2010-11 Promise Fellows (from left) Rachel Woldum, Jordan Taylor, and Clare Dudzinski (not pictured, Mundo Garza)

Through a partnership with the Minnesota Alliance With Youth, the four Promise Fellows worked at the Northfield Middle School, Northfield High School, the Area Learning Center, The Key, and the Healthy Community Initiative.

• Clare Dudzinski, from Wilmette, Ill., met with students to offer tutoring, homework help and personal support.  She helped facilitate the after-school enrichment program at the Middle School Youth Center and an evening homework help group.
• Mundo Garza, from Laredo, Texas, worked with the Northfield TORCH (Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes) program, and the high school’s Student Support Team, which identifies at-risk students and helps address their academic and personal issues.
• Jordan Taylor, from Hutchinson, Minn., worked for the Healthy Community Initiative on a variety of youth-focused initiatives, collaborating with groups including the Northfield Mayor’s Youth Council, the Northfield Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol & Drug Use, and the Northfield Union of Youth.
• Rachel Woldum, from Tulsa, Ok., provided support to ALC students, helped support existing programs at the Key and start new ones, ran the Main Street Mentors program, and assisted with grants.

Dudzinski and Garza recently completed their first years as Promise Fellows, and Taylor and Woldum completed their second years.

“I can’t say enough about what an asset Rachel has been to the Key these past two years, or what an incredible impact the Promise Fellows have had on the Northfield community,” said Amy Merritt, executive director of the Union of Youth.  “At the Key, Rachel has been integral in creating and sustaining programs, leading volunteer activities, and serving as a mentor and role model to literally hundreds of Northfield youth.  She is a fantastic example of how an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow can strengthen an organization and a community.  In addition, the Fellows have worked collaboratively to build on and strengthen the relationships between their organizations.”

Marnie Thompson, assistant principal at Northfield High School, echoed Merritt’s praise, saying the contributions by the four Promise Fellows have been extraordinary.

“They have made great connections with kids and adults in our community and understand the importance of relationships in helping students be successful,” Thompson said.

The Healthy Community Initiative and the Northfield News present the Making a Difference Award cooperatively. If you know an individual or group that you would like to nominate for this award, visit www.northfieldhci.org for nomination guidelines and the easy-to-complete application or find HCI on Facebook.  Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are selected by a review team of HCI board members and local youth.

Youth plant trees by Northfield Middle School tennis courts as part of Global Youth Service Day activities.

On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 15 youth from the Northfield Middle School, Northfield High School, and the Northfield Union of Youth came together with the guidance of the Northfield Public Schools Buildings and Grounds staff to plant 20 trees around the Middle School tennis courts.  The tree planting was the conclusion of a four month-long semester of service, made possible by grants from State Farm Insurance – Youth Serve America (YSA).

In January 2009, Northfield youth received $2,000 from State Farm YSA to implement a semester of service in recognition of Global Youth Service Day.  Northfield’s theme was environmental awareness and responsibility.  The semester of service ran from January-May 2009.

Projects kicked off on Dr.  Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday, with a field trip to the Rice County Recycling Facility, followed by a Waste Reduction and Education seminar.  Speakers Paul Pieper (Solid Waste Coordinator for Rice County Waste Management) and Elain Loranz and Laura Ritenour of River Bend Nature Center educated students and community members about responsible consumerism.

In the following months, students implemented service projects at various sites.  The Northfield Union of Youth designed and organized a community bike program, offering community members bikes to “rent” for free.  At the Northfield High School, students formed an environmental club and sponsored “Green Week,” leading activities and contests that promote environmental awareness.  Northfield Middle School students came together to help restore Hauberg Woods, pulling buckthorn and learning about invasive plant species.