|
Links:
|
Kansas Corps is a grassroots effort born in the spring of 2007 when ten Kansas colleges and universities came together to discuss various issues related to their community service programs. At this “day of sharing” mini-conference, administrators, faculty and students discussed the idea of collaborative work and the Kansas Corps concept. The schools that participated in this meeting include: Butler Community College, Kansas State University, North Central Kansas Technical College, Fort Hays State University, Pratt Community College, Cowley College, Kansas State University-Salina, Emporia State University, Washburn University, and Wichita State University. This original core group has now grown to include the Kansas
Board of Regents, the Kansas Volunteer Commission, state and government
entities as well as non-profit and volunteer organizations. |
||
Overview and Description Kansas Corps is a pool of student volunteers from Kansas
colleges and universities who serve the public service needs of the state
of Kansas. The Kansas Corps will serve as a coordinating agency that
will link the various community service and volunteerism programs from
Kansas higher education institutions for the direct purpose of serving
the citizens of Kansas. With a single phone call, this group of college
student volunteers could be mobilized to provide disaster relief, social
services and/or community development assistance to any region of the
state. Many of the Kansas public and private institutions of higher learning
have some form of a public service/volunteerism program that is designed
to match college students with the local community. This new initiative
is not focusing on creating a new public service and volunteer program,
but rather linking and building upon established programs. The purpose
of this new initiative is to create a network of these various college
programs that, when needed, could be called into action to serve the
state. |
|||
Program Purpose
For example, Kansas Corps could work closely with the Kansas Department of Emergency Management to provide needed services due to a tornado or other natural disaster; could be mobilized around a particular social service need; or these college volunteers could link together to address a particular community development assistance program in Kansas. Secondly, and equally important, the Kansas Corps would promote citizenship and civic engagement among the participating college students. This unique program would be a training ground for students to become more civically engaged and inspire their passion for social responsibility and active participation. Therefore, the Kansas Corps would create a new generation of Kansans who empower themselves and have the skills and capabilities to act on behalf of the greater good. |
|||
Documents: Minutes: Planning Meeting 10/25/07 Planning Meeting Agenda 2/20/08 |
Service Opportunities The Kansas Corps initiative proposes to focus on three
primary areas of public need. Disaster Relief Services. College student volunteers would be mobilized in large numbers to provide a variety of emergency services during or following a local or state-wide disaster. Students could be trained to address events ranging from natural disasters to terrorism. Social Services. College student volunteers would be called
to assist with the development and/or operations of social service programs.
For example, volunteers could be involved in the issues of homelessness,
literacy, child development, or elderly services.
|
||
Focus Group Meeting Agendas and Minutes: Hays - agenda 1/15/08 |
 |
||
The Call to Serve Kansas has a long history of its citizens volunteering themselves for the betterment of others. Nearly every community in Kansas was built by volunteers who constructed civic buildings, schools, churches, and even their neighbors’ homes. In the 20th century, Kansans continued to serve and aid their fellow citizens. From the floods of 1951 and tornados in Udall (1955) and Andover (1991), to providing basic human services to those in need, Kansans were there for each other. Even recent events in Greensburg and southeast Kansas again illustrate the importance and role that community service can and must play. Government as well as the private sector can only do so much. Kansans of all ages must continually be encouraged to serve their fellow citizens. According to the Corporations for National & Community
Service, Volunteering in America: 2007 State Trends and Rankings in Civic
Life, Kansas ranks fifth in the U.S. for total volunteering. However,
our college students do not exhibit the same enthusiasm for volunteering,
ranking a distant 36th nationwide. Kansas Corps will provide a necessary
infrastructure and inspiration for college students to become more civically
engaged. |
|||
Pilot Project Documents: |
Pilot Project In addition to calling for the development of a comprehensive proposal, the planning team would also like to encourage dozens of college students from the Kansas regents universities, community colleges, independent colleges and universities, and technical schools to participate in a “pilot project” testing the concept. An event is planned for college student volunteers to help a grassroots committee called "Friends of the Trails" and their partners Westar Electric's Green Team, Kansas Trails Council and the PRIDE Organization in Melvern, KS on April 19. College student volunteers will be building hiking and biking trails to reclaim an old landfill, build an outdoor classroom and provide a health and fitness opportunity for Melvern citizens and area visitors. |
||
How Can I Help? For more information about the Kansas Corps contact: Dr. Curt Brungardt, Executive Director, Center for Civic
Leadership, FHSU, |
|||
The goal of the Kansas Corps is twofold. First, this new
initiative would provide a network of volunteers on a large scale to
address both local and statewide public issues.