A current tour of the West Side (Charleston, West Virginia) would reveal block after block of abandoned and blighted structures. Dark, shadowing corners, high grass, and debris covering the ground. The landscape hides the true beauty of the people who reside here. Today, a significant portion of Charleston’s African American population resides on the West Side. These neighborhoods have strong working families, deeply involved leaders, and organizations all fighting to hold things together while building it up at the same time. Click to review Building Up The West Side: Cooperation is the way!