By JENNIFER BUBE, guest columnist
What is your Brown County legacy?
Some of us have lived here all our lives and may even be able to claim generations of Brown Countians in our families. Others may be newly welcomed. But what is it about Brown County that makes it so special?
Many may note the nature of our landscape or the quintessential coziness of our county that makes it a place to call home. Some sing praises of our communal philanthropic spirit or rich cultural and artistic history.
Born and raised in beautiful Brown County, as a young girl I sought to find my place in this town. I often wondered where I fit in. What was my Brown County legacy? How do the youth belong here? How do we take ownership and engage in the community that we are a part of? What place do we, as youth, have in this community?
In recent years, when I became involved with the Brown County Community Foundation, I started noticing these same questions being raised in meetings, discussions and strategic plans for our county. People were asking: What is the story of our local youth? What do they care about? How do they connect with our community? And that’s how the idea for the BCCF’s new youth program, LEAF, began blossoming.
LEAF stands for Learning, Engagement, Art and Philanthropy. It’s built on the principles of understanding community roots, fostering a sense of belonging, and cultivating a spirit of gratitude in our town’s young people.
LEAF is a mentorship program that engages you in your local culture while enhancing the foundation you’re building for your own future. We have two mentorship tracks, artisans or philanthropy, available this term.
In our first mentorship track with artisans, participants will be paired with a local creator in an apprentice-style setting to learn their craft and get an inside look at the process of creative entrepreneurship in Brown County. Here, our mentors include creative locals such as painters, writers, photographers and more.
Our second option is focused on philanthropy. Brown County is so blessed to have an abundance of volunteer opportunities for all citizens — especially our youth. These opportunities allow you to make a difference for causes you care about — and in our community especially, the people you care about. It allows you to learn more about yourself, to give where you live, and to find direction for your future — and I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that they look outstanding on your future resumes and academic applications.
But beyond becoming active in a traditional volunteer capacity, LEAF lets you experience the organization that makes it all happen. Through our philanthropy track in LEAF, you will be paired with a nonprofit organization for a local cause that you care about. Within the organization, LEAF unlocks the potential for getting a deeper look at the nonprofits that are really the roots of this community. Examples of your experience include helping plan and execute fundraisers, assist with advertising and social media, working with mission-based projects, and serving as a youth perspective for their organization.
Through LEAF, we are here to guide young Brown Countians to learn more about creating local art while giving you a bigger role in the causes that you care about — having your voice at the table and your hands at the wheel when it comes to our town.
Because we belong here, you belong here. And every day that we live here we’re creating the county’s history and building our own futures.
It’s time to start creating your own Brown County legacy. We hope you choose to do that through LEAF!
Jennifer Bube is an intern for the Brown County Community Foundation. She can be reached at [email protected].
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Would you like to become a part of the LEAPh program as a mentor or a participant?
Do you know a local artisan or nonprofit leader who would make a good mentor?
Apply or give a recommendation to [email protected]. Look for our LEAPh tab at BrownCountyGives.org under “what we do.”
Youth participants must be at least 12 years old.
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