We Are The Teachers - WATT

04/05/2026

Help Turn a Historic Church into a Home for Hope In the small c… Mildred Young needs your support for Restore a Church. Revive a Dream. Empower Our Youth.

03/12/2026

Gratitude in Action. Community in Motion.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation for their generous support of the Whittico Memorial Presbyterian Church Renovation Project led by We Are The Teachers, Inc. (WATT).
Your belief that health—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—is a fundamental human right and your commitment to addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes for children in our state aligns fully with our goal to change the world one child at a time. Because of your support, we are one step closer to restoring this historic landmark into a vibrant youth and community center in McDowell County — a place where young people can learn, grow, and discover their purpose.
For generations, Whittico Memorial Presbyterian Church has stood as a symbol of faith, resilience, and opportunity in Keystone, West Virginia. Through this renovation, WATT is honoring that legacy while creating new pathways for the future — providing mentorship, educational programming, leadership development, and safe spaces for youth.
The Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation exemplifies what it means to live out the call to serve the dear neighbor and promote the well-being of the whole community. Your partnership strengthens our shared mission of building healthier, stronger communities through compassion, service, and opportunity.
Because of your generosity, this vision is becoming reality.
Together, we are preserving history, empowering youth, and changing lives — one child at a time.
With gratitude,
We Are The Teachers, Inc.

02/05/2026

02/05/2026

Restoring Black History for All McDowell County Youth... Black History is McDowell County History.

02/05/2026

Celebrating the Black History of McDowell County, WV
McDowell County, West Virginia, was a prominent center of Black life in the early 20th-century coalfields, boasting a high population density of African Americans who moved for industrial work and created a, "Free State" environment. It was home to the first NAACP chapter in West Virginia (1921), the nation's first Black female legislator (Minnie Buckingham Harper), and the only memorial to Black WWI veterans.

Key Black History Facts for McDowell County, WV:
Political Power: Due to a large, concentrated Black population, Black residents held significant political power, including governing the community of Keystone, which was a majority-Black municipality.
Minnie Buckingham Harper: In 1928, she became the first African American woman to serve in any state legislative body in the U.S., appointed to fill her late husband's seat.
First NAACP Chapter: West Virginia's first chapter of the NAACP was established in Gary, WV, in 1921.
Kimball War Memorial: The nation's only monument dedicated specifically to African American soldiers who fought in World War I is located in Kimball.
Educational Excellence: The county was known for having four separate Black high schools and high-quality teachers, producing a highly educated black professional class in the region.
Industrial Labor: The population was historically diverse, with a significant Black population arriving from the South to work in the coal mines, reaching roughly 25% of the county population in 1950.
Henrietta Dismukes Hospital: Founded in 1930 by Black surgeon Dr. Henry D. Dismukes, this was one of the largest, most advanced, privately owned Black hospitals in the United States.
Cinder Bottom: A small, notorious area in Keystone known during the early 20th century for its nightlife and diverse, segregated community.

02/05/2026

Celebrating the Black History of West Virginia:
Carter G. Woodson was born in 1875 to freed slaves from Virginia. His family, like many African-Americans of that time, sought a new life in West Virginia. The railroad and coal mines in New River Gorge promised opportunity and a better life to many. Woodson's family purchased a farm and he grew up helping his father in the fields. He desired to attend high school and when he was older, he joined the mining workforce to pay for his education. While working, he self-taught himself basic reading and mathematics.

Over the years, Woodson worked in several mines including both Kaymoor and Nuttallburg mines. His fellow miners, especially Black miners, told him stories of their everyday lives. Their stories inspired Woodson to teach others about the contributions of African-American people. After six long years of mining, he saved up enough money to enroll in high school at age 20. He attended Douglass High School in Huntington, West Virginia, one of only a few black high schools in the area.
Perhaps the most recognized contribution of Carter G. Woodson is Black History Month. In 1926, he started the celebration of Negro History Week in February. He selected this week because it was at the same time as Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays. Over time, this week long celebration would expand to the entire month of February.

After decades of work and study, Carter G. Woodson passed away suddenly in 1950 at the age of 74. From humble, working man roots in the coal mines of New River Gorge, he had risen to be known as the “Father of Black History”.

01/20/2026

Join us on Tuesday, December 20 for a Speaker Session with Tina McDaniel and William Isom II for a presentation on local African-American History.