Kanawha Valley NOW

06/11/2026

🩵🩷🤍

Mothman says bodily autonomy is an Appalachian value, full stop.

Created for Women's Health Center of Maryland - who is making sure no one gets left behind.

Digital illustration of mothman with a trans flag pin holding a sign that reads, 'trans folks have always existed in Appalachia

06/05/2026

The 19th Amendment was passed by both houses of Congress in 1919, which began the state ratification process that would lead to the Amendment's certification in the Constitution on August 26, 1920.

But the battle for women's right to vote didn't end there. While it represented a major victory for the movement after nearly 70 years of activism, the 19th Amendment did not simply grant universal suffrage for all women.

Native American women were not considered US citizens until 1924, but until as late as 1962, individual states still prevented them from voting.

Asian American immigrant women were excluded from voting until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 allowed them to gain citizenship.

Black women faced Jim Crow-era barriers like poll taxes, voter ID requirements, and acts of violence that threatened their ability to cast a ballot until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Latina women faced literacy tests and other language-based setbacks that prevented them from voting until a 1975 extension of the Voting Rights Act.

As we celebrate this monumental achievement for women, we also recognize that only some of the women who fought for suffrage were able to exercise their newly-won right to vote. Despite being some of the movement's fiercest advocates, suffragists like Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, Zitkála-Šá, and Luisa Capetillo could not cast their first ballots in the 1920 election because of their race.

Today, we honor the women who not only fought for the 19th Amendment's passage, but also after it, as their efforts on behalf of their communities paved the way for the freedoms of all American women.

📷: Dora Lewis (seated), Abby Scott Baker (seated), Anita Pollitzer (standing), Alice Paul (seated), Florence Boeckel (seated), and Mabel Vernon (standing) conferring over ratification of the 19th Amendment at the National Woman's Party headquarters, 1919.

06/03/2026

Want to be a part of Juneteenth Charleston WV’s celebration? Details below!👇

🚨 CHARLESTON, WV — IT’S TIME TO SHOW OUT! ✊🏾🔥

Calling all performers, vendors, community groups, churches, dance teams, drumlines, organizations, and parade participants!

Juneteenth WV 2026 is officially accepting registrations NOW for one of the biggest celebrations of Black culture, freedom, music, business, and community in the state! ❤️🖤💚

📍 Slack Plaza — Charleston, WV
📅 Friday, June 19
⏰ 12 PM – 4 PM

This isn’t just an event… it’s a celebration of OUR history, OUR culture, and OUR joy. ✨

Whether you sing, dance, sell amazing products, represent your organization, or want to march in the parade — WE WANT YOU THERE!

⚠️ Deadline to register: MAY 22
Spots are limited and expected to fill FAST.

🎤 Performers:
tinyurl.com/juneteenthwvperformers2026

🛍 Vendors:
tinyurl.com/juneteenthwvvendor2026

🥁 Parade Participants:
tinyurl.com/juneteenthparade26

Tag someone who NEEDS to be part of this 👇🏾
Let’s make this year’s Juneteenth celebration bigger, louder, and more powerful than ever! 🔥

06/02/2026

Happy Pride, y'all!🌈

Who's going to the parade in Charleston this weekend???🙋‍♀️

06/01/2026

Have you heard about this rad storytelling project via West Virginians for Affordable Health Care??? Powerful!💜

Ladies! If you’ve used health care in West Virginia, your experience can help drive change. All you need is a phone, tablet, or computer with video and audio, and a quiet place to talk. We need courageous West Virginians to share their experiences with sexual and reproductive health care in the Mountain State. This includes accessing reproductive health care. https://wvahc.org/act/echoes/

05/29/2026

Before Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close, read up on these rad AAPI feminist icons!✊

Boss bi***es on deck.

05/28/2026

Very cool!💪

By FSU Sports FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Fairmont State University is proud to announce the hiring of Sami Lusk as the first head coach in the history of its

05/26/2026

Can you believe it's almost June already, and we're just now getting around to posting about our May 2026 newsletter?!😱

Make sure you join our mailing list ASAP so that you don't miss out on next month's rad happenings!💜