Rural Leader Magazine 2020

MAY 2020

COVER STORY Learn How You Can Help Children in Poverty During the Pandemic Without Leaving Home, pg. 14

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Contents Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com

About Us

8 Mortgage Relief During COVID-19: Here’s What You Need to Know 10 Five Tips for

Celebrating Mother’s Day From Afar

12 Stuck inside? Six Fun Enrichment Activities for You and Your Pet

COVER STORY 14 How You Can Help Children in Poverty During the Pandemic Without Leaving Home 16 How to Make the Most of Online Learning 18 How Communities are Connecting During the COVID-19 Crisis

Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader

Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad.

Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com editor@ruralleadermag.com

Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMag.com— SUPPORT OUR VISION

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Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue.

As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support!

Sincerely,

Photo Courtesy of TieFotos

Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

What you do matters.

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Mortgage Relief During COVID-19: Here’s What You Need to Know In these unprecedented times, when many families are facing physical, emotional and financial hardships, a common question is, “How do I keep up with my mortgage when I’m not working?”

A home is a family’s most important asset. But now it’s more than that: It’s where they are hunkering down and staying safe. That’s why there is a plan for customers to delay monthly payments if they need help.

There are a lot of mortgage terms and provisions on TV and in newspapers related to the impact of COVID-19, and in some cases, there is conflicting information. Here are some common questions and answers from Mark O’Donovan, CEO, Chase Home Lending, to help guide you.

What’s payment assistance or forbearance? That means you won’t be expected to make a payment for a period of time. For example, you can start with three months and you won’t be charged a late fee, once you tell us you need help and sign up. We’ll contact you during the three-month period to make sure you’re doing OK, and we won’t report the missed payments that come due during the forbearance period to the credit agencies. Before the period ends, we’ll be in touch to discuss when you expect you’ll be able to start paying again and how to handle the missed payments. If you can’t make up the missed payments at the point that you resume making your regular payments, we can likely defer them to the end of the mortgage term.

How do I raise my hand? At Chase, you can request help without waiting to speak to an agent. Simply start here: www.chase.com/mortgageassistance.

You’ll be able to log into your account, fill out a short form and enroll in the payment assistance program. You’ll avoid waiting on hold - a process that is lengthier right now given the thousands of customers

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calling with questions. We will email or send you a letter to confirm that you’re in the program. Don’t worry if you don’t get it immediately. It may take a few days, but the payment delays start right away.

Can I just stop paying without telling the bank?

That’s not a good idea. By signing up, you’ll get full access to all the program benefits - including delayed payments, no late fees and no negative reporting to the credit bureaus for payments due during the forbearance period.

What if I can still pay?Then you should. Keep making your mortgage payments on time if you can. And know that the program is for customers who are suffering financial hardship resulting from COVID-19, so help is still available if your circumstances change as a result of COVID-19. There are also programs to help customers who suffer financial hardships for other reasons, including natural disasters.

What happens after the payment assistance period ends? The national payment assistance program was created to provide immediate help to customers navigating this very uncertain time. If you’re still not able to afford your mortgage at the end of the initial three months, you can request delaying payments for additional months at the end of the forbearance period.

Many customers who can resume making their full payment after the assistance period can defer missed payments to the end of the mortgage. We’ll check in with you near the end of the assistance period to help you understand your options. While there is so much uncertainty right now, we want to be here for you to help. Stay safe and healthy.—

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Five Tips for Celebrating Mother’s Day From Afar This Mother’s Day, you may not be able to be with your mom in person due to social distancing. The time apart may be difficult for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t honor your beloved mom in other thoughtful ways that don’t require person-to-person contact.

The point is to remember her on her special day which is coming up May 10 - to make her feel loved and let her know how much she means to you.

“At its core, gift-giving is the practice of turning feelings like love, warmth, appreciation and pride into physical keepsakes,” writes Mara Leighton on BusinessInsider.com. “It’s one of the too few opportunities to convey to loved ones just how much we really love them.”

Here are five ways you can show Mom how much you care without the need to leave your home.

An exclusive virtual experience: Sign up for your mom to learn flower arranging from the pros by having farm-fresh flowers and a vase delivered to her doorstep, along with an invitation to create her own arrangement through a live-streamed social workshop. The collaboration between 1-800-Flowers.com and floral-workshop platform Alice’s Table provides Mom two wonderful gifts: A memorable hands-on experience and an arrangement she can be proud to display for days afterward. Find Alice’s Table events at alicestable.com/events.

Mood-brightening flowers: Alternatively, you may wish to send Mom’s favorite blooms all ready to display and enjoy. Use the language of flowers to remind her in the best possible way that warmer days are coming and the earth is about to spring forth with more sun, more greenery and a wealth of colorful new blooms. You can quickly and easily order her favorite Mother’s Day flowers now - and ensure

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no-contact delivery - with 1-800-FLOWERS. Spend a moment composing a warm and meaningful note to include with your specially selected bouquet to show Mom just how much you care.

An e-card with your personalized message: Take a moment to express your feelings by emailing a free, specially designed virtual greeting card and customizing it with your own expressions of caring.

Long-lasting greenery: You may prefer to gift Mom with something even longer-lasting - a lush, healthy plant she can tend, grow and enjoy year after year. Plants add oxygen to any environment, and studies indicate having greenery around may even reduce stress.

A donation honoring mom: This Mother’s Day, we recognize that moms matter more than ever. It’s important to share with your mom your reasons to be thankful: Is she watching over her grandkids, working overtime to keep her family fed or helping on the front lines of the health crisis? Or does she simply give you a hug and tell you everything will be OK? This Mother’s Day, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. will donate $1 (up to $50,000) to the nonprofit No Kid Hungry for everyone who shares a Mother’s Day note of thanks and a photo. No Kid Hungry is ensuring kids nationwide get the meals they need during school closures - and beyond. Share your #ThankfulforMom story today.

It’s true that kissing and hugging your mom in person may be impossible this Mother’s Day. But there are plenty of other safe and meaningful ways to honor her and the role she’s played in your life. Plan ahead for a virtual Mother’s Day celebration May 10.—

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Stuck inside? Six Fun Enrichment Activities for You and Your Pet It’s no secret that pets provide love, loyalty and affection. This is even more apparent now that you’re spending more time at home with them. In fact, according to the 2020 Purina Pet Ownership Survey, 94% of pet owners rely on their pet for emotional support, which is particularly important during times of uncertainty.

You may be tempted to spend your time snuggling with your furry friend, but there are a lot of fun new things you can do to engage your pet mentally and physically while you are at home together. Now is a great time to integrate enrichment activities that will keep both of you healthy, happy and engaged.

“Setting and keeping a daily pet care routine to feed and walk your pet is important in alleviating stress for your pet. But scheduling play and incorporating enrichment activities into your pet’s day can also do wonders in keeping them happy and healthy,” says Alex Johnson, senior designer & pet enrichment specialist at Purina.

Johnson shares her favorite at-home pet enrichment tips and ideas: Making it new: It is important to expand your pet’s world by providing opportunities for exploration. Try creating temporary indoor spaces to explore with boxes and paper bags or closing off a bedroom for a week to give your pet a space to rediscover. Hide some treats or favorite toys in the room before reopening it. Remember to keep toys in rotation to help create newness.

Treat time: While at home all day, it can become difficult to track when your pet gets a snack, so try adding a treat time to your schedule. Keep in mind, pets should get no more than 10% of their daily calories from treats. If you have kids, let them earn the reward of treating the pet that day by cleaning their room or finishing homework early.

One-on-one time: Having everyone constantly at home together can be stressful for pets. Provide opportunities for pets to have time on their own in

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addition to one-on-one time with family members.

Spending 15 minutes together in a quiet space with no distractions can allow you to focus on engaging and bonding with your pet.

Exercise: When stuck inside, it’s important to find indoor activities to help pets burn energy. Try tug toys, laser pointer play, or playing tag or hide and seek. If you live in an apartment building, try throwing toys up or down steps in the stairwells or down hallways (if your landlord permits). If you’re spending more time watching TV, consider keeping a drawer or basket close by with some of your pet’s favorite toys, feather wands, tug-toys, balls, lasers, cat dancers, mechanical toys and stuffed animals. These toys allow you to interact with your pet from the comfort of the couch.

Box of invisibility: Providing pets with safe spaces is a great way to give them some downtime while still being close to everyone. For example, set out a box or sign in the family room, and when the cat is in the box or the dog is in the designated area, have the whole family pretend you can’t ‘see’ them, as if they were invisible. If the rule is followed, your pet will learn they can enjoy downtime in these spaces.

Sensory spot: If you have a cat, you know they love exploring textures and smells. Try getting a box or basket just as big as your cat loosely curled up, and place it in an out-of-the-way area, preferably near a safe heat source, vent or sunny window. Each week, try putting in a new material such as a worn T-shirt, packaging paper or bits of textured fabric for them to explore.

MTo learn more about how to keep pets happy and healthy during quarantine, visit www.purina.com/ homewithpets.—

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How You Can Help Children in Poverty During the Pandemic Without Leaving Home While most of the world has hit pause on daily life, kindness and giving can be considered essential services. Socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 health pandemic are challenging families across the globe, as schools have closed, after-school meal programs have paused, businesses have shut down, and families are feeling greater strain on finances. Children living in poverty are especially vulnerable, needing the support of nonprofit organizations and community assistance now more than ever. Providing this support has always been the mission of Red Nose Day - the annual fundraising campaign encouraging Americans to aid organizations working to end child poverty through the purchase of Red Noses at Walgreens. This year the campaign is back, but instead of selling the iconic Red Nose in Walgreens stores, the retailer created a way to engage in kindness and giving from the safety of your home to support children in need and those affected by COVID-19.

Due to public health concerns and the need for social distancing because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Walgreens is bringing Red Nose Day digital. The online shift offers a way for everyone to rally around the Red Nose in support of those in need during a critical time, even while remaining physically distant.

Get your digital Red Nose on: Now through May 30, when you donate a minimum of $1 at Walgreens. com/RedNoseDay, your donation will unlock a digital Red Nose filter to share proudly on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Invite your friends and family to join you, sparking a wave of online donations and keeping the Red Nose spirit alive by spreading virtual joy. You can feel good knowing that 100% of funds raised will benefit Red Nose Day partner organizations that help keep kids safe, healthy and educated.

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How it helps: The efforts of the Red Nose Day campaign are especially crucial during this year of economic upheaval and health crisis. Your donations provide funds for nutritious meals, essential medicine, clean water, education-based services and other vital aid to help children in America and around the world.

Grantee partner recipients of the Red Nose Day Fund include: * Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which provide safe places for children to learn and play after school * Children’s Health Fund, which brings essential medical services to underserved children * Feeding America, the hunger relief organization * Save the Children, which provides critical early childhood programs * City Year, which provides the social, emotional and academic skills to young adults in low-income households to succeed in school and life * Covenant House, which provides housing and support to youth facing homelessness * International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian aid organization * Laureus Sport for Good, which uses the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage for young people * UnidosUS, which advocates for Latinos in civic engagement, education, health and housing * The Global Fund, a partnership to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria Join the cause: You can join the celebration when stars unite for a world of good during the Red Nose Day TV Special, Thursday, May 21, at 8/7c on NBC. Want to get your own Red Nose on and get involved? Visit walgreens.com/RedNoseDay to learn more.—

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How to Make the Most of Online Learning The flexibility to learn and earn a degree online allows students nationwide - from full-time employees to single parents and more - to achieve goals while managing family and life. Millions of students study online today, and those numbers are only increasing.

While online education provides students with a range of opportunities, it also can present challenges of learning in a new environment. Arizona State University staff and students who teach and study online offer their tips to help ensure your success.

Set yourself up for success Before starting a degree program online, plan ahead. Give yourself space and time to study, as well as technology tools to do your best.

Give yourself space: “A quiet workplace without any interruption from roommates or family is necessary for success in an online course,” advises the university’s director of student services, Joseph Chapman.

If your space isn’t completely quiet, noise-canceling headphones can help you focus. For shared spaces, let roommates or family know when you’re in study mode.

Check your tech: Lauren Permoda, program coordinator for ASU Online, recommends using a desktop or laptop for all your studies, as a tablet or phone may not be the best tools for most tasks.

Familiarize yourself with your school’s learning platform and keep information about tech support handy. Ensure that you have multiple browsers (such as Chrome or Firefox) available, as one might work better for some programs than others.

Organize your time Time management is key to learning online, as you must take the initiative and be accountable for your own work, without instructors or parents looking over your shoulder.

Master of Healthcare Innovation alumni Alicia Gillum said her first task at the beginning of each semester is to review every class syllabus and put due dates for papers, assignments and exams in her calendar - plus reminders a few days ahead of each due date.

“My advice is to start your assignments ahead of time,” says Gillum. “It’ll be so much less stressful than waiting until the last minute to do it.”

Miranda Gaona, who’s graduating with her Master’s in Digital Audience Strategy this month, says she treats every online class like an in-person class,

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scheduling it in her calendar as an important appointment. Gaona also sets reminders and alarms for study time - building in breaks for snacks and resting.

Communicate: Stay connected to your instructors, classmates and school community. Take advantage of opportunities to collaborate, share insights and ask questions. Goana says she joins social media groups and participates in class discussions as much as possible.

Add your instructors’ virtual office hours in your calendar, so you know when they’ll be available.

Email instructors or use class discussion boards to ask questions or offer comments. Instructors like seeing student engagement and participating will improve your overall experience.

Master of Art in Sociology student Drew McDowell also recommends communicating regularly with your “offline” support network - your friends, family and/or coworkers who may need to be patient as you devote more time to completing your coursework.

Find the right program for you: If you haven’t begun your studies, or you’re looking to transfer, find a program that meets your needs. Research universities that offer the degree or certification program you’re looking for online, and that are specifically designed and have dedicated resources to work with online learners.

Find an accredited degree program associated with a reputable university that offers the same curriculum and instructors as ground schools. U.S. News and World Report provides helpful rankings of universities and degree programs.

Look for a program offering a support system. For example, ASU’s 360 Life Services program is one of the first university programs to provide a comprehensive support system for online students. It offers clinical and personal care, as well as legal and financial assistance - plus success coaches who work with students to help them meet their academic goals.

Be persistent: When things get challenging, remember the reasons why you’re pursuing your education. Post verbal or visual reminders near your workspace to keep your goals top of mind. To learn about ASU Online’s more than 200 degree programs, visit ASUOnline.asu.edu.—

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How Communities are Connecting During the COVID-19 Crisis During the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis, people are searching for ways to connect with experts, co-workers, friends, neighbors and their community. They are accomplishing this by using technology including virtual meetings, webinars and conference call services.

Everyone is making sacrifices during this time and adjusting their regular routines and habits. TownSq, an all-in-one communication app used in the community management industry, has analyzed the platform’s trends during the crisis.

Residents take guidelines seriously: The app’s analysis found that access-controlled communities’ guest invitations dropped more than 50% in the first week alone. Residents are forgoing seeing friends and family and canceling events to ensure they are doing their part to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19.

Another interesting statistic is the drastic increase in package deliveries to communities. As COVID-19 concerns began growing in late February and early March, deliveries to communities started to increase to levels generally seen around the holiday season.

Homeowners are social distancing while maintaining necessary supplies and avoiding crowded grocery stores and markets.

Neighbors help neighbors: The World Health Organization has reported that certain groups have an elevated risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, including people over 65 years of age and those with underlying medical conditions.

As a result, solidarity is growing organically in communities. Younger residents are offering to help with things like picking up groceries or other essentials for residents that are in the high-risk group. That shows an altruistic desire for people to naturally want to help those that need it most during these times.

Technology assists in effective communication: As more strict guidelines get put into place, and more people are operating from home, individuals and companies are looking for new tools to help improve

communication during the crisis. In communities and HOAs, this essential need is equally present; effective communication is the key to making sure every resident is informed properly and up to date on important community news. The app has seen an increased trend of board members and managers publishing 92% more critical announcements and documents during this time.

“Announcement growth is directly tied to managers and boards making relevant information available to all residents in real-time. The need for urgent news has increased, so we are seeing the results of the platform accommodating that need,” said Luis Lafer-Sousa of TownSq. Virtual tools facilitate connections: From the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the app has tracked a dramatic increase in platform engagement. Residents have taken social distancing seriously with a 45% decrease in visitor requests and an uptick in package deliveries, neighbors helping neighbors, and vital communications from boards of directors to residents.

“We see this exponential growth as a strong sign of effective communication among our customers.

It shows that people are looking for new ways to connect and help each other during this time,” said Lafer-Sousa. “Communication between residents is surging with an outpouring of support for those most at-risk in communities. For homeowners, they understand the importance of community connection and recognize the value of virtual tools to facilitate those connections.”

It is crucial to stay connected during times of crisis. That is why the app is offering features like real-time updates, a resident forum, targeted communications and more free for 90 days. To learn more, visit https://learn.townsq.io/90-day-free-trial.—

Four Outdoor Cleaning Tips That Could Help Save You Thousands

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