LEXINGTON, Ky. - Education and empowerment sum up the life's mission and work of a Lexington woman who's one of seven national contenders for a $10,000 prize to benefit their charity. AARP is sponsoring the "Create the Good Win and Do Good" contest honoring older Americans' community volunteer stories and efforts.

Kentuckians are rooting for Jane Stephenson, who founded the New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) in Berea nearly 25 years ago. It's a free three-week career and leadership development program that teaches essential workplace skills for low-income women in the central Appalachian region.

"It's about 80 percent now of the women who have been through our programs who have had family incomes of less than $10,000 a year. So, it's important for them to become educated, trained and get a job."

The NOSW is no stranger to national attention, as it was once featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Communications Director Scott Wegenast of AARP Kentucky says the sweepstakes isn't just another online gimmick, but shows the group's commitment to bring resources to nonprofits delivering critical community services.

"Jane's vision and her work with low-income women of Appalachia is touching lives every day. She's served and the school has served more 700 students over these last 25 years, and it makes a real difference."

Waco resident George Ann Lakes is a case in point. In 1988, Lakes was staring at $300,000 in medical bills racked up by her late husband's illness. After filing for bankruptcy, Lakes, a high school dropout, realized another change was necessary: getting her GED. A graduate of the NOSW program, Lake eventually earned her master's degree in social work at the age of 61. Now aged 68, she credits Jane Stephenson for empowering her to keep growing.

"No one had ever said, 'George, you're smart, you can do things.' I was a second-class citizen all my life. So, someone took me under their wing, like Jane, and the people that work there, and said, 'You can do this.' And I did."

Jane Stephenson says success stories like Lake's are the real reward. She believes that even if she doesn't win the $10,000 grand prize, she'd count it a bonus if she inspires others to "create the good" in their communities.

"You know, there may be people that hear about it, and are intrigued by it, and would want to start a similar program where they are. And we're glad to help people that want to do that."

Stephenson has already won $5,000 in AARP's regional volunteer contest.

The public is now invited to cast ballots for the national grand prize winner; online voting ends November 18 and is available at www.createthegood.org


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Nassau County's executive wants to deputize residents who hold gun permits.

County Executive Bruce Blakemen's plan involves training 100 residents for "the protection of human life and property during an emergency." Little else has been made public about the plan but it has been met with widespread opposition and concern.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, minority leader of the Nassau County Legislature, said there are many ways it can go wrong.

"Emergencies are very chaotic situations by nature and all of a sudden, someone shows up that a police officer might not recognize or isn't identified correctly," DeRiggi-Whitton pointed out. "We're just waiting for a disaster to happen."

She added some Nassau County police officers are against the plan and, like many others, feel it's unnecessary. Blakeman said he is relying on New York State County Law 655, which grants sheriffs authority to deputize added personnel for emergencies.

DeRiggi-Whitton noted legal options are being pursued to stop the plan from being enacted.

The lack of information has made residents anxious about what the plan would do. Some have said the effort, along with Blakeman's ban on female trans athletes in county athletic facilities, are solutions without problems.

Susan Gotthrer, director of the Nassau Regional Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said more pressing issues need to be addressed.

"We have real problems in Nassau County," Gotthrer argued. "We have housing shortages, we have lack of opportunities, we have education issues, high taxes. We would really like to see Mr. Blakeman putting his energies towards real governing issues and not imaginary ones like this."

Blakeman is not alone in pushing to deputize gun owners. Support for militias is growing among conservative politicians. Some residents are worried the armed people will be used to intimidate voters at or after the 2024 election. Nassau County is considered one of the safest counties, not just in the state but in the nation.


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April is National Volunteer Month, and Nebraskans rank high nationwide for their willingness to volunteer.

In the most recent Census Bureau/AmeriCorps report, Nebraska ranked seventh in the nation for formal volunteering and second for informal volunteering.

However, many nonprofits still need more help.

Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership in Loup City serves 21 counties with programs in housing, early childhood, family outreach and community health. It serves 72 counties with its veterans programs.

Executive Director Cheryl Holcomb said it would struggle to offer these services without volunteers.

"Throughout our agency, it is vital - vital that we have volunteers that provide services as well," she said. "We always have a need for more."

Holcomb explained that for their Head Start programs, volunteers do more than help the teachers and children. Their hours also contribute to the 25% match the program's grant funding requires. Volunteer time is valued at nearly $32 an hour, and most grants count volunteer hours as an "in-kind" match. Nationally, women volunteer at a slightly higher rate than men, and Gen-Xers have the highest percentage by age group.

Like other nonprofits providing food assistance, Holcomb said they've seen an increase in need without an accompanying increase in volunteers. She added that the funding for its Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which serves people 60 and older, isn't sufficient to support the program.

"So, relying on volunteers to help offset that program is crucial," she said. "They rely on volunteers to come in and package the food; they rely on volunteers to make deliveries in the specific community."

Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership also relies on volunteers at its two food pantries, a quarterly mobile food pantry and four food warehouses.

There are nine Community Action agencies across the state. Although their programs vary, Holcomb said, all rely on volunteers.

More than 8% of Utah's population lives in poverty, according to the Census and an event this month wants to give participants a better idea of the challenges and barriers those in poverty face on a daily basis.

Stefanie Jones, program specialist for the Community Action Partnership of Utah, said the poverty simulation happening at the University of Utah on April 9 is all about catalyzing local change as well as empathy for those experiencing difficult times.

"Really, I think what these simulations do is show you that there are factors outside of one's will and determination to get out of poverty that might keep them there," Jones explained.

Jones pointed out the event is open to the public but does have a focus on legal experts and decision makers. The simulation is divided up into four 15-minute sessions, which is representative of one week in which participants must find a way to make ends meet. Jones added the exercise aims to encompass the poverty spectrum in Utah, from the challenges a single mother may face to homeless families as well.

Jones noted participants who have taken part in previously held poverty simulations have shared how stressful and frustrating it was for them to get through each day. She contended when one has extra money, you can save money, like buying in bulk for instance. Jones emphasized it should be easier for folks experiencing poverty to get help, and not have to jump through so many hoops.

"One participant told us a story about a bus route she had to take that took two hours of navigating for her to get her kid to school and then to her work, and then back to shelter. Then she did the same two hours in reverse to get home," Jones recounted. "This is a drive across town that would take you and I 15 minutes, or 30 minutes for the day."

She said to put it into perspective, what might take someone experiencing poverty four hours to complete would take a middle-class individual 30 minutes. Yet, many times those experiencing hardship are also expected to make it to appointments for services. Jones wants to encourage Utahns in poverty to advocate for themselves and to not be ashamed to ask for help.