A new non-profit organization, Why Don’t You Stay Awhile, is on a mission to encourage young people to stay and build their futures in the Ohio Valley. Founded just three months ago by Spencer Porter, the organization offers young professionals and college students opportunities for personal and professional development, civic engagement, and social connection.

Porter, who grew up in the area before leaving to pursue ventures abroad, founded the organization after returning to Wheeling in 2021. She was surprised by the area’s progress and saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between local young professionals and the community.

“We are a diamond in the rough and ripe with opportunity,” said Porter, who also publishes St. Clairsville Living and Wheeling Neighbors magazines. “I started meeting with so many business owners in the area and realized there were so many young, brilliant professionals here, but we simply weren’t connected.”

Porter’s vision is clear: to foster an environment where young people can build careers and achieve their dreams in the Ohio Valley. Her organization hosts a monthly series of events called “Evening Buzzes,” which take place at different locations across Ohio and Belmont counties. The events bring together young professionals and college students to build relationships, network, and engage with local leaders.

“Our main events are Evening Buzzes, where young professionals and college students come together to build relationships, learn about different industries in the area, and civically engage with local elected officials,” Porter explained. “We always make sure to have a civic leader at each event to create instrumental relationships between our young people and them.”

The events are open to members of the organization, who also receive additional benefits such as free workshops, discounts on future events, and access to a directory of job postings. Monthly workshops, covering topics from resume building to mental health optimization, are in the works to help young professionals build their skills.

The group also connects with local high school students to better understand their thoughts on the region. In recent months, they have visited 10th-grade students in schools around the area, engaging in discussions about the changes that would make them more likely to stay in the Ohio Valley after graduation.

Mrs. Nelson, a Wheeling native and teacher at Wheeling Park, shared her experience of moving out of Wheeling and being drawn back. 

“I moved out of Wheeling in 2009 to go back to school, to WVU, to get my degree in secondary education in English. In 2011, when I started applying for jobs, I applied for jobs in Monongalia County and Marion County. Even though I had said multiple times I didn’t want to teach where I went to high school, I applied, got an interview, and then got the job. My husband and I had always talked about wanting to come back to Wheeling after maybe spending a few years in Morgantown, but that didn’t happen,” said Nelson. 

“We moved back home in 2011, which is when we got married as well. I have not regretted moving back in the 13 years that we have been back. We bought a home. We have two children. They’re involved in different activities within the Wheeling community, and we just love being home. We’ve always loved Wheeling. I’ve always loved Wheeling. I love being able to go to Oglebay and walk on our trails and kayak on the river. There are just so many things that we can do here in Wheeling that you can’t do in other cities. It’s just a special place”

Mr. Titus-Glover, a teacher at Wheeling Park, originally from Ghana, shares a similar sentiment. Titus-Glover moved to Wheeling in 2005 after meeting his wife while both were teaching overseas. 

“I was teaching as a missionary at a missionary school in Senegal, West Africa, and my wife, who grew up here in Wheeling, ended up teaching at the same school I grew up in in Ghana, so we met in a neutral country. We got married there back in 2003 and then we moved here in 2005. She’s from here, so that’s what brought us here, really,” Titus-Glover explained. 

“But I’ve come to like this place. One thing I like is the different distinct seasons. Around the area where I grew up, we have two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season, and it’s hot in both seasons. But to have four distinct seasons like this, I absolutely love it. So that’s one of the things that I appreciate about this place.”

As Why Don’t You Stay Awhile continues to grow, Porter and her team remain focused on collaboration. They have partnered with local businesses such as Outdated Threads, Stages Costume Shop, and Leva’s Jewelry to host events and promote these businesses within the young professional community. Partnerships with businesses like Waterfront Hall have been essential in funding the organization’s programming and expanding its reach.

“We gather feedback through relevant discussion on how our high school youth feel about our area and their ideas for a better future. We ask three simple questions – do you plan on staying in the Ohio Valley after high school? If not, why not? What changes would you like to see that would excite/entice you to stay?” Porter said. “We then gather the data and it will be shared on our website starting at the end of November. Each high school we meet with will have their data shared. This way, any community member has easy access to important data.”

The organization’s long-term goal is clear: to reverse the trend of youth exodus from the region and create a community where young people can stay and thrive. “Not only are we here to create space for our young people to dream, but this infrastructure also provides us with the tools for success. Tools such as the sharing of professional opportunities with each other, funding opportunities to get a business off the ground, professional knowledge, knowledge of self, community relationships, and a place to water the seedlings of Ohio Valley pride,” Porter shared.

“There will always be challenges in anything you do. If you have tenacious grit, transparent communication, the willingness to pivot, and an open heart, all you can do is move forward with grace and overcome anything that comes your way. As a group, we embrace these opportunities to grow and come out on the other side with wisdom and even more understanding.”

The organization is actively looking for new members and supporters, and Porter encourages anyone who wants to make a difference in the community to get involved. 

“You want to support us?! JOIN US! Follow us on socials! If you simply want to support by being a donor, we have a donor page on whydontyoustayawhile.org. We are working on creating scholarships, a small business start-up fund, and an emergency young person fund.” Porter said.

“We have Evening Buzzes every month. Pull up on us. If you want to connect us to some impactful organizations, businesses, schools, or community members, get in touch!! We love meeting new people and working with them.”

As the Ohio Valley looks to a brighter future, Why Don’t You Stay Awhile is at the forefront of fostering the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. Wherever life takes them, the Wheeling community hopes they remember, as Mrs. Nelson puts it, “It’s always okay to come home again.”

This story was originally published on The Park Press on November 12, 2024.