Shepherdstown resident Jenny Haynes, left, accepts a Heart of the Community Award from Black Policy Day Eastern Panhandle organizer Teresa Holmes in Corner Connections on Aug. 15. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

CHARLES TOWN — The first “Heart of the Community” honors presentation was held during the Black Policy Day – Eastern Panhandle Experience in Corner Connections on Aug. 15.

Nine West Virginia residents were presented with plaques, recognizing their leadership and hard work, which has positively impacted the region’s Black community members.

“Together, through collective action and commitment, we can build stronger, more inclusive communities that uplift all individuals and pave the way for a more just society,” Holmes said. “The ‘Heart of the Community’ award recipients recognize this and are unwavering in their commitment to making it a reality.”

Those recipients were: former Shepherdstown town council member Jenny Haynes, Jefferson County Magistrate Arthena Roper, education advocate Charlotte Norris, George Washington University political science and public policy major Aicha Sy, Department of Veterans Affairs Health Systems Specialist Donna Newman, Diehl Law PLLC founder Layne Diehl, social justice advocate Tiffany Ferguson, Miss West Virginia 2017 Tamia Hardy and Shalonda Winston, who served as Berkeley County Toys for Tots coordinator for four years and now is the LifeWise Academy program director.

“In 2020, I ran against two other people and was duly elected. In 2024, I’m proud to say that no one ran against me, so I’m hoping that the work that I’m doing is speaking to that,” Roper said, mentioning she was Jefferson County’s first Black magistrate.

Jefferson County Magistrate Arthena Roper speaks at Black Policy Day Eastern Panhandle, after accepting a Heart of the Community Award in Corner Connections on Aug. 15. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Another honoree Hardy, was also a trailblazer, being the first Black woman to be crowned Miss West Virginia, in 2017. She currently sits on the Miss West Virginia board, alongside fellow award recipient Newman, and works for Main Street Martinsburg.

“I am so humbled to receive this award. It is just so beautiful, to recognize that the things you are doing, people are seeing, and they are noticing, regardless of if you’re thinking it is making an impact or not,” Hardy, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from Shepherd University, said. “When I was little, people would ask, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ I never had a specific answer, because it wasn’t a typical job description — I just knew that, as a young girl, I wanted to work with youth and I knew that I wanted to make change in my community. I’m pretty sure that was impacted by the fact that I was typically the only person of color in white spaces growing up.”

For Haynes, through her knowledge of local government and her current position as operations manager for the Shepherdstown Community Club, she has been able to serve as an ally for the local Black community.

“I owe it to the Shepherdstown Community Club, to give me a space to allow people to shine,” Haynes said, before crediting her family with teaching her to stand up for the needs of others. “My family is leading by example.”

Black Policy Day Eastern Panhandle organizer Teresa Holmes, right, presents a Heart of the Community Award to Department of Veterans Affairs Health Systems Specialist Donna Newman at Corner Connections on Aug. 15. Photo by Tabitha Johnston