The Growing Rural program uses service learning activities to develop rural youth leadership and address rural poverty. It encourages inner city youth and mentors to work with rural youth on rebuilding rural communities. The program follows six simple steps: field analysis, soil preparation, seed planting, plant nourishment, crop harvesting, and land enrichment. The document highlights work done by the International Boxing Club of Toledo in San Pierre, Indiana through landscaping, cleanup projects, and community engagement activities. Their goal is to help rural youth while reinforcing values of hard work, service, and character development for the urban youth participants.

1. Growing Rural Center for Rural Outreach & Public Services, Inc.

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

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

4. Growing Rural Six Simple Steps Field Analysis – youth and community needs assessments Soil Preparation - leadership development, grant writing Seed Planting – service learning, academic & vocational skills Plant Nourishment – photography, video, digital storytelling Crop Harvesting – youth development & community improvements Land Enrichment – continuous improvement

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

7. San Pierre Park Historic Stone Bleachers & Tennis Courts

9. Clean UP Cody & Isaiah

11. Weed Removal Coaches work alongside team

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

15. Welcome To San Pierre Landscaping Welcome Signs

16. Landscaping Louis leads way and its 95!

17. Lawn Mowing Louis mows with gusto!

18. Landscape Artistry Julalak in Charge

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

21. Former Our Lady of Holy Cross Senior Center Walking Trails and Pavilion

23. Pavilion Trayvone and Coach Harry

25. Walking Paths Gerard and Team

27. Photo Ops Koreon and Isaiah

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

31. The Wolski Farm 100 Year Old Family Farm

33. Riding for Fun Trayvone and Koreon

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

38. WKVI Radio Interview Interview with Ted Hayes

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

43. Bass Lake Beach Home Sweet Home, Dive in!

44. Workouts Louis and Coach

45. I like that we get to bond on these trips…that we get to know more about each other as people. Cody Houghtalling Assistant IBC Coach

46. Jamming San Pierre Band – Cross Town Collision

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

50. Although it’s great to be a champion in the ring, it’s more important to be a champion in life. Harry Cummins, Director International Boxing Club

51. For More CROPS Information Beverly Santicola Center for Rural Outreach & Public Services, Inc. 866-843-3493 www.ruralgrants.org