Experts say museums, performing arts, higher education, health care, a waterfront, transportation access, architecturally significant homes, and buildings and parks are ideal assets for attracting creative people. Huntington has all this, yet, until recently, few would have called it a choice place for researchers, scientists, software developers, artists and musicians. Why?

Our Create Huntington team realized two key ingredients were missing: a positive sense of place and a positive self-image. We launched a multi-year, multi-faceted approach to tackle these issues.

Funny name, serious results

In November 2008, Create Huntington began to meet weekly at Chat 'n' Chew, our "third place" outside of home and work where we gather to socialize and work on projects. Our forum welcomes residents of all ages, backgrounds and economic levels.

We identified four essential elements for success: regular meetings in a comfortable place, a free venue, no negativity and encouragement of creative expression.

Third places can be coffee shops, restaurants or town squares where comfort encourages conversation. We discovered a former hotel lobby in the Frederick Building filled with leather sofas, a grand fireplace and an adjacent restaurant.

We had no budget, so we called on our friends Mark and Izzy Cross, owners of 21 at the Frederick, one of Huntington's finest restaurants. They donate the space and provide food service to attendees, who pay for only what they eat or drink.

We politely, firmly discourage negative comments. It's frightening how quickly "no" can kill a vision. Every week, we explain that all ideas are welcome at Chat 'n' Chew.

Perhaps the simplest, most meaningful element is meeting people where they are. We don't tell people they should work on this great idea or that new project "that will surely transform Huntington." We encourage them to talk about what they'd like to see, what they feel Huntington needs to be great and then provide an infrastructure to bring the vision to reality.

In nine months Huntington groups have

Created five community gardens.

Supported beautification projects in two parks and three public spaces.

Raised money to donate 1,000 trees to the community in 2009 and 2010.

Worked with the city to create a dog park.

Opened a downtown art gallery.

Created a monthly performing and visual arts venue.

Launched a Web site, www.whyhuntingtonwv.com.

Begun a Kiva microlending group.

Helped the "Litter Gitter" team get 1,500 clean-up volunteers.

Organized the state's first sanctioned 5K Championship Run in a decade.

Formed a team to attract television and movie producers to the area.

Brought the Create West Virginia conference to Huntington.

A year ago Vaughn Grisham scolded us, saying Huntington looks unloved. Chat 'n' Chew provides an opportunity to engage people. We've learned we can rely on ourselves to fix our problems, and we're learning just how much Huntingtonians love their town.

Photo by Byron Durham

Huntington gets some love at Chat n Chew. The Create Huntington group hosts Chat n Chew from 5:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday night in the lobby of the Frederick Building.

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