Growing RuralCenter for Rural Outreach & Public Services, Inc.

Growing RuralYouth Leadership Program

Growing Rural is an innovative, entrepreneurial program designed to create rural leaders for tomorrow. In direct alignment with CROPS’ vision to end rural poverty, Growing Rural uses service learning activities that build skills in critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, innovation, character development, leadership, employment preparation and youth philanthropy.

Growing RuralOur Youth, Cultivating Compassion

The program encourages inner city youth and adult mentors to work with rural youth to rebuild rural communities. Branding the Growing Rural program to align with our agricultural roots, CROPS’ founders created a rural development model with six simple problem solving steps.

Growing Rural Six Simple Steps

1. Field Analysis – youth and community needs assessments

2. Soil Preparation - leadership development, grant writing

3. Seed Planting – service learning, academic & vocational skills

4. Plant Nourishment – photography, video, digital storytelling

5. Crop Harvesting – youth development & community improvements

6. Land Enrichment – continuous improvement

For the past 4 years the International Boxing Club of Toledo, Ohio has donated time and talent to begin the process of revitalizing rural America through CROPS Growing Rural Program. This slide presentation is dedicated to IBC, its young athletes and coaches in appreciation for their work in San Pierre, Indiana in 2011.

Beverly Santicola, DirectorCenter for Rural Outreach & Public Services, Inc.

San Pierre Park

Historic Stone Bleachers & Tennis Courts

Clean UPCody & Isaiah

Weed Removal

Coaches work alongside team

It’s a good experience down here to be outside and help the community clean up. I’ll always remember it.

Isaiah King

Welcome To San Pierre

Landscaping Welcome Signs

LandscapingLouis leads way and its 95!

Lawn MowingLouis mows with gusto!

Landscape Artistry

Julalak in Charge

I’d never been outside the city. This is a good place, and I liked coming here. I like helping people a lot.

Koreon Grier

Former Our Lady of Holy Cross Senior Center

Walking Trails and Pavilion

Pavilion Trayvone and Coach Harry

Walking PathsGerard and Team

Photo OpsKoreon and Isaiah

This is my first time here, and I really like putting in the community service. If you do good things, good things will come back. What I do in San Pierre, I know it will come back in my boxing career.Louis Grier

The Wolski Farm

100 Year Old Family Farm

Riding for FunTrayvone and Koreon

Coming here last year inspired me to become an architect. The houses lining Bass Lake were an eye-opener because they made me realize there’s more than what I see in my neighborhood back home.Trayvone Mathis

WKVI Radio Interview

Interview with Ted Hayes

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been dressing up as a doctor on Halloween. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor when I grow-up because I want to help people. That’s why I like it here, ‘cause it’s all about helping people.

Gerard Chambers

Bass Lake Beach

Home Sweet Home, Dive in!

WorkoutsLouis and Coach

I like that we get to bond on these trips…that we get to know more about each other as people.

Cody HoughtallingAssistant IBC Coach

JammingSan Pierre Band – Cross Town Collision

Our work in San Pierre gives us the chance to reinforce what we teach the youth at the gym: The importance of hard work, lasting connections, courtesy and giving back.

Harry Cummins, DirectorInternational Boxing Club

Although it’s great to be a champion in the ring, it’s more important to be a champion in life.

Harry Cummins, DirectorInternational Boxing Club

For More CROPS InformationBeverly Santicola

Center for Rural Outreach & Public Services, Inc.866-843-3493

www.ruralgrants.org