West Virginia Economic Justice
The West Virginia Economic Justice Project (WVEJ) works statewide on issues affecting low income and working families.
WVEJ works to create and defend policies that will enhance quality of life for West Virginians. We accomplish this through legislative advocacy, public education, strategic organizing, and coalition building.
We work closely with the Appalachian Center for Equality program and other groups in the state committed to youth leadership. We aim to develop leaders and allies who can advocate effectively for social change and preserve the gains of the past.
Our work helps people get the best possible deal from the current system.
WVEJ and allies have successfully advocated for many legislative and policy changes. These include increased coal mine safety and childcare subsidies for working families. Additionally, we've worked to restore funding for essential programs and expand Medicaid coverage.
Program Components
Local Community Organizing & Community Engagement
From school mindfulness projects to student-led candidate forums, youth leaders plan and organize their own community projects and events, making connections to underlying systems of oppression.
College and Career Readiness
100% of high school seniors in the program have graduated with plans to begin college, vocational school, or a career path. Preparing youth for what comes after high school is vital to our mission. We create space and faciliate experiences for students to ensure that they can navigate the college or job training application process. This includes campus tours, job-shadowing, as well as scholarship application and essay-writing sessions.
Building Inclusive Communities & Equity-Minded Youth Organizers
ACE staff and youth co-create an inclusive space that supports deep listening, reflection, restorative healing, and is community and culture-building. We build our capacity through anti-racist and anti-capitalist organizing workshops so that we have the tools we need to build more inclusive, healthy, and cohesive communities.
Long-term Mentorship & Accompaniment with Our Alumni
We support our program alumni by creating spaces for mentoring relationships to grown between alumni and current ACE members, referring them to employment opportunities and keeping them connected to the broader movement-building efforts taking place in West Virginia and beyond.
State-level Advocacy for Economic & Social Justice
ACE youth are co-leaders in statewide policy change campaigns for economic and social justice, often in collaboration with our sister program, WV Economic Justice, and our statewide network of partners.
American Friends Service Committee
AFSC works for a just, peaceful, and sustainable world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. We join with people and partners worldwide to meet urgent community needs, challenge injustice, and build peace. Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light of each person, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) works with communities and partners worldwide to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace.