Foundation Welcomes Hometown Interns

NEBRASKA CITY -  Students from Nebraska City and Johnson are among 13 interns working this summer with the Nebraska Community Foundation.

The foundation’s Hometown Internship Program offers challenge grants to compensate students for their work and asks them to discover and document the assets and abundance of their homeplace.

Erik Rodriquez and Chloe Higgins of Nebraska City and Miranda Shreves of Johnson will help facilitate conversations with community members and work with them to co-create opportunities to improve quality of life.

Nebraska Community Foundation CEO Jeff Yost said he expects the 13 interns to gain valuable learning experiences as they return to their communities this summer.

Rodriquez is working with the Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund to build on its civics inventory, assist with the Missoula Children’s Theatre event, coordinator efforts with the Omaha Conservatory and help develop a sustainable program to welcome newcomers to Nebraska City.

Higgins, who also interned for the Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund last year, will work this summer as an intern coordinator. She will mentor and advise students involved in the program.

Shreves, also a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, will work with the Nemaha County Development Foundation Fund on a countywide asset map/civic inventory and assist with aspects of new city strategic plan. She will coordinate with three other interns in the community.

 

Other 2020 NCF Hometown Interns are:

Ben Arens, Ainsworth

The University of Nebraska-Kearney student will help the Brown County Community Foundation Fund host a community visioning session, then assist with execution of the plan that comes from that session.

Lydia Behnk, Elgin

The University of Nebraska-Kearney student will work with the Neligh Area Community Fund to update its strategic plan, build awareness of the fund and challenge grant, create an Old Mill District historic buildings tour, and develop an alumni retention and recruitment plan.

 Dakota Cherney, Chester

The Kansas State University student will work with the Hebron Community Foundation Fund to coordinate the creation of a comprehensive civic inventory exploring community engagement, as well as assist with facilitation of peer learning and visioning sessions, and planning for  The Dream Switch Project.

 Patricia Cleveland, Albion

Currently a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Cleveland’s duties for the Boone County Foundation Fund will include speaking with and learning from community leaders around the state, developing programming for Boone County’s highly successful Cardinal Kids Club, nature and tourism resource development, and help with the Big Give.

Haley Faust, Columbus

A student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Faust will work with the Columbus Area Future Fund on a project in cooperation with the Columbus Area United Way to connect, learn, and work with those impacted by financial insecurity.

 Lexi Gross, McCook

Using video, audio and written pieces, the Fort Hays State University student will work with the McCook Community Foundation Fund to create content to tell McCook’s story.

 Jacy Hafer, Long Pine

A student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Hafer will spend her summer working on a community visioning session and the follow-up work required to complete the plan with the Brown County Community Foundation Fund.

Hannah Meeske, Imperial

The Central Community College – Hastings student will work with the Imperial Community Foundation Fund on youth engagement, communication with donors and the public, social media and website content creation, as well as campaign awareness.

 Abigail Moody, Burwell

The Northwestern College, Iowa student will spend the summer working on community asset mapping, marketing and social media, strategic planning, and community collaboration for the Valley County Community Foundation Fund.

 Katie Patrick, Grant

Currently a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Patrick will work with the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund to survey Perkins County 501 (c)(3) and governmental entities, record needs, and take stock of assets and social capital of all entities.