Friday, September 23, 2005
Connect with Southern Indiana application deadline October 10
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Community-minded individuals who want to fine tune critical thinking skills and help improve the life of their community can apply for a new citizenship-building program to be offered at the University of Southern Indiana in 2006. Individuals from an eight-county-wide area can apply for the Connect with Southern Indiana program offered through Extended Services. There will be no fee to attend because funding for participants will come from a Lilly Endowment grant that supports the retention of Indiana’s intellectual capital. Monday, October 10 is the deadline date to apply. Spearheaded by staff at USI, Connect with Southern Indiana will strengthen the decision-making skills of participants and raise their level of involvement in community and regional organizations. They will receive resources for community and regional assessment, and guidance on self-development, presentation skills, goal-setting, and creation, management, and completion of projects. Dr. Darrel Bigham, director of Connect with Southern Indiana, said, “The value of this project will be enormous for the participating individuals. Scholarships will be awarded to persons accepted into the program, and the funding will cover all program costs (except for travel to and from meetings). Connect with Southern Indiana will offer participants the opportunity to meet others with similar concerns and interests who live in and outside of an individual’s home county. Those who are accepted will have opportunities for collaborative problem-solving; introduction to business and civic leaders; and practical outcomes—greater awareness of community and regional needs and opportunities and an evaluation of personal interests and skills. The program will furnish critical thinking skills, above all, that will be applicable in whatever direction a person chooses to go after the program is ended. Program planners hope that people in the program might form task forces to explore community/regional issues after 2006. Candidates must be residents of Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, or Warrick counties and should have lived in this region at least one year. Twenty-four people, representing the eight counties, will be selected to participate. The project, which starts in January 2006 and ends in September 2006, will create ongoing opportunities for civic involvement. Those selected to participate will be required to attend nine programs, a half- to full-day in length, and give additional time to complete special projects. Subsequent programs are planned for 2007 and beyond. An application form is available online. Calls can be directed to Darrel E. Bigham, director of Historic Southern Indiana project and professor of history, at the University of Southern Indiana at 812/464-1863, or via e-mail at dbigham@usi.edu. |
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