Try This Conference Attracts West Virginians Hoping for a Healthier State

West Virginia is one of the unhealthiest states in the country. The grassroots community health organization Try This West Virginia is hoping to change those statistics from the ground up.

Try This is having its third annual conference at West Virginia Wesleyan this weekend. The event includes breakout sessions, speakers and mingling opportunities for residents dedicated to turning around West Virginia’s health statistics. 

Using the motto “It’s up to us,” over the past three years Try This groups have added bike lanes, started community gardens and have begun to build trails to increase healthy activity.

At the conference today and tomorrow, attendees will talk about ways to expand these efforts and participate in breakout sessions on topics such as “healthy food on a shoestring budget,” “healthy community equals economic development” and “stress reduction.”

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.