You Are the Experts: How a Small Group is Changing Workplace Wellness in West Virginia
About a month ago, I was staring at a blank screen with a blinking cursor, a thousand thoughts whirling through my head. What could I possibly say to inspire a room full of dedicated professionals? Then I remembered the quote I used to close our 2024 conference, and I knew I had to begin where I left off:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead
Last year was my first conference, and while it was great, I knew this year needed to be different. It was my mission to make the 2025 conference reflect the true spirit of Active Southern West Virginia: active, full of movement, fun, and interactions. Life happened, plans changed, and some days it felt like there were fires everywhere. But the beautiful thing about fires is that once they settle, you are left with the most fertile soil. And we are so excited to use this soil to grow.
But how? The answer is simple, and it’s the secret to all successful programming: you ask the people you are serving what they need. We realized that to understand the future of workplace wellness in West Virginia, we didn’t need to look outside for answers. We needed to look to the people in the room.
We did the math. We asked the attendees in the room to call out their years of professional and wellness-specific experience. The numbers were staggering. We quickly confirmed a simple truth: you all are the experts. With decades of collective experience, the attendees were the key to unlocking the future of workplace wellness.
So, we issued a challenge: Engage. Ask questions. Find inspiration. And you did. Here’s what happened when a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens came together.
From Inspiration to Immediate Action
A key measure of success is the translation of knowledge into action. You left the conference not just inspired, but equipped with practical tools you were eager to implement immediately.
“The discussion of mindfulness and taking breaks immediately makes me want to implement it.”
“I really enjoyed learning quick & easy tips to implement at work! I thought the presenters were 💯.”
The Power of Peer Learning
When you harness the expertise in the room, powerful connections are made. You consistently cited the opportunity to learn from one another as a favorite part of the conference.
“It was wonderful to hear what other worksites are implementing.”
“Learning about what others are doing… It was a great conference! i enjoyed it.”
A Resounding Success
The energy and feedback confirmed that this collaborative approach was a success, strengthening our shared community of wellness champions.
“Fantastic conference. Appreciate all the work you all do.”
“Thank you. What you do makes a difference.”
The blinking cursor is gone. In its place is a clear vision, co-created by you. We challenged you to engage, and you created a powerful roadmap for the future. Now, we challenge you again to take this energy, this knowledge, and this shared belief back to your own small group of thoughtful, committed citizens and change your workplace.
Need more inspiration? Check out our of Conference Manifesto.
Ready to take the next step? Sign up for more information about workplace wellness.
(or contact me directly at kelly@activeswv.com)
Thanks for hanging out and taking the time to read this article. I hope you’ll consider joining the movement of health and wellness at your workplace.
Stay Active!
Kelly Fox
Workplace Wellness Director
Active Southern West Virginia