The Flag Spruce Initiative hopes to foster positive change in W.Va’s economy, education and environment

Oct. 8 (Reuters) – As the world shut down in the spring of 2020, brothers Michael and Kylenn Criste started what Kylenn described as an idea Michael had for some sort of COVID-related project focused on making positive change in the state of West bring about Virginia.

The brothers then shaped Michael’s ideas into a non-profit organization called the Flag Spruce Initiative, where they are supported on the board by a few like-minded friends and family members.

“Now, two years later, I think we’ve been able to make some meaningful contributions and do a good job,” Kylenn said.

The co-founder said the group wants to help change the stigma around West Virginia by not only doing hands-on work in local communities, but also by having important conversations about how the state can grow and develop, and empowering and empowering people who think outside the box.

The organization’s mission focuses on investing in and advocating for what the brothers refer to as “the three E’s” – economy, education and environment – and working towards creating a state that is culturally rich, environmentally sustainable and is economically secure.

“We want to find those good parts of West Virginia and really find ways to highlight those and be sought-after leaders when it comes to how we can drive change in local communities — while recognizing that there’s still a lot to do,” said Kylenn.

One of the group’s ongoing projects is the podcast Creeks to Peaks: The Understory.

The undergrowth, Kylenn said, is a forestry term for the vegetation that grows on the forest floor beneath the canopy of the tree canopy. Although it doesn’t get much light, it continues to grow and thrive.

With the slogan “The podcast that highlights West Virginians near and far who are doing great things in their respective fields,” Kylenn said, the show hopes to unveil some of the sub-stories that make West Virginia grow and thrive.

The first season featured discussions with a variety of guests including composer and radio host Matthew Jackfert and award-winning filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon.

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Kylenn said season two just kicked off with a two-part deep dive into the life of the late World War II Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams. The next episode will star an upstate couple making groundbreaking discoveries in the field of climate change.

“There’s quite a crowd of people that we’ve been able to come in and talk to. And that in itself is pretty cool, because from my point of view,” he said, “it’s inspiring, you know. It’s not just run-of-the-mill jobs — it’s thought-provoking.”

Creeks to Peaks not only highlights individuals and encourages a variety of ideas and opportunities, but will also discuss other nonprofits and organizations that are doing good work.

“What we want to try, above all, is to make sure that we have a voice and that we are committed to different communities, different projects and different organizations that are also doing practical work.”

Kylenn said members of the organization have also gone out and gotten their hands dirty helping out with projects like lavender fields on reclaimed mine land and planting a garden at a rehabilitation center.

Advisory Board member Eric Lovell said the Flag Spruce Initiative board members all had in common that they had all traveled and moved out of the state — and it had to leave West Virginia to look back with a different perspective.

“It’s very personal to us — most of them live out of state — but we’re constantly thinking about our relationship with it and what that means,” Eric said.

“We wanted to think about how we can give a voice to others who may have left West Virginia, to provide them with a space to share their thoughts or feelings about leaving and what, in essence, is West Virginia as a state.” say would object if they could speak to him.”

With that in mind and some inspiration from Jason Headley’s essay Dear West Virginia, Eric used his background in geography and geospatial technology and mapping to start another ongoing project for the Flag Spruce Initiative – the Mountain State Migration Survey.

The poll asks general questions about your connection to the Mountain State and why you chose to leave the country or not.

At the end, there’s a place to write your very own “Dear West Virginia.” When surveys are completed, a location pin with your comment “Dear West Virginia” is placed on an interactive map on the Flag Spruce website. Pins from those who call West Virginia home can be seen around the world.

As we chatted, Kylenn scrolled the map and found one that caught his eye.

“It just says, ‘Dear West Virginia. You are unique. There are so many times it’s hard to love you. But I will always fight for you.’ I think that really sums up perfectly what a lot of us are feeling.

“It’s not always easy being a West Virginia attorney knowing there are so many issues,” he said. “But that’s also why it’s so important to make sure you have advocates and allies, and that you pool resources to generate ideas and create communities.”

In addition to actively pooling resources with other organizations, Flag Spruce is also working to pool financial resources.

Kylenn said they are currently fundraising for their Creeks to Peaks Foundation Scholarship.

Contrary to what many traditionally consider a scholarship, the money is given to those facing financial obstacles to starting a career in educational or professional fields to pay the costly fees associated with things like certification exams or tools are connected, which are required for the training.

Applying for the scholarship is as simple as providing contact information, occupation or career field, how much money you need and why you need it.

Economics, Education and Environment – ​​to help grow and nurture a resilient state with resilient people who impact and will continue to impact the world – similar to the resilience of the organization’s namesake, the flag spruce.

Although board members are often abroad, they said they still care because “our families are still there. And our friends are still there. And they are affected too. And we grew up with the challenges that West Virginians have faced and will continue to face, and we want to help make West Virginia — I wouldn’t say more marketable, but in a way, is that right? so as not to just disrupt the jokes and the stereotypes.”

“As if there were a tie — there’s a palpable feeling I have when I talk about West Virginia,” Kylenn said. “You know, you crawl over the line and it feels different.”

Kylenn and Eric said their next venture will take on the task of cleaning up the New River Gorge after Bridge Day next week and are looking for volunteers. If you would like to help, email @flagspruce.org.

For more information about the group’s work, links to the Creeks to Peaks podcast, the Dear West Virginia map, and scholarship applications, visit flagspruce.org or social media pages. Donations to the organization can be made through the website.