Project Service Areas
The Rural Corps of South Central Nebraska is intended to maintain and restore an ethic of mutual care. Our primary concern is developing a shared concept of citizenship, which revolves around engaging all sectors of communities, large and small, so that we are always "considering the needs of our neighbors." Year one of this project (2008-2009) has five focus areas within this overall goal:
Disadvantaged Youth
While there are many great opportunities for local young people, there are also many needs within young Rural Nebraska. During the first year of the project, four AmeriCorps Members will help manage the nearly 75 UNK service-learning students helping youth at the Kearney Community Learning Center. The second year will add four Members to the Kearney Public Schools work with disadvantaged students.
Disaster Preparedness
As we have witnessed through recent flooding, tornadoes, and hailstorms, the Red Cross plays an indispensible role in disaster preparedness and response in our area. Three AmeriCorps Members will work with the Ft. Kearney Chapter of the Red Cross. Three Members will serve to help build capacity for future response efforts in the Ft. Kearney Chapter's 12-county area.
Environment
The Platte-River Valley hosts one of the world's premier bird migratory staging areas, with 500,000 Sandhill Cranes passing through annually. One AmeriCorps Member will serve the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary, near Gibbon. This member will work to mobilize resources in the region.
Baby Boomers, Retirees, and Seniors
Baby Boomers, Retirees, and Seniors have much to contribute to the community. One AmeriCorps Member will serve with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Interfaith Caregivers, with special emphasis in the mobilization of the Baby Boomer generation.
Rural Community Building
The majority of the AmeriCorps Members during the first year of the grant will be involved in "behind the scenes" efforts to build capacity for a "sustainable corps of engaged citizens in South-Central Nebraska." These members will be serving in the following areas:
Great Platte River Archway
One Member will serve to assist the Archway with recruiting and managing volunteers, and organizing educational and tourism activities and events at the Archway.
UNK Frank House Historical Museum
The Frank House is an historic home on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The home's museum status supports the University goals for outreach and will have one Member serving to assist leading tours and helping with educational and entertaining events.
UNK Office for Service-Learning
UNK has a strong tradition of service-learning (18+ years), helping to meet community needs through a special kind of integration of coursework and community service. Three AmeriCorps members will help to improve these efforts--in part through the implementation of a new database system, Service-Learning Pro.
UNK Asset Mapping
One AmeriCorps Member will serve with an interdisciplinary service-learning, community mapping, research project which Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska has asked the Office for Service-Learning to lead at UNK. This Member will serve as lead field representatives in Buffalo, Dawson, Gosper, and Phelps counties. This project will help to identify strengths and gaps in local services, in addition to meeting the specific goals of Lutheran Family Services.
UNK American Democracy Project
UNK has recently been desginated as an American Democracy Project school. One AmeriCorps Member will work to build capacity and generate opportunities for UNK students to get engaged with the community.
United Way of the Kearney Area
The United Way of the Kearney Area supports the work of 22 Partner Community Agencies, and collaborates with over 800 businesses to raise funds and support volunteer projects in the community. Its mission is: Building a stronger community by uniting people who care with people who need. The United Way also serves as a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities and requests. One Members will work to build the capacity of the United Way in these efforts through the implementation of the Volunteer Solutions Mini database system.