More from the Action Forum

The White Stone group was a large one. They met on Saturday evenings, sharing a meal, and then split into three smaller groups. Each group made one recommendation. Lance Barton, one of the facilitators, presented those ideas.

One group suggested a publication cataloging resources available in the Northern Neck. This would be used as a guide by churches and other organizations to direct individuals to these resources based on their needs.

Another group proposed a centralized food bank warehouse in the Northern Neck that would support existing food banks. It would provide food to area food banks at very little cost, organize food drives, and help with basic logistics for running a food bank (dry goods and cold storage). This Food Bank Warehouse would provide food to individuals on a referral basis, but its primary function is to support new and existing food banks.

A third group would like to see the organization of a panel/community conversation made up of individuals who have come out of poverty and a comprehensive report of the results.



Dave Alberts and Marilyn Warren co-facilitated a Community Conversation in Kilmarnock. Dave presented their report. It is posted here in its entirety.


VISION

We are a caring, compassionate, diverse community working together to build hope and prosperity for all.


ISSUE

Each of the many organizations in the Northern Neck serves a clientele segment but sometimes competes or overlaps with other organizations or efforts. These varied individual efforts of organizations need to come together to better coordinate and extend their services.


IDEAS

•Support the efforts of the churches through the Interfaith Council to coordinate their services to those in need

•Develop a broadly inclusive universal community resources “catalog”, website and contact centers; i.e. a Clearinghouse

•Supplement volunteer-run programs with part-time trained staff

•Support the expansion of broadband communication as a resource for on-line learning and job searching and sharing of community resources. Along with this is the need for more technical training to new or minimally experienced users of the Internet.

•Expand the Youth Summer Jobs Program to include those needing to develop more consistent work ethics. This should be operated year-round and be supported by prospective employers.


mjw & dla
3/22/10

VISIONS would like to thank those organizations that hosted a conversation group, Macedonia Baptist Church in Heathsville, Trinity Episcopal Church in Lancaster, the Lancaster Community Library in Kilmarnock, and White Stone Church of the Nazarene in White Stone.

The Lancaster group presented last. Their suggestions were extremely well thought-out and detailed, so I'll be posting them one at a time over the next few days.