School of Public Health Represented at Try This! Conference

The goal of the Try This! initiative is to gather West Virginians who want to knock West Virginia off the top of the “worst health” lists, community by community.            

The TryThis! Conference was an integral step in pulling together communities statewide for an exchange of ideas and sharing of practical inspiration on “how to do it.”  

WVU Public Health students and alumni attended the conference as advocates, presenters, and practitioners in the fields of public health.  

“I think the biggest take away from the conference is the mantra that was repeated throughout the weekend 'It’s up to Us,'" says Emily Eddy, an MPH student in Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences.  “It is truly up to each and every one of us to initiate positive change in our communities.” 

MPH student, Kathryn Long, an intern with the West Virginia Community Development Hub (WV Hub), was involved in organizing the event and creating the www.trythiswv.com   website.

Pictured above are SPH Practice Based-Experience Director Bobbi Sykes, SPH students Jordan Francis(SBHS), Angy ElKatib (SBHS), Emily Eddy, Kathryn Long(HPML) and SPH alumna Kate Flack. 

As an outgrowth of the Try This! Conference, the mayor of Morgantown has established the Mon County Try This! Team to improve the health and environment of Morgantown and its surrounding areas. The team will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 11:30 to 12:30 at the Mediterranean Deli in downtown Morgantown; the meetings are open to anyone who may be interested in participating.

For more information on affordable, doable ideas, go to www.trythiswv.com.  You will find more than 85 idea- and resource-packed files on activities ranging from farmers markets to running/walking clubs, school-based health centers and gardening for children.