Community Studio


From Classroom to Community

Community Studio is an interdisciplinary, community-centric project engaging students in civic action in their rural towns. Community Studio aims to foster critical thinkers and mindful citizens who play an active role in the civics that shape their rural communities. The program works within the classroom to provide a platform for small town revitalization through youth empowerment.

Community Studio began in 2013 in rural Northeast Nebraska. In collaboration through the senior government class at Lyons-Decatur Northeast school in Lyons, Nebraska, students design and implement self-directed projects to positively affect either the Decatur (pop. 462) or Lyons (pop. 851) community.

Hands-On Engagement

Students learn the basics of place-based practice, understanding local government, concept development, fundraising, public speaking, and time and project management. By providing these necessary tools to turn their ideas into reality, students apply these skills within hands-on initiatives. Their projects mimic the processes integral to effective civic action, preparing students for post-graduation citizen engagement.

 

Student Projects

2019-20 Team

2018-19 Team

2017-18 Team

2016-17 Team

Blog

Wake Up and Smell The Coffee

Our community studio project includes having a coffee shop in our school concession stand from 7:00-7:20. We will sell coffee and speciality food items and then have activities in the gym for students until school starts. Students will be able to come to school early and enjoy different breakfast foods while finishing up some homework […]

Family Art Night

By the time we reach 100% we hope to provide the kids with Decatur with fun activities and their parents with a presentable piece of house decor. The kids and their parents will hopefully feel proud of the piece of artwork they’ve created. To motivate the kids to complete their project we will offer a […]

Senior Spotlight Tonight on Main Street

If you want to experience the story of our senior citizens, then come to Lyons, Nebraska Main Street at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 15th. This is a project for the senior government class of this year to interview senior citizens from either Lyons or Decatur in hopes to learn more about their life and […]

Fire hall appreciation

     In lyons about them how they  don’t have time to hesitate when they think of everything that can go wrong. Not only do firefighters save people from burning buildings, but  they also go on emergency calls such as heart attacks, respiratory problems, any other medical problems, or just to help save stuck or trapped animals. […]

Co-Creators