MORGANTOWN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
The next regular meeting should be Thursday, November 9, at 6:30 p.m. You can get contact information for the commission, including information on filing complaint forms here. You can get copies of the agendas and minutes for the commission meetings here. You can find a calendar of annual human rights observances here. Observances for the current month are included in this website here. There is currently one vacancy on the commission.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of morgantown / monongalia County (LWV-MM)
Thanks to Cynthia Nelson, the secretary of the LWV-MM, for this report:
Vote as if Democracy depends on it...it does!!!
If you have not already taken advantage of early voting, that deadline has now passed. Election Day is Tuesday November 3, 2026 and polls in West Virginia will be open from 6:30am until 7:30pm.
A shout out and a thank you from LWV-MM to Mountain Line Transit Authority bus services for stepping up and providing free rides on all local routes on Tuesday November 3rd. If you need more information visit busride.org to view routes and times in Morgantown.
It is not too late to fulfill your civic duty to participate in the process of electing the officials that will represent us on local school boards, county commissions, state legislature, and federal government. If you do not know where your polling place is located then please check with the county clerk’s office at monongaliacountyclerk.com or your Secretary of State’s office to locate this information outside of Monongalia County. In West Virginia the site address is govotewv.com or sos.wv.gov. Every state has similar options.
You can also download a sample ballot mononaliacountyclerk.com or your appropriate county. You can complete your ballot on paper and take it into the voting booth with you. You may not use your cell phone or other electronic device in the voting booth. For information on your candidates we suggest you do the research on Vote411.org and ballotpedia.org . Both sites have questionnaires andballotpedia.org gives biographies and voting histories of candidates if available.
As of October 30, 2026 more than 48 million Americans have cast their ballots early. In West Virginia, 115,855 residents have already voted in-person or by returned absentee ballot. This state participation in early voting is up 30% from the 2022 midterm election. However, in the 2022 midterm election, only 35.4% of the total number of registered voters actually participated. This translates to 100% of us living with decisions made by only 1 in 3 of us. This translates to our community, state and federal representation being determined by only ⅓ of eligible voters.
There are 1,210,297 registered voters eligible to vote in this election and the early votes currently represent less than 10% of those eligible to vote. We look forward to revealing what percentage of residents participated this year in a future contribution.
In recent years, United States elections have become fodder for conspiracy theorists, election deniers, and other interference. 2026 will prove to be a test of our laws, our Constitution, and our belief in a representative system of government. Political scientists, scholars, and historians are all issuing warnings that as we count this election, we must all be prepared to stand up and defend the results. While mainstream media outlets like to project winners based on the initial returns, we must also remember that the actual process takes longer than just the election day results. In West Virginia, absentee ballots are not opened and tallied until after the polls close. All county clerks are also responsible for an official canvas of the ballots. This process can take weeks, especially if there are contested ballots or close races.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan volunteer organization that encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate, but is engaged in local, state, and national issues of importance to our communities. The League works to influence public policy through advocacy and education. League membership is open to all men and women age 16 or older.
League membership is open to all men and women age 16 or older
The LWV of Morgantown-Monongalia County invites everyone to subscribe to LWV-MM’s Substackhttps://lwvmorgantown.substack.com . A subscription gets you automatic updates. And it’s free. "We hope you read our Substack articles shared on social media."
Follow this group on Facebook and contact them by email at lwvmorgantown@gmail.com. Interested in joining the League of Women Voters? Join online. The Morgantown/Monongalia County League has been a member organization of CCSJ.
GREATER MORGANTOWN INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION (GMIA)
You can follow GMIA on Facebook or on the web. Their email address is faulkeseve@gmail.com.
MORGANTOWN NOW CHAPTER
Follow the group on Facebook or their website. Email this group at morgantownnow@gmail.com.
Morgantown NOW Business and Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Strange Light Coffee House, 304 Willey St., Morgantown.
There are four current Officers: 1. President, Adrianne Dering, 2. Vice President, Amanda Ray, Treasurer, Lynda Goldberg, and Communications Officer, Barbara Evans Fleischauer. All of the current officers are willing to run for their positions again. Nominations may also be made from the floor. We will have fall snacks, including hot cider.
Morgantown-Kingwood Branch of the NAACP
Morgantown-Kingwood Branch of the NAACP will be meeting on Tuesday, November 17. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom and should include a block of time to vote for officers for the coming year. The current slate includes Mark King, president; Kevin Gooding, first vice president; Dady Dadyburjor, second vice president; Chelsea Slade, third vice president; Hope Allman, treasurer; and Bekah Aranda, secretary. Contact the NAACP at 3241naacp@gmail.com for more information and to learn how to participate..
The branch has a variety of committees, including Education, Political Action, Legal Redress, Criminal Justice, and Health.
The branch has a Readings on Race and Rights group and does its work with a variety of committees, including Education, Political Action, Legal Redress, Criminal Justice, and Health.
Follow the NAACP on Facebook.
We appreciate the fact that the Branch shares the CCSJ Update with its membership and contributed to our Martin Luther King Jr. Day program this year.
Morgantown Civilian Police Review Advisory Board Needs One Member
The City of Morgantown is currently accepting applications for one vacancy on the Board, and you can get a link to the application and more information by going here. “The Board shall consist of nine members appointed by the City Council. Each member shall be a resident of the city or an active member of an organization that works within the city to promote purposes consistent with the purpose of the Board.”
The board meets the second Tuesday of each month at noon at the Morgantown Public Safety Building conference room. For links to agendas and minutes of past meetings, go here.
MORGANTOWN CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-MENNONITE
Services are in person or on Zoom at 10:30. For Zoom instructions, please go here.
November 1 is All Saints Day at our 10:30 Morgantown Church of the Brethren worship, with photographs of those no longer with us.
Looking for a place to be with people on Election Day? The polarized nature of our elections can make awaiting election results alone an anxious experience. Join us at the Peace Table, November 3rd from 6:00-8:30pm for a meal and connecting as a community. Taco Salad Bar will be provided with both vegetarian and omnivore proteins. Food prep starts about 4:15 if you'd like to help.
Saturday, November 7, you are invited to a pumpkin pie baking beginning 3:00 and wrapping up by 8:00, when you take home your beautiful pie. There will also be some supper provided. All will be provided so you can roll out the dough.
The church has a Blessings Box outside the church at 464 Virginia Avenue, Morgantown, where you can drop off extra food you may have or take some if you need it, or swap food. Feminine hygiene products are also welcome.
Follow them at their website or on Facebook. The church is a member of the CCSJ.
monongAlia Friends
First Day meetings are at 11:00 a.m. at 648 E. Brockway, Morgantown. Contact them at monquakers@gmail.com.
Monongalia Friends Meeting is a member organization of CCSJ.
First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown:
The church is located at 456 Spruce Street. Adult Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. Online worship is at 10:00 a.m., and in-person worship is at 11:00 a.m. The church’s Facebook page is here and has details about the many activities. The church is a member organization of CCSJ.
"It is a value of First Presbyterian Church that when we gather, we welcome one another just as God loves us, without any conditions.
No matter who you are or where you’re from
No matter where you live or work
No matter your family of origin or ethnicity
No matter who you love or how you identify, or wherever you are on your spiritual journey
We welcome you just as God loves you, without any conditions.
“This year we will celebrate All Saints’ Day on Sunday, Nov. 1. Every year we take time to celebrate and name all church members, friends and loved ones who passed away over the past year. We invite you to bring photos of loved ones to place in the window wells of the sanctuary during worship.”
“We are partnering with Scott’s Run Settlement House to sponsor 25 families for their special Thanksgiving food drive. Scott’s Run Food Pantry will serve nearly 300 families, and we are working together to provide non-perishable food items and gift cards for families.
“Presbyterian Women is holding its annual greenery sale with Modern Homestead. Available to order are two styles of greenery swags, greenery wreaths in three sizes, and a memorial greenery arrangement for gravesites. Please return your order form and check to the church office by Sunday, November 15, or to Ann Lawson, 305 Rhode Island Avenue, Westover, WV 26501. Checks can be made out to Presbyterian Women.
Include your contact information, the date you will pick up your wreath, and the location of pick-up. All proceeds from the sale will support Presbyterian Women’s missions.
Deadline to order: Sunday, November 13.
Pick-up time and locations: Reedsville Modern Homestead: November 29 through
December 5. Church parlor: Sunday, November 29.”
Their garden produce goes to local food banks.
Fairmont Pride
Their webpage is here and their Facebook page is here. Join them for their monthly meetings at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center on the campus of Fairmont State University. The meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Go here to access the link to join the meeting virtually.
“If you have any questions about elections, board seat duties, or other business, please don't hesitate to reach out through this page or to a current board member directly. Thank you!”
MORGANTOWN PRIDE
For information on this group go to their Facebook page or their website. Morgantown Pride also has an Instagram page here.
#pridetribemorgantown #morgantownwvpride #YallBelongHere
Raising Trans Kids Community Group
The Raising Trans Kids community group is for West Virginia parents, guardians, and families who are raising transgender or gender diverse kids (of any age), or have kids who might be transgender or gender diverse. Follow Raising Trans Kids on Facebook.
Anyone interested in joining the meeting for the first time or to get more information can email raisingtranskids@gmail.com.
Project Rainbow
Project Rainbow provides shelter and support services to vulnerable young folks in the LGBT community who come from all across WV. They need our support. Follow this group on Facebook or on their website.
Scotts Run
Osage Soul and Gospel Choir: The choir meets the last Monday of every month, except around specific holidays, at the Ferry House at 6:00 p.m.
MONONGALIA COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER (MCCAC)
Follow this group at its website or on Facebook.
"Join us on November 15th at the Mon County Center for MCCAC's Holiday Market & Quarter Auction! Shop local vendors and enjoy holiday fun with the whole family while supporting a great cause!
"We are still accepting vendors and sponsors!
"Want to participate as a vendor? Fill out the Vendor Interest Form here: https://forms.gle/AFgEqucaDhHvUcAN9
"Completing our interest form does NOT commit you to participating — it simply helps us share updates and reach vendors who would like more information.
"Interested in a sponsorship opportunity at the event? Reach out to pshreve@moncocac.org
"Whether you're looking to showcase your business, gain community exposure through sponsorship, or simply enjoy a festive day of shopping and giving back, we'd love to have you with us!
The MCCAC is building an inclusive and passionate community of advocates who support their mission through awareness, education, advocacy, and fundraising. See below. Further information is on their website.
Morgantown Mutual Aid
Follow this group on Facebook.
The prestigious award is presented annually to a resident of West Virginia who best exemplifies the values and ideals taught by Martin Luther King Jr.
To nominate someone, you must submit a two-page statement of support, two letters of recommendation, and complete a nomination form available here.
Nominations are due by Thursday, December 3.
The award recipient will be announced during the 2027 MLK Unity Breakfast slated for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.
