A Call to Action

Bradley Community Captain Melissa Gray with her free weekly Zumba class.

Active Southern West Virginia believes healthy lifestyles contribute to a better economy and community. Every day, we train Community Captains to run exercise programs because we believe capacity building is vital to our mission and sustainability lies with giving the community the power to create their own active lifestyle.

We are currently in search of motivated leaders in all the communities that encompass Fayette, Raleigh, Nicholas, and Summers that are willing to lead their friends, family, and neighbors in weekly or biweekly exercise or recreation programs so if you have a niche, let us hear it!

The communities we still lack a Community Captain in include: Thurmond, Smithers, Montgomery, Ansted, Fayetteville, Gauley Bridge, Pax, Oak Hill, Stanaford, Daniels, Lester, Hinton, Summersville, Rhodell, and Richwood.

Without Community Captains we couldn’t have the reach we wish to obtain. These leaders will be the champions of their communities, paving the way for active lifestyles, serving as mentors, support systems, and motivators. With their help we will be able to facilitate and support a happier, healthier Southern West Virginia.

So what’s in it for you? Studies show that those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression. You are investing your time into a brighter future for your community and your state. You will have access to professional support as far as exercise/recreational programming goes. Volunteerism leads to professional development. We accept anyone from high school students to seniors, so this will be a fun way to rack up community service hours. This position will also help you stay accountable for your own physical fitness and activity by providing structure and a social group to enjoy the activity with.

If you know of anyone who you think would be great for this role, but may not know about it please have them email our Program Assistant Courtney Roark at [email protected]

We will also be having a Community Captain Informational Meeting in Beckley on June 17th at 6 pm on the University Campus in room 314 of the LRC Building.