Best of the West
Every season, a new community member is awarded, Best of the West, by the Westside Collaborative. Unsung heroes are nominated who gives their energy to better lives on the West Side. Celebrate the people who continuous dedicate their time to the best side! Click here to nominate the next Best of the West!
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Best of the West: Dr. Shanequa Smith
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Dr. Shanequa Smith of Restorative Actions was presented with Westside Together’s (WST) Best of the West Award (BOWA) at the Westside Champions Celebration on Dec. 9. As a restorative practitioner in Charleston, West Virginia, Dr. Smith’s work centers around joy, education, and connecting people to their desired opportunities. She says that through joy, people feel…
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Best of the West: Ashley McElwee
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Ashley McElwee was presented with Westside Together’s (WST) Best of the West Award (BOWA) at the Westside Champions Celebration on Dec. 9. Ashley is a Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) and PEERS Manager with West Virginia Sober Living (WVSL). Elizabeth “Liz” Neal, who also works at WVSL, introduced Ashley to the crowd at the Champions…
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Best of the West: 5 Students
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This fall, five young men were given Westside Together’s Best of West Award (BOWA) for their good deeds in the community. The students’ names are Kash White, Owen Aldridge, Ja’Mahri Davis, Brenden Shirriel, and Kamron Sims. Charleston resident Jamaal Davis nominated the children for the award in recognition of their positive contributions and for being…
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Best of the West: Carol Hines
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Carol Hines was presented with the “Best of the West” award at the Westside Collaborative Meetup this summer. Carol is the founder and operator of a soul food business, Carol’s Soul to Soul. She is also a passionate mentor for the West Side community. When COVID-19 hit, Carol was laid off from her job as…
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Best of the West: Martha Mitchell
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”I enjoy going to work every day, working for the kids… Miss Martha’s there to save the day!” — Martha Mitchell Martha Mitchell was recognized as the Best of the West of Spring 2025 for her longstanding dedication as a cook and mentor to the kids at Salvation Army’s Boys & Girls Club! ”Martha has…
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Best of the West: Linesha Frith
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“I’m very grateful, and I’m glad I was able to do something that I never seen myself doing.” — Linesha Frith Linesha Frith is recognized as the Best of the West for her outstanding dedication as a member of Keep Your Faith Corporation bringing food access to the West Side! Linesha began working with KYFC…
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Best of the West: Vandalyn Justice
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“As frustrating as my job can be, there’s great rewards to be offered. And helping people, you know, it’s awesome. So that’s how I spend my day.” Vandalyn Justice Vandalyn is a Westside resident and since 2009 has served the Charleston community as a social worker at the Salvation Army on Tennessee Ave. “It’s not…
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Best of the West: Cydney Mason
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Featured in the photo to the left: Ashtyn LaRee, Cydney Mason, and Ayden LaMonte | photo by Rafael Barker. Cydney Mason was presented with the “Best of the West” award at the Westside Collaborative Meetup this summer. Cydney, a Child Support Supervisor for the West Virginia Office of Constituent Services, is also an active leader…
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Best of the West: Tom Toliver
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Tom Toliver was honored with Westside Together’s seasonal Best of the West Award for his ceaseless dedication to supporting children and families of people who have been incarcerated, educating the community about growing our own healthy foods, and feeding anyone who needs it. “I believe God has reserved me for a purpose, and that purpose…
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Best of the West: Martec Washington & Shayla Leftridge
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On November 10, 2023, an American Water Company high-pressure water main break infiltrated the gas distribution system of the West Side flats. For several weeks, gas was shut off as Mountaineer Gas Company removed water from 46 miles of natural gas lines. A state of emergency was declared. Over 1,000 families were left without heat,…