southern seneca county cals nys internship program · internship responsibilities •assist in...

Alisha HeximerBiological Sciences, Class of 2016

Seneca Towns Engaging People for SolutionsSouthern Seneca County

CALS NYS Internship Program

CALS NYS Internship Program: http://blogs.cornell.edu/calsnysinternshipprogram/

Contact: Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman, hmm1@cornell.edu

CaRDI (Community & Regional Development Institute: www.cardi.cornell.edu

CALS (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences): www.cals.cornell.edu

Learning Goals• Networking: develop meaningful professional

connections• Learn ways individuals can be involved in and

contribute to the greater community• Decision-making skills and workplace autonomy

Internship Responsibilities• Assist in coordination and implementation of

Resident Health Promotion Projects• Community Outreach and Engagement• Media maintenance (web page/Facebook, etc.)• Writing/Proofing important documents• Attend/contribute to workgroups, etc.

STEPS Profile• Working to improve the overall health of Southern Seneca

County residents through social determinants of health:• Education, employment, transportation, housing, etc.

• Resident-Driven: ideas and implementation from residents • Uses Asset Based Community Development (ABCD)• Funded by Greater Rochester Health Foundation (GRHF)• Focused in the four town community of Covert, Ovid, Lodi and

Romulus• Currently in Phase II: Developing a long-term strategic plan

My profile• Grew up in rural Michigan• Interested in the intersection of neuroscience

and psychology in health• Accepted internship to learn about community

development and rural health

Four Town Community Profile• >250 small businesses, many of them mom & pop• Main industries: tourism and agriculture (wineries)• Small, rural towns, mostly homogenous (Caucasian)

Demographics• Median age has been on the rise and in 2013 ranged from 44 in

Covert to 35.1 in Romulus, • Total Population: ~10,000• Large Amish farming community• Education: 7.6% fewer high school degree holders than U.S

average, 12% fewer bachelor’s degree holders than U.S. average

References: Headwater Economics, senecasteps.org

Community Engagement Project

Interviews with residents such as town officials, educators, and business owners provided insight into challenges and opportunities relating to retaining and attracting young adults:• Low community involvement of high schoolers• Few career opportunities, which are not well

known (i.e. agricultural jobs)• Large sense of community and community

prideReasons to move to or back to the area• Family connections or support (financial)• Like the rural setting/area (bonded with area)

Project Proposal• Informed by ideas from community contacts• Increasing youth (high school) involvement in

the agricultural industry will strengthen ties to community and promote awareness of the breadth of the agricultural industry

• Method: develop and implement a summer farm and/or winery visitation/work program for high school students• a future intern can liaison between hosts and

partners for the program and help work out initial details

• Partners:• STEPS Team (Education/Economic

Workgroup)• Cornell Cooperative Extension Seneca County• United Way• South Seneca Middle/High School

Before and After: Lodi Flagpole Project brought over 20 collaborators together, increasing community pride and

social connectivity, (both are health factors)