Almost Heaven.  It’s the West Virginia state motto, but often falls short upon closer inspection.  For Bridgeport High School junior Wes Cotter, a personal story and a quote he heard this summer have inspired him to create a non-profit that will bring the Mountain State a little closer to heaven than before.

 

As a young boy, Cotter’s family faced an all-too-familiar battle: drug addiction.  Both of his older brothers were addicts and he saw the effects of the disease first-hand as it affected his family and community.  He witnessed the shaming and isolation that often goes with addiction and he saw how those negative behaviors made the cycle repeat.  

 

“Both of my brothers are now one year clean,” he said.  “Unfortunately, many addicts simply don’t have the resources and recovery opportunities they have had.  I want to find a way to change that.”

 

Cotter’s impetuous for change was hearing a quote while attending the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar in May.  

 

“One of the panelists said, ‘You all are not the leaders of tomorrow, you are the leaders of today, and who better to take initiative then yourself,” recounted Cotter. “That inspired me to take action and begin exploring options for treating not only addiction, but the stigma that accompanies it.”

 

His first action was to develop a means to attend the World Leadership Congress for HOBY in Chicago, held each year in late July.  While there, he will have the opportunity to work with youth leaders from around the world to create positive change.  The resources and tools available in the training will help him develop his non-profit organization dedicated to reducing drug addiction and offering support to those who are affected.

 

Like Wes, most entrepreneurs have a creative way of financing initiatives in which they believe.  He has designed t-shirts to sell to help finance his attendance at the World Leadership Conference.  By contacting him at wesleylcotter@gmail.com, they are available for $20, with all proceeds going toward his trip.  Upon his return, he plans to begin the process of developing his non-profit and increasing resources for those battling addiction.  

 

“I really want to make a difference in West Virginia and make it “Almost Heaven” again,” said Cotter. “I am so thankful that my brothers are clean and I want to make every effort to help others find recovery as well.”