Join host Dr. Ramon Stuart, president of West Virginia University Institute of Technology, for another edition of Our Communiversity Today, a community affairs program sponsored by Pendleton Community Bank and Cucumber and Company. In this episode, Dr. Stuart addresses one of the most pressing issues facing Southern West Virginia: the drug and opioid epidemic. Ground zero for this crisis has been communities like McDowell County, and today’s conversation centers on how the state is fighting back with resources, leadership, and accountability.

Dr. Stuart welcomes Greg Duckworth, interim chair of the West Virginia First Foundation, to discuss how settlement funds from lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies are being used to prevent addiction, support recovery, and rebuild communities. Duckworth shares his personal journey from humble beginnings in Grafton to serving as a state trooper in McDowell County, and how those experiences shaped his perspective on substance abuse and community resilience.

Listeners will gain insight into how the West Virginia First Foundation is managing over a billion dollars in settlement funds, with more than $300 million already available to distribute. Duckworth explains the grant application process, the focus on prevention and recovery, and the importance of transparency and evidence-based programs. From supporting foster care and recovery housing to youth prevention initiatives, the Foundation’s mission is clear: to save lives and create a healthier future for the next generation.

As Dr. Stuart reminds us, the goal of Our Communiversity Today is to answer two key questions: Why not us, and why not now? This conversation highlights the urgency of acting together as a community to stop the cycle of addiction. For more information about the West Virginia First Foundation and grant opportunities, visit WWNRRadio.com. Tune in, get informed, and discover how Southern West Virginia is taking bold steps toward healing and hope.