Author: Kelly Burgess
Planning Unit: Allen County CES
Major Program: Community Leadership Development
Plan of Work: Developing Human Capital
Outcome: Initial Outcome
In the recent community assessment conducted in 2019, the top Community Vitality-related concerns were for “More qualified leaders to prepare community for the future,” and “More pride in the community and its assets.” The ACS PRIDE Master Program was created in 2017 and addresses both concerns by developing high school students into community ambassadors who exhibit the best of Patriot P.R.I.D.E. (Prepared, Respectful, Involved, Dependable, Ethical) as leaders in their school and community. This three-year program designates specific objectives for each year: sophomores develop a personal image and practice networking skills, juniors explore the socioeconomic sectors of Allen County and complete a Community Marketing Capstone project, and seniors serve in ambassador roles in the school and community and conduct a community issues response project. Due to COVID-19, the program has undergone major changes for the 2020-2021 school year, specifically for the junior class. Instead of field-trip style education sessions where students physically explore the community, the Family Consumer Sciences Agent, as primary advisor for the program, conducted a series of video interviews with community stakeholders who would usually educate students about economic development, tourism, health, local government, and education sectors. The FCS Agent partnered with a local TV station, WBPM-31 Proclaim Broadcasting Network, to record video interviews that served as the instructional material for the PRIDE Master students, but doubled as “Family Lifestyles” feature programs promoting Allen County to the surrounding area at large. To date, 17 partners have interviewed as part of the project, and at least 5 more are expected to participate before the end of the program year. Each video interview set was accompanied by a set of comprehension and discussion questions to allow for student reflection. The FCS Agent then facilitated discussion sessions via Zoom with students, program advisors, and occasionally, the interviewees as special guests. Through the reinvention of this existing program, students have been able to continue engaging with the community and meeting program learning objectives.
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