Hastings College will hold its One Campus, One Community luncheon with the theme “Health Care Reform and Rural America” from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11 in Hazelrigg Student Union Rooms A and B.

Approximately 70 local community leaders, including social service organizations, ministers, and campus leaders, faculty and students are expected to attend the event.

Virginia Wolking, a rural policy organizer for the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Neb. will speak during the luncheon.

Wolking is currently working on organizing rural Americans to speak-out for health care reform that works for rural communities. She will discuss how rural residents and communities are directly affected by the current health care system. Wolking says since rural people are more likely to be self-employed or work in a small business, they tend to have lower rates of employer-provided benefits and are more likely to be underinsured or uninsured for longer periods of time. 

Wolking believes health care is also a major barrier to rural small business development, the most effective path in many communities for low and moderate income people to pull themselves out of poverty. In her presentation, she will discuss how rural people also have less access to health care providers, greater rates of disability and chronic diseases and higher use of all public health care programs.

Wolking lives in Craig, Nebraska, a town with a population of 220.

In keeping with the spirit of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness, the luncheon meal will be simple and without meat. Those who planned the event want to stand in solidarity with those who struggle to put food on the table for their loved ones and for all who want to see a world free of hunger and homelessness.
 
The event is sponsored by the Hastings College Vocation and Values Program and funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc. For more information, contact Jean Heriot at 402-461-7770 or jheriot@hastings.edu.

Hastings College was founded by those who envisioned a college that would encompass the highest academic standards within the broad perspective of the liberal arts and dedication to the Christian faith. Recently initiated through the generous support of the Lilly Endowment, Inc., the Hastings College Vocation and Values Program encourages students to think deeply about the ethical and spiritual dimensions of their life’s work and to consider careers of service to others.

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,150 students. Hastings College was named 75th Best Value College in the nation and #1 in Nebraska by Forbes.com and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. It was named a 2010 “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review and rated a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s.