For West Virginia native Freda Reaves, living “in the middle of nowhere with a lot of horses, chickens, and dogs” would be living the dream.

Well, that and becoming a dentist and farmer. Beyond that, Freda also has a dream for her home state, hoping that one day it can have a more inclusive community and a more diverse and inclusive government.

Freda, an 11th grade student who attends Capital High School in Charleston, was excited to be a part of this project, noting the challenges West Virginia faces in its lack of diversity and general lack of togetherness in the community. She recognizes that spreading awareness about how Black women live in West Virginia is important.