Sunday, October 26

Closing Sessions & Reflections
Ease into the final day with food, fellowship, and a full heart. Sunday is all about reflecting, connecting, and integrating what we’ve shared and sparked together.

10:00 AM | Continental Breakfast at The Dream Bean 
Start the morning with coffee, light bites, and easy conversation in the welcoming space where so many creative journeys have begun.

11:00 AM | Creative Fundraising: Grants & Beyond

Whether you're just starting your grant journey or looking for fresh ways to fund your work, this session is for you. CYS Founder Lori McKinney and special guests (TBA) will share practical insights on identifying and writing successful grants, building relationships with funders, and thinking creatively about income streams that go beyond the application cycle. Bring your questions, your ideas, and your curiosity.

12:00 PM | Lunch, Reflections & Practitioner Showcase
Share a meal and reflect on what’s moved you so far — then get inspired by a showcase of outstanding practitioners from across West Virginia who are using the arts to transform their communities, featuring The Biz with NormBeezy & Lady T, JD Marinus of Downtown Merchants, and Crystal Good of Black by God WV. 

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Theater as a Tool for Community Building
Discover how live performance can spark empathy, connection, and transformation. This immersive session explores theater as a creative practice for dialogue, participation, and community healing.

First, Sarah Young (she/her) and Jason A. Young (he/him), co-founders of The Rustic Mechanicals—West Virginia’s professional Shakespeare troupe—lead an engaging, hands-on workshop, Creating the #Shakespeareance. Through a lively mix of scenes, songs, and improv, they’ll reveal how centuries-old texts come alive through collaboration, shared light, and a joyful, community-centered approach.

Next, hear reflections from Dan Henthorn (The Griffin Players) and Beach Vickers (Shakespeare Studio of Montgomery, WV) on how local theater can inspire belonging and creative participation.

Finally, theater artist and facilitator Moriah Plante leads Acting Together: The Power of Community and Connection—a participatory experience exploring performance as a tool for healing, collaboration, and authentic expression.

1:00–4:00 PM | Podcast: The Biz with NormBeezy & Lady T 

Drop in with these entrepreneurs and podcasters to reflect on the weekend, share your insights, and experience their community-building podcast practice up close.

Throughout the Day – Last Chance!

🎨 Make & Take: Create your own tie-dye CYS t-shirt with artist Jillian Firth — a wearable keepsake of your journey and a splash of color to take home with you.