CHAPMANVILLE — A southern West Virginia women's photography display is coming to Chapmanville tomorrow.

The presentation by the group called Photovoice, which includes women photographers from the Harts area, will include a discussion of community improvement ideas and projects.

Photostories, which are photographs with narratives created by the Photovoice group members, will be displayed around the cafeteria at the Chapmanville Middle School cafeteria/auditorium on Tuesday, April 21, at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served, a press release from the group said.

For the past seven months, 40 women from five communities in southern West Virginia have been participating in a Photovoice project to “tell the story” of their communities.

In September of 2008, participants were given digital cameras and began taking pictures of the strengths and assets of their communities, the unique character of life in the region, and the problems and issues of concern in their areas.

The five Photovoice groups have been meeting every month to share their photographs, discuss common themes, create “photostories” and develop project ideas to address problems they have identified.

The release said the purpose of this project is to increase civic engagement in rural coalfield communities and give voice to residents’ concerns and ideas for change.

Each group has held or will hold an exhibit and presentation in their community to share their photostories and project ideas with the public and elected officials.

The project was made possible through generous support from Cabin Creek Health Systems, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, West Virginia Development Office/Appalachian Regional Commission Flex-E-Grant Program, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, University of Oregon Sociology Department, Photographic Production Services, and the Clay Center.