Katie Hawk, Nebraska Community Foundation Hometown Intern
Last November, when I heard about an internship that encouraged young adults to learn more about their hometowns, I knew that I wanted to apply. The internship is designed to help college students give back to their communities while gaining professional development. When I learned that I had been accepted for the internship, I was so excited to learn more about what I would be doing for my hometown.
My first day was April 1 when I began online training with the Nebraska Community Foundation. The training mainly focused on asset mapping, which focuses on the assets and qualities that a community has. On May 12, I finally began working at the Holt County Economic Development office in O’Neill. Since then I have participated in the Hometown Leadership Institute. This program shows members all that our local communities are doing to encourage growth; it covers topics such as housing, volunteerism, and agriculture. While working at Holt County Economic Development, I have also updated our Holt County tourism brochure. This brochure list the restaurants, lodging, and shopping that each town has to offer.
During my internship, I have been able to see all that goes into our communities. Even though I was raised in Ewing, I never knew all that is done. My time at Holt County Economic Development has made me appreciate everything that our communities have to offer and it has made me want to return to our area even more.
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Launched in 2020, Nebraska Community Foundation’s Hometown Interns program is attracting ambitious young Nebraskans to return to their hometowns for the summer and further the work and mission of their local Nebraska Community Foundation affiliated fund. This program is helping young people feel more connected to their hometowns, hone job relevant skills, and network with adults and job creators in the area. Importantly, it’s allowing them to envision a bright future right in their own hometown.