“Native youth will have the chance to step foot on a college campus, something that many of these students have never done before,” said Jennifer Simon, event organizer and director of Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services.

“Students will get a feel for what college is like, and interact with current Native college students with the hope that they will see college is an option for them. We want to implant the idea in their minds that they, too, can and should be college students in the future.”

Students are confirmed from a number of metropolitan school districts, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Robbinsdale, Anoka, Centennial, Osseo and others.

Billy Mills, also known as Makata Taka Hela, is the second Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. He accomplished this feat in the 10,000 meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the only American ever to win the Olympic gold in this event. His 1964 victory is considered one of the greatest of Olympic upsets. A former United States Marine, Billy Mills is a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Tribe.

Schedule of Events (Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center)

9 a.m. Welcome

9:15 a.m. Admissions presentation

9:30 a.m. Campus Tour & Connect with Native American College Students

11:30 a.m. Lunch (Christensen Center)

12 p.m. “Wings of an Eagle,” Native American Olympian Billy Mills, who was born and raised on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, presents a motivational presentation on living a drug-free, alcohol-free life, attending college, and more.

1:15 p.m.  “What is a College Class Like,” Eric Buffalohead, professor and chair of the American Indian Studies Department, talks about what students can expect when they get to college.

6 p.m. Community reception (Foss atrium)

7 p.m. “Unity Through Diversity,” Native American Olympian Billy Mills (Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center) This event is free and open to the public.

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These conversations influenced Peacock’s decision to pursue urban studies in college and ultimately steered him toward a career in community development. Last fall, he joined the Augsburg institutional development staff as the director of community relations.

For 17 years Peacock was a program officer with Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national organization that works with neighborhood-based organizations to strengthen and revitalize communities. He also served as a community development specialist with the Minnesota Campus Compact, leading its community development initiative.

When he learned of the staff opening at Augsburg, Peacock felt it was a natural fit for him. “I knew of Augsburg’s commitment to the community, and I was excited about the opportunity to work with Paul [Pribbenow] given his vision for the college.”

At Augsburg, Peacock strives to build and maintain relationships with a particular focus on civic organizations like the West Bank Community Council and the West Bank Business Organization.

Recently he has met with the members of the Cedar Riverside Partnership, which is chaired by Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. The partnership brings together the leaders of several organizations, including Fairview Health Services, the Univeristy of Minnesota, the City of Minneapolis, and the Pillsbury United Communities, to promote strategic investment in the Cedar Riverside-West Bank neighborhood.

Peacock said the partnership is focused on public safety, transportation, business development, and workforce development. “It’s unique to have top leadership of institutions together with community based organizations,” he said. “That commitment provides a unique table to work together on things that are of interest to each other as neighbors.”

Peacock is also working closely with Augsburg’s Center for Service, Work, and Learning to develop a better understanding of the entirety of the civic engagement initiatives on campus.

In the first few months of his new career, Peacock said he has been impressed with quality of the people at Augsburg and with their commitment to their work and to the community. “They are involved in doing terrific things in the neighborhood. It’s really gratifying to be a part of this community and in this environment.”

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