Jessica Lilly,Dec. 21, 2021

Williamson Attorney Builds Creative Outlet To Spur Growth, Spirit In His Hometown

Leo James Pajarillo, who goes by Jim, first left Mingo County for Massachusetts to attend boarding school, then Kentucky, and eventually landed in California. He worked there as an attorney for 17 years. Pajarillo made his journey home in 2014. He opened up a law practi…

David Adkins,Dec. 17, 2021

Diversity Speaker Promotes Advocacy Through Art, Theater In The Ohio River Valley

As part of our “Returning Home” series, David talks with Carmen Mitzi Sinnott about her decision to come back to Appalachia after years of delivering keynote performances, workshops, and classes around the world.Sinnott is a mixed race women from the region who uses her…

Liz McCormick,Dec. 16, 2021

Returning Home: Berkeley County Special Education Teacher Lifts Up Students With Disabilities

As part of our “Returning Home” series, education reporter Liz McCormick sat down with Berkeley County resident and educator Elizabeth Anne Greer Mobley.Mobley moved from Maryland to Martinsburg with her family when she was 14. The now 30-year-old mother of three is…

Roxy Todd,Dec. 16, 2021

Crystal Good On Returning Home To Launch the Publication ‘Black By God’

The first time Crystal Good left West Virginia—like, really left—she was 13. Up until then, apart from trips to Myrtle Beach for vacations, she really hadn’t spent time outside of her small town in Kanawha County.“Growing up in St. Albans was a safe place,” Go…