Bobby Brunhuber and Rachael Biggar are serving as AmeriCorps Promise Fellows at Pine River-Backus Schools, where they work with 6th-10th grade students through tutoring, mentoring, and developing their interests. As Promise Fellows, they implement community service projects and work to connect youth to community resources. Both are passionate about empowering youth and believe in their students' potential to achieve great things. They encourage the community to engage with and support local youth.

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Bobby Brunhuber and Rachael Biggar, Pine River­
Backus Schools AmeriCorps Promise Fellows, are
the Be Inspiring recipients for July. Submitted Photo
PR­B Promise Fellows
are dynamic duo
By Pineandlakes Echo Journal on Jul 16, 2014 at 1:52 p.m.
The Working Together Coalition's Be
Inspiring recipients for July are a dynamite
pair - Rachael Biggar and Bobby
Brunhuber.
Biggar and Brunhuber are serving as
AmeriCorps Promise Fellows at the Pine River-Backus (PR-B) Schools through
the Minnesota Alliance with Youth. Together, they serve 6th- through 10th-
grade students through attendance, behavior and core academic interventions.
Brunhuber and Biggar plan and implement service projects, tutor, mentor and
develop assets in students, pairing them with caring adults and engaging them
with their community. They are currently focused on the Summer Youth
Program.
Brunhuber is a Backus native, returning to his hometown to serve. Biggar has
lived in Iowa and Minnesota, and is new to Pine River as of last August.
Growing up, Biggar looked to her older brother as a mentor.
"He was super consistent and always there," she said.
She also felt supported by a neighbor, who was a young mother for whom she
used to baby-sit.
Brunhuber has great respect for his mother, who raised three kids as a single

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parent for years. He said he got his life philosophy from his grandfather, who
had a "live and let live," carefree attitude.
Both Biggar and Brunhuber work to instill a belief in self and empowerment in
the youth that they serve.
"Find what they're passionate about and help them develop a sense of service
and a good work ethic," Biggar said.
"Kids have the capacity to achieve great things," Brunhuber said about potential
in youth,
When asked why helping youth is so important, Biggar said, "Because they're
worth it! They're good at heart. We have a lot to learn from them, and want
them to grow up with empowerment." Brunhuber agreed wholeheartedly.
A part of their work that they feel is essential is acting as liaisons connecting the
various community groups to the community's youth. They work not only with
the Working Together Coalition, but also the PR-B Family Center and The
Warehouse.
Brunhuber would like to see more interface between youth and adults in the
community. He sees a lack of face-to-face, adult-to-youth interactions, and he
wants to provide more opportunities for that interface.
Biggar feels it's important to let the community know when good things are
happening, and help the adults to find their role to engage with youth.
Brunhuber would challenge community members to put themselves out there
for youth. The Promise Fellows program is in its third year at PR-B, and Biggar
pointed out that a minimum of two excellent candidates needs to apply for next
year's program.
"It's a fun position, and a chance to influence the community," she said.

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ADVERTISEMENT
Area youth are fortunate to have such wonderful people working with them
every day to become all that they can be.
Every month the Working Together Coalition recognizes someone from the
community who has made a positive impact in children's lives. Nominations are
being accepted for future Be Inspiring recipients. Submit a nomination to Kelly
Felton at 218-330-8129 or visit www.workingtogethercoalition.org
(http://www.workingtogethercoalition.org) .