Huron has become an example of how early childhood education can help bring a community together. Nearly a decade ago, Dakota Provisions began recruiting refugees from Myanmar to work in its turkey processing plant. As the influx of this new population started, Rhonda Kludt, executive director of the United Way in Huron and other members of the community realized they had an opportunity to welcome these immigrants. So the United Way started the Preschool Partnership Program with the school district and got their children into preschools around town.
United Way made sure every family that wanted their child in preschool was able to afford it and integrated them into the seven existing preschools and local Head Start program. Now, Huron looks a lot different than it used to: 46 percent of the school population is culturally diverse.
Kludt adds that it took the work of organizations all around town, and says it’s a model that can be replicated anywhere.