2021 Rural Fellows—Schuyler

Lydia Behnk & Megan Dorantes Author

08/13/2021 Added

42 Plays

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Student and Community Fellows talk about the community development projects they worked on in Schuyler, Nebraska during Summer 2021.

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[00:00:01.851](upbeat music)
[00:00:05.960]Hi, I'm Lydia Behnk, I'm one of the rural fellows here.
[00:00:08.050]Hi, I'm Megan Dorantes, I'm the second rural fellow here.
[00:00:10.430]And this summer we've had the privilege
[00:00:11.770]to serve our community in a number of meaningful ways.
[00:00:14.200]I personally have been able to work on developing
[00:00:16.170]the websites for the Schuyler community development,
[00:00:18.540]as well as the Schuyler Chamber.
[00:00:20.100]And in doing so, we've been able to really build
[00:00:21.860]our online presences for our businesses,
[00:00:23.760]and really get them out there
[00:00:24.960]and let the people know what all Schuyler has to offer.
[00:00:28.250]Additionally to that, we've been working
[00:00:29.420]on marketing material for our senior housing facilities,
[00:00:32.420]and we've been able to create virtual tours for that.
[00:00:34.870]So they really get the feel for what that looks like,
[00:00:37.410]and keeping that information updated,
[00:00:38.890]and making sure that they have everything
[00:00:41.020]that they need to know about it,
[00:00:42.710]if they're going to live there.
[00:00:43.630]And then finally, we've been working on a podcast as well.
[00:00:46.010]And this has been one of the more fun projects
[00:00:47.470]that I've gotten to get my hands dirty with.
[00:00:49.129]Being able to interview people in the community
[00:00:51.150]and get to know them and really showcase
[00:00:53.120]the beautiful things that Schuyler has to offer,
[00:00:54.680]from the people, businesses, as well as the gyms.
[00:00:57.320]So like Lydia mentioned,
[00:00:58.440]we've been busy here working with different projects.
[00:01:00.580]Some of the projects I've been working on,
[00:01:02.091]one of them was for the Chamber of Schuyler,
[00:01:04.620]is working on developing a master list
[00:01:06.640]of all their businesses in Schuyler,
[00:01:08.010]wanting to know who owns them, contact information.
[00:01:10.520]Are they on social media?
[00:01:11.491]All that information to help one market Schuyler,
[00:01:14.110]apply for grants and also to help the Chamber
[00:01:16.070]understand what needs to be worked on
[00:01:17.980]and what's currently working.
[00:01:19.150]Some other things I've been working on
[00:01:20.410]is developing videos for different intentions.
[00:01:22.410]Three the videos I've developed have been
[00:01:24.500]for marketing lots that developers can look at
[00:01:26.870]when thinking about developing here in Schuyler.
[00:01:29.000]Some of them have been to create a welcoming video,
[00:01:31.361]to welcome people to Schuyler
[00:01:32.800]and understand why they should be here.
[00:01:34.310]And another one is currently this video right now
[00:01:36.340]for our final presentation.
[00:01:37.860]And then one of my fun projects has been
[00:01:39.550]going up to different businesses,
[00:01:40.810]setting up meetings with them, collecting information,
[00:01:43.250]again, asking, "What do you like about Schuyler?
[00:01:45.210]What's not working for you?
[00:01:46.260]What can be better?"
[00:01:47.240]Just to further help the community,
[00:01:48.610]the businesses and overall Schuyler.
[00:01:51.060]I'm Brian Bywater, I'm the community housing specialist
[00:01:53.620]with Schuyler Community Development.
[00:01:55.430]And the Rural Fellows Program has done
[00:01:58.339]an excellent job of enhancing our marketing and community
[00:02:00.390]outreach efforts.
[00:02:02.400]Some of the projects that the fellows have worked on,
[00:02:05.230]while during their stay here,
[00:02:07.520]have included putting together a information packet
[00:02:11.980]for residential building lots
[00:02:14.531]that provide lot specific information,
[00:02:17.570]as well as photographs and an overhead video.
[00:02:21.220]or view, of combining Google maps.
[00:02:24.291]They've also put together a tri-fold information brochure
[00:02:29.520]for our prospective tenants,
[00:02:30.910]for our senior living housing development that we have
[00:02:33.570]and manage here in Schuyler.
[00:02:35.500]Another project that they've worked on include a podcast,
[00:02:39.280]which we're really excited about
[00:02:40.580]that will help push out information
[00:02:42.340]and news to our community.
[00:02:44.150]And I can see all of these projects being well-received
[00:02:48.070]and utilized for years to come.
[00:02:51.090]Hi, I'm Audra Jedlicka with the Schuyler Chamber.
[00:02:53.380]And I'm really excited to share the immediate effects
[00:02:56.850]of our rural fellows and the long-term effects
[00:02:59.430]that we'll be implementing in the future.
[00:03:01.449]They obviously did the imperative things that we had listed.
[00:03:05.200]Our websites and planning events,
[00:03:06.920]and making spreadsheets and working on chamber dues,
[00:03:10.200]and all the projects.
[00:03:11.490]But truly, I believe it's the long-term effects
[00:03:14.080]that they've taught us.
[00:03:15.830]Not only the technology things, but working with the youth.
[00:03:18.878]We plan to implement that a lot more in our community.
[00:03:21.950]Their creative ideas.
[00:03:23.370]Their leadership is something we want
[00:03:25.250]to bring to our future.
[00:03:26.860]While we've touched on the tangibles of the projects
[00:03:28.830]that we've worked on and the outcomes.
[00:03:30.240]We should also talk about the intangibles
[00:03:31.980]that we'll be able to carry with us
[00:03:33.120]throughout the rest of our lives.
[00:03:34.040]So I'm entering my last year of college,
[00:03:36.380]and will be soon entering the workforce this next spring.
[00:03:38.780]And one of my major concerns has been,
[00:03:40.600]how do I make a community feel like home?
[00:03:42.830]And that's exactly what this summer has taught me.
[00:03:44.680]The rural fellows program has given me the tools that I need
[00:03:47.120]to be able to share my talents,
[00:03:48.760]treasures and time with community members.
[00:03:50.570]And it has shown me that rural Nebraska,
[00:03:52.678]all of these communities are so,
[00:03:54.230]so willing to open their arms to us and embrace us.
[00:03:57.200]And it doesn't matter if we're here for 10 weeks,
[00:03:59.750]10 years or a lifetime.
[00:04:00.888]These communities have their arms out stretched,
[00:04:02.880]and we need to be offering those times, treasures
[00:04:05.310]and talents too, to those communities to be able
[00:04:07.090]to love on them and support them
[00:04:08.720]just as much as they're willing to do that for us.
[00:04:10.710]So these relationships that I've built in Schuyler
[00:04:12.660]are ones that I hope to carry with me
[00:04:14.010]throughout the rest of my life.
[00:04:15.050]And I could not be more grateful for my time
[00:04:16.750]in this community or my work with
[00:04:18.090]the Rural Prosperity Nebraska.
[00:04:19.730]One of the biggest things is,
[00:04:21.430]with our importance to our future of our community.
[00:04:24.510]We did the obvious, what our plans were,
[00:04:26.490]our websites and our implementing inclusion in our events
[00:04:30.430]and all of those great things, but to break it down,
[00:04:33.640]it's the little intricacies that they've shared
[00:04:36.030]on how to do those pieces in between,
[00:04:39.080]that have really made a lasting impact on me.
[00:04:42.570]And that's how I'm going to take it and use it
[00:04:45.040]for long-term, as an inclusive member in our community.
[00:04:49.600]To be able to share with others,
[00:04:50.960]all those little things that
[00:04:52.580]they've taught along the way.
[00:04:53.890]Technology and infusing that, has been just a huge part
[00:04:58.690]of an asset to our program.
[00:05:00.870]We've just leeched onto them because they're learners.
[00:05:04.740]And that's been an exciting part.
[00:05:06.380]One of the things that I learned
[00:05:07.490]while we were spending time with Schuyler in Nebraska,
[00:05:09.260]is how important it is for a leader to make sure
[00:05:11.530]that their workers feel valued, respected, and wanted.
[00:05:14.960]By being able to talk to my coworker,
[00:05:17.630]as well as other parties,
[00:05:19.250]I was able to understand that my purpose being here
[00:05:22.030]was something that I truly valued and that as a leader,
[00:05:25.390]it is my responsibility to make sure
[00:05:26.870]that their workers understand that I value them.
[00:05:29.530]I want them here and that I respect them here.
[00:05:31.830]How this looks like in practice
[00:05:33.340]is reflecting on my leadership capabilities
[00:05:35.420]and also asking my workers, "What can I do better?
[00:05:38.430]What are my faults?
[00:05:39.440]What's working?
[00:05:40.273]What's not?
[00:05:41.106]And what can I do to make you feel
[00:05:42.690]that you are wanted here?"
[00:05:44.570]The impact that the Rural Fellows Program has had on me,
[00:05:48.290]includes helping me with my
[00:05:51.010]interpersonal communication skills.
[00:05:53.180]It's been a long time since I've been in a supervisory role.
[00:05:57.460]And it's really helped me hone in those skills.
[00:06:00.598]And because I'm no different than anybody else,
[00:06:04.740]I can utilize, or sure use help with those skills.
[00:06:08.550]But it's skills that I will continue
[00:06:11.380]to use throughout the rest of my career.
[00:06:13.430]And it's been an excellent time
[00:06:15.710]and I appreciate their help
[00:06:18.790]and participation here in Schuyler.
[00:06:22.030]We have enjoyed our summer here in Schuyler
[00:06:23.870]and have made lots of fun memories
[00:06:25.500]that we will carry it with us
[00:06:26.580]throughout the rest of our lives.
[00:06:28.430]As our time in Schuyler's
[00:06:29.670]slowly coming to an end,
[00:06:30.880]we wanted to give a thanks to everyone
[00:06:32.610]who helped make this experience a meaningful one.
[00:06:35.017]We wanted to thank Rural Prosperity, Nebraska.
[00:06:38.728]Local businesses.
[00:06:40.480]Community leaders.
[00:06:41.850]Local committees, and boards.
[00:06:43.560]And the people of Schuyler.
[00:06:45.760]And a big thanks to our team leads,
[00:06:48.020]Brian and Audra.
[00:06:50.769](upbeat music)
[00:06:58.450]Thanks Schuyler.

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2021 Rural Fellows—Schuyler

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