approx. 5 minute read
For the last several years, our very own junior high social studies teacher, Luke Riordan, has been challenging his seventh grade students to get involved in their local government. This year he has leveraged the ELA teacher, Jacob Johansen for a cross-course collaboration project to include education on government and an essay contest to empower student-led change. What begins as a lesson on state government becomes a more finite lesson on local government. From lecture to real life, our seventh grade students recently heard from Solomon Mayor, Brandy Gray, in late October, on how even the small town of Solomon makes an impact on our students every day. She touched on her role as mayor of Solomon and two chances for our young Gorillas to use their voice by participating in a state essay contest and local grant opportunity.
Mayor Gray is nearly two years into her first term as Mayor. She opened the presentation discussing her experience so far and opened it up for conversation with the students. Mayor Gray reflected on her time so far in office and how she is proud of the progress she has made in her term so far. Students were encouraged to ask questions and Gray consistently would respond with, “That is a great question!” and respond with clarity; in a way the students could understand. The students had asked thoughtful questions of Gray. Jaxson Benson asked “How many terms can you serve?”, to which Gray answered, “two”. Haley Smith then asked, “How did you become mayor?” which Gray answered by explaining the voting system. By telling the students of her experience in the role, she showed students the impact that local government can have on their community.
With more insight about Solomon community and government, the students were then introduced to the upcoming essay contest and local grant opportunity. First, seventh graders in the state of Kansas will be participating in the Local Leaders of Tomorrow essay contest, a statewide invitation, to showcase their knowledge and desire to see positive change in their community. They must answer the question, “What is a challenge your city/school is facing, and how would you help fix it?” in 500 words or less.
This project aligns well with the second opportunity where students can apply for the Dickinson County Youth in Action grant where, according the Mayor Gray, “for students who want to make a difference in their school or community, the Community Foundation of Dickinson County offers the Youth in Action Grant, providing up to $1,000 to help move student ideas forward.” Haley Smith had asked Gray earlier about, “the hardest part about being mayor?” Gray responded that the hardest part is, “balancing time and responsibilities” because there are so many great things she wants to achieve. Perhaps our young gorillas will see this as an opportunity to leverage community relationships and seek opportunities for improvement in the area.
Mayor Gray is hopeful for the students to find opportunities for the community, expressing that, “One of the things [she] loves most about living in a small community is that you truly can make a positive difference. When you identify a need and are willing to work with others, ideas can turn into action.” Solomon has already seen so many positive changes for good. The school alone provides free summer meals to all children 18 and under, facilitates a holiday donation through Operation Gorilla Family, and hosts fun activities for families to participate in with their students year round. In the community, the City of Solomon hosts a Community Christmas and Summer Festival. DSO Electric Cooperative shelters the Christmas Angel Trees. Sunbelt Solomon assists with donations year round for the community. Not least of these, Neighbor to Neighbor Abilene visits Solomon each month to provide a hygiene unit and mobile food pantry. Solomon is small but mighty and it takes care of its citizens in many ways but there is always room to grow.
The seventh grade class will begin working on their essays in the spring semester as part of their ELA curriculum under Johansen’s guidance. Students have begun thinking about areas where they see a need in their community with some focused on the local park, some on the sidewalks, and many other unique ideas. We are eager to see what these young gorillas write about and hope that any number of them will take that idea to the City of Solomon for a grant opportunity.