Chappell
Chappell is the county seat for Deuel County, Nebraska. The population is less than 1,000, but the spirit in the small town is big. The community was named for a railroad president, John Chappell. Trains continue to whistle through Chappell reminding the town of its heritage while inspiring residents to create new ideas for a more prosperous economy, work with new technologies, and build upon an enduring spirit to make Chappell a good place to live now and in the future.
This summer, forward thinking Chappell residents joined efforts with the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative to pilot a new program in youth and community development called Dialogues Across Nebraska (DAN). The goal of the program was to foster dialogue through an intergenerational approach, which encouraged the exchange of ideas from everyone in the community. DAN is a tool Chappell can use in the future to address issues that may affect the community.
Student interns with the Rural Initiative worked with adult partners and youth leaders to prepare for the dialogue event. Preparing for the event included building community capacity by training the youth leadership team and adult partners in the intergenerational dialogue process. The leadership team then learned to facilitate the dialogue event. Members of the leadership team are an excellent resource for the community to turn to because they are prepared to facilitate future dialogues.
In order for a dialogue to be successful, the community must endorse the idea of making positive change and offer support throughout the entire process. Local businesses supported the event by sponsoring the dialogue and covering expenses for materials and food. Twenty-two community volunteers across generations showed their commitment to the dialogue process by participating in the three hour event. During the event, community volunteers talked with their respective generations and in intergenerational groups. Volunteers shared their insights about the current economy, technology and the possibilities for making things better in the community. The dialogue was positive and allowed Chappell residents to display their welcoming attitude toward new members of the community and to embrace the idea of diversity in their little town.
A heartfelt reminder from one Chappell community volunteer to young families and others in regard to rural places: "...Don't forget where your roots are, but grow where you are planted."
- Regional Point of Contact
Jamie Goffena, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Extension
- Adult Partners
Corinne Fischer
Kevin Flohr
Sheryl Kinoshita
- Youth Leadership Team
Lindsey Dykman
Ben Hardy
Tim Kinoshita
Libby Lutze
- Community Sponsors
Chappell Register
Chappell Super Foods
Farm Bureau
First National Bank
Prince Empson Insurance
- Student Interns
Courtney Bartlett
Kyla Wize
- Rural Initiative Support
Sandi Sattler Weber, Director of DAN
Matt Hastings
Jill Klepper
Aaron Raymond
Lindsay Schroeder
