Stephanie Tyree Deputy Director, West Virginia Community Development Hub Charleston, WV Accelerate Collaboration, Co-Create Policy | Advocacy, Community Economic Development, Food and Agriculture, Rural Community Development Stephanie helps communities across West Virginia lead their own sustainable community development projects by providing tools and training to remove barriers, access decision-makers, and develop leaders. Stephanie is the Executive Director of the West Virginia Community Development Hub in Charleston, West Virginia. She previously worked in environmental justice and community organizing with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and with WE ACT for Environmental Justice. She has been involved in a number of other projects relating to economic transition and emerging leadership in Central Appalachia, including the Strong Mountain Communities project and the Building a Movement in Central Appalachia project. Stephanie serves on the board of Appalshop and Good News Mountaineer Garage. Stephanie is a graduate of NYU Law School and received her BA from the University of Pittsburgh. She was born and lives in Charleston, West Virginia. IMPACT Passed 4 laws in the past 3 years expanding local agriculture opportunity for small farmers. Engaged and trained more than 1,500 people in the past 3 years in community-based policy. Started the Turn This Town Around program in 4 West Virginia communities, sparking community engagement and development. Coordinated a statewide coalition to address dilapidated buildings in rural communities, providing technical assistance and policy development. Created a statewide community development network to reduce redundancies in organizational activities and fill gaps relating to community and economic development in West Virginia. MEDIA “Meeting highlights efforts to help coalfields” – Charleston Gazette-Mail, Jun. 23 “Local leaders hope federal money will help economy” – Charleston Gazette-Mail, Oct. 17 “Whitesville 2.0: A coal town’s reboot” – The Register-Herald, Apr. 2015 “Workshop aims to help clean up southern WV communities” – WVNS, Oct. 2015