[ community ]
Young
Guns
“I want to give back to the county that gave
so much to me. I want to provide better
opportunities for those who are here now and
those who choose to stay here in the future.”
Christy Laxton
Christy Laxton, executive director of the
Wyoming County Economic Development
Authority, wakes up every day with the
goal of making her community a better
place. When she was named a member of
the Young Guns Class of 2016, her nom-
ination stood out, in part, because of her
long list of community service efforts. That
same commitment to service has now earned
her another honor. Earlier this year, she
was recognized as one of three recipients
of the West Virginia Jaycees Outstanding
Young West Virginian Award. This award
celebrates people who have distinguished
themselves in their careers and/or through
community service.
“I work hard in the community I grew up
in because this community worked hard for
me, and this feels like what I am supposed
to be doing,” she says. “To continue to be
recognized for my efforts is so amazing.”
Laxton currently serves on a total of 19
boards and committees that impact Wyoming
18
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
County, the region and the state of West
Virginia. She devotes her time and talent
to organizations that support community
growth and economic development, includ-
ing the Southern Economic Development
Council; West Virginia Economic Develop
ment Council; National Coal Heritage Area
Authority; MountainHeart Community
Services, Inc.; Wyoming County Economic
Development Authority; Wyoming County
Planning Commission; Region One Plan-
ning and Development Council; and Blue-
print Communities. She also contributes
to groups that support tourism, education
and the business community, like the West
Virginia Loan Fund Collaborative, West
Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation,
Mullens Area and Oceana chambers of
commerce and Wyoming County Board of
Education, as well as Visit Southern West
Virginia, Leadership Wyoming County,
Just for Kids Child Advocacy Center and
Wyoming East High School.
For Laxton, community service is much
more than just showing up to board meet-
ings and organizing food drives. For this
West Virginian, it is an opportunity to pay
forward her good fortune so others can
prosper as well.
“I grew up poor, and so many people
in this community provided for me back
then,” she says. “Now I want to give back
to the county that gave so much to me. I
want to provide better opportunities for
those who are here now and those who
choose to stay here in the future.”
Despite working full time and raising a
family, Laxton is still able to make giving
back a priority. “For me, community ser-
vice has always been something I needed to
do,” she says. “In my opinion, community
service is showing kindness to people and
helping others, and that is what we all need
to do. It just takes a little bit of time to help
someone else out, and if we all did that, we
could get a lot more done.”
For those who are looking to get involved
in their community, Laxton has some advice
on taking that first step. “Getting involved
is as simple as asking someone if you can
help,” she says. “I can promise you they
would be happy to accept your ideas and
guidance. You don’t have to have money
or supplies to help. Sometimes you just
need a little bit of time to share your skills
or thoughts, and it will make a difference
in that project.”
Laxton is proud to serve the Mountain
State, and she hopes that through her in-
volvement others will discover the beauty
of West Virginia and its people.
“West Virginia is my home, and I want
other people to see how great it is here,” she
says. “When you hear out-of-state visitors
talk about how much they love it here, you
realize they get it—they see the beauty of
the rivers and trails, and they experience
the magic of evenings by the fire, nights at
the ball fields and the changing seasons.
West Virginia is also where neighbors help
neighbors, and that’s one of the reasons I
choose to stay here and give back.”
MAGGIE HATFIELD
BRIDGET WALKER PHOTOGRAPHY