Yo u t h C i t y C o u n c i l l Fo r k R e a l C o m m u n i t y C a f é l Yo u t h Ac ti o n B o a rd
JANUARY 2022
DESSA SCARES THE HAWK Local teen mom helps state earn $2.9 million by sharing her story of homelessness
Volume 3. Issue No. 1
THERE ARE NO SICK DAYS ON THE RANCH 365 days a year, no matter the weather, you are preserving a way of life through passion and commitment. You are leaving a legacy for the next generation.
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
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JAN. 2022 Volume 3 // Issue No. 1
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Rapid City Youth City Council brings new perspectives to city issues. BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI
Peyton Swallow follows in her grandparent's footsteps. BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI
YOUTH COUNCIL
VOICES FOR THE UNHEARD
FULLY WELL 36 16 CHEESECAKE DECORATOR
Maia Riker Acevedo volunteers in any way she can. BY MAIN STREET SQUARE
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YOUNG LEADER IS PAVING HER FUTURE
16 year old Kaylee Young leads art session at Black Hills Works. BY MICHAEL NEARY
DESSA SCARES THE HAWK
Local teen mom helps state earn $2.9 million by sharing her story of homelessness. BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI
PEYTON SWALLOW
ELEVATE RAPID CITY D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 E C O N O M I C I N D I C AT O R S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 2.5%
AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGES $ 913
ECONOMY RAPID CITY GROSS SALES $ 722,532,510
BUILDING PERMITS 235
NEW HOUSING UNITS 182
REAL ESTATE
Rapid City metro statistics
Month-over-month increase
MEDIAN LISTING PRICE $ 369,950
Month-over-month decrease
Monthly comparisons, industry analysis and additional economic indicators available on exclusive investor report.
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ACTIVE LISTINGS 182
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ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
LOOKING OUT TOGETHER AND SEEING GOOD
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As I was reading this month’s magazine, I was reminded of a quote from the amazing Lakota medicine man and healer Black Elk, for which Black Elk Peak is named today: “...when I was young, the spirits took me in my vision to the center of the earth and showed me all the good things in the sacred hoop of the world.” Sometimes when I meditate in the mornings, I reflect on this quote and many others. When I think of this quote, in particular, I think of the beauty of this world and how it races through our veins like the wind while we are young. It’s only when we get older that the wind dies down or stops altogether. But it doesn’t have to. Being young isn’t just the number of times you’ve lapped the sun. It’s a mindset. It’s a way of thinking. It’s a way of telling yourself, “There is beauty in this world, and I’m going to make it even more beautiful.” Here at Elevate, we call it our mission statement: to elevate the region for all. But really, it’s about looking out together and seeing all of the good things. And then doing something to make it better. Welcome to this issue of Elevate, where we share stories of young people making a difference—in themselves, the community, and the world. Usually, I preview the stories here, but I’d rather not ruin any of the fun ahead of time this month. Instead, let me say that we hope these stories and this issue remind you to be young again. But more importantly, we hope they inspire you to be the change you seek in this world. That’s because you are here now for a reason. You are living in the sacred hoop of the world now. There are so many good things if you choose to see them. Stay safe and God-speed.
Tom Johnson, President & CEO
Elevate is a monthly publication produced by Elevate Rapid City. It is the premier business magazine for the Black Hills region telling the stories that make our area unique and vibrant. PO Box 747, Rapid City, SD 57709 605.343.1744 elevaterapidcity.com PRESIDENT & CEO Tom Johnson FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Dana Borowski ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt Brunner MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Shiloh Francis PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR Anna Hays SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & INVESTOR RELATIONS DIRECTOR Brandis Knudsen WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & TALENT ATTRACTION DIRECTOR Samantha McGrath ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Mitch Nachtigall EVENTS & TRAINING MANAGER Rachel Day CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Andy Greenman BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION MANAGER Larissa Hespen ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT & PROPERTY MANAGER Loni Reichert PUBLIC POLICY MANAGER Garth Wadsworth OFFICE MANAGER & HR COORDINATOR Liz Highland EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Becky Knox
DESIGN AND LAYOUT Andy Greenman PUBLISHED BY THE RAPID CITY JOURNAL Bill Masterson, Publisher, bill.masterson@bhmginc.com ADVERTISING Eddie Hebron, 605.394.8356 ehebron@amplifieddigitalagency.com PRINTED BY SIMPSONS PRINTING
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RAPID CITY RUSH VS. IOWA HEARTLANDERS
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4GMX MOTOCROSS
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COATS FOR KIDS BOWLING TOURNAMENT
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SHARON SCUDDER HELPING INDIVIDUALS BUILD THEIR LIVES
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Thank you so much Elevate Rapid City for such an amazing write up on one of our volunteers, Martha Rodriguez! - Seventh Circuit CASA Program
BRIDGET STONE IS HELPING OTHERS BETTER THEMSELVES
Bridget is a wonderful volunteer and friend. She will jump in with a loving spirit wherever there is a need. I am thankful to serve alongside her! - Raven Krobot Mack This great lady and all the folks who volunteer at Love INC are wonderful. - Linda Peterson
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BLACK HILLS RAPIDS WINTER CLASSIC
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BURNING BEETLE
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WILLIAMS & REE WITH JIMMIE "JJ" WALKER
JANUARY 28-FEBRUARY 5
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J.Will605 Me and the kid had to pull over on the way home tonight. These #SoDakskies have been crazy lately. #elevaterapidcity Tag your social media posts with #elevaterapidcity for your chance to be featured in the next magazine!
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ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
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Rapid City Youth City Council brings new perspectives to city issues
BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI // PHOTOS BY ANDY GREENMAN
elevaterapidcity.com
Local teens are making their voices heard throughout the city and paving the way for their peers across the region to do the same. The Rapid City Youth City Council was formed two years ago with a mission of bridging the gap between public officials and the city's youth and offering young people a way to be heard in local government decision-making. The effort has paid off. elevaterapidcity.com 9
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"WE HAVE PUT THE YOUTH VOICE IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND SPARKED CIVIL ENGAGEMENT."
The youth council was able to add a new perspective to some of the city's most significant issues, including the controversial mask mandate and the Indian Boarding School land swap. "We have put the youth voice in city government and sparked civil engagement," said Sadie Colbeck, a senior at Stevens High School and the current council chairperson. "We've taken on the hot topics." Sadie recalled their December 2020 meeting when the youth, dressed in Santa hats and reindeer antlers, had a healthy discourse over the mask mandate. "We had a very respectful debate. Even if we didn't have the same views, we still respected each other as a person." And that is what Sadie said the council is all about. "The entire point of Rapid City Youth City Council was to spark civil engagement respectfully, and that is exactly what we did at that meeting." Several years ago, Hannah Churchill, now a freshman at Augustana University, and two of her peers worked to start a council. "Youth are coming into adulthood where they will be voting and making decisions," said Hannah while attending the council meeting on her holiday break. "It is important for youth to get involved and understand what is going on in government, especially at the city level." The initial proposal submitted did not go far, but that did not discourage the teens. Sean Binder, teacher, advisor, and internship coordinator at Rapid City High School helped improve their proposal. The resubmitted
elevaterapidcity.com
-SADIE COLBECK
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proposal was immediately approved. Sean had previously worked in Colorado helping communities start youth city councils. Youth City Council membership includes a diverse representation of cultures, backgrounds, and opinions from all schools, including private, public, and homeschool. In addition to learning about local government, Tae Swanson, a Stevens High School senior and council secretary, said she has been opened to the diverse thinking of her peers. "I have gained a lot of insight into what others think about certain issues. It has helped me take a step back and look at things from a 3-D perspective rather than just my experiences on the issues," she said. Tae also believes the youth council has broadened the minds of the community's adults. "Once adults start talking to youth, they realize there is a lot to be said from the youth population about stuff that impacts us directly." With the melting pot of different ideas and opinions from the schools, city
"ONCE ADULTS START TALKING TO YOUTH, THEY REALIZE THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID FROM THE YOUTH POPULATION ABOUT STUFF THAT IMPACTS US DIRECTLY."
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
-TAE SWANSON
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officials can gather a general consensus of younger people to make more well-rounded decisions, she said. In addition to the general city council, the council has created subcommittees to focus on larger issues affecting the city. These topics include mental health, community relations, environment, and the newly formed economics committee, which Sadie proposed. The construction of the Amazon building in Sioux Falls spurred the idea. Sadie and her dad were talking about the jobs created from that development. It brought about the conversation of working with Rapid City's
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ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
business community to inform teens about the career opportunities available here. "A lot of people I know are going to different colleges, and that is amazing," Sadie said. "I want to make sure they come back as well. I am interested in different universities, but I want to come back and know that I can still come home once I get my degree. There will be different job opportunities for me here." It hasn't always been easy to get city officials to listen and understand the youth's perspective. Still, the youth council is happy to have a place to express their thoughts and overall feel supported. "We have been so blessed that the common council and the adults in our city have been so receptive to our thoughts and ideas," Sadie said. "There has been some push back, but sometimes debate is what is needed to make great decisions." Kiran Kelly is a senior at Central High School and vice chairperson. She added that the youth council has made teens feel like they are being heard. "We are trying to make changes in ways a lot of people don't recognize. It is easier for us to be open and talk about it when we have a platform." Rapid City was the first community in South Dakota to have a youth city council and is now becoming the model for cities across the state and the region. "It is exciting to be a part of something like this and realize you are having people reach out to you and ask for your guidance," Kiran said. So far, Rapid City youth have provided feedback to officials in Sioux Falls, Hot Springs, and Casper, WY, and hope that only increases. They also hope to get more teens involved locally. "We talked about wanting to make sure the youth city council stays for as long
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as possible and that our vision for civic engagement continues," Sadie said. She also hopes representation across Rapid City schools increases. "When it comes to our selection committee, we need to make sure there is as much diversity as possible. We need to have as many voices in the conversation." Many teens initially joined because of their interest in government and civics. Still, the youth have gained a much broader benefit they will take with them long after their tenure is over. For example, Sadie now intends to be mayor of Rapid City, a goal she made after serving on the council. While she always saw herself as a leader, she didn't see it as a government role. "The youth city council was my first step, and now there is no way I am not going to be mayor." She loves Rapid City and intends to do everything she can to be a voice for the betterment of her community. "The city has many amenities, including great businesses and spectacular views. However, the people make it unique from other areas," she described. "It is the people who run it; people who participate, and express their opinions, who try to make the community a better place by attending common council and youth city council meetings. Those are the people who make the city go and sometimes are forgotten, and those are the people you should meet as you walk down the street." That includes the youth who are raising their voices and bringing positive change to their community. The Rapid City Youth City Council meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall and is open to everyone. ▤
"THE YOUTH CITY COUNCIL WAS MY FIRST STEP, AND NOW THERE IS NO WAY I AM NOT GOING TO BE MAYOR." -SADIE COLBECK
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"I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AT THE CAFÉ WITH A FRIEND THAT NEEDED VOLUNTEER CREDIT. EVEN AFTER SHE WAS DONE WITH HER HOURS, I KEPT COMING BACK."
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
- MAIA RIKER ACEVEDO
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THE CHEESECAKE DECORATOR ...and well-rounded volunteer
Volunteering is not something that most sixth graders ever think about, but it is something that Maia Riker Acevedo has been doing for the past five years during her summers and breaks from school. When Maia was in the sixth grade, she started volunteering at Fork Real Community Café, a non-profit pay-what-you-can community cafe located in downtown Rapid City, and has not looked back. “Mrs. [Rhonda] Pearcy was my fourth-grade teacher at Wilson Elementary. She left to open Fork Real two years after she taught me. I had an opportunity to volunteer at the café with a friend that needed volunteer credit. Even after she was done with her hours, I kept coming back,” Maia said. If you have been to Fork Real you have probably seen Maia. “She does any and everything here at Fork Real—food prep, cashier, hostess, mopping or anything we need her to do. It’s been great to watch her grow,” stated David Pearcy, co-founder of the non-profit. For most teenagers, volunteering their time is not a common practice or even in their thought process. That is what makes Maia different. “Maia was 11 and 12 and loved coming in to help. She would ride her
skateboard to the café four days a week when we were located in The Creamery building. That is dedication and discipline,” added Pearcy. Maia not only has been volunteering at Fork Real for the past five years but also volunteers for another one of her passions: music. “I love playing music and I often perform at dinners, socials, and parties for Catholic Social Services and other organizations.” Maia’s love for music has even presented post-high school opportunities, as she has already received a scholarship offer for participation in All-State Orchestra four years in a row. Maia’s mother Patri understands exactly why her daughter enjoys volunteering. “It is all she has known. Rhonda and the volunteers at the café took Maia under their wing and showed her work ethic and discipline. She had to figure out how to get to the café every day. We knew it was a great thing for her for that reason and we saw how much she loved it.” Maia’s relationship with Rhonda started in a classroom and her teachings continue at the café. “Mrs. Pearcy knew what I liked doing and gave me an opportunity to express myself, whether it’s writing out the menu board,
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BY MAIN STREET SQUARE // PHOTOS BY ANDY GREENMAN
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"SHE DOES ANY AND EVERYTHING HERE AT FORK REAL... IT’S BEEN GREAT TO WATCH HER GROW." -DAVID PEARCY, CO-FOUNDER OF FORK REAL COMMUNITY CAFÉ
DESSERT MENU
Maia’s first memory of working with Mrs. Pearcy was selling Pickle Pops at school to raise money to go to the Adams House in Deadwood.
ELEVATE ELEVATE •• JANUARY JANUARY 2022 2022
Maia’s younger sister Leila has also begun volunteering at the café to follow in her older sister’s footsteps.
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Maia plays the viola, piano and is planning to pick up a guitar again.
MAIA AND RHONDA creating the place cards for dinners, or decorating the cheesecake. I love decorating the cheesecakes because I get to follow a process and be creative. I love eating the cheesecake scraps too. Because of Mrs. Pearcy and the other volunteers, being at the café never felt like work… it felt like family and that’s why I love it.” The soft-spoken Maia has never had a paying job before, as she has only volunteered her time but is looking to get a job next summer. The skills she has learned volunteering at the café will carry over to whatever Maia wants to do in the future. “I would love to do something visual, animation art, or something I can see.” Decorating thousands of slices of cheesecakes is only the beginning. ▤
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"REGARDLESS OF WHAT I WENT THROUGH THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT HAS HAD IT 10 TIMES HARDER THAN I HAD IT. I JUST HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL."
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
- DESSA SCARES THE HAWK
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Dessa Scares the Hawk Local teen mom helps state earn $2.9 million by sharing her story of homelessness BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI // PHOTOS BY ANDY GREENMAN
She saw no other way. “I got drunk and started choking myself out. I didn’t want to be here. Because of all the stuff that was happening, I thought I had no other options. Stuff was not working out. “ Since she was three, Dessa had been in and out of foster care, group homes, and oftentimes homeless sleeping on the floor of friends’ and relatives’ homes. “I do really feel like a burden when I am couch surfing and stuff. I don’t like doing that stuff, but it is either that or staying up all night walking around the city.” Despite countless challenges and bad choices throughout her 19 years, Dessa is now on a path to not only make a difference in her own life but the lives of so many more. Dessa, now a single parent of 4-month-old baby boy, Legend, has an apartment of her own, is three classes away from getting her GED, and is part of a movement to bring awareness to the problem of youth homelessness. In November 2020, Dessa joined the local Youth Action Board, a youth-led group with a mission of creating a positive change in the ongoing program of youth homelessness in the community. Through the group’s work, including a report Dessa wrote sharing her story, the state received a nearly $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project grant will address homelessness in ways that are tailored to the needs of youth including funding for housing units, wraparound services, and housing support.
elevaterapidcity.com
During one of her darkest days, Dessa Scares the Hawk attempted to take her own life.
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"I DO REALLY FEEL LIKE A BURDEN WHEN I AM COUCH SURFING... BUT IT IS EITHER THAT OR STAYING UP ALL NIGHT WALKING AROUND THE CITY."
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
- DESSA SCARES THE HAWK
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Since YAB’s founding in July 2020, the group has worked to recruit members, work collaboratively with service providers, create a mission and vision, and raise their voices in a variety of local, regional, and statewide platforms. The Rapid City YAB is currently the only one in existence in South Dakota, however, the hope is for the local group to be a model for other communities across the state. Many members, like Dessa, have experiences with homelessness. “We wouldn’t have gotten that money without Dessa – her determination and dedication,” Kristin Kiner, youth engagement coordinator with the Rapid City Area Schools said. Dessa is excited about what the money means to the future of the youth throughout the state. “You never know what you are going to accomplish. I feel very good that this will go on for years and years. This is what we were working toward. We are going to do big things.” With funding secured, planning has now begun on finding solutions to a big problem affecting Rapid City’s youth. “There is a lot of thinking that needs to be done,” Dessa said. “There is a lot more attention that needs to be brought to the homeless youth in our community. We didn’t ask for this. Why do this to young people who have their whole life in front of them? What if they die because of doing what they have to do to survive – being out on their own at such a young age.” Dessa has become a voice for those who do not have one, according to Shirley Conrad, a community resource
Abbott House is a South Dakota organization that provides support and assistance for youth ages seven to 23 who are overcoming obstacles that have come from trauma, abuse, neglect, and behavioral disorders.
"DESSA SHARES HER HEART, AND SHE IS WILLING TO SHARE THE HARD STUFF." - SHIRLEY CONRAD
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ABBOTT HOUSE
person with Lutheran Social Services, and one of the people Dessa credits with helping her find her way. Shirley has been working with Dessa since she moved to Rapid City. “Dessa shares her heart, and she is willing to share the hard stuff,” Shirley said adding that Dessa has been asked several times to speak about her experiences. “One of her goals was she didn’t want others to go through the same thing. She knows she has made some bad choices, and she knows what is right, but it is hard when you go through trauma and are struggling. She shares her story for others to learn from her experience, not just adults, but her peers. That is pretty amazing and a lot of bravery on her part.” Dessa and her older sister moved from a group home in Eagle Butte to Rapid City three years ago. “I was happy I moved,” Dessa said of leaving the reservation. “I moved away from the place I grew up – all the trauma and toxicity. My parents died in that hometown, and I didn’t want to be there.” After moving to Rapid City, Dessa gained a new freedom that she did not have at the group home. However, with that freedom came harmful behavior and toxic relationships. All choices Dessa admits were hers. She dropped out of school, started drinking and doing drugs, and was kicked out of her home. She lived with a friend for a while and eventually got a place through the Abbott House’s Independent Living Program.
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"DESSA IS A SUCCESS STORY. SHE IS A LEADER, AND I THINK SHE IS BEGINNING TO SEE IT IN HERSELF."
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
- SHIRLEY CONRAD
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Dessa veered off her path again and was asked to leave Abbott House, however, the resilient teen worked hard to get her life back on the right path. Abbott House saw Dessa’s desire to succeed and allowed her back into the program. She got her own apartment – the same one she now shares with Legend. “Dessa is a success story,” Shirley said. “She is a leader, and I think she is beginning to see it in herself. She has so much potential and is beginning to use it in a positive way.” Dessa’s support system now includes Shirley, Kristin and the friends she gained through her involvement with YAB. “I don’t really smile, but when I come here, I laugh all the time and always have a good time regardless. Nobody here judges. We are doing things we never thought we would do. I am here with my ears wide open for everybody. We are putting our opinions in and seeing where it takes us.” Shirley said YAB is not solely about grants, it has become a support system for the youth. “Housing continues to be a struggle as well as transportation, that is why it is difficult for them to get a job. This is place where they can support one another.” Dessa intends to continue her involvement with YAB and sees her future as helping others like her in some way. A future she did not imagine a few years ago. “I do want to be the person to give somebody resources. I am excited to stay with the organization. You don’t ever know,
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but you could reach to the top of the world one day. It just takes time and dedication.” Despite her nearly two decades of challenges, Dessa continues to persevere. “Everybody has got a different story. Regardless of what I went through there is someone out there that has had it 10 times harder than I had it. I just have to be grateful.” Her focus is now on giving Legend a better life than she had. “That’s all I care about. I lost my keys to life, my parents. That is really your key to life. I just want to give him a better life. It feels really good to go home and have a safe place to sleep. I am grateful for it. I really am.” ▤
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Paid advertisement by SDSU: School of Nursing
Rapid City site about to grow
BY DAVE GRAVES NOVEMBER 12, 2021
Action by the South Dakota Board of Regents in June will be felt on the College of Nursing’s Rapid City site next semester and more so in the semester to follow. The University of South Dakota Rapid City nursing program is being phased out. SDSU’s site is expanding and accommodations are being made to handle the expanded program and put it under one roof. Christina Plemmons, assistant dean for the SDSU Rapid City site. “The whole idea is very exciting,” said Christina Plemmons, assistant dean for the SDSU Rapid City site. The idea stemmed from a legislative task force created in 2020 to study the operations and functions of the higher education institutions under the South Dakota Board of Regents. Consolidating bachelor-level nursing education programs in western South Dakota from two universities to one was one of the recommended efficiencies. The Board of Regents approved the recommendation June 23, 2021. This fall was the last cohort of USD nursing students to be admitted. The USD program will graduate its current Rapid City students, with the final cohort graduating in spring 2023. SDSU, which had an admitting capacity of 48 students per semester, will see its admitting cap grow to 72 students in spring semester 2022. Plemmons said SDSU’s recent average semester admissions has been just under 40. USD, which had a cap of 24, also has been admitting less than that.
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
Spring admits to top 48 When classes begin in January, she is preparing for more than 48 students to be admitted but less than the 72 allowed. A final number will be known in early December, but administrators have a fairly good projection based on where students are at in finishing their nursing prerequisites. However, Plemmons said, “It is not unusual to admit students who have completed prerequisites elsewhere.” The Rapid City site’s enrollment is 156 in the four-year Bachelor of Nursing program with 14 in the one-year accelerated program. This is the first year for an accelerated program in Rapid City. “We were hoping to admit eight, maybe six. We admitted 16 and they are all on track to earn their degree. One student switched sites and one switched to the standard program. We are happy about our accelerated numbers and the local health care organizations are happy about it, too,” Plemmons said. The accelerated program runs from January to December with no breaks. Students already have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing.
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Consolidation also means construction The other part of the program consolidation is facility upgrades, the bulk of which is down the road. At the Regents’ Oct. 7 meeting in Rapid City, unanimous approval was given to present a proposal to the state Legislature for a $15.1 million renovation and expansion of the Black Hills State University-Rapid City facility. The funding plan calls for $8 million in state revenues with the remainder split between private donations and the Higher Education Facilities Fund, which comes from tuition. “What is really positive, when the new space is built, we will be able to increase capacity to 96 or 120. People are looking to make career changes and to move. People are moving to South Dakota. We expect to create (student) pipelines from other states. Once we increase capacity with remodeling, then we
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can increase our recruiting. “Health care organizations in the Rapid City area are very supportive of increasing the number of B.S.N. RNs in western South Dakota,” Plemmons said. Program divided between 3 locations Right now, SDSU’s Rapid City site operates in three buildings—1011 11th St., where the program started in 1989; 1220 Mt. Rushmore Road, which is a half-mile away; and the Black Hills State University-Rapid City facility, which is off I-90 and 7 miles away. Being in three buildings during this transition creates a challenge for faculty and staff, Plemmons said, but “we are committed to moving into BHSU-Rapid City building. As a first step, we moved all of our theory classes into BHSU-Rapid City. Two faculty members and one adviser are officed there, but we have 20 faculty and staff members who are not officed there. Their offices are either in our rented space at 1220 Mt. Rushmore Road or at 1011 11th St., which is now owned by Monument Health. (Originally, it was the dormitory for St. John’s McNamara Hospital nuns and nursing staff.) “We outgrew the original space and use the rented space to teach nurse practitioner courses, provide graduate simulation, and house the Native American Nursing Education Center. “It could be four years (fall 2025) or more before we’re A room in the college’s site at 1011 11th St. in Rapid City. under one roof, but my team is very committed to this process. ”The Regents’ Oct. 7 action also allowed the university to hire an architect to begin preliminary work. New quarters to have campus feel The addition is to include a large simulation room as well as smaller simulation rooms with adjacent control rooms and debriefing areas. Remodeling work will include joining classrooms to accommodate the anticipated larger class sizes and creating more office space out of other classrooms, Plemmons explained.
Enrollment boost means more faculty In the interim, Plemmons plans to add another full-time faculty member in anticipation of January’s The Native American Nursing Education Center room in the college’s enrollment increase. Depending on where enrollment location on Mt. Rushmore Road. hits for spring semester, more part-time clinical faculty could be added as well. “For every eight additional students we admit, we will need another clinical instructor for all five semesters,” said Plemmons, who started teaching clinicals at Rapid City in 2005 after graduating from the program in 2002. Reflecting on how the program has grown in those two decades, Plemmons said, “I have a great sense of pride for the commitment SDSU has made to the program and the high level of support we have from all our clinical agencies.”
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She expects the new facility to be a hit with students. “The students already feel a benefit having theory classes at BHSU-Rapid City. It has more of a campus feel. The classrooms are open, they have windows, there is a coffee shop. Students like having a place to sit and hang out between classes. There are study nooks with tables and chairs. We’ve never had that ability in our historic building. We’re using all our space to teach,” Plemmons said.
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"RAPID CITY IS SO DIVERSE, SO WE WANT TO BE OPEN ABOUT EVERYBODY’S CULTURES."
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
- PEYTON SWALLOW
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VOICES FOR THE UNHEARD PEYTON SWALLOw follows in her grandparen's footsteps
Last year, Peyton Swallow walked beside her grandparents Melidie and Victor. It was a memorial walk to remember the children who died at the Rapid City Indian Boarding School. This year, she walked once again, but there was a new face she was remembering. Her grandmother died earlier this year, but Peyton continues to carry her in her heart, along with a small piece of advice her grandmother often said: one small act of kindness can change the world. “My grandma has always been a really good person at heart and she always encouraged me to help others,” said Peyton. “She’s like you can help other people just by spreading information and awareness. I have just always looked up to her, so I always wanted to make her proud, and I feel like the work I am doing is making her proud.” Swallow is a junior at Central High School. At only 16, she has already made an impact on her peers and her community through her involvement. Peyton was only in middle school when Rapid City Area Schools youth engagement coordinator Kristin Kiner introduced her to Take ACTion. Through skits and short
films, the students start a conversation about uncomfortable topics such as human trafficking and dating violence, Peyton explained. “We do it in a creative way where we get to act it out and put it in real scenarios that other teens might be able to understand and possibly relate to. Not everybody is comfortable starting that type of conversation, but it is a conversation that needs to be had.” The group has presented to students in Rapid City, Martin, Spearfish and Douglas. Once a quiet, shy teen, Peyton quickly began to find her voice. “Take ACTion really brought me out of my shell.” In January 2020, Peyton joined the Rapid City Youth City Council, eventually becoming the chairperson of the cultural relations committee. “One of our goals is to be a voice for the voices that aren’t heard. As youth, we collaboratively voice our opinion and our ideas that we think other youth would agree on.” Peyton’s Native American culture has always been a big part of her life so as chairperson she has strived to not only share her traditions, but also learn about the cultures of her peers. “Rapid City is so diverse, so we want
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BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI // PHOTOS BY ANDY GREENMAN
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ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
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to be open about everybody’s cultures. I think it is important for youth to have a place where they feel comfortable and accepted.” As the leader of the cultural relations committee, Peyton encouraged her peers and community members to participate in the Remember the Children, a memorial walk remembering the children who died at the Rapid City Indian Boarding School. While Peyton did not have her grandmother this year, her grandfather walked by her side. In addition to Take ACTion and Rapid City Youth City Council, Peyton is also the youth liaison for Communities that Care, a community-owned prevention system proven to reduce youth health and behavior problems. “There is definitely a lot of opportunities where I get to express how I feel and how my other friends feel. I think it is important you get the youth’s input for the issues that concern them.” Peyton said she has developed lifelong skills through her community and school involvement, including being able to raise her voice to issues she feels strongly about. “Over the years, I have been able to open up and share my voice and be able to talk in front of a lot of people and that is something I will take with me for the rest of my life. And it will be useful because it is nice to have your voice heard.” Her grandmother would certainly be proud. ▤
"I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OPEN UP AND SHARE MY VOICE AND BE ABLE TO TALK IN FRONT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL TAKE WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE." - PEYTON SWALLOW
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YOUNG LEADER IS PAVING HER FUTURE 16 year old KAYLEE YOUNG LEads ART SESSION At black hills works
ELEVATE • JANUARY 2022
BY MICHAEL NEARY // PHOT0 SUBMITTED
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Kaylee Wood relishes the process of painting. Now a junior at Rapid City High School, she’s been painting in earnest since the sixth grade, when she flourished in an art class that she loved. She’s drawn to creating landscapes and scenes dotted with a touch of the fantastic. But as she described a project she recently completed with Black Hills Works, an organization that helps adults with disabilities, another passion emerged – one that entails striking up strong and empathetic connections with people. Kaylee recently led an art session with a group of adults at Black Hills Works as part of the Rapid City Area Schools Service Learning Capstone at Rapid City High School. “She identified community needs, assessed her own talents, and then created and implemented a project plan to better the community,” said Kristin Kiner, youth engagement coordinator for Teen Up - RCAS, in an email. Kiner called Kaylee, who’s 16, an “amazing young leader.” Kaylee recalled the opening moments of the art session she led at Black Hills Works. “When I first walked into the room, I was very nervous,” she said. But as the activities began, her artistic prowess and her kind manner with people seemed to take over. “I made my way around this little table,” she explained, showing her students the elevaterapidcity.com 36
"WHAT I HAVE SEEN KAYLEE DO IN HER THREE YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL EXCEEDS WHAT I HAVE SEEN SUCCESSFUL ADULTS ACCOMPLISH IN THEIR LIVES." - AMANDA THOMSON, TEACHER AT RAPID CITY HIGH SCHOOL
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successful adults accomplish in their lives,” Thomson said. As Kaylee recounted her service at Black Hills Works, she also reflected on her career goal. It’s a field that would also allow her to interact closely with people, though in a much different context. “I want to be a paramedic,” she said. “By being a paramedic, I feel that I could really do some good and get that one-on-one time with people.” Kaylee enjoys science class, and she was especially intrigued by the unit on the circulatory system in her anatomy and physiology class. Her personality, she added, is well-suited to the work of a paramedic. “I’m good on my feet, so it just kind of seemed natural that I would become a paramedic,” she said. “When I showed the man how to make a reindeer, I didn’t come prepared to make a reindeer. But I was able to improv something right then and there.” Kaylee’s thought about ways she’d like to help people—or to continue to help people— outside of her work. She imagined what her life might look like some years down the road. Her work life, she said, would likely include service as a paramedic. “In my free time, it looks like hanging out with people with various disabilities,” she said. She mentioned teaching another painting class, but she also emphasized the importance of spending time casually, outside of any defined activity, with people who have disabilities. “I know that people with various disabilities are kind of segregated into their own area,” she said, stressing that there can be little crossover to people outside that area. That’s something she’d like to help change. “I know my cousin loves it when people come talk to him,” she said. “And I figure other people must like it, too.” ▤
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sample sketches she’d made of a snowflake, a Christmas tree and a snowman. “I gave them the three options because I wanted them to make it their own,” she said. “I wanted them to add whatever they wanted.” Kaylee brought a white board with her, modeling some drawing techniques as the students sketched and painted. She was especially impressed by the work of one man in the group. “We finished his Christmas tree and put a star on top, and he asked, ‘Do you know how to do a reindeer?’” Kaylee recalled. “I liked how he took control of that, and I showed him how to do a reindeer.” Still a young student herself, Kaylee seems already to have absorbed some nuances of teaching. She described the need to slow down sometimes and to assess what was happening with her students. “Sometimes I would help someone with certain disabilities, but I wasn’t sure just how to help,” she said. “So I needed to pause for a moment and decide, ‘How can I help you?’” Kaylee characterized the service she performed at Black Hills Works as falling close to home. “It’s really personal to me,” she said. “I am very close with family members who are disabled.” Kaylee described her service as a way of giving something to her students—an art lesson—that in turn helped her students to give something—their paintings—to someone else. “I wanted them to make something for someone they loved,” she said. Amanda Thomson, an advisor and teacher at Rapid City High School, praised Kaylee’s quiet leadership, initiative and positivity. “What I have seen Kaylee do in her three years of high school exceeds what I have seen
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