Ambassadors: Debbie Sizemore and Jill McClung
Community: Williamsburg, WV
Organization: Williamsburg Community Action
Debbie and Jill have always been committed to the health of their community.
Deb grew up in Greenbrier County and says she joined the Health Alliance from day 1 because she believes that change comes from the bottom up instead of top-down. As she explains, “What is unique about the Health Alliance is that each community gets to determine what their issues are and what they want to focus their efforts on.”
Williamsburg is a town without gas stations, stores, or schools. People travel over half an hour by bus and car to get to school and work. Yet they are a resilient community whose members take care of each other. When Williamsburg lost their ambulance, they taught community members to administer basic CPR and first aid because the nearest ambulance takes 40 minutes to reach their town.
Jill and Deb co-lead Williamsburg Works on Wellness to bring physical activity and nutrition opportunities to youth and seniors. Bike Rodeos teach young people how to ride and fix a bike. Daytime Tai Chi and indoor-walking classes for seniors offer a space for healthy connection and movement.
