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Nevada Housing Authority's S.T.O.M.P Program continues to flourish
Nevada Daily Mail
The vision of Julie Daniels-Polumbo to help children reach their dreams began at the Nevada Housing Authority in October 2006. Daniels-Polumbo, a Cottey College student, had met with Carol Branham, executive director of the Nevada Housing Authority about doing an internship with Branham's agency. After discussing what the not-for-profit management internship might entail, Daniels-Polumbo said her interest was in starting an after-school incentive program for children living at the Fairgrounds Estates.
Shortly after her initial meeting with Branham, Daniels-Polumbo met with several fellow Cottey students who wanted to be a part of the program. During a brainstorming session in late-2006 Daniels-Polumbo told the group of Cottey students that she wanted children of the housing authority to be able to open their minds to vast possibilities the job marketplace holds as well as to explore opportunities that exist in other cultures.
It was then that they came up with S.T.O.M.P, an acronym for Students That Open Minds to Possibilities. The program is designed for students grades K-through-8. Some of the after-school activities include science-projects and artwork. However, homework always comes first according to Branham. While the program is structured, Branham said they let the kids be flexible with their activities. Branham also said that points and awards are earned through attendance, leadership, and kindness.
Beginning with one student in January 2007, the two-day a week program is now in its ninth year and going stronger than ever. Daniels-Polumbo, who has spent the past five years living in Washington D.C., Ukraine, and Zambia, was recently in town to tour her old stomping ground.
"To see the S.T.O.M.P program still continuing this many years later is absolutely amazing," she said. Daniels-Polumbo added that the program likely would not have remained without the dedication of Branham and Dr. Julie Tietz. Tietz is a Cottey professor who oversees the program.
Daniels-Polumbo said when she arrived at Cottey she had aspirations of following in the footsteps of her mother in the medical field.
"Then I came to Cottey and I learned about the non-profit sector and I learned about other careers and professions," she said. "So my inspiration to start the S.T.O.M.P program was to expose children to lots of different career opportunities and expose them to other cultures. So that attitude towards life has continued as I've traveled and lived in other countries. It's a unique opportunity to get to know how other people live."
Branham said a key component to the program has been the sustainability of its partnership between the City of Nevada and Cottey College.
"That was Julie's dream when she left, not to leave it as a one-time internship," Branham said. "I pride our agency in the ability to build partnerships."
"To create a sustainable program is something that is very difficult to do," Daniels-Polumbo said.
Branham added that the program has been a great addition to the community.
"The one thing we always stress, and that was my passion when I started 10 years ago -- was to break down the walls of stereotyping," Branham said of the housing authority. "(These are) families that really just need a hand-up. And we have very good families here and very intelligent children that have dreams."
While she no longer stays apprised of the day-to-day operations of S.T.O.M.P, Daniels-Polumbo said she still cares deeply about the program.
"It's definitely a privilege to see something ---- that you had an idea and then you start it -- to see it continue years later," she said. "I don't think it's something that very many people get to experience. It's really cool.
"Nevada is very fortunate to have leaders like Carol who care so much about the community and have invested so much of themselves to the people of Nevada. Other communities aren't as fortunate to have such strong leaders and such great programs."
Branham said when the program was in its infancy a number of the students indicated they had no set goals for the future.
"A number of them did not even have the dream of graduating high school, much less a professional career," Branham said.
Branham classified S.T.O.M.P as a privileged program that has to potentially deal with federal budget cuts.
"So we have to show that we are making a difference," she said. "And our goal is to provide education, job opportunities, and awareness to move people to that next level of self-sufficiency. And what better way to start than with our kids."
Branham said the program was started with very little money and without the aid of federal grants.
"It was basically just resident programming dollars that we used for our snacks," she said. "But most everything else was donated. You don't find programs like this that reach this sustainability-point eight years out with no outside funding. The kudos go to Cottey for the continuing consistency of the leadership. Cottey is a great resource for our community at all levels."
Branham said the program is designed to be short-term.
"Our goal is to get them in, give them a hand-up and then they're going to transition out," she said. "And that's the other challenge for the student-leaders and Dr. Tietz -- is, it's a very fluid attendance. It ebbs and flows. We could have 20 students one day and the next semester it might drop and we start with six or eight students."
Branham said the turnover can be attributed to family dynamics.
"Kids are in-between parents sometimes," she said. "That's just the way society is now."
After the first year of the program Branham said Nevada High School students helped to fill the void of Cottey students not being available over the summer. Branham said the high school students provide a more simplified program not as structured as Cottey's. The high school students also fill in during spring and Christmas breaks.
"For the kids it was kind of like developing that relationship and then suddenly it's gone," Branham said. " So that was a learning experience that first year for me. And then we partnered with some other organizations in town to bring in some programs for the kids on-site."
Cottey sophomore student-volunteer Lupita Hernandez said she thoroughly enjoys working with the young students.
"The kids at S.T.O.M.P have helped me better myself as a volunteer," she said. "It's been a fun experience."
Tietz said the program was an excellent fit with her child psychology classes.
"I was able to recruit students to do it, and so it has just kind of taken off," Tietz said. "This semester we have five Cottey student-volunteers."
Since graduating, Polumbo-Daniels has held several positions, including one as the national malaria coordinator in Zambia. She also spent two years with the Peace Corps in Ukraine. Polumbo-Daniels said she will soon be moving to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as her husband Chad accepted a job there.