previous: Two theories of poverty

Engaging students in Horizons anti-poverty programs

University of Idaho students from several disciplines are pitching in to help communities involved in the current University of Idaho Extension Horizons programs. Goals include building capacity in 23 small northern Idaho towns with poverty rates of 10 percent or more. The efforts are designed to help communities benefit from university resources and to give UI students some real-world experience beyond the classroom.

Humanities. Gary Williams, distinguished humanities professor, is taking up to 10 students from his upper-level humanities classes to Troy and Deary, east of Moscow, to mentor students whose interest in the humanities typically finds little support. Mentoring will take place both in the towns and on campus. If this model works, it will expand to more towns and involve more students.

Journalism. Witnesses to the transformative power of leadership and       community, three School of Journalism and Mass Media students are visiting several Idaho Horizons towns this fall. All seniors, Christina Lords, Adam Herrenbruck, and Jeremy Castillo work for program manager Mary Schmidt. Their assignment: find the people whose lives have been impacted by UI Extension and Northwest Area Foundation efforts to help 23 towns improve their futures and document their stories.

Public Policy. Lodi Price is working with Priscilla Salant on a master’s       project to analyze evaluation data from the Idaho Horizons study circle process to find out who was most impacted. Study circles involve community members talking honestly among themselves about way  poverty impacts them and their town.

Bioregional planning. Graduate students from the new bioregional planning program will work with Coeur d’Alene tribal communities on an action phase of Horizons. All students attended the communities’ visioning rally on Sept. 13.

                              next: More about Idaho poverty, hunger

top