Name: Heidi Hollmann
Hometown: Verdigre
Affiliated Fund: Verdigre Community Foundation
School: Creighton University
What does it feel like to be back in your hometown this summer?
It’s wonderful to be back in Verdigre this summer, the place I made amazing memories growing up whether I was polka dancing at Kolach Days or singing in a school concert. Verdigre has always been home. Living in a small town and attending Verdigre Public School showed me the importance of finding a sense of belonging. Building meaningful connections with teachers, the community, and friends growing up in Verdigre has inspired me to become a teacher and always seek to make others feel included. I love being back home for the summer, surrounded by people I care about in a town I care about.
What are some of your hometown’s greatest assets?
Verdigre has both tangible and intangible assets. Settled in a valley between rolling hills and the Verdigris Creek, Verdigre’s beauty has always drawn me in. Even with a population of 500 people, Verdigre booms with thriving businesses – what I like to call “all-in-one.” We have a clinic, dentist, physical therapy, gas station, green house, quilt shop, grocery store, thrift store, bakery, hardware store, car dealership, and more. Just about any business you think you need, Verdigre has. We have Historical Buildings like our ZCBJ Hall and the Commercial Hotel. A significant asset of Verdigre is its Czech Heritage—we’re the Kolach Capital! Verdigre has Czech art throughout the town, and we celebrate Kolach Days every summer. Among these, an intangible asset of Verdigre is community support. My town sticks together through thick and thin whether we’re helping each other after a flood or our businesses are helping sponsor the Verdigre Powerlifting meet. Verdigre is full of assets —parks, Czech heritage, business, history—and I’m excited to explore them this summer.
What about the NCF Internship experience stands out to you so far? Why?
Something I love about the NCF Internship is that it focuses on assets over needs. I already love my town and see so much it has to offer. Rather than thinking about what is missing, I love that this internship helps me discover what we already have to offer and how I can continue to improve the many assets Verdigre already has.
Everyone has gifts and talents to share. What do you hope to share with your hometown this summer?
I’m excited to help others see Verdigre’s many assets. My experience of living in a city and living in a small town has helped me find value in the importance of finding a sense of belonging and support from others. I’m excited to connect with the community through conversations and service. I’m also excited to pursue artsy projects in Verdigre that will help enhance our Czech heritage.
What should older adults know about your generation of Nebraskans?
Older adults should know that we care about our hometowns and that some change and acceptance is important for a community to thrive. While I may be away for college, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Verdigre or the important connections here that I’ve made throughout the years. New generations will continue to have new ideas and it is important for those to be heard to continue to draw people back to their hometown.
How does belonging play a role in your attachment to your hometown?
Feeling a sense of belonging is extremely important to me and my experience growing up in Verdigre. When you feel supported, valued, and seen you can authentically be yourself in a community. While away for college, I began to realize just the impact Verdigre made on me throughout the years. The connections I made in a small town growing up, whether that be with friends or teachers, are what made coming home to see everyone again so special.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future of your community?
I hope Verdigre continues to thrive and welcome others. Verdigre has always been a place where I’ve felt like I belong. I hope it continues to be a place where people say hello when they pass each other on the street and offer a helping hand if something in the town needs attention. I hope our community continues to support our local businesses and to take care of our parks and rich cultural history.
What are you looking for in a place to call home?
In a place to call home, I’m looking for a community that is welcoming, open to new ideas, and supportive.
If you were designing a future for yourself in Greater Nebraska, what would that look like?
A future for myself in Greater Nebraska would include a continued emphasis on community support and welcoming new ideas and people as our world continues to evolve. Similar to my experience at Verdigre Public School, I would love to become a teacher one day and know that myself, my students, and my school are supported by the community.
What’s a piece of advice you have for older generations of Nebraskans?
A piece of advice I would have for older generations would be that it is okay to embrace change and new ideas in your communities. Also, they should continue to be welcoming and accepting of younger generations because that is what draws them back to their hometown.
