How does your garden grow? Your downtown thrive? Your city blossom?

With business, government and individuals coming together through the Charleston Area Alliance to plant the seeds for a brighter and more prosperous future. We invite you to support our efforts in the year ahead to cultivate jobs and opportunity for our region with a tax-deductible contribution to the CADCO Foundation.

The Foundation provides much-needed financial support for a wide range of programs and services that help individuals, businesses and our neighborhoods reach their potential, including:

• SAGE, our new sustainable urban agricultural initiative on Charleston’s West Side, which gives local residents the opportunity to become “agri-preneurs” and generate a new source of income – and healthy food.
• The Alliance Small Business Incubator, which provides a professional and supportive environment for start-ups during those challenging first years      of business.

• GROW, an eight-month “boot camp” for new businesses during which they receive one-on-one coaching, mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, educational      sessions with faculty from the University of Charleston MBA Program and networking opportunities.

• The monthly ArtWalk, which brings hundreds to downtown Charleston to experience art and cultural amenities and support local businesses.

• Advancing “Imagine Charleston,” the city’s comprehensive plan and blueprint for downtown revitalization.

These are just a few of the visionary CADCO Foundation-supported programs that promote quality of life and quality of place to attract jobs and opportunity for our families and businesses. Less than 15 percent of the Alliance’s annual budget is supported by government sources. It is up to the private sector, both businesses and individuals, to carry the torch forward.

Your year-end tax-deductible contribution will help sustain the tremendous progress the Alliance has made in the past year and ensure that we realize the promises of a brighter tomorrow.

Donations will be acknowledged in our Annual Celebration program and in reports to our Board of Directors and community at large.

To donate by credit card (at suggested payment levels), please click HERE.

If you would like to donate by check, please direct your check, payable to “CADCO Foundation,” to:  Charleston Area Alliance, 1116 Smith Street, Charleston, WV, 25301.  For more information, contact Alliance CFO Debbie James at DJames@charlestonareaalliance.org

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SUCCESStrategies:
The Cost of Mental Health
Wednesday, Jan. 8
11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Charleston Area Alliance
1116 Smith Street

A panel of experts will discuss the impact of mental health on businesses and organizations at SUCCESStrategies: The Cost of Mental Health on Jan. 8 at the Charleston Area Alliance.

The event is one of four lunch and learns slated for January as part of the Live Well Charlie West, a month-long Alliance campaign dedicated to workplace wellness.

SUCCESStrategies: The Cost of Mental Health will feature discussions on ways to connect regional resources to colleagues and employees in promoting mental wellness.

Jim Strawn, director of marketing and outreach for Highland Hospital, will moderate the event’s panel discussion.

Panelists include:

• David Clayman,  Clayman  & Associates
• Sky Kershner, Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center
• Cynthia Persily, Highland Hospital
• Lisa Zappia, Prestera Center

The cost is $5 to attend.

Click HERE to register.

For a complete calendar of Live Well Charlie West events, click HERE. Contact Cullen Naumoff by e-mail HERE for more information.

Live Well Charlie West is a collaborative effort of many partners including:

• Kanawha Coalition for  Community Health Improvement
• Prestera Center
• Highland Hospital
• Clayman & Associates
• Kanawha Pastoral Center
• WV On the Move
• City of Charleston
• Alzheimers Association
• Wellness Council WV
• YMCA
• Change the Future WV
• Communities That Care
• American Heart Association
• The Counseling Connection
• Mark Wolfe Design
• Dream Creative

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The Charleston Area Alliance’s farmer-training-program SAGE (Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurs) is looking for 10 committed “agri-preneurs.”

SAGE educates participants on how to grow large amounts of sustainable produce in urban spaces. The program also teaches how to sell this produce as a stream of household income.

Right now, SAGE is looking for 10 qualified candidates for the 2014 class. The class includes a two-hour commitment per month for workshop-related activities. These workshops are typically held on weekdays, post business hours and weekend mornings.

Additionally, during the growing and market season of May-August, SAGE involvement will be an average of 20-25 hours per month. This commitment includes at least one Saturday per month to sell at the market.

Apply HERE.

Applications are due by Jan. 15. The first SAGE workshop will kickoff at the end of January.

For more information, contact Cullen Naumoff at CNaumoff@CharlestonAreaAlliance.orgor by phone at 304-340-4253.

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Development Director

The West Virginia Humanities Council has an immediate opening for a Development Director.

The Development Director has charge of development, promotion and fundraising, working closely with the executive director and the board’s development committee.  He or she writes grant proposals, manages direct mail operations, and raises funds in the public and private sectors.

Qualifications include a BA or its equivalent and at least three years experience; events planning, and oral and written communication skills; database and computer  proficiency; and excellent overall people skills. Knowledge of the humanities is preferred.

The Humanities Council offers a competitive salary, good benefits and an outstanding place to work.  The Council is a thriving nonprofit corporation, with offices in the historic MacFarland-Hubbard House in Charleston.  The West Virginia Humanities  Council is an equal opportunity employer.

Please send a resume and letter of application to: West Virginia Humanities Council, 1310 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston WV 25301 or to sullivan@wvhumanities.org

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Contact: Kimberly Osborne

(304) 766-3363

kosborne@wvstateu.edu

Dec. 10, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Categories Announced for WVSU Student Film Festival

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) is accepting submissions for its second annual Student Film and Video Festival, open to current high school and WVSU students. Entries must be postmarked by Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013.

“This event is our way of showcasing the talent of students here at State and encouraging local high school students to develop their creative talent and share their work to entertain and inspire others,” said Dr. Ali Ziyati, festival co-director and associate professor of Communications and Media Studies at WVSU.

“We have delineated the categories this year by form, creating four additional categories to accommodate diverse media,” added Sam Holdren, festival co-director and instructor of Communications and Media Studies at WVSU. “There really is something for everyone.”

College film categories include narrative, non-fiction, promotional, abstract and smart videos.

• NARRATIVE – A film that tells a fictional story or narrative with actors playing the characters.
• NON-FICTION – Documentaries, news, sports and informational works.
• PROMOTIONAL – Public Service Announcements, commercials and movie trailers.
• ABSTRACT – Experimental films, animations and music videos.
• SMART VIDEOS – Videos created with a smart phone. The winner will be chosen through a popular vote by the audience on the evening of the festival.
• HIGH SCHOOL – The high school category may encompass any type of work mentioned above.

Undergraduate and graduate student films must have been produced since August 2012 during active enrollment at WVSU. Productions should be between 30 seconds and 15 minutes in length and must be received as a video file in a standard uncompressed format along with a $5 entry fee per submission. Full details and an entry form are available online at wvstateu.edu/communications.

Entry fee, application and DVD(s) may be mailed to WVSU Student Film and Video Festival, 202 Cole Complex, P.O. Box 1000, Institute, WV  25112.

The Student Film and Video Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Davis Fine Arts Theater at WVSU.

Follow West Virginia State University on Facebook and Twitter @WVStateU.

West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi‐generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.

-WVSU-

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Downtown ArtWalk
Thursday, Dec. 19
5-8 p.m.

Add a little color to your holidays at the final ArtWalk of 2013 this Thursday night.

ArtWalk, a Charleston Area Alliance program sponsored by Masters Law Firm, is a monthly event that draws hundreds of residents and visitors to downtown Charleston for a festive evening of culture and commerce.

The Horace Mann Middle School Chorus will be singing carols throughout downtown.

The purpose of ArtWalk is to help revitalize downtown and to promote economic development through the arts.

Check out what’s in store for the December ArtWalk:

Gallery Eleven
1025 Quarrier Street

Gallery Eleven will showcase all of its gallery artists as its featured artists in December.

Art Emporium
823 Quarrier Street

“Illumination,” a show of new paintings by Sharon Harms will be the featured attraction at the December ArtWalk. Art Emporium will also have new paintings by local artists including: Ian Bode, JP Owens, Sandra King, Robert Tribbe, Traci Higginbotham and Emily Roles. New photography by Clayton Spangler and new jewelry by Sue Chase will also be featured.

Tony the Tailor
822 Virginia Street

Tony the Tailor will feature artist Kelly Bryant, in addition to special pricing on items throughout the store.

Uncork and Create
1031 Quarrier Street

Uncork & Create will have works by Allied Artists on display, Chet Lowther and Cheryl Thaxton. Also violins, which were painted by local artists and auctioned to benefit the WV Symphony, will be on display one last time before going to new homes.

Good News Mountaineer Garage
222 Hale Street

Artist Tandi Stephens is fascinated by the repurposing of discarded everyday items into what she calls assemblage art, juxtaposing man-made items with found natural elements. Her work will be featured at ArtWalk.

Also, First Presbyterian Church’s Hope Village and Equal Exchange will sell coffee, chocolate, tea, beautiful jewelry, shawls, wood carvings, home decorator items, olive wood nativities, colorful baskets from Africa, olive oil and much more.

Delfine’s Jewelry
245 Capitol Street

Delfine’s Jewelry will be featuring our Department 56 “Christmas in the City” display with a Lionel Polar Express train.

Hope Village Fair Trade Boutique at Good News Mountaineer Garage
222 Hale Street

Shop Hope Village for beautiful and unique gifts that is sure to please everyone on your Christmas list. Featured gifts include: unique baskets and olive wood carvings, home goods, beautiful jewelry, clothing, scarves and purses, as well as delicious olive oil.

Nine artisan groups from around the world are featured in Hope Village. All products are fair trade and 100 percent of the proceeds go back to the artisans. Shop and make a world of difference. Hope Village will be temporarily located at the Good News Mountaineer Garage for the December ArtWalk.

Timothy’s/Quarrier Diner
1022 Quarrier Street

Come experience the last Downtown ArtWalk of the year at Timothy’s. Enjoy a custom designed hot chocolate, browse a variety of local vendors and finish your Christmas list.

Capitol Conference Center
815 Lee Street  

Capitol Conference Center will feature the works of Barrie Kaufman at ArtWalk.

The Purple Moon
906 Quarrier Street

Join The Purple Moon for a very special holiday party during the December ArtWalk. Vintage Christmas decorations, West Virginia glass, unique and wonderful art will all be available for your holiday shopping convenience.

Featured items include vintage jewelry from the Pat and Helen Hamilton collection, a fabulous selection of vintage glass from Blenko, Fenton, Viking, Rainbow and other West Virginia makers, vintage art and many items just brought in from Chuck and Connie Hamsher’s latest buying expedition. In addition, The Purple Moon is pleased to bring back the musical duo ”Tofujitsu” for your listening pleasure.

Romano & Associates
230 Capitol Street

The Kanawha Regional Association of Zymurgy Enthusiasts (K.R.A.Z.E) is proud to announce its second annual Holiday Homebrew Giveaway. K.R.A.Z.E, West Virginia’s premier home brewing and beer enthusiast group, will be giving away samples of its members’ creations to Artwalk patrons of legal drinking age (IDs will be checked).
Members will also be on hand to discuss the basics of home brewing and to answer any questions – including how to get started in the hobby for the holiday season.

Other participating venues include:

Annex Gallery and Taylor Books

Chet Lowther Studio

GiGi’s

House of Luxe

Ivor’s Trunk

Mission Savvy

Romano & Associates

Savvy Chic

Stray Dog Antiques

Visions Day Spa

White Oak Photography

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Do you want to make good on your New Year’s health resolutions?

Live Well Charlie West, a Charleston Area Alliance program, will be a month-long campaign dedicated to starting the workplace wellness conversation and providing connectivity to wellness-related resources to employ at your worksite. It will be held from Jan. 5-31.

Click HERE for more information, including a calendar of events (subject to small changes).

A healthy employee is vitally important to the workplace as a whole and has a significant impact on an employer’s bottom line.

If you’re an employee or employer, there are many ways to get involved with the campaign.

We are currently seeking worksites to host lunch and learns on topics including: “Mental Health First Aid,” “How to Read a Nutrition Label,” “Drug and Alcohol Addictions in the Workplace” and free fitness classes.

If you are interested in hosting on-site lunch and learns (with subsidized lunches), please contact Cullen Naumoff by e-mail HERE.

We’re pleased to have featured Live Well Charlie West worksites including:

• City of Charleston
• Spilman, Thomas and Battle
• St. Francis Hospital
• United Way

Live Well Charlie West is a collaborative effort of many partners including:

• Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement
• Prestera
• Highland Hospital
• Clayman & Associates
• Kanawha Pastoral Center
• WV On the Move
• City of Charleston
• Alzheimers Association
• Wellness Council WV
• YMCA
• Kanawha County Health Department
• Communities That Care
• WV Power
• American Heart Association
• The Counseling Connection
• Mark Wolfe Design

Dream Creative

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Holiday Inn & Suites
Business After Hours
Thursday, Dec. 12
5-7 p.m.
400 2nd Ave SW
South Charleston

Join the Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West and the Charleston Area Alliance for Business After Hours on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Enjoy delicious catering in a festive atmosphere and network with area businesses while enjoying the sights and sounds of the season.

Business After Hours offer fantastic opportunities to meet the region’s leaders in a relaxed setting with food, drinks and entertainment.

Click HERE to register.

Early bird rates are $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members. Early bird rates expire on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.

Prices at the door are $25 for Alliance members and $35 for future members.

The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.orgfor more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours of the event.

Thank you!

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