ED-Central


In This Issue


The registration deadline has been extended to March 19 for the Rural Economic and Tourism Development Seminar to be held in Van Horn, Texas, March 26-27. The seminar has been created exclusively for community leaders and executives that are looking for a fresh approach for their community’s tourism and economic development initiatives.



It seems in every community – large and small – we hear the same thing. There just are not enough people to do everything there is to get done. The same core group of volunteers does it all and all too often, the result is a burnt out and discouraged volunteer base, half finished projects and stalled development. This is especially detrimental in communities where volunteers are the primary community development workforce. So how do you reenergize your dedicated workers, enlist new ones and ensure that projects get done? No one solution will solve the problem but youth-based service learning projects offer great potential to impact the vitality of virtually any community and, unlike some other approaches, this one fosters the values, work ethic and pride that can benefit the community for generations.

The registration deadline has been extended to March 19 for the Rural Economic and Tourism Development Seminar to be held in Van Horn, Texas, March 26-27. The seminar has been created exclusively for community leaders and executives that are looking for a fresh approach for their community’s tourism and economic development initiatives.

TEEX, together with the Town of Van Horn, and AdventGX invite you to join us as we discuss the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities and identify the best opportunities, most practical approaches, and available resources for achieving positive change in your rural community.

Registration for this West Texas seminar ends March 19; sign up and get more information at http://www.ed-central.com/retds/ . Check back often for future seminar locations and dates.





It seems in every community – large and small – we hear the same thing. There just are not enough people to do everything there is to get done. The same core group of volunteers does it all and all too often, the result is a burnt out and discouraged volunteer base, half finished projects and stalled development. This is especially detrimental in communities where volunteers are the primary community development workforce. So how do you reenergize your dedicated workers, enlist new ones and ensure that projects get done? No one solution will solve the problem but youth-based service learning projects offer great potential to impact the vitality of virtually any community and, unlike some other approaches, this one fosters the values, work ethic and pride that can benefit the community for generations.

Learning to Serve and Serving to Learn

The Virginia Office on Volunteerism and Community Service defines service learning as “an educational method by which participants learn and develop through active participation in service that is conducted in and meets the needs of a community.” The most effective programs are coordinated with a school or community service program and with the community, maximizing benefits for all involved. They provide students with opportunities for empowerment, responsibility and accountability within appropriate skill and maturity levels and afford educators the opportunity to bring curriculum to life.

Successful projects are visible, if not by their very nature (a garden in a community park), then by the publicity generated in local and regional media. Giving all involved the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the achievement inspires ongoing program participation and ensures lasting commitment to service.

To identify potential service learning projects, community and economic development professionals can start by sharing project needs with local educators, seeking insights regarding related curriculum. Projects might be accomplished in a day or over the course of a semester or even multiple semesters or classes depending on the complexity. If you need to paint a building, assign a math project to determine required materials, costs, budget and the manpower and time required to complete the project – then allow the students to participate in the actual painting of the building. Invite their parents to help.

Documenting the history of your community is a great opportunity for intergenerational projects. Engage the high school journalism, social studies or media technology classes in an oral history project. Students will learn interviewing, listening and writing skills while gaining an appreciation for the history of their community. Display the finished products in your local museum or at City Hall. Feature them on the local news channel.

Curriculum resources and project ideas are abundant online through entities such as the Texas Center for Service Learning and Learn and Serve America, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service that provides direct and indirect support to K-12 schools, community groups and higher education institutions to facilitate service-learning projects.

According to the National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America these programs are proving valuable to everyone involved. Over 90% of teachers surveyed saw service-learning as a means of improving student attitudes towards school, increasing career awareness, improving student self-esteem, and increasing student social development and involvement in community affairs. The evaluation reported that 87% of students doing service-learning believed that they learned a skill that will be useful in the future. And, 68% of local agencies said that the use of Learn and Serve participants had increased the agency’s capacity to take on new projects.

A simple web search on service learning projects in your area will likely return inspiring results. For more specific guidelines for starting your own program, visit www.learnandserve.org, or the Texas Center for Service Learning online at www.txcsl.org.

About the Author: Joan Tatge is the Director of Communications for AdventGX Corporation, an economic and tourism development consulting firm located in College Station, Texas. Joan may be reached via email at joantatge@adventgx.com.