For many young people in West Virginia and across Appalachia, the struggle to remain in their home communities reflects both deep attachment to place and a challenging terrain of opportunities and constraints caused by economic decline and uncertainty. Between 2010 and 2020, the state’s population declined by just over 3 percent, with many working-age adults seeking opportunities elsewhere. Yet this demographic shift also underscores the importance of those who choose to stay, bringing fresh energy into schools, local governments, and community organizations, and working to ensure that rural communities remain vibrant places to live and grow.
Working with youth is vital for advancing place-based and regional development. Educational pathways in West Virginia highlight both ongoing challenges and new opportunities for cultivating a new generation of leaders. The period of high school and college represents a particularly vital moment in youth leadership development. There are roughly 80,000 youth enrolled in high school in WV. While not all pursue college, many high school graduates who pursue higher education leave the state for college, others choose to attend West Virginia’s strong network of institutions—WVU, Marshall, and a range of regional universities and community colleges—that serve as springboards for innovation and career development. These students, together with those who return after studying elsewhere, represent an important confluence of talent and commitment to the region. Their decisions to stay or leave the state underscore the enduring value of place and the potential to connect higher education more directly with local needs.
What does “belonging” mean for young people in Appalachia, and how does it influence decisions to stay, leave, or return? How do young people already combine education, work, caregiving, and community service to build meaningful lives in Appalachia? How can higher education in the state be more closely aligned with community needs and youth aspirations?
Are you interested in this area of inquiry and action? Contact Bradley Wilson - brwilson@mail.wvu.edu