JULY 2022
COVER STORY
Against the Odds: GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY How Farmers of Color Continue Their Legacies, pg. 122022
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Contents Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com
About Us
Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad. Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com editor@ruralleadermag.com ruralleadermagazine@gmail.com
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6 Top Tips for Tackling Student Debt 8 It’s time to invest in Life Insurance If You remember these Seven Trends 9 Three tips for getting the most return on your college degree 11 Mexican trade dispute may dramatically impact U.S. corn growers COVER STORY 12 Against the Odds: How Farmers of Color Continue Their Legacies 14 Looking for healthy summer activities? We have some ideas - including how to help protect yourself against pneumococcal pneumonia
15 Four Skills Veterans Bring as Team Members in Civilian Careers 17 Before graduates put their education to work, they deserve recognition now more than ever 18 Help for Older Adults on a Budget May be a Few Clicks Away 19 Knocking Down Barriers for first-time Homebuyers 21 Four Steps for Creating a Back-to-School Ritual for Your Child
Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMag.com—
Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag
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Top Tips for Tackling Student Debt As the academic year comes to an end, many are taking a monumental step in their lives. Whether they’re high school graduates headed off to college, college graduates about to experience life outside the classroom full time, or parents who have continuously offered their support and are about to become empty nesters, this transitional time can be consumed by many emotions. Along with any major life milestone comes the point in time when it’s necessary to make informed decisions and have confidence to take the next step, and one increasingly looming challenge involves the prospect of a mountain of student debt faced by so many families. According to EducationData.org, 47.9 million borrowers in the U.S. have student loan debt. In fact, Americans of all ages and generations feel the impacts of student debt, with Fidelity data indicating Baby Boomers are more than twice as indebted as Gen-Z. It’s important to know the resources available to students and parents at every stage of the journey, whether that’s before a child enters high school or 10 years after graduation from some form of higher education. Here are five tips for tackling student debt at any life stage: 6 RuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022
1. Plan ahead. According to a recent Fidelity Investments study, nearly 6 in 10 parents (59%) use their “own best guess” when estimating college costs and one-third (32%) have no idea what college will cost by the time their child enrolls. It’s never too early to start saving or planning for college. As soon as possible, parents and children should schedule family time to begin discussing college expectations, which should include costs, financing options and their potential near- and long-term impact. The burden of college prep is a team effort shared by both schools and families but expect to do some independent research to understand key dates. 2. Make your study years count. As students take on more responsibility after high school, practicing good budgeting fundamentals early on will come in handy when student loan repayments take effect post-graduation (typically, six months after graduation). While the federal loan repayment is currently paused, there are different types of student loans and repayment pauses may not apply to all student loans, so it’s best to be prepared. Take the right steps after high school to feel confident in making financial decisions and understanding financial basics to help
ensure a smooth transition into adulthood. 3. Take advantage of resources . The best way to be prepared for the inevitability of repayment is to have a steady source of income. Take advantage of college and post-secondary school resources to ensure success with job hunting. Most institutions have career centers dedicated to helping prepare students and alumni for life after school by giving advice on resume building, pointing job seekers toward recruiters and job search engines as well as facilitating access to alumni networks and professional affiliations. 4. Consider how certain career choices may impact forgiveness. Some career paths qualify for student debt loan forgiveness after certain criteria are met. If a particular career is of interest, research the different employers available and qualifications needed under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. 5. Seek out employer benefits. Some employers may help make payments toward students loans to attract and retain top talent. A Fidelity Investments
analysis even found 50% of new hires with student debt considered whether the company had a student loan repayment benefit as a major factor in their decision to join the company. Have a thorough understanding of any new or existing benefits offered through the workplace by checking in with human resources and requesting more information on student debt loan assistance benefits. Fidelity Investments was an early adopter of student debt loan assistance, offering the benefit to its own employees since 2016 and then making it available as a benefit choice for plan sponsor clients. Most recently, Fidelity partnered with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts to create an immersive 360 film that gives employers a glimpse at the very real student debt conversations that are inundating their workforce and their families. For more information visit https://bit.ly/3MOCcux.—
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It’s time to invest in Life Insurance If You remember these Seven Trends June 28 was National Insurance Awareness Day, reminding everyone of the importance of having insurance to help you when you need it most. If you’re a millennial and haven’t invested in life insurance, now is the time to do so. According to LIMRA, only 49% of millennials have life insurance, but 47% intend to buy a policy within the following year. Buying life insurance now can give you peace of mind for your future (and save you money!). Still not convinced? If you get the feels when someone mentions Sun-In, Lisa Frank or any of the trends listed below, it’s time to start shopping for life insurance (and Quility makes it easy). 1. Dial-up. Just the mention of dial-up internet brings to mind the telltale screech of the modem connecting to your home’s landline. While the sound wasn’t pleasant, it did signal that you were close to connecting to the World Wide Web. 2. Movie rentals. Nowadays, you can easily rent and stream movies and TV shows from your smartphone or computer. However, you likely recall how video rentals used to be an experience all on their own. Whether you went to a chain store or a local mom-and-pop shop, going to rent the latest VHS release meant browsing the aisles and hoping the store had enough copies. 8 RuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022
3. Arcade games. How much of your pocket change did you spend on arcade tokens at your local shopping mall during childhood? While they might be a novelty now, arcade games used to be wildly popular. You could even find arcade video games at your local car wash and play a few rounds while waiting. 4. Portable CD players. Lighter than a boombox and armed with anti-skip technology, CD players replaced the iconic portable cassette tapes. Whether you listened to your favorite CDs on the bus, while riding your bike or while walking to school, you had your own personal soundtrack running in the background. 5. Digital pets. Who knew you could become so emotionally attached to a digital pet? While there are now several games and apps with virtual animals, it was the pocket-sized digital pets of the 90s that taught many young millennials the importance of caring for a pet (without dealing with real-life messes). 6. Pagers. How many pager codes can you remember? Before texting and emojis, pagers (or beepers) were the fastest way to get a hold of your friends. While you couldn’t call back or even respond with some models, pagers made it easier to plan weekend adventures than getting all your friends on a threeway phone call.
7. Y2K. Do you remember the excitement and fear of the approaching new millennium? It may seem silly now, but for those who lived through it, many people prepared for various computer systems - including those in charge of financial databases and airline reservations - to shut down. The Y2K scare led to many people withdrawing their money from banks. Fortunately, when the clock struck midnight in the year 2000, no major malfunctions occurred. If any of these classic 90s markers brought on waves of nostalgia, today is the day to secure life insurance. Feel ready but don’t know where to start? Quility makes qualifying for and purchasing life insurance approachable, easy and completely digital with Quility Level Term. Using their online platform, you can get a free quote and apply online in 10 minutes or less, with an instant decision and a policy delivered straight to your inbox. Your application will include a few “about you” health-related questions and a request for your chosen beneficiaries. Prefer
to have some offline assistance? A licensed agent is ready to walk you through the process and secure the coverage that is best for you. Quility Level Term life insurance provides coverage up to $1 million with affordable level premiums, some policies starting at just $16 per month (based on a 20-year term and $300,000 coverage amount for a healthy 35-year-old female and a nonsmoker). Skip the awkward doctor’s visit and apply for coverage 100% online without a medical exam. Most individuals will qualify for life insurance coverage without the need for a medical exam. To learn more and apply for your own life insurance policy, visit Quility.com.—
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Mexican Trade Dispute may Dramatically Impact U.S. Corn Growers Mexico is a top export market for American corn growers. Soon, due to a new decree, this relationship could change, and it would have an economic impact on American agriculture. Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a decree on December 31, 2020, that announced Mexico was phasing out the use of genetically modified corn for human consumption and banning the use of glyphosate. The goal is to help Mexico achieve self-sufficiency and food sovereignty. The decree calls for the phasing out of GM corn by January 2024. “It’s a serious threat to American agriculture,” said Kevin Ross, a sixth-generation corn grower from Minden, Iowa, and chairman of the board of the National Corn Growers Association. “It’s something we haven’t seen before in our relationship with Mexico.” Additionally, high-level government officials in Mexico have put together a list of 80 crop-protection products - including atrazine, 2,4-D, neonicotinoids and pyrethroids - that Mexico considers hazardous. The products could be put on a ban list. Currently, 2,000 delayed pesticide registrations are awaiting approval in Mexico. “These delays have created an estimated $500 million loss in U.S. sales of crop protection products from 2015 through 2019,” said Mary Kay Thatcher, senior manager of Federal Government and Industry Relations at Syngenta. While Mexico wants to become self-sufficient in growing corn without using biotech traits or certain agricultural products, Obrador’s decree doesn’t follow international trade rules. “Mexico’s failure to approve any biotech traits, and Obrador’s decree regarding GM corn and glyphosate, are contrary to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” said Ryan LeGrand, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council. High stakes. Mexico provides a major market for U.S. corn, and policies that potentially impede this are concerning. “Mexico has been one of our most reliable markets for corn and is almost always our No. 1 or No. 2 export market,” said Rosy Brummette, manager of public policy for NCGA. During the 2018-2019 marketing year through
April 2020, U.S. corn exports to Mexico accounted for nearly 40% of total U.S. shipments and hit record-high values, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. In addition, the United States supplied 96% of Mexico’s total corn imports in 2018-2019. Of the 20.4 million metric tons of corn Mexico imported from the U.S. during 2018-2019 marketing year through March 2020, 95% was yellow corn, according to ERS. To replace these imports, Mexican farmers would need to dramatically increase domestic production. The USGC has no plans to stop promoting U.S. corn in Mexico. “We’re moving full speed ahead with export marketing programs,” said Heidi Bringenberg, assistant director for Mexico, USGC. This approach provides important benefits for Mexico, where more than half of its citizens live in poverty. Since Mexico is a feed-deficit country, U.S. corn imports help feed poultry and swine, providing protein sources that boost the food security of the Mexican population. Despite Obrador’s decree, there have been no trade disruptions yet. “In fact, U.S. corn exports to Mexico have increased in the past year,” said Cary Sifferath, senior director of global programs for USGC. What’s next? Agriculture and agribusiness leaders, including Syngenta, are working with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the USDA and industry partners to challenge Obrador’s decree. Thatcher said there are, unfortunately, unique complications since no one has yet been nominated, let alone approved, to serve as the USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. She adds that no one is currently serving as Chief Agricultural Negotiator for USTR. “The World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Body has essentially been nonexistent since the fall of 2020,” Thatcher said. “We must resolve the Mexican trade dispute. Ensuring that major export markets are willing to buy U.S. grain lets us continue developing new technologies that benefit farmers.”—
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COVER STORY
Against the odds: How Farmers of Color Continue their Legacies
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The historical circumstances of minority landownership and agricultural enterprise create challenges for some farmers in the United States. Despite these hurdles, growers like Ryan Lankford and Christi Bland are determined to grow their family farms. Overcoming historical challenges. For Ryan Lankford, the challenge is securing capital to farm on an Indian Reservation. “The hardships of securing capital have always been there,” Lankford says. When his dad started farming, Lankford recalls the banker saying, “Well, we don’t loan money to Indians, especially on their reservation.” That was after the Indian Finance Law passed in 1976. Things haven’t changed much in the decades since. “I didn’t think I’d have the same problem,” Lankford says. “But when I go into a bank and everything looks good and then they ask me, where do I live or where is my land located and I tell them it’s on a reservation, things go very different.” Lankford grew up on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in north-central Montana, home of the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre people. Today, he and his family farm 20,000 acres of spring and winter wheat, barley, chickpeas, canola and other crops near the Bears Paw Mountains. As a result of longstanding government policies, Lankford and his family lease the majority of their land from their tribe. All this property is held in trust by the U.S. government, which means that the government must approve all land-use decisions. “Lenders are reluctant to loan money for our farming operation,” Lankford says. “We’ve also missed out on government assistance due to restrictions imposed by our land-ownership situation. It’s a constant battle.” Despite the challenges, Lankford still loves farming. After a stint in the military and earning a civil engineering degree from Montana State University, he realized that both serving in the military and farming are a call to service. “I think my family has farmed and been part of agriculture since the beginning of time, before anybody else was here on this continent,” Lankford says. “Our family’s our legacy and our land will always be part of our family.”
A family farming tradition. For Christi Bland, historic limitations on Black land ownership create an issue. Black farmers historically handed down land informally without a will and testament. But without traditional legal documents, it often proved difficult for Black farmers to gain access to capital because they could not prove adequate collateral for a loan. The USDA admits to this long history of discrimination and started taking steps in the late 1990s to address systemic racism and discrimination. Further handicapping Black farmers is access to good land. Because many began as sharecroppers, much of the land available to them was marginal in the context of crop production. Today, Bland and other Black farmers struggle to get access to high quality agricultural land. “One of the unique challenges that I think Black farmers face,” she says, “is the generational wealth gap that we see. They’re not making any more land. Therefore, all the land that’s available is usually already taken up by larger farmers that have inherited land and generational wealth.” Turning stories into insights. Opening the lines of communication to address these issues is invaluable. “Agriculture serves everyone,” says Brandon Bell, diversity and inclusion lead at Syngenta. “As we engage farmers and agriculture industry partners, it is essential to truly listen to what people are saying.” Bell hears from farmers in these communities and focuses on sharing knowledge to encourage diverse viewpoints. “I want to help people be open to a new way of thinking. Diversity feeds the spirit of community. Inclusion feeds the spirit of creativity. Equity feeds the spirit of innovation.” For Lankford, this spirit reflects the joy of farming with his family. For Bland, it means honoring her rural roots. “I don’t want to be the biggest farmer,” she says. “I want to be the best farm manager so I can carry on my family’s legacy.” To learn about agricultural development, today’s challenges in farming and more, visit www.syngentathrive.com.—
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Looking for healthy summer activities? We have some ideas - including how to help protect yourself against pneumococcal pneumonia
With the arrival of summer, we can start to think about what makes the season special: time at the beach or by the water, enjoying the warmth with friends and family and - above all - being able to spend a lot of time outside. And, as we all have our own health priorities, we also need to think about preventative measures tailored to our individual needs. In addition to sunblock, wearing a sun hat, staying hydrated and seeking shade, another proactive step you can take is getting vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia if you are at increased risk. You may be at increased risk if you’re aged 19 to 64 with asthma, COPD, diabetes or chronic heart disease, or if you’re 65 or older - and it can strike any time of year. In addition to pneumococcal vaccination, there are lots of other ways to help protect your health this summer. For example, if you’re living with: * Asthma: According to the American Lung Association (ALA), swimming could help to keep symptoms at bay due to the warm, moist air by the pool - however, they also caution that the area should be well-ventilated without a strong chlorine smell, as that can also be a trigger. * COPD: The ALA also notes that there are a range of exercises that can help with COPD, from stretching to aerobic and resistance exercises - and, with the weather warming up, places to exercise can expand to parks and green spaces and even your own neighborhood. * Diabetes: The Cleveland Clinic suggests drinking plenty of water, avoiding dehydration, testing your blood sugar levels frequently, and packing snacks for your hike or beach day - among others - to help manage blood sugar in the summer heat. 14 RuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022
* Chronic heart disease: The American Heart Association recommends trying to remain cool and hydrated, and that outdoor exercise should be limited to early morning or late afternoon. Whether it’s gardening, picnicking, or picking produce, there are a number of ways to move more, as long as you take precautions while doing so. If you’re 65 or older, the CDC recommends staying in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible, drinking more water than usual, and ensuring that the physical activities you undertake aren’t too strenuous. However, they still recommend at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week across different kinds of activities, from brisk walks to tai chi to lifting weights. Always be sure to check with your doctor before undertaking a new activity that could impact your health. Summer is an opportunity to enjoy days that are longer and be out in the sun, and pneumococcal pneumonia shouldn’t stand in your way. What is pneumococcal pneumonia? Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt your life for weeks. In severe cases, it can put you in the hospital and even be life-threatening. Who is at risk? The risk for pneumococcal pneumonia increases for adults 19 or older with certain chronic health conditions, including COPD, asthma, diabetes and chronic heart disease, among others. People aged 65 or older are also at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia, even if they’re healthy, because the immune system weakens with age. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
With summer upon us, it’s time to think about helping to protect yourself against pneumococcal pneumonia. You can get the disease any time of year, so don’t wait to talk to a doctor or pharmacist about
pneumococcal vaccination. To learn more about the disease, risks, symptoms and more, visit KnowPneumonia.com.—
Four Skills Veterans Bring as Team Members in Civilian Careers Each year, the U.S. military generates thousands of professionals with highly specialized, transferable skills. Beyond technical and operational expertise, every service member gains skills that help keep teams afloat and foster cohesion and productivity, serving them well in their civilian careers. It’s important to recognize the value of these skills that veterans bring to businesses and organizations that employ them. Microsoft Military Affairs - which helps veterans and transitioning service members get their footing in tech - recognizes veterans’ unquantifiable value and experience in their civilian work. To help you understand the value-add veterans are to the businesses and organizations that hire them, MMA has highlighted four skills former service members bring to the table. 1. Adaptability. If you ask a veteran what they ‘did’ on active duty, the answer will be impressive. During their time in the military, service members
experience continuous on-the-job learning, constantly gaining new skillsets and specialties within new teams and environments. As agile, resourceful learners, veterans can pivot on a dime, bringing tenacity and personal initiative to every challenge. Cybersecurity, cloud administration and cloud application development are quickly evolving fields that require adaptability, which former service members have in spades. This adaptability allows veterans to thrive in an environment of constant flux and can bridge critical knowledge gaps that drive new solutions to business challenges. 2. Resilience. Resilience is part of any service member’s training. Military service members know how to complete the mission set before them, whether it’s deployment to crisis areas, moving families to a new base or country, sacrificing holidays and time with loved ones, or enormous physical and mental challenges. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022 15
A veteran’s experience in overcoming obstacles and “staying on target” served them well during their military service and will continue to serve them as civilian and private sector professionals, particularly as the work environment and customer needs continue to evolve. 3. Teamwork. Teamwork is a critical skill in the military because members must operate in unison for the mission to succeed. This “stronger together” mindset cultivates a deep understanding of the value each member brings to a team and how to facilitate trust to develop cohesion. Veterans know how to join, develop and empower a team to operate as a unit. These interpersonal skills allow former service members to work productively and establish trust with different groups and personalities, fostering collaboration and teamwork. 4. Leadership. Adaptability, resilience and teamwork are all skills that ultimately make veterans agile, thoughtful leaders on any team. While the pressures
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they face on active duty are very different from those they’ll face in civilian life, veterans can be relied on to bring decisiveness and poise to even the most stressful environments. Former service members are steady, focused and equipped to make tough decisions in some of the most stressful situations. As crisis managers, they know how to manage stress, deescalate and provide balance in a challenging environment. This advanced degree of “grace under pressure” allows former service members to push through when a project doesn’t go according to plan, find a solution and lead a team to success. These are just a few of the core skills veterans bring to their jobs outside of military service. To learn more about how Microsoft is helping former service members leverage their skills in the technology industry, visit Military.Microsoft.com and the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy page or follow Microsoft Military Affairs on LinkedIn.—
Before Graduates Put Their Education to Work, Tthey Deserve Recognition Now More Than Ever Graduation is a momentous occasion - a chance to think back on graduates’ journeys, to celebrate accomplishments, and of course, to look ahead. When we consider how difficult the last few years have been, we recognize the extraordinary resilience and perseverance this year’s graduates have shown in accomplishing this important educational goal. Because of this, DeVry University felt this year’s graduating class deserved a spectacular in-person Commencement Weekend celebrating their educational success, recognizing their incredible dedication and fanning their passion for the opportunities that lie ahead. DeVry’s commencement keynote speaker, 29-time Paralympic medalist and World Champion swimmer Jessica Long, exemplifies this dedication, resilience and perseverance. Her story resonates with today’s graduates, as they embody the same kind of determination and drive that led them to this marquee moment and will lead them through what comes next. DeVry President and CEO Tom Monahan has similar lessons for today’s graduates entering the workforce: * Setbacks create superpowers: This class has faced nearly unprecedented adversity due to a global pandemic and a gyrating economy. Surprisingly, this is a good thing. That they have faced major obstacles and massive change and found ways to adapt and persevere will prepare them uniquely well for the realities of long - not always linear - career journeys. * Individual success is a team sport: There’s an unfortunate reality in American higher education: many attempt to get a degree, not all succeed. Those who do invariably find ways to draw on a support network - inside and outside the classroom - to reach their goals. The same is true for careers - this ability to draw upon professional and personal support networks will be a lifelong asset. * Leverage your experience in new ways of work: We believe “nontraditional” education pathways, where students balance work, school and life, have
better prepared them for the modern workplace than “traditional” paths. These graduates already know how to navigate and thrive in an environment where workforces are diverse, distributed, digitally enabled and data driven. “Reaching an educational goal of this magnitude always requires effort, but in the midst of a pandemic and economic shifts, this year’s graduating class has shown resilience and perseverance almost sure to be unmatched in DeVry’s - or higher education’s - history,” said Monahan. “At DeVry, our goal is to educate for real-world impact. I wholeheartedly believe this education has uniquely prepared learners for the modern workforce. Congratulations class of 2022!” To further prime learners for what’s next after graduation, DeVry’s Commencement Weekend included engagements such as networking, career preparation workshops, and a guest speaker series which included an alumni and business partner panel discussion and words from guest speaker and Success on Your Own Terms author, James B. Rosseau, Sr. Commencement Weekend also acknowledged exceptional DeVry alumni at a Graduate and Alumni Reception hosted by the Alumni Association with two Lifetime Achievement awards and four Alumni Legacy Awards presented. These honors reinforce how educational institutions like DeVry can pay tribute to graduates’ success long after as they navigate a constantly shifting economic and business climate. As the pandemic accelerated the digital nature of business and the economy, education is now reflecting this shift - at least at DeVry, with a goal to educate our learners for real world impact. As graduates enter a new kind of workforce that’s becoming more diverse, distributed, digital and data-driven, they are now uniquely prepared to thrive and lead in the world of today and tomorrow. More than ever, businesses should feel confident as learners put their assets to work and make an impact.—
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Help for Older Adults on a Budget May be a Few Clicks Away
Food and gas prices continue to rise, on top of record-high housing costs in many cities across the U.S. If you’re an older adult who is already living on a tight budget, today’s inflation can be particularly difficult. Fortunately, there are programs available that can help you save money on health care, prescriptions, food, utilities and more. One of the easiest ways to find out if you’re eligible for benefits is to visit the National Council on Aging’s BenefitsCheckUp.org. The free and confidential tool connects older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers to benefit programs. The site is easy to use, even for people with minimal digital experience. “It only takes a few minutes to learn about all the programs available and how to apply,” said Ramsey Alwin, president and CEO of NCOA. “For example, there are Medicare programs that can boost your budget by helping with prescription drug costs, as well as premiums, deductibles and coinsurance.” There are thousands of programs on BenefitsCheckUp, including: * The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which can help you pay for healthy food * The Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy and Medicare Savings Programs, which can help people 18 RuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022
with Medicare afford their out-of-pocket health care expenses * The Housing Choice Vouchers and Public Housing Programs, which can help with housing costs * Supplemental Security Income, which provides cash for basic needs * The Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides discounted internet services * The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which can help you pay for home heating and cooling Millions of older adults are eligible for, but not enrolled in these programs. In fact, NCOA estimates that $30 billion in benefits go unused each year simply because older adults don’t know about these programs - or how to apply. BenefitsCheckUp.org will give you a personalized list of benefits you may be eligible for and the steps you need to apply, including links to the correct government agencies and applications. Just a few minutes could save you money every month.—
Knocking Down Barriers for first-time Homebuyers
Owning a home has long been an aspiration for many people across America, and one of the most effective ways to build generational wealth. Yet, due to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rising interest rates, and housing affordability concerns, including the lack of affordable housing supply, homeownership may seem out of reach for many first-time homebuyers. In addition, the United States continues to combat the legacy of decades of discriminatory housing policies and practices, which have contributed to a major homeownership gap and disparities in socioeconomic well-being among historically underserved consumers and communities. Currently, the rate of Black homeownership is 30 percentage points lower than for white households - and is as high as it’s been in the past 50 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “The path to affordable quality rental housing and equitable access to sustainable homeownership has never been equally accessible to all due to a legacy of discrimination in housing and the mortgage finance system in America,” said Katrina Jones, Fannie Mae’s Vice President of Racial Equity Strategy and Impact. “This is compounded by entrenched obstacles that perpetuate housing inequity, such as insufficient credit, a lack of savings for upfront security deposits or down payments to purchase a first home, and misinformation about the homebuying process.” Now, through its Equitable Housing Finance Plan, Fannie Mae is helping to address these inequities
with new solutions for renters, prospective homebuyers, and existing homeowners in three key areas: * Housing preparation: Helping Black consumers prepare early for sustainable homeownership and access to affordable, quality rental housing through credit building and financial education. * Buying or renting: Removing unnecessary obstacles Black consumers face as they shop for, rent, or purchase their first home. * Moving in and maintaining: Enhancing sustainable housing so that renters and homeowners can withstand disruptions or temporary hardships and remain stably housed. Education Empowers Everyone. For many, the homebuying process seems complex and it’s difficult to know where to start. No matter where consumers are on their housing journey, homeownership education can help aspiring homebuyers feel prepared and empowered rather than overwhelmed. Fannie Mae’s HomeView is a free, online, comprehensive, and easy-to-follow education course that helps consumers navigate the homebuying process. Available in both English and Spanish, HomeView breaks down the homebuying process into seven simple steps and addresses common myths and misinformation, including answering questions many first-time homebuyers have. Users also have access to checklists, financial calculators, and other free tools and information, which they can use anytime, as often as they want. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022 19
HomeView also meets the homeownership education requirement needed to qualify for many mortgage loans, including low down payment loans. Those who complete the course can earn a certificate of completion to share with their lender to meet that requirement. “I encourage people who are considering buying a home to start the education process early and have that certificate ready to share with their lender to help them qualify for certain low down payment mortgage products. You can do this while you’re also working on building your credit, saving for a down payment, and other activities that HomeView recommends as you prepare for homeownership,” said Jones. Credit Building for Renters. During the HomeView course, users learn that credit history is an important factor for determining mortgage qualification. However, 20% of the U.S. population has little to no established credit history - a group in which Black and Latino consumers are disproportionately represented. In fact, Black consumers identified insufficient credit as their single biggest obstacle to getting a mortgage and did so at a much higher rate than white consumers (29% to 18%), according to a National Housing Survey study from Fannie Mae. 20 RuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022
While credit history is a key element in evaluating a borrower’s ability to make a mortgage payment, fewer than 10% of renters today have their monthly rent payments reported to the credit bureaus, putting many prospective first-time homebuyers at a competitive disadvantage. Some organizations are recognizing this problem and taking steps to include rent payments histories in their credit evaluation process. For example, Fannie Mae launched a new feature last year that allows mortgage applicants who have paid rent for at least 12 months to use that payment history to help lenders qualify them for a mortgage loan, even if those positive payments do not appear on their credit report. This helps to remove a barrier for first-time homebuyers and increases equitable access to homeownership opportunities for consumers with limited credit histories. “For aspiring homebuyers, responsibility counts, reliability counts, and now rent counts. A solid rent payment history can open the door to homeownership for first-time homebuyers,” Jones said. Ask your lender if they offer this option or visit FannieMae.com/MakeRentCount to find a list of lenders near you who consider rent payment history in their mortgage qualification process.—
Four Steps for Creating a Back-to-School Ritual for Your Child
Back-to-school can be an exciting time of year for children who know what to expect. But for children headed off to school for the first time, the unknown can trigger worry and stress. In a July 2019 survey by Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, approximately 75% of parents interviewed acknowledged that their children experience at least some degree of anxiety when school starts. The good news is that the separation anxiety children feel when starting school or child care is a normal part of development that can be eased through a variety of techniques. Creating a consistent drop-off ritual helps kids make positive transitions while they learn to develop trust with their teachers and confidence that their parents will always return. Therefore, childcare experts at Kiddie Academy have developed four steps to help parents ward off back-to-school jitters. 1. Talk about any back-to-school worries. Before all big milestones, introducing books with themes about new situations gives parents the opportunity to start discussions around those topics. Read books about going to preschool or kindergarten a few weeks before school begins to help ease the transition and encourage excitement. Once your children have been exposed to the idea of going to school, discuss any questions they have to ease their minds and make the impending experience seem more familiar. 2. Make school preparation special. Buying a special outfit and shoes, finding a backpack with a favorite character on it and picking out a special comfort object from home to bring to school can all help create excited anticipation for the first day of school. Take some time to visit the school before dropping
your children off for the first time and let them meet their teachers. Don’t forget to visit the playground to build even more enthusiasm. When you show up on the first day, your children will be more familiar with their surroundings and happy to have special things to bring with them. 3. Have everything ready the night before. Avoid added morning stress by prepping the night before. If you’re packing lunch or snacks, make sure those are ready in advance. Lay out clothes, choose a hairstyle and make sure everything is tucked inside the backpack and ready to go so that your morning can be laid-back and enjoyable. When your children feel your calmness from being prepared, they are more likely to be calm themselves. 4. Say a short goodbye but don’t sneak away. Now that you’re ready, it’s time to nail the drop off! Confidence is key when dropping your child off for the first time. You’ll want to give a quick hug and kiss, provide assurance that they will have a good day and offer a short farewell, without lingering. But don’t sneak away! Sneaking away usually adds more anxiety into the equation. Sometimes, a child will not be OK with the drop-off, and that’s part of the process. Don’t look back, don’t turn around, just walk away confidently, and they’ll eventually adopt your attitude. Going back to school - or to school for the first time - is a challenge that parents and children face every year. By creating a back-to-school ritual beginning with lots of preparation, you and your child can start the school year off on a great note.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022 21
22 RuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2022