Did you know that 16.8 percent of students in Ohio don't graduate from high school? That rate is even higher in rural Urbana, Ohio, with 23 percent of students failing to earn a diploma. These alarming statistics highlight a critical need for change in Urbana, Ohio, and America as a whole, highlighting the ever-growing need for supplemental resources and enhanced support within small towns nationwide.
In response to this crisis, many Ohioans have made an effort to contribute resources to its solution. Increasing education-centered advocacy efforts nationwide could cause a significant shift in the system, bettering the lives of upcoming generations.
This is the story of one changemaker, 29-year-old Justin T. Weller. A passionate "social justice warrior," community builder, entrepreneur, and Ohioan, Justin has dedicated significant efforts to address this crucial issue over the past several years by establishing the Urbana Youth Center (UYC).
To positively impact his hometown, Justin dreamt up and opened the center—rallying the resources available in Urbana—to uplift students, set them on a trajectory to accomplish extraordinary things and open up new pathways for equity and opportunities for local success.
When working to reform rural education systems, it's crucial to understand the importance of engaging, high-quality schooling and to learn about advocates who developed effective solutions that can be used as a model for growth.
The Impact of Education
Many effects of lacking resources, inadequate education and low graduation rates are unexpected and can even go unnoticed at times, affecting much more than simply job prospects.
"National estimates suggest that each high school dropout costs the United States economy at least $250,000 over the course of their lifetime because of greater reliance on welfare and Medicaid, more criminal activity, poorer health and lower tax contributions," states a study from the National Library of Medicine. "A higher proportion of dropouts than high school graduates is unemployed and incarcerated, and dropouts have poorer health, even controlling for income and other sociodemographic disparities associated with dropping out."
Education correlates with health, economic security, opportunity and freedom from generational cycles.
When young people do not complete their schooling and meet educational requirements, they are more likely to exhibit risky health behaviors such as smoking, facing obesity and remaining sedentary. This correlation is likely due to the idea that the more education one has, the better job, higher income, safer housing and neighborhoods, healthier food, and better healthcare one is likely to have.
The National Library of Medicine also notes, "Estimates suggest that promoting education to reduce health disparities could save eight times more lives than could be saved through medical advances in drugs and devices."
In small towns—particularly located within Appalachia—that have limited resources, disproportionately concentrated levels of poverty, and high rates of obesity, the need for proactive community engagement to reverse this trend is more significant than ever.
Advocating and Finding Solutions
Justin experienced the rural education system firsthand. Local adults often told him that if he wanted to be successful, he would need to graduate and leave his hometown. Justin knew that the message—and the community's circumstances—had to change.
After making this exact journey, he returned to his hometown, determined to make a lasting change.
In 2019, Justin ran for mayor as an Independent focused on providing opportunities for all to build better lives for themselves in small towns, and part of that dream was a local youth center. Though he narrowly lost the election, Justin remained dedicated to improving education locally and made UYC a reality.
With a team of education professionals toting over 150 years of combined experience, Justin grew UYC into what it is today: a program that provides evidence-based and creative programming to 700 student members to help lift them out of poverty by equipping them with the skills necessary for success.
UYC operates under the mission of "Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors." The organization believes that with open hearts and open minds, the community can rally resources to uplift students, set them on a positive path and open doors for new opportunities.
At its core, UYC is a resource that supports its students' academic, personal and social development, providing programs such as homework and study assistance, snacks, dinner and after-school nutrition, career readiness, mentoring, and hygiene while acting as a safe hangout space.
Advocates like Justin with creative and practical solutions—like UYC—are also excellent sources from which communities can craft scalable models. The beauty of these practical solutions is that they are likely to be effective in many other communities across the state and even the nation.
The more community leaders willing and able to take a stand and establish concrete routes for growth and community betterment, the more accessible tackling these challenges can become.
While any support helps, preventative measures like those established at the Urbana Youth Center help curb many struggles before they begin, allowing students to ask for and receive help when they need it most.
Broad public and private support in addressing rural graduation rates is critical to addressing this crisis; however, it's also essential to recognize the value of community-driven initiatives and resources.
After all, little by little, a little can become a lot.
