Sustaining a Welcoming Community: A Multifaceted Approach in Rural Nebraska
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Date
2019-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University. Office of Outreach and Engagement
Abstract
Learn more how small institutions and communities can collaborate to provide a supportive and welcoming environment. As faculty members of the Department of Modern Languages at Doane University – a small liberal arts university, one of our department's goals is to promote intercultural experiences for our students and engage them in the community. We do so through sustained points of contact with community members and organizations, collaborating with the public school system, city government, local churches, and other members of the community and university. Following collaborative and experiential learning models, the result is a dialogic, polydirectional, mutually beneficial relationship. We will share what a framework looks like for engaged teaching, service, and scholarship in a welcoming committee. We will also detail some of the successes and challenges associated with such work.
Description
Located in southeastern Nebraska, the rural town of Crete has a population size of approximately 7,000 people. The town is home to a small liberal arts university, a meat-processing plant, and a dog food plant. Crete's history is closely tied with immigration. First home to many Czech immigrants, during the past several decades, the town has predominately experienced an influx of Latinos. As a welcoming city, the town provides various means of assistance to community members through the collaborative efforts of nonprofit, governmental, and educational entities. As faculty members of the Department of Modern Languages at that small liberal arts institution, Doane University, integral to our department's goal is to promote intercultural experiences for our students and engage them in the community. We do so through sustained points of contact with community members and organizations, collaborating with the Crete Public Schools adult education program, Sixpence Early Learning Center, the Crete Chamber of Commerce, local churches, and other members of the community and university. Following collaborative and experiential learning models, the result is a dialogic, polydirectional, mutually beneficial relationship. This presentation is intended for those interested to learn more how small institutions and communities can collaborate to provide a supportive and welcoming environment. Particular to the presentation, we will share what a framework looks like for engaged teaching, service, and scholarship in a welcoming committee. We will also detail some of the successes and challenges associated with such work with the hope to generate a productive conversation around sustaining a welcoming community.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Jared List, assistant professor of Spanish, Department of Modern Languages, Doane University, jared.list@doane.edu (Corresponding Author); Kristen Hetrick, associate professor of German/department chair, Deptartment of Modern Languages, Doane University; Josh Pope, assistant professor of Spanish, Department of Modern Languages, Doane University; Ryan Hinz; Nancy Tellez
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Jared List, assistant professor of Spanish, Department of Modern Languages, Doane University, jared.list@doane.edu (Corresponding Author); Kristen Hetrick, associate professor of German/department chair, Deptartment of Modern Languages, Doane University; Josh Pope, assistant professor of Spanish, Department of Modern Languages, Doane University; Ryan Hinz; Nancy Tellez
Keywords
experiential learning, collaborative learning, community-university partnerships
Citation
Engaged Scholars, v. 7 (2019).