What are some ways we can bridge the gaps between the Emporia community and the students at Emporia State University?
With the help of some friends, one ESU student aims to answer that question.
Harrison George, who came to Emporia from Wichita, has kept himself busy during his three years at ESU. He’s involved with the environmental club, the improv comedy group Zoiks! and his fraternity, Alpha Kappa Lambda. This spring he served as one of two ESU green ambassadors in a pilot program of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that chooses students to promote environmental awareness on campuses across the state.
Looking for ways to reach out the Emporia community, George and two friends, Johnny Leech and Ellise Hauth, formed the Progam to Improve Emporia about a year and a half ago. George says the group is now looking to branch out and involve local businesses and members of the Emporia community.
The goal of PIE, George said, is to bridge the gaps the group has noticed between the community and the campus and to help create a better sense of culture and community.
“It’s always really impressive to me that we’ll start with that one question and that question leads to 30 minutes of discussion,” George said. “That makes me realize that we’re really onto something, that we’re talking about what’s on a lot of other people’s minds.”
Since its formation, the group has held six or seven town hall-style meetings and is now reaching out to local businesses and community members to foster communication between the campus and the community. George said he has seen progress since forming the group.
“I can say that since we’ve started PIE, we’ve seen a lot more discussion about it,” George said. “I can tell that a lot more people have started to think and to question these things, so I think that’s a very strong step forward.”
The group originally focused on student concerns, including the lack of restaurant choices in town and the difficulties involved in campus and community interaction. One goal of PIE is to work to help the two communicate better and help each other.
“One of our biggest goals is improving commerce and supporting local business,” George said. “To keep it simple, we want to find out what students want to buy and match them with the businesses here in town that are already providing those services or could easily provide them.”
It doesn’t make sense for people to go out of town every weekend, complaining about the lack of choices in Emporia, he said.
“It just makes sense to me to try to match them up so they can solve each other’s problems,” he said. “PIE is a very strong advocate for locally owned, locally operated businesses because it keeps the money within the town, and we all benefit from that.”
Finding ways to keep ESU students in town, both on the weekends and after graduation, is a personal goal for George. He wants to see Emporia become a more active college town, one that keeps people here and brings more in from outside.
“The student-oriented sessions we’ve had usually are based on two big questions: why do students leave on the weekend and why do sudents leave when they graduate?” he said. “Then the follow-up is what can we do to change that? During the school year, the streets are filled with cars that are on their way to KC, Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita to find something to do or find something to buy.”
The group wants to find out what to do to keep those students here and find what they need right here in Emporia.
“When the people stay, their money stays, and when their money stays it gives us opportunities to do more,” George said.
He said it’s a definite possibility that he’ll stay in Emporia after he graduates.
“I’ve grown to really appreciate the small town community that Emporia has to offer,” he said. “I like how easy it is to get around, which is great. I never have any problem finding the things I need from local businesses. I like the people. It’s easy to talk to people. It’s easy to meet people.”
The group has gained interest from members of the community and from local business owners, and is looking to expand its membership and gain more contacts.
“We’re at the point now where we’re looking for more members,” George said. “If any Emporian has an idea or an issue and they’re ready to work for it, we’d love to have them involved in our group. The more people we have, the more we can get done.”
In the coming months, PIE members will focus on recruiting, gathering contacts and meeting with business owners. George encourages anyone wanting to get involved to look up PIE’s Facebook page for more information or call him at (316) 304-2837.
Comments
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sciguy (anonymous) says...
The "big question" about why students leave when they graduate is just silly.
They leave because Emporia does not promote or value companies that have jobs that require college graduates.
The city government salivates over a pet food plant or a diesel engine remanufacturer, which are both great operations that provide good jobs to the community--there are no negatives there. But then they don't appear to make any real effort to bring high-tech, computer related, humanities related or scientific/engineering business to this area.
As long as the city is focused exclusively on blue-collar industry, the vast majority of college graduates have no choice but to go where they can find jobs appropriate to their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Hopefully outreach efforts such as the one described in the article will help to educate city leaders about the untapped resources that they (and potential future Emporia businesses) could be benefiting from.
July 18, 2009 at 11:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
There is one thing you must keep in mind about Emporia.
Emporia was founded as a farming community and the largest thing that is done around the Emporia area is Farms and Farming . In fact thousands of acres of farmland is farmed in the Emporia area.
Yes it would be great to be able to entice some high tec, computer oriented industries to Emporia. But the one thing that it takes to get such ventures interested in Emporia is MONEY, which Emporia and Lyon County and almost every State, County and City in the Nation is short of right now.
I personally have taken it upon myself to contact several world class companys to try and get them interested in Emporia. It just so happens that RES is developing a WIND FARM in Lyon County, near Emporia for the purpose of generating electrical power using wind to power the generators and some of the companies I have and will contact are world leaders in the manufacture, engineering and erection of wind powered generators.
Now I don' t know whether this is hi-tech enough or computer related enough for the college graduates or not. If not, then so be it, at least I am trying to generate some diversified company interest in Emporia, instead of whining about it.
I have not received an answer from any of the companies yet, but it has only been 8 days since I mailed these companies letters and info about Emporia and my letters may have to be translated, as I do not write or speak German or Danish.
And another point to remember is, jobs right now are very scarce, over the entire spectrum of job classes, from slinging burgers to computer engineering.
And a $15 an hour job right now, even if it is at a blue collar pet food plant may look pretty good, at least a person will be able to by a meal.
July 19, 2009 at 12:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
You might check with the University foreign languages department. I'll bet they have someone there who could help you with translation.
July 19, 2009 at 4:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Meth & sciguy: Any worldwide company will have executives that speak and read English. As there are different nuances and meanings of certain words of many languages it would be best for the letters to be written in English. I wouldn't expect any replies to your letters, but that said your letters are getting the Emporia name out their in peoples minds and who knows maybe a year or two down the road when a companies site search committee
is looking for a new location someone will remember your letter and say What about Emporia Kansas?
July 19, 2009 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I prefer blue-collar folks myself. Those college degrees come with too much pride and if you've been around these forums long college kids will throw their education in your face lickity slip. Unfortunately some people with degrees are needed for clean fingernail work but they can be kept to a minimum, I believe.
I'll take my people folksy please.
Seriously R. Folks
July 19, 2009 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
Whenever my mind wanders to the really important things in life, it always settles on "the main problem with Emporia is not enough places to eat". Hmm. If this is what college kids are thinking about today, the real world will indeed be a shock for them. When I was in college, I could barely afford Hardees.
Maybe I am in a particularly bad mood today, but this whole article smacks to me of young people with no sense of the reality of todays economy.
July 19, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
You might want to cut these folks a break. At least they are trying to look outside the status quo. It takes all kinds to make a community an appealing location. A lot of the comments here smack of xenophobia. If we can't honestly examine ourselves and look to a fresh set of eyes to tell us what we see...we are most certainly doomed to be a nowhere place with nowhere people!
July 19, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I don' t consider myself a xenophobe or suffering from xenophobia. It does rankle my feathers a little to have someone say that the City that they just happen to choose to get an education in, does not have what they want and they need to travel out of town to get what they want. And then to say that same City doesn' t have high-tech, computer related, humanities related or scientific/engineering businesses or have jobs that require college graduates.
As I said earlier. It takes money to attract such industries and businesses to a City. And Emporia, like many Citys, Countys, States, just do not have the money right now to do so. Keep in mind Emporia is a City of some 26,650 people of which approx. 11 to 12 thousand are actual property owning taxpayers.
Just how much money do you believe 11 to 12 thousand taxpayers should be able to afford to spend in attracting businesses for the college graduates ?
Are you saying that the industry and business that was responsible for the founding of Emporia, Farms, Farming and those businessmen/women who operate, work, and manage those businesses known as farms and farming are not an important part of Emporia or Emporia's economy ?
No, I am not a xenopobe or suffer from xenophobia. I am just a proud, Emporia born and raised, native son, who just happens to take exception to anyone who tends to degrade Emporia because Emporia may not have something they want or desire.
If you want to get along with people, you don't bad mouth them first and then try to get along. I am willing to work with anyone who has ideas about improving and advancing Emporia, but telling a City they don' t have what you want or need and should cater to just you is not the way to start a good and promising relationship with anyone.
July 19, 2009 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
justthefacts
Just how much in debt do you think this nowhere place with nowhere people, of Emporia, Kansas can afford to be in to accomodate the wants and needs of the college graduates, before this nowhere place ( Emporia ) with its" nowhere people ", spends itself into the oblivion of BANKRUPTCY to accomdate those college graduates that decide to stay in Emporia, if they decide to stay in Emporia ?
July 19, 2009 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
methusla......I almost always agree with you to some extent, and often totally. But I believe you may be a liitle overly sensitive on this one my friend. It sounds to me like I'm hearing--Emporia...Love it or leave it! I always thought that was misguided idea back in the sixties....and I still think so today. You can very much love something and still seek ways to improve it.
It sounds to me like these kids are at the talking stage now.....so what's wrong with listening to what they have to say. If it comes to the point that the talk is going to start costing us money we don't feel is justified.....we deal with that then.
But I don't see it as being any more legitimate to degrade and reject people just because they have a college education....than it is to do the same thing to people that don't.
As all of us who participate in this forum know....talk is cheap. So what's wrong with hearing what they have to say?
July 19, 2009 at 3:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I did not say nor imply that anyone should love Emporia or leave it.
All I did was say that the comments made by sciguy seem to indicate that Emporia will wither and die if certain businesses do not cater to the wants and need of the college crowd and if jobs are not made available for college graduates.
Then justthefacts states that if Emporia does not listen to or cater to the needs and wants of others, that Emporia will be absolutely doomed to becoming a nowhere place, full of nowhere people ! This is a fine attitude to have and expect the towns people to cooperate and listen in a friendly, arms open manner.
It takes money for any City, County, State or Country to progress and Emporia and the people of Emporia do not and cannot afford any increased spending of money at the present time.
Does noone understand this concept !
I am all for Emporia advancing and progressing in jobs, businesses etc., but there is a time and place for everything and now is not the place or time.
I am always willing to listen to any and all ideas for advancing and progressing Emporia !
If you don' t think I want to see Emporia advance, progress and grow. then I sent letters and info to companys, to see if I could garner their interest in locating in Emporia, to create jobs of all kinds for Emporians and future Emporians, and to grow along with Emporia, at my own expense, for absolutely nothing.
And I will send no futher letters or info and just set in a nowhere Emporia and be a nowhere person, like a " NO WHERE MAN ".
July 19, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
methusla:
I've been around Emporia long enough that I've seen times when the economy was booming, and times when it was terrible.
You dismiss my comments by claiming that the city can't afford to attract those kinds of businesses due to the current economic situation. Why, then, did the city not make such an attempt when the economy was in good shape?
How hard did we compete against Coffeyville in the late 1990s to bring the Amazon.com distribution center here? Even with our location advantage on a major interstate, Coffeyville made the cut and we didn't.
I don't claim or state that Emporia businesses need to cater to the wants and needs of college graduates. What I do state is that Emporia needs to diversify its business environment so that it is not focused so exclusively on the manufacturing industry. Not only would diversification make it easier for Emporia to weather an economic storm, but it would deepen and diversify the talent pool here, making the city attractive to new businesses in the future.
July 20, 2009 at 5:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
sciguy
I agree that Emporia needs to diversify its jobs base. That is why I took it upon myself to try and garner interest in Emporia by attempting to send letters to different world wide, world class companies to try and sell Emporia to them as a place to locate.
I also know that college graduates do not have a good source of computer based and hi-tech jobs in Emporia, but I also know that with the world economy being what it is right now that the demand for all manner of jobs world-wide are at an all time low right now, even jobs for college graduates.
It would seem that a lot of people do not realize that The City of Emporia and Lyon County have the highest tax burden demand on the citizens, of any County and City in the State of Kansas and have had for several years now and according to the County Commissioners and City Commissioners that tax burden is going to get even higher in 2010.
Now if anyone has any suggestions as to where the citizens are going to get the money to be able to afford to pay their taxes plus afford to pay for their everyday living expenses, plus afford to offer a company millions of dollars in incentives to locate in Emporia or Lyon County. I, myself, the other citizen taxpayers, as well as the City of Emporias Commissioners and Lyon County Commissioners would be very interested in any and all suggestions or help in doing so.
I would like to see Emporia have the types of jobs that all college graduates would be interested in and keep, good, sharp minds in Emporia. I have grandchildren, great grandchildren, that are going to, hopefully, be college graduates oneday and would like to see them settle and stay in Emporia.
But as it is right now, with the tax burden being what it is and going to get worse. I do not see the possibility of the citizens of Emporia being able to spend the extra millions it would take to bring anything to the area right at this time.
All one needs to do is drive around Emporia and see how many homes are for sale and understand how many people have moved out of Emporia because of the job situation and the tax burden they could not afford and you will quickly realize that jobs are needed, all kinds of jobs and that with the tax burden to citizens ever increasing and becoming higher and higher. That Emporia as well as other communitys and States are between a rock and a hard place and that the this situation may be getting worse, not better.
Also all anyone has to do is attend a public City budget hearing or a public County budget hearing or get a copy of either governing bodys proposed budget and the problems and the situation becomes very apparant.
Another thing one needs to keep in mind is. The real world is a very different place than the world we dream about and want and that dreams and wants in the real word come at a cost and sometimes that cost is very high .
July 20, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
P.S. This is not the 1990's and never will be like that again.
I also agree that Emporia and Lyon county spent a lot of money on foolish, unnecessary and frivilous things, when the economy was good. But that has been the problem with Emporia and Lyon County for decades, when the economy is good tax and spend foolishly. The frustration with most all of us citizens with any semblance of common sense are powerless, it would seem, to change the " status quo " way of thinking of tax and spend foolishly . I was born and raised in Emporia, my children were born and raised in Emporia and some of my grandchildren were born here and are being raised here. So you can see I am as concerned as anyone about the present and future of Emporia.
July 20, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cmgeorge (anonymous) says...
Gee, looks like the article got people talking about the city and some issues. That is exactly what my son, Harrison George, wanted to do. (I am speaking for myself - not on behalf of him. He can speak for himself - but I do take issue with some of the comments made here because he is my son.) He doesn't want to divide people by education - he wants to find out what he can do to help the city he has come to love. He could come home to Wichita every weekend, but he spends time in Emporia working for the community and the school. Why do you think he founded PIE? Not to say - "What's wrong with Emporia?" but to say, "What can I do to make a difference to this community?" He doesn't want to leave town to go find things to do but he wants to find out why some people do. I am so proud of him for his commitment. Please do not lump him in a group - you do not know him or his motives. He is not wanting the city to cater to HIS needs. He is not badmouthing anyone. Perhaps you would rather students at ESU come get their education and leave, rather than say, "What can I give back?" Thank you justthefacts for at least being willing to listen. My son is trying to make a difference in this world and he goes out and lives it every day.
July 20, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emp205 (anonymous) says...
Thank you Mom for your comments! Hats off to your son for working on this issue. I did not see the issue of "give me something...." I saw let me help improve and make better....something many in Emporia fear!
July 20, 2009 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
cmgeorge
I am not picking on your son, nor do I intend to pick on your son. I have a son that is 45 years old and a daughter that is 43 years old and I would come to your defense as quickly and with all I had, as any parent would, there' s nothing wrong with that.
Emporia has serveral Mexican food Restaurants, Chinese food Restaurants, Several Pizza Restaurants, an Italian Restaurant, a Long John Silvers sea food Restaurant, Applebees, Golden Corral, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendys, Montana Mikes Steak House, Bruffs Bar and Grill, Coburns Family Restaurant, Carlos O' Kelleys, Bobby D's Barbecue, Bad ole Burns, etc., etc..
A statement was made by the PIE group that Emporia has a lack of Restaurant choices. Emporia has quite a few Restaurants and Eaterys for a City with a population of 26,650 . That is not a large town or City.
What types of Restaurants does the PIE and college contingent think Emporia needs, that will meet their needs ?
And if the Restaurants that PIE and the current college contingent were enticed to locate in Emporia, would the next generation of college students accept these Restaurants or would they have the same complaint of not enough Restaurant Choices, Not enough Bar choices, No Target to shop at, etc. etc..
I am not picking on Harrison George, PIE or college students in particular. However, everyone in Emporia, whether he/she is a college student or a permanent resident of Emporia needs to take into consideration the dire real world budget situation that Emporia is experiencing right now. The citizens of the City of Emporia are looking at the very real possibility of having to do with cut backs in some City services, a substantial increase in water rates and a possible increase in the already burdensome property tax mil levy. Now that is Real World problems the citizens of Emporia are going to have to deal with . If the City of Emporia does not have the funds to offer tax incentives to Restaurant businesses or any other business to locate in Emporia, how is the City of Emporia going to get any new Restaurants or businesses to locate in Emporia. Another Real World fact is, if the City that is trying to entice a business to come to the Community and doesn' t have a big enough carrot to dangle in front of the business, that business will pass that city by for the city that has or dangles the bigger carrot in front of the nose of that business.
Again I am not picking or jumping on anyone. I am just trying to tell people how the real world works now-a-days.
July 20, 2009 at 11:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
cmgeorge & PIE,
And this is the latest news from the Emporia Gazette news paper, the citizens of Emporia have to look forward to.
School levy would bump up 1.77 mills
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Monday, July 20, 2009
■E-mail story to a friend
■Comments on this story
■iPod friendly version
Property-owners in the Emporia school district would share paying a total of $6,147 in increased taxes for the coming school year under a plan proposed Monday evening by district administrators.
Assistant Superintendent Rob Scheib presented 2 budget options to school board members at a budget workshop held at Village School. The proposed mill levy of 50.973 is a 1.77-mill increase from the 2008-09 school year levy of 49.201 mills.
The bad news just never stops coming !
July 21, 2009 at 12:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Those figures cant be right.
July 21, 2009 at 6:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mjl (anonymous) says...
Way to much commentary is being made about Mr. George's remark about restaurants. I've been to a few of the PIE meetings and that is very low on the "to do list" that they discuss, they are more interested in a diverse, sustainable economy that values local businesses over big box stores and national chains that take money out of our local economy. Shopping at locally owned stores and restaurants retains at least 25% more of your money in the local economy, and often much higher percentages at restaurants. Businesses who patron other local businesses, don't send a percentage of every sale straight to HQ, employ more local workers because they don't have distribution centers in other communities (or countries) doing most of the work and who's owners live in Emporia and return their income to the local economy. The RDA claims Emporians spent $463+ million a year, think how many of our problems could be solved by keeping $100 million or more of that in our local economy every year instead of sending it to McHut Mart shareholders.
From my experience with PIE, they have nothing to do with "flaunting education" or putting the needs of one group of citizens above another. It exists to do exactly what it's name claims...improve Emporia. I hope that my son grows up to be the quality of man that Ms. George has raised, the world can always use more people who understand how and are willing to make a positive change in their communities.
July 21, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jurban (anonymous) says...
Harrison, I'm so proud of you!!!
July 21, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
traceygraham (anonymous) says...
Thanks Harrison, and other members of PIE, for working to make what is already a great little city an even better place. More interaction of ESU students with other aspects of the community is a good thing and I applaud your efforts to foster that. Keep up the good work and don't let the weird tangents people take off on get you down.
July 23, 2009 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I guess that I just don' t understand what sort of improvements to Emporia that Harrison and PIE have in mind for Emporia in this time of economic downturn and possible substantial tax increase for Emporia businesses and citizens.
If Emporia can be improved with no increase in the tax burden to the citizens of Emporia at this time, that would be something to consider. But I have not heard any ideas on how that can be accomplished from anyone.
July 23, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )