Tines turns hometown internship into summer of community connections

BY SAMANTHA GOFF

GRANT TRIBUNE SENTINEL

Brock Tines spent his summer discovering that Perkins County’s greatest assets are not its buildings, businesses or public spaces, but the people who bring them to life.

Tines served as this year’s hometown intern for the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund. Throughout the summer, he traveled across the county, spoke with residents, organized activities and helped with community improvement projects.

His goal was to highlight the people and places that make Perkins County special while encouraging residents to imagine what the county could become.

Tines began the internship by driving and walking through each of the county’s communities. He visited local businesses, learned about volunteer opportunities and saw firsthand the services provided by organizations such as the senior center.

“The amount of passion everyone had was amazing,” Tines said.

Early in the summer, Tines traveled to Nebraska City for training with other hometown interns from across the state. The Nebraska Community Foundation introduced the group to asset-based community development, or ABCD, an approach that focuses on a community’s existing strengths and resources.

“Instead of seeing businesses and benches, I began to see the amazing opportunities and amenities that they really brought to the community,” Tines said. “With the ABCD mindset now in my brain, Perkins County shone brighter, even more than it already did.”

The approach aligned with the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund’s mission of inspiring opportunities to enrich community values through shared financial and human resources. The fund’s vision is to foster vibrant communities and a high quality of life throughout Perkins County.

After returning from training, Tines worked with his internship champion, Becky Uehling, on a survey focused on strengthening local journalism in Perkins County. While encouraging residents to participate, he also asked them about their connections to their hometowns.

Tines wanted to know how long residents had lived in Perkins County, what brought them to the area and what kept them here. He also asked what they would like to see accomplished if money were no obstacle.

The conversations allowed residents to share both their appreciation for Perkins County and their dreams for its future.

Tines spent many mornings working with Danielle Koenig to restore benches near the bandshell in Grant City Park. The process included power-washing, scraping away old paint, priming the benches and applying sand and epoxy.

When the project proved too large for two people, the community was invited to help. Volunteers ranging from grandchildren to grandparents turned out for three work days, despite the summer heat.

With their help, all of the benches were power-washed and scraped in preparation for restoration.

“The people in Perkins County love their community too much to let a little heat stop them,” Tines said.

Tines also wanted to create more opportunities for people to gather and have fun. With funding and support from the community foundation fund, he purchased equipment and organized weekly recreational activities.

Volleyball was held Tuesday nights, basketball Wednesday nights and pickleball Thursday nights from June 23 through July 30. Participation began slowly but grew as more residents learned about the activities.

“Slowly but surely, more and more people showed up each week,” Tines said. “It was so much fun, and everyone who showed up had a great time.”

Two open-mic nights at The Lot in Grant gave area musicians another opportunity to connect. Tines worked with the Poppe family to organize the events, which drew performers and audience members of different ages and experience levels from across the county.

Some performers were playing with a partner for the first time, while others had been singing for years.

The events demonstrated one of the lessons Tines took from his internship training: Communities already possess talented people who may need only an invitation and a place to share their abilities.

“You don’t need to leave your community to find greatness and talent,” Tines said. “All people need is just a little encouragement and the opportunity to share their gift with the world.”

Community visioning was another focus of the internship. About 12 residents attended a July 2 vision-board meeting to discuss what they valued about Perkins County and what they hoped to see in its future.

Ideas receiving the most attention included the creation of a community or youth center and the development of walking trails. A second meeting was held July 30 to continue those conversations and involve more residents.

Tines was able to learn more about community-center development during a mid-summer gathering with hometown interns in Arnold, Ord and Kearney. In Arnold, he toured the community center and learned about the steps residents and previous interns took to make the project a reality.

The summer also included events designed simply to help people meet one another.

A singles mixer featured ice cream from Kat’s Creamery and music by Matt Chandler Smith. Although attendance was smaller than organizers anticipated, Tines said those who participated enjoyed the evening.

A country swing night at the Perkins County Fairgrounds featured music from Eban Rosentrater and Caleb Smith. The event attracted experienced dancers, beginners and even hometown interns from Arnold and McCook.

Tines said the internship taught him that community projects do not have to begin with a large organization or a perfect plan. They can start with one person willing to share an idea and invite others to help.

He credited the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund, local businesses, volunteers, fellow interns, community members and his faith with making the summer’s projects possible.

Tines encouraged residents not to underestimate their own ability to make a difference.

“Don’t be afraid to try something new, and remember you are never alone,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to invite people to help you make your dreams reality.”

More information about the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund and its work is available through the Nebraska Community Foundation.