WHEELING, WV—On a Thursday evening in downtown Wheeling, the chatter of young voices can be heard filling a café lit with warm string lights. A local artist leans in to swap stories with a recent college grad. Across the room, a small business owner offers advice to a student who is just trying to figure out what comes next.

This isn’t your typical networking event, though. It’s called an Evening Buzz, part of a growing effort called Why Don’t You Stay Awhile (WDYSA), a nonprofit determined to change the way young people see the Upper Ohio Valley.

The name itself is both an invitation and a challenge. Why don’t you stay awhile? Why leave when you can build something meaningful here?

The nonprofit was founded by Spencer Porter, local Ohio Valley resident, to combat the Upper Ohio Valley’s region struggle with youth retention. WDYSA focuses on retaining and empowering young adults through professional development, community
connection, and collaboration with local leaders. The group believes that keeping talent is about belonging, not just job opportunities.

“The whole goal is to create a space or create a place for young people to feel welcome, to feel encouraged,” says Andrew Lewis, a Board Member for WDYSA and Executive Director of Academic Engagement and Learning Services at West Liberty University.

For decades, the Upper Ohio Valley has faced a common Appalachian dilemma: young people leave for college or opportunity and rarely return.

Population decline has drained local economies of energy and innovation. WDYSA was born out of that frustration and thrives with hope for a better future for small Appalachian communities.

“A lot of people think that Wheeling and the Ohio Valley are just dead… but if you really look, there’s something happening every weekend,” Lewis said.

The organization offers monthly social-professional events like the Evening Buzz, which mixes networking with genuine connection. Each event highlights a local entrepreneur or young professional, giving members the chance to learn from peers who have
chosen to stay and build in the region.

WDYSA also runs free quarterly workshops on practical and creative skills for students. These workshops feature a multitude of skills, from crafting business cards and building websites to navigating taxes or starting a side business. These sessions are open to
members and are designed to equip young professionals with tools they can actually
use.

“We always say that we have three things at all of our events: professional development, civic engagement, and fun,” Lewis said.

The last word is not an afterthought. The group’s events blend professionalism with creativity and social life, making community engagement feel less like an obligation and more like a lifestyle. By keeping things accessible and approachable, the group has drawn an eclectic mix of artists, students, small business owners, and teachers. The board itself is full of local leaders from all walks of life who may not have otherwise crossed paths.

“We have a business owner, a principal, community members like former council member Rosemary Ketchum, educators, and even a couple lawyers,” Lewis adds. “We wanted a diverse background so everyone feels there’s a connection to somebody. That gives us a good range of thought processes. We’re able to look at things holistically, not just one way.”

As WDYSA looks ahead, they envision more students and young people choosing to stay and thrive in the area. Lewis is hopeful for the future of the nonprofit, saying that “seeing students or young people say, ‘This is actually a nice area. I could see myself
living here, raising a family’. That’s the dream.”

For now, the movement continues one conversation at a time. However, the nonprofit makes it clear that while it is their namesake, the question isn’t “why don’t you stay awhile”—it’s “why ever leave?”