Community Resource Sharing Newsletter

Roberta Miksch, CFP Director

The Benefits of Stacking Apples

For part of the April in-person meeting we included an activity on stacking five apples. 

What did this this have to do with our collaborative work? It turns out, quite a bit.

Not only was it a mindset activity, but the big idea was to get us to think differently about

the possibilities that exist. A seemingly impossible task turns out to be a possible one.

As we work together to combat complex societal issues in our communities, let’s keep in mind possibilities and find strategies that work for us.

Each community is different and has its own unique challenges and solutions. If we are creative enough and challenge ourselves to think differently, solutions may be closer than we think. 

Let’s be possibility seekers!

Cheryl Drozd, RIR Coordinator

We celebrated The Week of the Young Child at the library in Columbus with our community. With different themes each night and our Rooted providers taking the lead, the families who came were able to dance, snack, build and be creative with their children. A big thank you to the library for allowing us to do this. We will do it again next year!

We have hired two new coaches for our Cohort 3 that will be starting in July. Shannon

Stutzman, a home provider from our Cohort 1 and Makayla Kumpf, an assistant director at Christ Lutheran from our Cohort 2. We are so excited to have them join us as coaches and welcome them into our amazing team.

We continued to have Toddler and Technology Workshops in our communities. Schuyler and Columbus Head Start held two workshops, with two in Spanish and Albion had one at Boone Beginnings as well. Parents came to learn and eat pizza and had childcare during the workshop.

Kate Wythers,

Community Prevention Director

April has come and gone so quickly this year, almost too quickly! April is Child Abuse

Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness month. Our communities support raising

awareness about the realities of both child abuse and sexual assault. The Community

Prevention Team was able to participate in training provided by the Center for Survivors

on April 23, 2025. Abbi Shanle with Faith Regional Child Advocacy Center also provided information regarding the Green Dot initiative. Green Dot is a violence prevention initiative that works by empowering community members to prevent violence and shift social norms.

Guadalupe Ramirez and Libby Crecco participated in the Healthy Kids Day activities at

the Columbus YMCA. They were able to provide information and resources to our

community members. Belle Maldonado and Libby Crecco continue to be busy providing

navigation at Cargill, Camaco, Behlen Manufacturing and BD.

6 Regions, One Nebraska 

According to opportunity.nebraska.gov, in 2024, the 6 Regions, One Nebraska initiative was created to allow separate regions in Nebraska to make focused, data-driven decisions and to select a project they feel will positively impact the future of their local community. Each of the six regions received an initial financial investment, matched by private dollars, to establish a team in their region will receive financial incentive for initial regional projects in Resident Recruitment, Youth Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Technology, Infrastructure or a selected regional project. 

Our region has decided to focus their project on increasing the number of child care professionals in our area. Equitable Early Childcare and Education is a current priority area of Community and Family Partnership, and we are eager to explore what this means for our local counties. Right now, a $2,500 stipend is being offered for those who wish to become an in-home child care professional. Becoming a child care professional gives you the ability to work from home in an industry that is always needed. There are experienced mentors available to help and grant funding available. Child care professionals are the workforce behind the workforce and are vital for our communities and economy to thrive. 

Please see the flyer for additional information.

Have you visited the Schuyler Community Book Garden??

Check it out!

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