Turning Their Town Around

Students resurrect a Michigan town that now boasts a new Finnish line.

The northern Michigan village Kaleva—15 miles from a major highway and more than two hours from a major city—was dying.

But three years ago, art teacher Deborah Crandell and Cynthia Asiala, now a retired Spanish teacher, seized upon a way to revitalize the town. They designed an award-winning service learning class at neighboring Brethren High School that's transforming Kaleva into a tourist destination.

"The community loves this project," says Asiala. "They get to see their town improving, and the kids are proud of their work."

That work, Asiala acknowledges, is "overwhelming." In just two years, 120 juniors and seniors have refurbished six historic sites in Kaleva and resurrected its 100 year-old Finnish heritage. They did it 20 students at a time, semester by semester, 80 minutes a day. four days a week, with the help of dozens of community mentors.

Funded by a federal "learn and serve" grant, the project came to life in 1996, with students researching Kaleva's history and culture, recording the oral histories of 16 senior citizens, and conducting a needs assessment of 100 households.

This survey revealed what the ultimate mission should be: Bring economic development and tourism to their town by preserving historic buildings and reviving the Finnish heritage.

With permission from the village council and township board, students brightened the park with benches, birdhouses, and a Finnish flag. Flowers were added with the help of a local landscaper and a garden club found through the Internet.

A 30-foot fence painted with the Finnish midnight sun now blocks the blight of a lot across from the grocery. And after an area artist taught students mural painting techniques, they set to work on the fire station.

With the aid of a welder, handyman, and lumber company, students renovated Kaleva's abandoned train depot, turning it into a museum showcasing model trains.

Outside the museum, a rail sculpture designed by students is trumpeted by a student poem explaining that the sculpture's five rails represent five generations—and the top rail, pointing upward, predicts a "better future."

Students even transported an original, decaying log cabin from a farm to a downtown site, where they are restoring it and preparing to turn it into an outdoor theater.

The old meat market has become an art gallery cooperative featuring the work of local artists, many of whom are displaying and selling their work for the first time, says Asiala. In two months, the cooperative sold $2,900 worth of art, 10 percent of which goes to the Kaleva project.

Private grants and individual contributions combine to help keep the Kaleva project blooming and the students learning.

"This class teaches responsibility, independence, team work, and leadership," says Asiala. "It gives students benchmarks of employability through art, math, and English skills. And they can build portfolios for college and jobs."

"These students are realizing that they can make a difference," Crandell adds. "Their self-esteem is higher, attendance is up, and they're learning communication, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills.

"This project has also given them a sense of identity through art, both personally and within the community," notes Crandell.