Leadership is a simple word. A 10-letter word containing three syllables. A word we commonly use for those who go above and beyond to bring goodness to people.
Our world has had many great leaders, but even great leaders didn’t get to the pinnacle by themselves. Take Michel Jordan, Tom Osborne, or Warren Buffet. They all had mentors in their life to help them grow into a person who brought extraordinary outcomes in their professional lives.
The word leadership and Nebraska communities seemingly go hand and hand. Nebraskans are known for our strong drive, cohesiveness, and philanthropic mindset to help others. As we discuss leadership of the next generation, we commonly hear, “Our youth are the future.” The obvious response is, “Yes.”
But dive deeper into the phrase, “Our youth are the future,” and what are we actively doing to prepare them? Are they in a unique position of being mentored as well as mentoring others? Are we teaching them proper life skills, intrapersonal skills, money management, professional development and morals? Are there leaders in their life facilitating development for our local community to lead us into 2030, 2040, 2050 and beyond?
If we are honest with ourselves, we are failing our youth to reach their full potential in many ways. Oftentimes we fail them not because the youth aren’t talented or capable of learning. Rather, it is due to us not having the trust that our young people are capable. We scrutinize so closely; we don’t let them make mistakes; or we, as adults, claim to always know what is best. Based solely on the year we were born, we are quick to utilize an age barrier and say, “There is no way they could know more or know better than me.”
But to build a healthy community, we have to start at the foundation. When we say, “Our youth is the future,” we must acknowledge that our young people are the foundation of the future. So, how can we help foster a strong foundation of the future?
I challenge each of us to consider ways to lift up our youth. It truly is up to each and every one of us. Not coincidentally, this is the slogan of McCook Community Foundation Fund’s youth group, Youth Change Reaction (YCR). YCR believes that it is up to each and every one of us to make our community a better place to call McCook home.
It is up to us as leaders to build our youth through:
Connecting youth to adult leaders
Whether at the city council, on a board such as the YMCA or various leadership groups, we must allow them to have a seat at the table. We can learn from them just as much as they learn from us.
Grant opportunities for professional development
We need to create internship experiences that offer education and build skills, not just extract grunt labor.
Teach life lessons
We all need to learn that failing is OK sometimes. Failure promotes a development of understanding and we can learn more from our mistakes than our achievements.
Networking in a small community
We need to share the opportunities in our community with our youth, we need to utilize and showcase their talents and we need to get them involved at every level. How? Take them to lunch to share information, but more importantly - to listen.
Build relationships
It all comes down to relationships. We need to mentor our youth and we need to let our youth mentor us.
Leadership is a simple word, but nurturing and creating strong leaders is much more complex. If we want a growing and thriving community in 2050 and beyond, we must develop our young people into our leaders of the future. We need to bring them to the table to learn - now. We need them to provide their insight - now. We need them to be part of making McCook an even better place to call home - now.
Gavin Harsh is the vice president of the McCook Community Foundation Fund. With his birthday Wednesday, he is both among the “young people” he refers to but also a tremendous leader in the community.
August 2025 Volunteer of the Month Bruce McDowell can be found walking around McCook for his health, to be helpful or maybe even attend a meeting.
It takes work and effort to be social but its vital to our community.
McCook's young people are shaping their hometown through a various projects.
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.
With the McCook Aquatic Center closing soon for the season, another tradition - Mr. Bill and his 25-cent snow-cones - will likely be coming to an end soon too.
McCook among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program
Getting Outside of National Night Out Nearly everyone can tell you their last interaction with the police or the fire department. And unfortunately because of the nature of the organizations, it is usually not at a positive moment. My last contact with the McCook Police Department was just a few weeks ago, when I was pulled over on B Street in McCook…on my scooter. I pulled into the wrong lane when making a turn, which is illegal. But in my defense, it was an act of self-defense to just get through the intersection of East B and Sixth streets alive. Since the drivers haven’t seen a stop-light since Holdrege, cars and semis regularly run the traffic light, which makes me a wee bit vulnerable as I pass through the lanes. I got off with a warning but the true punishment were the texts throughout the day from everyone who saw me with my scooter and the police officer. Since most exchanges with police and fire are not on good terms, National Night Out was created to have an evening of positive interactions, to remind the public that the police and fire departments are just normal people, doing their jobs, looking out for their friends and neighbors, trying to create a safe community for everyone. National Night Out is designed to simply join your friends and neighbors for an evening of fellowship and fun. It is an opportunity to meet local law enforcement, creating safer and more caring neighborhoods. McCook is joining thousands of other communities across the country in hosting National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August every year. Planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in and around Norris Park in McCook, the night includes a bike parade, a walk, awards for bike decorating, desserts and more. In other words, it is simply a block party to hang out. Numerous organizations have come together to make the evening possible. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the McCook Rotary Club are hosting a bike parade that starts at 6 p.m. Linda Maiden with State Farm, a bicycle helmet advocate, will also be in Norris Park. The streets around Norris Park will be shut down to provide a safe area to ride, as well as more space to cruise around the block. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bike, scooter, roller skates or anything on wheels. This could mean streamers, pompom balls, markers or even the old classic - playing cards in the spokes of your wheels. Some supplies will be available at the park for use if you show up and realize you are the most underdressed person at the party. If your bike has an inch of dust on it, this is a great time to get it out, wipe it off and get it rolling. And if your bike needs minimal fixes like a flat tire or a brake adjustment, bike tools will be on hand along with myself and my hubbie, who know just enough about bike repair to be dangerous but did manage a 300-plus mile bike ride last week so we must be doing something right. But let’s say you don’t have a bike or biking isn’t your cup of tea? Then you are still encouraged to join the “Walk in the Park,” hosted by Community Hospital. Designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle, walkers will stroll around the park and the neighborhood at whatever pace you feel like with strollers and dogs on leashes welcomed. And perhaps most importantly, there will be a chance to meet members of the McCook Police and Fire Department, getting to see police cars and fire engines close-up in a non-emergency manner, always the best way to see them. And if the weather cooperates, there may be a fire hose, water and spraying involved. If you have been at the Culbertson Fourth of July parade, you know it is up to you to stay out of the line of fire if you want to remain dry. We all have excuses for why we don’t want to go out at night, especially after a long day at work. But National Night Out in McCook on Aug. 5 is a great reason to get out your bicycle and lace up your walking shoes. Hang out with your friends, get to know your neighbors and meet your first responders. That is what makes our communities just a little bit better.
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
Sharing our resources, such as books and bikes and even benches, help our community better for everyone.
