Country of Residence
United States
Age
15
Project title
Kelsie Kay Mall
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
We want to create a place with easier access to clothing, food, and things to do. Our Kelsie Kay’s mall is a place to go whenever you have no where to go or to go shop, and to bring people together.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DfnDsxUBssL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&vrfl=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==&srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Idea (We’re hoping to get started in the future)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
The idea of creating an in-town mall in Eagle Butte came from recognizing a need in our community. Many families, youth, and individuals have to travel outside of town to shop for basic necessities such as clothing, food, and other services. This means spending extra money on gas, transportation, and time that could be spent other ways supporting our local community. Our "Aha!" moment came when we realized that instead of always traveling to other towns and spending our money there, we could bring more shopping opportunities and services right here to Eagle Butte. We saw the potential to create a place where local and small businesses could grow, families could save money, and community members could access the things they need without traveling far. We also recognized that our youth need a safe, welcoming place to gather, socialize, and enjoy activities, especially during extreme weather. What started as an idea to make shopping more convenient grew into a bigger vision: creating a community space that supports local businesses, keeps money in Eagle Butte, creates opportunities, and brings people together. We believe this project has the potential to make a lasting difference for Eagle Butte and the surrounding communities.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Our project is helping solve the problem of shopping issues, grocery stores, transportation, and places for people to go in Eagle Butte. Many community members, including teens, adults, grandparents, and families, have limited things to do. Some people do not have vehicles, making it difficult to travel to other towns for clothing, groceries, dental services, and other necessities. Traveling outside the community also means spending extra money on gas and transportation instead of keeping that money in Eagle Butte. At the same time, small and local businesses need more opportunities to promote themselves, attract customers, and to grow. This problem matters to us because everyone deserves access to basic necessities, opportunities, and a place where they feel welcome. We want our community members to have more choices without having to leave town just to get what they.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
Our solution is to create more local businesses, stores, playgrounds, recreational areas, and safe places to do gatherings throughout Eagle Butte. Instead of focusing on just one mall, we want to develop different spaces where people can shop, have fun, socialize, and support each other. We plan to help make this happen by bringing community members together, advertising opportunities, and organizing projects that turn people's ideas into reality.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Our project will still be in the early planning stages, but we already have an idea that could make a positive difference in Eagle Butte and the surrounding communities. We want to create more opportunities for people of all ages by bringing local stores, playgrounds, recreational areas, and safe places to hang out in our community. So far, we have started gathering ideas and thinking about how our community would like to see at our Kelsie Kay’s mall. We have thought about the traveling cost and how expensive it is to travel, and how hard it is to get transportation, limited activities for youth, and the need for more opportunities for small businesses.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
What makes our project different is that we aren't just creating another shopping center. We want to create a place that has everything like shopping, entertainment, community activities, and opportunities for local businesses all in one building. Unlike malls in bigger cities, our idea is designed around the needs of Eagle Butte and the surrounding communities. We want people to have access to the things they enjoy doing and need without having to spend extra money traveling to other places.
How many people are on your team?
2
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Leah: Handles planning, organizing, and promoting the project. Jewelie’anna: Handles designing, finding funding, budgeting, and construction planning
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next three months, we plan to finish our layout, promote our project, create a budget, and start fundraising. We will also reach out to local businesses and community members for support. Our goal is to bring our ideas to life and create more stores, play places, and a hangout space for everyone in Eagle Butte
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
We encourage others to join by sharing our ideas through social media, posters, and talking to people. We will talk to local businesses, families, and community members to get their support and ideas.
