REGIONAL STEWARDSHIP #EKUENGAGES IN STUDENT WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
LINC CONNECTS INTERNS TO SERVICE REGION BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT NEEDS Annie Zomaya, a recent graduate of Eastern’s Public Relations program, grew up in the mountains of Harlan County, attending Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College for two years before transferring to EKU. Her primary goal in life is to use her passion for writing to give back to her community.
region, it opens doors and it is great for networking. EKU reaches out to rural areas, and students can apply the tools they are mastering and use them in real-world situations.” Because Zomaya is from Harlan, LINC staff set out to find an organization in Harlan that needed an
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EKU is about creating opportunity, and that is exactly what it has done for me. I will be the first person in my immediate family to graduate college. Higher education has been my lifelong dream, and because of
However, dream jobs are hard to come by without experience. That’s why Zomaya was grateful to be part of the LINC (Liaisons Improving Networks and Connections) Internship Program, part of EKU’s Office of Regional Stewardship. The program specializes in networking with nonprofits and businesses within EKU’s service region, providing EKU students with paid work experience. “LINC is really beneficial, and I’m grateful I had that opportunity,” Zomaya said. “The best part is that it helps everyone involved. It benefits the service
the opportunities I have been blessed with, it’s coming true.
ANNIE ZOMAYA
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Annie Zomaya, ’17, graduate of Eastern’s Department of Communication.
intern. Harlan County Judge Executive Dan Mosely was working to find support for the Harlan County Economic Development Authority. The county judge was excited to learn he could hire an EKU student from Harlan who had the expertise he needed for his project.
-African Proverb
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Jackson Energy Cooperative’s original mission opened in Beattyville. Through partnership with Jackson eration Energy, Teleworks was able to obtain the resourceswas to better the lives of its members by providing utility m Op group tting fro This Irvine cubicles, office furniture, and telephones- essential to services to all residents of its Eastern Kentucky service area. to benefi ayers. its operation. In just six months of business, Teleworks zation ver City Pl rming arts Having surpassed this goal, Jackson Energy is solely focused organi rfo has employed 70 local residents. Teleworks has given local l County Riinging pe on continuing to improve every member's quality of life. r he Owsley County the resources to attract industry and keep Anot P is Estil ion of br Jackson Energy is able to do this through grant programs-like communities’ ity iss dU un m hard workers local. un m Ro two-fold its com n-profit you? Operation RoundUP- and partnerships. Some of the current “For a small grassroots, we’ve made a huge impact. We a ng As a no t of its ean to r, s m izi ha th tal partnerships include: ve vi k. os were able to look at the need of our community and find a een ch mon , howe and re , the Mac receives m ntributions Redbud Ride nts ea nizations rence betw rd solution,” said Molly Turner, Executive Director of Owsley tre co ce tra thea zation, it private ng for an ga to affop and County Teleworks, addressing the commuting issue facing h ni few ex r some orake the diffe yi le a ga ug no pl ab a or ro es ap g Laurel County’s Redbud Ride was named 2011’s “Best Fo ga in do m g th So was Owsley County residents. What not much. ange can and not be gnized thise grant fundin ndraisers. dUP grant son Energy Century Ride in America” by Active.com. Rightfully so, the ly ch s bl co ck un d fu ty Probabare pocket l program erative re , a charitanwide. mid-April bicycle ride starting in London, KY had humble oup. Ja l Coun n an eration Ro Tiny House Project Op er for the grarded Estil ree grants this sp g successfu ergy Coop P in 2013 ves natio every citize beginnings in 2008 with only 26 participants. runnin Jackson En on RoundUl cooperati undUP is ity and lly brain erative aw ers with thants funded However, participation has since skyrocketed;; The T Tiny House project originated as a Kenan estimated 1500-1800 riders participated them. hed Operati by severa eration Ro l commun specificaeir Coopr City Play These gr ve the ca ve s 0. s ted ve th Op lo nc tuckyy Valley Educational Coop grant opportuSa ati er Ri lau ay l in the 2017 ride. Approximately 96 percent iser, d up" g $400 ildren’ m adop behind ort the Cooper e nityy called “Build it Forward.” Lee County City Pl d cultura of these riders are from 50 or more miles r totalin nual fundraon-free ch g, prograe principle ty to supp n Energy tion to "roununding th ve an Ri t Area Ar Technology Center students were rem ro eration Th opportuni Jackso rs an op the an and a tuiti purchasinthe Mack, through ar opened to away causing hotels, restaurants, and local ts. ge fro Op be quired to research, design, and conMack, camp. Byreopening economy spots wereRiver City isshops to flourish during the ride. Millions gets an ent projec,000 mem excess chan ted to theis $71.23 d struct a 3D model of a tiny house. In ine’s ral more tre camp. through th of dollars are brought in through theater ting, and bettermits over 51 bills. The llar is donayour bill nts is adde ve , ate Irv va d April 2016, students presented plans gives ly energy xt whole doinstance, if the 77 ce ywhere ar. reno s to stimulthis grant se for the thear youth an nce, poise event-surrounded tourism creating an de n in front of a panel and were rewardou hope . With month to the ne fund. For to $72 and n donate an 8 per ye childre nce of lf-confi ing arts. economic boom in Eastern Kentucky. ed a grant to build an an actual tiny house. tourismmmunity’s e importa children seof perform Board “I think the phenomenal growth and bill updUP grant round up embers ca cap of $11.8preferred, Several local businesses agreed to partner Se popularity can be attributed to the fantastic the co s knows thteach local ity-on top Players’ grants Roun uld opt to . Co-op m ly, with a nation, if donated is with Tiny House Project, but Jackson Energy scenery along the rotes, the willingness of Player is able to commun River CityRoundUP d its oney you co grant fund nts monthone-time do to entire community to take ownership of the All m was the t first to jump onboard. With the help gy camp ide in their s, chair ofOperation ly deplete ose ableour to the one to 99 ceo make a ly option. n Ener of Jackson Energy, Lee County students will Jack event, and most importantly the volunteers,”” said and prsan Hawkin without complete ages all th from bers can als the month Jackso th over y be able to upgrade the appliances and increase ings, has said wi Su cour d have Mem of using less waRodney Hendrickson, executive director of the Pictured above: Lee County's Tiny the overall worth of the house. This house will beginn nizations RoundUP e rectors,ects woul dget, and enP. in 13 ad Di pa 20 ga le. ste London-Laurel County Tourist Commission. d id os of in eductib House an ity,” sa proj s bu undU purp cal or eration ram’s be the first tiny house in Kentucky accredited un Redbud Ride couldn’t function without current l operationeration Ro such a quick tax-d e the prog awarded loograms Opve the clear e previous comm by the National Organization of Alternative Housing. Upon oor Sinc ve has es and pr t all ha me of th e County volunteers. Cyclists must be fed, maintained, and kept safe td genera ate in Op undUP is ort your bu pp So iti erati completion, this tiny house will be auctioned off; if profits pact Ou throughout the entirety of the event. This becomes tricky particip tion Ro and su Coop 0. Activ endously, an region. : Rockcastlayers, unty Im In 2016 ant most of the routes go through the rural areas of exceed $15,000, Lee County ATC gets to keep all $15,000 “Operagive back gr ay Cosentiment. ,200because $150,00vary tremAppalachi ts include ver City Pl y and 80 percent of anything over. Profits from the auction r $1 oo," Cl Laurel, lion Jackson, and Rockcastle County, where cell service to reallins. fundedttering our dup recipien unty Ri ith "B s a similareceived a a pavi Co Sm will go back into the “Build it Forward” fund. This project is l e wk ha til un us isholimited. To solve this, the day of the ride Jackson Energy Ha ylor build of be on Ro ures ent, oor d, Es not a one-time thing, but rather a project Lee County hopes John Taes’ presidoor Advent nds helpedects-a bunkOp t Boar pact Outd eratione volunteer their time and use of their vehicles and Operati . employees oj Fu pmen Im td ntur to replicate over and over again. If enough money is raised, th are stationed throughout the 100-mile ent Adve County Ou RoundUP. ith other prs are scarcetioradios. Develoay County n for Volunteers Lee County will build two houses next year, rather than just not able to provide necessary communication in case velopm0 route Clay Operation ’ camp. Ws, resource cessible op nt and Clntures. ures and 00 unty De one. tyle accidents, or mechanical issues. illness, es from for the kids the work enient, ac tdoor Advefiof Adve ckcastle Coa grant of $1was lif t Lee County ATC Principal, Craig Herald, sees tiny houses ey r an Ro ed shed cetrack- in more conv Impact Ou courage a drFor ug more information visit www.redbudride.com. is mon receiv fo as a way of the future for the Appalachian region. Tiny and radUP was a ay County ned to en spel-driven lems run n Boardril 2016. Th ston, KY ston is houses could be built with quality right here in Appalachia. a go drug prob ganizatio Roun zation. Cl ’ camp desig Teleworks in Ap to Living nd. Living within or o runs d This business model would bring industry and jobs into our n is organiruns a kids el, but als obesity an on, so an io donatedr playgrou wn” located lat region and stimulate economic development. gi pu only h the gospram. Both lachian re Owsley outdoo “Trail To ty; the po n tries to nce in County Teleworks is an organization that “Maybe someday, Appalachian-made will have the same differe yoresidents u. If throug tion prog our Appa nt. to work from the comfort of their own a smallcastle Coun Livingsto mulate ing a allows impact as American-made,” said Craig Herald, Principal of de w. in prevennt through is significaative is mak e to inclu home. Teleworks USA connects prospective employees ww Rock y 300. As and help sti g a Lee County Area Technology Center. visitremote 0st step not fi firrst rampa klesboth gy Cooper d would lik undUP, with jobs, such as: U-Haul. Starting at the roughlin tourists th, becomin is call 80fowork viioouuss dget coulds. r More information on the Tiny House Project can be or bv tac Ro ob n p er an at le th very beginning, Teleworks gives potential employees the ab draw ic grow destinatio nd is an n En ation undu gion n’s bu require found at: https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseATC/ Jackso lachian re g to Operperation-rotionnecessary is avail skills to be employed into any customer service econom-friendly a playgrouy, Livingstoayground ilt the tin pa t/o t. Services include: resume building, literacy training, our Ap ted in donam/conten grant applica family . Creating fortunatel ction a pl vingston bu covered projecposition. 17 and mock interviewing. Once trained, employees are -Kaitlin Smith interesonenergy.co -friendly mmunity crucial rection. Unary construs grant, Li . Funding n costs, IL 20 , APR jacks 80. A userrthwhile co NG connected to several remote work employers and prepped that di the necessRoundUP’ playgrounder renovatioallows IVI L CKY 262-74with a wo affordOperation outdoor ing, shelt This space as a unit. es KENTU for hire. In July 2016, the newest Hub- a workspace- was those With to Create” ding: fencd signage. activities ildren ag “Spacepenses inclupment, an y outdoor ded for chr all ages. 4A KENTUCKY LIVING, APRIL 2017 all ex ound equi t and enjo inally inten e park fo playgr es to get ou was orig expand th famili to Create” n plans to “Space t Livingsto 1-6, bu 4A
Kaitlin Smith, a senior public relations major at Eastern, fulfilled an internship with Jackson Energy Cooperative, where she wrote and designed for Kentucky’s Electric Co-ops’ Kentucky Living Magazine. Here are two of Kaitlin’s designs and stories from the summer 2017 issue.