Cornerstone Coalition seeks communities to participate in S.E.E.D. Initiative

"Monticello's Market in the Park has grown
 from a UAM student's idea into a Saturday
 morning shopping stable, through
 Cornerstone's SEED Initiative.
Photo courtesy of Patty Wooten."

The Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition is now accepting applications for communities, and community projects, to participate in the Cornerstone Leadership Development Institute’s S.E.E.D. Initiative. The S.E.E.D. (Student Engaging in Economic Development) Initiative is a partnership developed between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the Cornerstone Coalition where college students, in participating courses, engage with the region’s communities to provide assistance and help brainstorm solutions to address community needs as a part of a for-credit curriculum-based course model. “The Cornerstone connects S.E.E.D. participating communities and UAM faculty together to coordinate service learning engagement into college courses,” Coalition Director Zack Tucker explains. “The purpose of the program is to encourage and inspire college students to become engaged to their region's communities.”



The experience offers a community an opportunity to engage with the region’s budding young professionals and gaining unique feedback from the area’s students. As a result of a communities participation as a S.E.E.D. community, the Cornerstone Coalition will develop a report of the class’s engagement in the community; also providing the community with continual networking and program assistance after the course.

Successful S.E.E.D. projects include the revitalization of a farmer’s market located in Downtown Monticello, AR. The engagement and research of UAM agriculture student Jack Pace, under the instruction of UAM instructor Paul Francis, has grown into a community based market that offers homemade crafts, art and soaps available for the purchase; in addition to homemade jams and jellies, fresh farm eggs and locally grown produce. By connecting Pace’s research, through the S.E.E.D. Initiative, with community partners such as the Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce, Feed the Kids Community Garden and the County government, Pace’s student project resulted into actual community development.

Interested communities can apply and review the criteria for eligible communities at the Coalition’s website: www.searkcornerstone.org. Deadline to apply for participation as a S.E.E.D. community is August 31. For questions or assistance completing this application, email Director Zack Tucker, tucker@uamont.edu.

The Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition is the regional community and economic development partnership representing Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha and Drew Counties. The Cornerstone Leadership Development Institute is the region's premier resource for leadership development and civic education that is community-based, intergenerational, and inclusive of leaders from all sectors of our community.