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Community builders glean ideas from peers in Iowa, Minnesota
LINCOLN, Neb. — In early September, over two dozen ambitious Nebraskans hailing from hometowns across the Nebraska Community Foundation network of 235 affiliated funds serving 258 communities, boarded an Iowa and Minnesota-bound tour bus to learn about the assets and opportunities available to neighboring community builders and the innovative ways they are capitalizing on them. Among them were Dale Dueland, Mary Dueland and Ronda Graff of the McCook Community Foundation Fund and Denise Garey of Nebraska Community Foundation.
The tour group included volunteers and Nebraska Community Foundation staff members from communities including: Bennet, Bertrand, Columbus, Howells, Imperial, Lincoln, McCook, Minden, Norfolk, Ogallala, Omaha, Red Cloud, and Stuart. Many of the volunteers are currently working to meet transformative challenge grants to build their community unrestricted endowments. McCook Community Foundation Fund recently completed the Sehnert Challenge Grant, which raised more than $400,000 in donations and pledges to meet the $200,000 challenge from Susan Stuart, in honor of her parents, Walt and Jean Sehnert.
The bus tour began in Winterset, Iowa where local leaders talked about heritage tourism and placemaking. In Manchester, the group met a contingent from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and set out on field trips to visit affiliates in Allamakee, Clayton, Delaware, and Jones Counties. There, tour participants had the opportunity to interact with and observe programs focusing on rural art, youth engagement, inclusiveness, childcare, energy sustainability, reconnecting people with what they love most about their hometown, and ending stigmas around brain health.
The multi-day tour culminated with a visit to Austin, Minnesota, just 15 miles north of the Iowa border. Austin community builders proudly shared their community welcoming plan with their Nebraska visitors which is designed to welcome new residents, and particularly new Americans, to their community.
Herve Idjidina, the executive director of Austin’s Welcome Center, told his own inspiring story of coming to Austin from Benin, a small French-speaking country in West Africa, through a lottery program so that his children could receive a quality education and enjoy access to job opportunities.
The last stop of the tour was Mason City, Iowa where Mayor Bill Schickel and City Manager Aaron Burnett explained their unique community development strategy. “Art is economic development in Mason City,” said Schickel.
Members of the Nebraska Community Foundation network remarked on what a positive and enlightening experience the tour was. When asked what they will take back to their own NCF affiliated funds, one said “A better, sharper, more well-rounded thought process regarding community development.”
“Embrace what we are and make the most of it. Get people to buy-in to being our best selves as a community. Be innovative while staying true to yourself,” said another.
According to MCFF vice chair Dale Dueland, “We visited some amazing rural Iowa towns with populations from 250 to 25,000 where we saw impressive examples of projects dreamed and developed by community leaders with a positive attitude and a collaborative mindset. It was energizing to view their projects and listen to their enthusiasm for serving their community by engaging people with diverse interests. They are truly making their hometowns exciting and beautiful places to live.”
About McCook Community Foundation Fund
MCFF hopes to inspire investment in the quality of life for the people of Southwest Nebraska. Since its’ inception in 2001, MCFF has made more than $300,000 in grants to fund innovation, economic and educational opportunities, quality community leadership, cultural arts and healthy families and lifestyles.
About Nebraska Community Foundation
Celebrating its 25th year of strengthening our hometowns, Nebraska Community Foundation unleashes abundant local assets, inspires charitable giving and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska.
In the last five years, 44,476 contributions have been made to NCF and its affiliated funds. Since 1994, NCF has reinvested $355.3 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.