Rural Interns
January 8, 2011
The Ogallala Commons is a non-profit community development network based in the Texas Panhandle and serving areas of all states that lie above the Ogallala aquifer. In his year-end report, Director Darryl Birkenfeld reported the following on their program of rural internships. This is a tremendous effort to actually do something about the brain drain – so much discussed but so little addressed – by helping young people serve their communities and learn about opportunities at home.
The entire newsletter, which includes several articles in addition to Darryl’s is at: http://ogallalacommonsnewsletter.blogspot.com/
“In 2010, OC and its community and institution partners created 33 internships in Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. These interns added tremendous value to their communities and institutions, while developing their skills and gaining work experience. These interns also learned much more about their hometowns, and were able to explore career options that can bring them back in the future. In 2010 alone, OC interns earned $65,000 in stipends from their work experiences, contributed 330 hours of community service, earned 27 hours of college and graduate credit, and submitted over 200 blog entries and 600 photos through the OC Community Intern Blog (www.ogallalaintern.blogspot.com).”
TDA/Sam Houston State University internships: Hamilton was one of the first sites for this program made available by TDA and I highly recommend it. Our intern was delightful and the entire community benefited from her presence. Not only were we able to tackle extra projects, the charities and service groups benefited from her additional service. And, Lauren told us she’d be interested in locating in a rural community in the future!
The Center for Rural Studies at Sam Houston State University does have a Rural Internship program which is a joint initiative with the Texas
Department of Agriculture.
The program pairs students with host families in participating rural communities for five weeks during the summer, allowing them to experience life in rural Texas towns. Interns receive hands-on experience while visiting these small towns and working with the local government, economic development corporations, chambers of commerce, or local vendors. Towns participating in the Texas Rural Internship Program also benefit from the program by hosting the interns.
Interns are paid and also receive college credit for participating in the program.
You can visit:
http://www.shsu.edu/~org_crs/Education.html
for more information and to view 2010′s presentations and an article featuring one of our 2010 interns.
I know there are other rural internship programs in the state. TDA participates in one, as does the Sam Houston State Univ Center for Rural Studies. I’d be interested to know about any others you may be aware of.
Bobby G.