All successful leaders can point back to someone in
their life who helped them get where they are.
Maybe it was a teacher in elementary school who
inspired big dreams, a friend who reached out in a time of dire need, a
workplace mentor who empowered a paradigm shift or even a good Samaritan who
appeared out of the blue to help avert disaster.
The idea that mentorship and outreach make a
difference in the future lives of marginalized youth is at the core of a new
effort undertaken by a student-run organization at South Dakota Mines called the Hardrocker Ally
Association.
The group, formed by Mines athletes and students, is
a volunteer effort aimed at community outreach, networking, and advocacy. The
Hardrocker Ally Association also helps Mines meet industry demand for
well-rounded individuals who thrive in multidisciplinary teams required for
success in the modern global marketplace.
Building Relationships
The Hardrocker Ally Association was formed in the
Fall of 2020, following the nationwide protests around the killing of George
Floyd. In the midst of this controversy, the group saw a need to create
understanding, not only on campus, but in the Rapid City community. They
reached out to leadership at the Rapid City Police Department (RCPD) to open
dialogue. The subsequent meetings with the RCPD were illuminating for all
involved. This video captures the
story best.
“When the students and the school wanted to reach
out and have a genuine conversation, I thought, what better opportunity to
connect with some folks in our community that have good hearts and really want
to make a difference,” says Don Hedrick, Rapid City police chief.
“We learned that, when you can get people in a room,
when you can get people together, you can have great dialogue, you can have
great conversations, and you can begin to build a middle ground,” says Kyante Christian, Mines senior and one of the founding
members of the Hardrocker Ally Association.
Learn more about
Kyante Christian here.
“The police, we can’t solve these issues in our
community on our own; we need help from the community, and to do that, we need
trust from the community, and the only way to build that trust is to have a
relationship,” says Tim Doyle (ChE 94) lieutenant with the RCPD.
The dialogue and networking between students and
police officers opened doors for new community collaborations. With the
assistance of BayLee Dansby, the youth and family navigator at RCPD, members of
the Hardrocker Ally Association began an outreach effort alongside police
officers with a group of at-risk youth in Rapid City.
“I think everybody needs to realize that we’re all
working on the same goal,” says Dansby. “The sooner we start working together
to achieve that goal, the better outcome we will have.”
The association is also undertaking a new effort to
help homeless individuals in the community. In the spring of 2022, the group
joined with Mines football players to put together 150 paper bags with snacks
and hygiene items for distribution to those most in need in Rapid City.
Becoming
Mentors
In the 2021-2022 school year, the Hardrocker Ally
Association evolved from dialogue to include community action. The group joined
with the Rapid City Police Department in a special youth outreach program aimed
at changing the trajectory of marginalized young people in Rapid City.
“By having conversations on campus and partnering
with the Rapid City Police Department and their youth outreach team, we’re
making sure we’re in the community advocating for those who can’t until they
have the ability do so for themselves,” says Christian.
The group established a tutoring program to assist
youth with their studies. They also began unique mentorship opportunities like
a cooking class and social time with young people. They also continued their
ongoing dialogue with the RCPD and began a ride along program that allowed
students a first-hand look at the life of a police officer. Mines football players
also joined a flag football program with young people at North Middle
School established by the RCPD. The youth also attended a spring scrimmage game
at O’Harra Stadium as special guests.
“Relationships are really important. When you see
people from communities like yours, and they are successful and they are making
it work, that gives you the confidence to make that leap of faith to take on
the challenge of an engineering school and get a degree. There are a lot of
opportunities to get into the community and do things with the kids and the
RCPD, you just need to go find them,” says Christian. “Being more engaged with
the community and with the kids has been a tremendous learning opportunity for
us at Mines."
Christian's volunteerism and leadership is paying
off. The Allstate
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) nominated Christian as a Good
Works Team Community Champion in the Summer of 2022. Christian was one of
just 38 non-Division I student-athletes announced as a nominee and 114 total
across all NCAA levels in addition to NAIA. Established in 1992, the Allstate
AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most coveted community service awards in
college football.
In the coming year, the association is working on a
new outreach program for homeless members of the community. For students at
Mines, the group plans to bring in representatives from top companies from the
state and nation to talk about the needs of the current workplace and the types
of STEM professionals they are looking to hire. Christian says this process can
help illuminate the need to graduate students who can thrive in the current
global marketplace.
“The best thing you can do for your legacy is leave
a place better than you found it,” says Christian. “The Hardrocker Ally
Association is going to be a platform for people to help shape our community
for the better.”