through the development of an Artisan Trail, RAIL is working with artisans in Wyoming County to develop strategies to improve their skills and increase sales of their unique regional products. RAIL is currently establishing Wyoming County's first Historical Preservation Society.
Arts & Music
Using the newly constructed Mullens Outdoor Entertainment Center and the indoor Mullens Arts Center, RAIL offers a variety of musical proramming and arts events for the local community. Check the RAIL Calendar for updates to music and arts schedule.
Groundwork Wyoming County
For more information, go to groundworkwyomingcounty.org.
Upcoming RAIL Programs
Employment Application Training
This program teaches residents interested in applying for jobs the skills they need to make their applications effective. This fills a large need in the community as many who would be competitive for jobs in federal prisons or state agency lack the computer applications knowledge to complete required online employment applications. This program helps the potential workforce in the county to develop skills such as: how to complete a job application in an online format, resume development, cover-letter writing, online employment database research, and proper presentation.
Higher Education Initiative:
This program will encourage high-school aged students who show academic potential to pursue a degree in higher education. The approach is more comprehensive than a “you must go to any college” stance. The program will outline financial aid programs offered at colleges and universities, offer admissions materials for colleges and universities located throughout the nation, offer application critiques and guidance on crafting an effective college application and admissions essay. The goal of this program is to increase interest in the youth of southern West Virginia to pursue a higher education because education has been proven as the best way to lift communities out of poverty. Less than 7.1% of the population of Wyoming County holds a bachelors degree.
Leadership Initiative:
This will be a three-part program.
- Mentorship Program. This program will create a local network of current and former residents of Mullens and Wyoming County who have received a bachelors or graduate degree and will act as a “buddy” to a college-minded high-school or community college student in the area now. This person will offer guidance and advice, application suggestions and a look into the potential of
- Leadership Training. Some of the best leaders come from the most unlikely places. This program will give members of the community who have not yet taken a leadership role or leadership initiative and provide them with training and resources on community organization, leadership principles, and the impact common individuals have had on policy and community formation in the past. This is not targeted at those who have political ambitions or union leaders but to blue collar individuals who have the potential to be effective leaders with training and opportunity.
- Women’s leadership and empowerment. Mullens, suffers from a lack of women in the workforce due in part to a lack of challenge to traditional gender roles. The goal of this program is to offer women a series of classes and leadership training sessions, resources to stop domestic violence, job skills sessions, and women’s empowerment programming. Much potential is lost in women who have not had the chance to develop their abilities into effective leaders and agents of change and progress in their communities.
Other Projects RAIL would like to take on in the future:
-Developing an effective means of transportation for the citizens of southern West Virginia to local metropolitan areas. Currently the nearest metropolitan area is almost 30 miles away. The average commute for a Wyoming County resident to work is 35.5 minutes, 30% higher than the national average. This is not only devastating to the environment, but also drastically limits mobility and access to employment and resources for the community. RAIL hopes to develop a bus system that runs from the MOC to nearby commercial areas for citizens of Wyoming County
-Creating a Healthy Lives voucher system for members of the community to have access to a fitness center if they cannot afford a membership.
-Creating a book distribution program for children in the community. Books are a means to escape and dream for individuals with out the resources to travel. This program will unleash the imagination of children in the community and increase interest in literacy and education.
With your help the Rural Appalachian Improvement League is on the way to developing programs that will alleviate then destroy poverty in southern West Virginia! |
