Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) has been selected as a partner by the University of Iowa’s Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) program. During the 2024-25 academic year, IISC will bring more than 100 faculty and students to collaborate with Pathfinders RC&D and the communities they serve in southeastern Iowa, particularly in Davis, Van Buren, Jefferson, Wapello, Mahaska, and Keokuk counties.
RC&D programs across the United States were first established by the Agriculture Act of 1962, built around the idea that local people could work together to protect and develop their economic, natural, and social resources in ways that improve quality of life. With support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), RC&Ds support volunteers within a region on collaborative solutions to local needs. Pathfinders RC&D has been serving communities since 1978, with a mission to “create vibrant communities by strengthening local economies and encouraging natural resource conservation.”
The nonprofit applied to the competitive program with an emphasis on engaging local youth in areas of job growth. “Working in conjunction with the South Central Iowa Workforce Development Board, Pathfinders is thinking creatively and strategically about how to keep young people in Iowa’s small towns and rural areas,” said Travis Kraus, director of IISC and an Associate Professor in the University of Iowa’s School of Planning and Public Affairs. “They have already made significant progress in this area, and we’re excited to bring UI students’ creativity to bear on an issue that effects our state’s future.”
One project specifically aimed at the need for increasing healthcare professionals in rural areas will be completed by students in the UI College of Nursing. They will create video modules showcasing the diversity of nursing roles and the educational pathways toward a nursing degree. The nursing students will have an opportunity to engage directly with local high school students and teachers to strengthen understanding about this profession, particularly as practiced in rural areas.
Pathfinders RC&D and IISC have worked together on several small projects. Now that the organization is partnering with South Central Iowa Workforce Development Board, there is an opportunity to engage in more regional projects. Pathfinders' director Ashley Utt notes, “IISC is the ideal partner for this approach. Pathfinders is eager to see how the work done in a few communities can be scaled to a regional level, and how collaboration among regional partners can enhance the sustainability and resilience of rural communities.”
An example of a project intended to strengthen the geographically disperse area served by Pathfinders RC&D is development of a single application for services accessed by families and individuals. Students in a Master of Public Affairs program will explore ways to minimize the complexities and burdens of applying for assistance. While communities in the area provide numerous services to support families and individuals in need, understanding how to access those resources and overcoming administrative burden can sometimes be challenging for applicants.
As more projects are announced, they will be posted to the Pathfinders' page on IISC's website.