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Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley Pairs Future Leaders With Local Businesses

Photo Provided College students participating in the Community Leader Internship Program sponsored by the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley gather at the CFOV offices. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Brooke McArdle, Matthew Porter, Ateria Walker, Julie Carey, Madison McCormick, Shae Reinbeau, Sydney West and Hannah Callahan. In the back row, from left are Caroline Humphrey, Madison Taylor, Maxwell Moffo, Andrew McGlynn and Rhyanna Wiethe.

Retention efforts in the Ohio Valley continue to be the subject of conversation within government, business and community circles. The Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley and its Community Leader Internship Program aims to combat the ongoing out-migration issue by showcasing the area’s potential to those likely to start professional journeys elsewhere with the goal of keeping local talent here.

The Community Leader Internship Program is a community leadership initiative of the CFOV. Now in its seventh year, the program matches selected students with participating host organizations and creates an internship paired with personal and professional development programming.

Students apply to participate and are chosen through a competitive process that includes an independent selection committee. The Community Leader Internship Program is designed to enhance personal skills, expose opportunities to find employment in the Ohio Valley after graduation and to expand networking connections with peers, employers and local professionals.

“This program increases the chance of these young people returning to our region after they graduate by providing them with the chance to network with people doing exactly what they want to do. It also helps them realize what job opportunities in their field are right here in the Ohio Valley. Those things, combined with the emphasis of the benefits of living in the Ohio Valley, make this program truly unique,” said Susie Nelson, executive director of CFOV.

“We are committed to the idea of creating an environment that supports the next generation, in all areas. Seeing story after story about population loss, poor job prospects, limited growth opportunities and quality of life concerns has really driven the philanthropic sector, of which CFOV is a part, to do more to change the outcome,” Nelson continued.

The 2019 class of participants includes 15 students from communities throughout the valley.

Of those participating, 13 students are first-year program participants and two are participating for a second year. Students work Monday-Thursday at their host sites and spend each Friday at the CFOV office for personal and professional development programming and team building activities. This program provides a collaborative way for employers, nonprofits, community partners and foundations to work collectively to strengthen the region’s future workforce. This year’s program started June 10 and will conclude July 26.

Program participants and where they have been placed for work experience follows:

∫ Hannah Callahan, Belmont County — Belmont County Health Department

∫ Julie Carey, Ohio County — Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department

∫ Jamie Fogle, Ohio County — City of Wheeling

∫ Brooke McArdle, Ohio County — U.S .Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of West Virginia

∫ Madison McCormick, Marshall County — YWCA, Wheeling

∫ Andrew McGlynn, Marshall County — Marshall County Animal Shelter

∫ Maxwell Moffo, Jefferson County — Touchstone Research Laboratory

∫ Matthew Porter, Ohio County — Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED)

∫ Sarah Powell, Belmont County — Legal Aid of West Virginia

∫ Shae Reinbeau, Marshall County — Wheeling Health Right

∫ Ateria Walker, Ohio County — Wheeling Hospital

∫ Sydney West, Marshall County — The Ryan Ferns Healthplex

∫ Rhyanna Wiethe, Belmont County — Appalachian Power

Students returning for a second year in the program include Caroline Humphrey of Ohio County, who is working in the office of Dr. Daniel W. Wilson; and Madison Taylor of Ohio County, working with the Wheeling Nailers.

The Community Leader Internship Program is supported by sponsors who share a common interest in improving the Ohio Valley. In addition to friends of CFOV, sponsors include: Chevron, EQT, Huntington Bank, James B. Chambers Memorial Foundation, Orrick, Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), The Charles M. Pugliese & Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation, WesBanco, Wheeling Convention & Visitors Bureau, Wheeling Heritage and XTO Energy. To learn more about CFOV and this program, visit www.cfov.org and click the projects tab.

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