From left, Christy Runion, Jason Earl, Erika Washington, Brenda Myers, Raeanna Earl, Duncan Autrey, Brittany Dernberger, Laura Rigell, Jennifer Hall-Witt, Wendy Tuck and Lisa Doyle-Parsons gathered for a group photo Wednesday to celebrate the partnership between individuals from across the globe in anticipation of today’s Community Celebration and Solution Reveal from the Parkersburg Engagement Project. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Community members will gather today at St. Joseph Landing for a public “Community Celebration and Solution Reveal,” marking the conclusion of a year-long pilot project aimed at addressing substance use.

The Parkersburg Engagement Project used surveys, listening sessions and community discussions to identify the issue residents felt most strongly affects the region. Substance use emerged as the priority, according to Lisa Doyle-Parsons, a steering committee member and executive director of the Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“This is the culmination of having looked at all of those solution ideas,” Doyle-Parsons said. “Our local steering committee went over all of those ideas and came up with a plan we think will really help with prevention, reducing drug use or better serving those in recovery and building a stronger, healthier community.”

More than 600 residents contributed ideas and feedback throughout the process, including responses to a community survey and participation in small-group discussions and listening sessions. Doyle-Parsons said the steering committee reviewed more than 700 ideas submitted by community members before narrowing them into a four-part solution plan that will be unveiled at today’s event.

In addition to outlining the plan, organizers will provide opportunities for attendees to sign up to be involved in the next phase of implementation. A brief follow-up survey will also be offered to measure whether the project has shifted how residents feel about working together across differences to address local challenges.

“This was also a civic engagement project,” Doyle-Parsons said. “It was about seeing whether people with different ideas, different backgrounds and different political ideologies can work together to resolve issues and build community.”

The event will also include visiting partners from the national Action Lab, who traveled from multiple states and from Germany to participate. Organizers said the visiting team represents partners from about 18 states who have supported the pilot project.

The Community Celebration and Solution Reveal is open to the public and will include a brief overview of the project from start to finish, followed by the unveiling of the solution framework and ways for residents to stay involved. The event will run from 5-7 p.m. at the 70s Lobby at St. Joseph Landing.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com