Community Engagement

BCU reflects on countywide impact of its 2025 SCCF Leadership Grant 
 

MEDICINE LODGE, Kan. — As Barber County United, Inc. (BCU) closed out its 2025 South Central Community Foundation (SCCF) Leadership Grant, the year highlighted expanding leadership through stronger community connections, collaborative partnerships, and new opportunities for residents of all ages to engage, serve, and lead.
   The 2025 Leadership award in the amount of $5,000 marked the third year that SCCF has prioritized BCU's leadership efforts with grant funding, allowing the Leadership BCU program to advance further into a countywide initiative that develops leadership through connection, collaboration, service, and hands-on experiences. 

   During the grant period, BCU embraced a renewed philosophy of leadership centered on connection and collaboration, recognizing that every interaction is an opportunity to inspire someone else to lead. Leadership investments focused on creating opportunities to build relationships, discover resources, and become more engaged in our communities. BCU reimagined its annual Leadership Luncheons as community events that intentionally connected service providers, businesses, entrepreneurs, healthcare, education, law enforcement, faith organizations, nonprofits, local initiatives, and residents. Rather than simply recognizing leadership, the luncheons became places where relationships were built, ideas were exchanged, and new partnerships emerged to create a cohesive web of resources that strengthens Barber County. 

   This rural-forward mindset invests in the next generation of local leaders by partnering with the schools. Offering youth media training and professional storytelling equipment, BCU is providing local students with opportunities to develop communication, creativity, teamwork, and leadership skills while documenting and sharing the voices and issues faced by our Barber County youth. The USD 254 Leader in Me team was invited to the Annual Leadership Luncheon and witnessed firsthand that leading with compassion and commitment is not just something practiced in a high school club, but lifelong skills and attitudes that strengthen many aspects of life across Barber County and beyond. 

    “We are honored that SCCF continues to recognize our efforts in advancing leadership concepts in Barber County,” said Debra Kolb, Executive Director of Barber County United.

   These new or reimagined programs complement existing initiatives established during earlier SCCF funding periods, including community coffees, child wellness programming, senior center outreach, and cultural & art projects. SCCF’s investment in leadership contributes toward advancing mental health resources, supporting youth and families, promoting culture, trails and tourism, or guiding local grant efforts in Barber County. This level of support amplifies BCU as a connector and catalyst for positive change and a leader for collaborations. 
 

About Barber County United, Inc.

Barber County United, Inc. (BCU) was founded in 2018 as a countywide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing rural-forward solutions that strengthen quality of life through community engagement, behavioral health initiatives, arts and culture, trails and outdoor spaces, leadership development, grant services, and collaborative partnerships serving Barber County and south-central Kansas. Learn more: barbercountyunited.org
 

About South Central Community Foundation

South Central Community Foundation was incorporated September 26, 1994 as a not for profit corporation for charitable purposes and began to work toward the mission of “Assuring a Bright Future for South Central Kansas”. Their mission is to enhance the life, culture, and community of South Central Kansas by connecting people who care with causes that matter. Learn more: sccfks.org

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