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."This project 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. Five AmeriCorps Members will help manage the nearly 75 UNK service-learning students helping youth at the Kearney Community Learning Center. Additionally, 8 Members will be serving with the Kearney Public Schools to provide additional assistance to children and their families growing up in disadvantaged circumstances.
Disaster Preparedness
Recent flooding, tornadoes, and hailstorms, point out the indispensible role Red Cross plays in disaster preparedness and response in our area. Three AmeriCorps Members will work with the Ft. Kearney Chapter of the Red Cross. Members serving in the Ft. Kearney Chapter's 12-county area.will help to market Health and Safety Program and help establish community classes in the counties surrounding Kearney.
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. they are invited to apply for AmeriCorps positions to serve their community and nation. Current AmeriCorps Members will serve in various capacities with this special population to engage and mobilize the Baby Boomer generation.
Rural Community Building
A number of the Rural Corps, AmeriCorps, Members 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. One major project with which the AmeriCorps Member is the annual Native American Pow Wow held 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 (20+ years), helping to meet community needs through a special kind of integration of coursework and service in the community. 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
AmeriCorps Members have served 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. Various Members have served as lead representatives, interviewing in Buffalo, Dawson, Gosper, and Phelps counties. This project identified strengths and gaps in local services. This project will be coming to a close during this next year and one OSL Member will wrap up the data entry and assist with the final report for Lutheran Family.
UNK American Democracy Project
UNK has received the desgination of being 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.