A string of student-led conversations in Allen County culminated Thursday morning in the burial of a time capsule in downtown Iola.
“Our whole mission has been to find out what would bring the youth back to Allen County,” said Thrive Allen County intern Shelby Peters. “We’re using the time capsule as a way for them to have something to come back to.”
Peters, along with interns Chris Holloway and Brigham Folk, used the student-led conversations to understand what students hope to see for the future of their hometown.
On Jan. 23, the interns held Thrive’s largest Community Conversation at Iola High School. Students provided the interns with more than 100 ideas for the future of Allen County, all falling into four categories: Education, Health, Community, and Economy.
“We are very excited about the items in the time capsule,” said Folk. The interns have carefully placed a variety of future artifacts in the capsule, including newspaper articles from April 4, 2024; a yearbook from the past year; a trails guide; student signatures; and various photos. “It will be opened on April 4, 2064,” Folk added.
When asked if the interns themselves plan on returning 40 years from now to help dig up the capsule, Peters smiled and said, “Absolutely.”
