Again, the Lancaster group put a lot of thought and effort into their proposals and I'm going to respect that by including them verbatim. This is the second of their five proposed strategies.
Action Item
CENTRALIZED RESOURCE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR LANCASTER & NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES
Lancaster Visions Group: Proposed 3/27/10
Description
To establish an “umbrella” service organization for area churches in Lancaster & Northumberland Counties to serve as a clearinghouse to match county residents seeking services and programs to community resources. *
The purpose would be to coordinate and/or utilize church resources (money, volunteers, programs) targeted to social service needs and to provide an effective, coordinated process of interviewing and connecting people with resources. The clearinghouse would work in partnership with all components of the local social services infrastructure, including the local Departments of Social Services.
The clearinghouse could offer satellite intake locations on designated days to accommodate client access. Suggested satellite locations are feasible in locations near or adjacent to where County Courthouse/County DSS are located (for ex. Heathsville for Northumberland Co, Lancaster Courthouse for “Upper” Lancaster Co.).
Current effective “Clearinghouse” models/organizations exist all around the U.S. Examples include: ACTS in Richmond, VA; ACTC in the Baltimore, MD area; LOVE, Inc. in multiple locations, etc. Other models may vary as to emphasis : 1) simply connecting needs and resources; 2) providing some services (ex. Food Pantry, Thrift store) directly on-site; 3) facilitating/offering “relational” ministries/programming.
Provision of financial and programmatic resources as distributed by government funded agencies such as local Departments of Social Services (DSS) have criteria which limit accessibility, dependent on the funding program. Other non-profit organizations (ex. Bay Aging) that utilize government grants/funding also have limitations placed on distribution. A “privately” funded clearinghouse organization has greater flexibility to assist those who fall outside the “criteria” required by government funded programs.
Some features of the Clearinghouse Model:
The program would include a paid Director (part-time or full time). It would utilize trained volunteers:
To interview and screen clients
To manage and maintain computerized data base
Of clients and use of services
Of available resources (see Lancaster Group Action Plan re Integrated Data Base)
The duties of the Director would include:
•Train and coordinate volunteers
•Oversee data bases
•Maintain contact/communication with other public (i.e. DSS’s) and private service organizations
•Serve as liaison with churches and clergy
•Develop/implement marketing and publicity strategies
•Manage operations budget, subject to Board
Funding
•From grants
•From participating churches who are able to provide funding
•In kind provision of space by churches and of volunteers
Reasons Needed
•Churches who have financial resources to distribute to people in need and people desiring assistance to help them achieve financial stability could benefit from the coordination and centralization of certain functions that make screening and distribution most effective. It is a time consuming process when decentralized fraught with concerns that our distribution from church to church may not be reaching the people who are really in need and who desire to move into longer term financial stability.
•It is a way for smaller churches, less financially able, to participate in a network of service provision and be an integral part of the connection of area residents to services.
•It offers an opportunity for all the churches, whatever the denomination, whatever the population they serve, to come together, to develop relational ministries and to serve the common good.
•It eases the access challenges for potential clients, who at this time, go from church to church, service organization to service organization, as they seek assistance.
•The ministerial associations (Lancaster and Northumberland) have identified a need to examine some form of centralization of certain functions and greater coordination of identification and distribution of church and community resources.
•It would help reduce the overuse of financial assistance by those individuals who utilize the system to perpetuate a dependent lifestyle and model such to continuing generations.
•It would better assure that the limited financial resources are distributed in a way that would more effectively impact poverty in the Northern Neck and assist those who desire to achieve financial stability and independence.
•It could help decrease overlap and/or duplication of services.
•It could help identify gaps in services/programming that may be needed for area residents and stimulate the development of such.
*Alternative would be to develop this model within an existing non-for-profit organization, such as Church Resource Service (CRS) or Lancaster/Northumberland Interfaith Services Council
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
The first of the Lancaster Action Forum plans!
The Lancaster group, facilitated by Torrence Harman and Lorraine Justice, came up with a number of very well thought out plans. Because they put so much effort into communicating their ideas and suggestions, I am going to post just one, in their own words, each day. My hope is that this will allow time to read and really absorb what their strategies involve. It's the best substitute I can make for their actual presentation.
Action Item
FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY
(Lancaster Visions Group: Proposed 3/27/10)
Goal:
To create opportunities for those in poverty (especially young people) to be exposed to/interact with role models who have moved from poverty to prosperity with the goal to motivate, inspire and support those in poverty towards productive lives and financial stability.
Implementation:
Identify local community persons who are knowledgeable about families and individuals who have prospered here and whose children are employed and working in various capacities successfully in other areas to come and share their success stories at the local level.
Through Guidance Services at the local high schools that track young people whose backgrounds suggest poverty but have achieved success by attending community colleges, four year colleges, vocational training programs, armed services, apprenticeship programs – thus leading to successful careers and meaningful lives.
Through Departments of Social Services who have familiarity with those persons/families who have availed themselves of employment and educational opportunities leading to more stable life styles.
Through local churches who have direct access to families they have helped financially as well as spiritually to a better life – one no longer in poverty speaking to interested groups in their churches.
Identify and establish opportunities for the above to share their stories (motivational – from poverty to prosperity) with young people in this area. For example:
*At Career Days at the local high schools.
*Through church sponsored events targeting those in youth programs in local churches.
*Reinforce and support youth motivated to make good decisions about education, health and employment with programs such as:
Local health personnel, willing to lead discussion on the values of maintaining good health and the dangers of young ladies having babies too early for themselves and their young children.
Local employers and others willing to speak with people of limited means and potentially stunted employment futures giving them pointers to possible employment opportunities and ways to advance in their companies. Other speakers providing pointers on resume building, interviewing advice, dressing for employment, etc.
*Reinforce and support families/parents motivated to encourage and support their children in their efforts towards education, training, financial stability, independence and good decision making with efforts such as:
Programs on availability of scholarships and other resources to enable continuation of education and/or achievement of certifications
Programs on effective parenting, child and youth development and motivation
Background & Rationale for the Proposed Action Plan
Poverty has many definitions. The U. S. Census stated that in 2005 the poverty line for a family of four was $19,350 per year and for an individual, $9,750. Living on less than this means living in total poverty. Poverty can lead to dependency, hopelessness and despair. Generational coping methods can perpetuate the cycle of poverty and dependency.
The Northern Neck has its share of poverty. Poverty here stems from many things. There never seems to be enough income to insure a decent living. People in poverty suffer from economic deprivation and therefore poor quality of life. To understand how people feel, the following areas should be examined with the question “What it is like . . . .
1. To be hungry?
2. To be homeless or living in substandard homes?
3. To have inadequate or no health care access?
4. To experience poor educational quality?
5. To be in an environment where labor market opportunities are lacking with a high percentage of adults in rural areas unemployed.?
6. To live in a neighborhood with a poor quality of life and few or no role models to demonstrate ways to better their conditions of life?
The list could be expanded with statistics showing more than 1 in 6 persons in rural areas listed as being poor.
Question: Is there a proven method to move from poverty to prosperity? The answer is “Yes!” There are people from this area that have succeeded despite all odds. As former first lady, Hillary Clinton stated, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Education and meaningful work opportunities are paths one must take and use to get out of poverty. The key is to help motivate our young people to see that such paths are within reach and achievable by being exposed to real life success stories who share what is needed to reach the goals of an improved, stable and prosperous way of life.
The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Poverty Reduction Task Force states that learning and skill development is a cumulative, lifelong process. Thus, preschool intervention that helps develop cognitive and socio-emotional skills have a higher return on families’ movement out of poverty than trying intervention later. Quality education beginning in pre-school or earlier makes the path into life learning and the way out of poverty much more likely.
People in poverty must buy into the concept that education and work leads to a better, more productive life. Parents, in particular must guide their children to accept the role of education as their way to a better life. Even if it appears that education hasn’t helped their parents, children must be taught to buy into the concept that a better life comes with being prepared academically. Families who have been able to help guide their children to use education and skill building as their road map to a better life in our area have been successful. Many of these families have children who completed high school, attended community colleges, four year colleges and graduate programs, joined the armed services obtaining training in various skills needed in the world of work, attended vocational schools and apprenticeship programs as well as on the job training, etc. Many of these persons who return to visit family members and some of these same people who now live and work in this area may be willing and would be very effective to speak with groups of people, especially young people, to demonstrate ways they used to move from poverty to prosperity. These people need to be people willing to help people in poverty to move to prosperity without making those in poverty feel like second class people. People in poverty must feel and understand that those trying to help are sincere and focused in their desire to help.
Action Item
FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY
(Lancaster Visions Group: Proposed 3/27/10)
Goal:
To create opportunities for those in poverty (especially young people) to be exposed to/interact with role models who have moved from poverty to prosperity with the goal to motivate, inspire and support those in poverty towards productive lives and financial stability.
Implementation:
Identify local community persons who are knowledgeable about families and individuals who have prospered here and whose children are employed and working in various capacities successfully in other areas to come and share their success stories at the local level.
Through Guidance Services at the local high schools that track young people whose backgrounds suggest poverty but have achieved success by attending community colleges, four year colleges, vocational training programs, armed services, apprenticeship programs – thus leading to successful careers and meaningful lives.
Through Departments of Social Services who have familiarity with those persons/families who have availed themselves of employment and educational opportunities leading to more stable life styles.
Through local churches who have direct access to families they have helped financially as well as spiritually to a better life – one no longer in poverty speaking to interested groups in their churches.
Identify and establish opportunities for the above to share their stories (motivational – from poverty to prosperity) with young people in this area. For example:
*At Career Days at the local high schools.
*Through church sponsored events targeting those in youth programs in local churches.
*Reinforce and support youth motivated to make good decisions about education, health and employment with programs such as:
Local health personnel, willing to lead discussion on the values of maintaining good health and the dangers of young ladies having babies too early for themselves and their young children.
Local employers and others willing to speak with people of limited means and potentially stunted employment futures giving them pointers to possible employment opportunities and ways to advance in their companies. Other speakers providing pointers on resume building, interviewing advice, dressing for employment, etc.
*Reinforce and support families/parents motivated to encourage and support their children in their efforts towards education, training, financial stability, independence and good decision making with efforts such as:
Programs on availability of scholarships and other resources to enable continuation of education and/or achievement of certifications
Programs on effective parenting, child and youth development and motivation
Background & Rationale for the Proposed Action Plan
Poverty has many definitions. The U. S. Census stated that in 2005 the poverty line for a family of four was $19,350 per year and for an individual, $9,750. Living on less than this means living in total poverty. Poverty can lead to dependency, hopelessness and despair. Generational coping methods can perpetuate the cycle of poverty and dependency.
The Northern Neck has its share of poverty. Poverty here stems from many things. There never seems to be enough income to insure a decent living. People in poverty suffer from economic deprivation and therefore poor quality of life. To understand how people feel, the following areas should be examined with the question “What it is like . . . .
1. To be hungry?
2. To be homeless or living in substandard homes?
3. To have inadequate or no health care access?
4. To experience poor educational quality?
5. To be in an environment where labor market opportunities are lacking with a high percentage of adults in rural areas unemployed.?
6. To live in a neighborhood with a poor quality of life and few or no role models to demonstrate ways to better their conditions of life?
The list could be expanded with statistics showing more than 1 in 6 persons in rural areas listed as being poor.
Question: Is there a proven method to move from poverty to prosperity? The answer is “Yes!” There are people from this area that have succeeded despite all odds. As former first lady, Hillary Clinton stated, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Education and meaningful work opportunities are paths one must take and use to get out of poverty. The key is to help motivate our young people to see that such paths are within reach and achievable by being exposed to real life success stories who share what is needed to reach the goals of an improved, stable and prosperous way of life.
The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Poverty Reduction Task Force states that learning and skill development is a cumulative, lifelong process. Thus, preschool intervention that helps develop cognitive and socio-emotional skills have a higher return on families’ movement out of poverty than trying intervention later. Quality education beginning in pre-school or earlier makes the path into life learning and the way out of poverty much more likely.
People in poverty must buy into the concept that education and work leads to a better, more productive life. Parents, in particular must guide their children to accept the role of education as their way to a better life. Even if it appears that education hasn’t helped their parents, children must be taught to buy into the concept that a better life comes with being prepared academically. Families who have been able to help guide their children to use education and skill building as their road map to a better life in our area have been successful. Many of these families have children who completed high school, attended community colleges, four year colleges and graduate programs, joined the armed services obtaining training in various skills needed in the world of work, attended vocational schools and apprenticeship programs as well as on the job training, etc. Many of these persons who return to visit family members and some of these same people who now live and work in this area may be willing and would be very effective to speak with groups of people, especially young people, to demonstrate ways they used to move from poverty to prosperity. These people need to be people willing to help people in poverty to move to prosperity without making those in poverty feel like second class people. People in poverty must feel and understand that those trying to help are sincere and focused in their desire to help.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Action Forum held March 27. 2010
The final event of the first round of Community Conversations on Reducing Poverty in the Northern Neck took place on Saturday, March 27th. Paula Fisher, with the Visions steering committee, acted as moderator. She thanked Susan McFadden and Open Door Communications for all their work developing our logo, our promotional and recruitment mailing material. Paula went on to open the meeting with these quotes from The World Bank PovertyNet: "Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom."
"Poverty is a call to action -- for the poor and the wealthy alike -- a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in their communities." Paula added, "Community, Community, Comm u-ni-ty, Comm – Unity. This is why we have come together today... to move from dialogue to action in designing a plan to reduce poverty in the Northern Neck."
Each group had an opportunity to share their experience, their process, their vision and their recommendations.
The Heathsville group, represented by Joe Thompson, shared the following report:
Vision:
Communities working together to move from poverty to prosperity
Purpose:
To develop an action plan for reducing poverty in Northumberland, Lancaster and other surrounding counties of Virginia
Background:
Thirteen (13) members and four (4) facilitators participated in five (5) conversation sessions of two hour durations where
a. poverty was defined, and quantified in our communities at 10%
b. problems facing the poor were identified
c. available assets were listed
d. a list of possible actions was developed, analyzed with a consensus reached recommended Action Plan
Recommended Action Plan:
Our recommended Action Plan contains three (3)elements; a Community Coordinator, a focus on jobs and a focus on education.
1. Community Coordinator: We believe our communities have both the people and the assets to reduce poverty, except for a funded Community Coordinator who will develop, coordinate, manage and measure our poverty reduction efforts. For example; we have banks, churches, schools, businesses, etc. who could work on projects; but would need someone to coordinate, organize and measure”collective efforts” full time… a Community Coordinator. Our cost estimate for one person, transportation, telephone, computer and space is $100,000 per year, which we hope would be funded initially by a grant or foundation. Further, this Community Coordinator will need an Advisory Board to guide him/her. Without someone dedicated full time to this effort real success cannot be achieved.
2. Focus on jobs! More jobs..Less poverty, period! Some opportunities are:
1.Establish a Clearinghouse for Jobs/Skills……people looking for work/people seeking jobs. 2. Create a website for free listing. 3. Establish a physical location for connecting.
3. Focus on education! Expand the use of Rappahannock Community College in providing training for jobs (Example: Austin CC “Construction Gateway Program” www.austincc.edu/bct/gateway.php and www.universitybusiness.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1543) Expand Warsaw VoTech program to adults. Provide counseling for success in work with volunteer counselors. Help people gain literacy skills for further college or skills training. The Community Coordinator will promote children’s mentoring, reading partners, etc. with churches, civic organizations, etc. to help children’s education.
Prepared by Joe M. Thompson 3/24/2010
Presented by Joe M. Thompson & Tom Price
I'll continue to post the plans and recommendations over the next week, so that everyone can give each some attention. Each report represents hours of work by our many volunteers in this process. Thanks to all of them, and a special thanks to our facilitators: Torrence Harman, Lorraine Justice, Jessica Jordan, Kathleen Watson, Dave Alberts, Marilyn Warren, Lance Barton, Jason Hughes, and William Smith.
"Poverty is a call to action -- for the poor and the wealthy alike -- a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in their communities." Paula added, "Community, Community, Comm u-ni-ty, Comm – Unity. This is why we have come together today... to move from dialogue to action in designing a plan to reduce poverty in the Northern Neck."
Each group had an opportunity to share their experience, their process, their vision and their recommendations.
The Heathsville group, represented by Joe Thompson, shared the following report:
Vision:
Communities working together to move from poverty to prosperity
Purpose:
To develop an action plan for reducing poverty in Northumberland, Lancaster and other surrounding counties of Virginia
Background:
Thirteen (13) members and four (4) facilitators participated in five (5) conversation sessions of two hour durations where
a. poverty was defined, and quantified in our communities at 10%
b. problems facing the poor were identified
c. available assets were listed
d. a list of possible actions was developed, analyzed with a consensus reached recommended Action Plan
Recommended Action Plan:
Our recommended Action Plan contains three (3)elements; a Community Coordinator, a focus on jobs and a focus on education.
1. Community Coordinator: We believe our communities have both the people and the assets to reduce poverty, except for a funded Community Coordinator who will develop, coordinate, manage and measure our poverty reduction efforts. For example; we have banks, churches, schools, businesses, etc. who could work on projects; but would need someone to coordinate, organize and measure”collective efforts” full time… a Community Coordinator. Our cost estimate for one person, transportation, telephone, computer and space is $100,000 per year, which we hope would be funded initially by a grant or foundation. Further, this Community Coordinator will need an Advisory Board to guide him/her. Without someone dedicated full time to this effort real success cannot be achieved.
2. Focus on jobs! More jobs..Less poverty, period! Some opportunities are:
1.Establish a Clearinghouse for Jobs/Skills……people looking for work/people seeking jobs. 2. Create a website for free listing. 3. Establish a physical location for connecting.
3. Focus on education! Expand the use of Rappahannock Community College in providing training for jobs (Example: Austin CC “Construction Gateway Program” www.austincc.edu/bct/gateway.php and www.universitybusiness.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1543) Expand Warsaw VoTech program to adults. Provide counseling for success in work with volunteer counselors. Help people gain literacy skills for further college or skills training. The Community Coordinator will promote children’s mentoring, reading partners, etc. with churches, civic organizations, etc. to help children’s education.
Prepared by Joe M. Thompson 3/24/2010
Presented by Joe M. Thompson & Tom Price
I'll continue to post the plans and recommendations over the next week, so that everyone can give each some attention. Each report represents hours of work by our many volunteers in this process. Thanks to all of them, and a special thanks to our facilitators: Torrence Harman, Lorraine Justice, Jessica Jordan, Kathleen Watson, Dave Alberts, Marilyn Warren, Lance Barton, Jason Hughes, and William Smith.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Community Conversations on Reducing Poverty
VISIONS was successful in organizing four Community Conversations on Reducing Poverty, all full, with one so large it had to be split into 2 or 3 smaller groups. The weather was our biggest obstacle, setting us back in beginning 3 of the conversations until mid-February.
The winner of the "weather dodging" award goes to our Lancaster conversation. Facilitated by Torrence Harman with some help from Lorraine Justice of Bay Aging, they managed to start right away and got in 6 meetings and still finished before everyone else! Trinity Episcopal Church on Mary Ball Road in Lancaster hosted.
The largest group was our White Stone contingent. They had to break up into 3 groups to have their discussions. They met on Saturday evenings and shared a meal. This was a younger group who needed childcare for the 12 children of the participants. Lance Barton organized and oversaw this circle, which met at the White Stone Church of the Nazarene.
The Heathsville group, led by Jessica Jordan and Kathleen Watson, had some lively conversations from the sounds of things. This is the only circle we were able to organize in Northumberland County, so we hope to expand in this area in the future. Our thanks to Pastors Rioland of Macedonia Baptist Church for hosting this conversation.
The Kilmarnock circle met at the Lancaster Community Library on Wednesday nights. Dave Alberts and Marilyn Warren facilitated this conversation. I look forward to hearing about their thoughts and ideas, as this group experienced the most fluctuation in membership and attendance.
All of these groups will come together this Saturday, March 27th, at 10:30 a.m. for the Action Forum. We will be meeting at the Upper Lancaster Ruritan Center on Route 201 near Lively. The Action Forum will provide all of our Community Conversation groups a chance to share their experience and their ideas with the larger group as a whole. Lunch will be provided and participants will have an opportunity to complete an evaluation form with their thoughts and feedback on the dialogue-to-action process.
The Action Forum is open to the public. Please let me know if you plan to attend at 577-8421 or visions.lcl@gmail.com
The winner of the "weather dodging" award goes to our Lancaster conversation. Facilitated by Torrence Harman with some help from Lorraine Justice of Bay Aging, they managed to start right away and got in 6 meetings and still finished before everyone else! Trinity Episcopal Church on Mary Ball Road in Lancaster hosted.
The largest group was our White Stone contingent. They had to break up into 3 groups to have their discussions. They met on Saturday evenings and shared a meal. This was a younger group who needed childcare for the 12 children of the participants. Lance Barton organized and oversaw this circle, which met at the White Stone Church of the Nazarene.
The Heathsville group, led by Jessica Jordan and Kathleen Watson, had some lively conversations from the sounds of things. This is the only circle we were able to organize in Northumberland County, so we hope to expand in this area in the future. Our thanks to Pastors Rioland of Macedonia Baptist Church for hosting this conversation.
The Kilmarnock circle met at the Lancaster Community Library on Wednesday nights. Dave Alberts and Marilyn Warren facilitated this conversation. I look forward to hearing about their thoughts and ideas, as this group experienced the most fluctuation in membership and attendance.
All of these groups will come together this Saturday, March 27th, at 10:30 a.m. for the Action Forum. We will be meeting at the Upper Lancaster Ruritan Center on Route 201 near Lively. The Action Forum will provide all of our Community Conversation groups a chance to share their experience and their ideas with the larger group as a whole. Lunch will be provided and participants will have an opportunity to complete an evaluation form with their thoughts and feedback on the dialogue-to-action process.
The Action Forum is open to the public. Please let me know if you plan to attend at 577-8421 or visions.lcl@gmail.com
Monday, January 25, 2010
January events
January has been a busy month for VISIONS. As promised, Susan McFadden and her team at Open Door Communications produced all the materials for our mailing about the Community Conversations on Reducing Poverty. The only cost to VISIONS was the postage. Susan designed the wonderful poster seen here. The mailing went out the end of the first week in January to about 75 churches and agencies. Lindsy Gardner also promoted the program at a meeting of the Rotary Club and met with Robert Mason, the editor of the Rappahannock Record. The Record ran a great article on Community Conversations on the Thursday before the Kick-Off event.
Gwen Whiting came from Richmond on January 16th to train the executive committee and some volunteers to be facilitators for the Community Conversations. It was a day-long training and gave us all a feel for the entire process. We worked through all five weeks in one day and took turns facilitating each session. It was an eye-opener and we all learned a great deal. The turnout was low, however, so it may be hard to schedule facilitators for the groups.
The Kick-Off Event for the Community Conversations on Reducing Poverty was held at the Upper Lancaster Ruritan Center near Lively on January 23rd. The Ruritans very generously made this space available to us for free, since they felt this effort will benefit the community. Pastor Ken Rioland did a wonderful job of inspiring all those who attended. Delegate Albert Pollard was there and we were able to provide him with information on the dialogue-to-action process we are undertaking. We had a good turnout of nearly 30 people, and there are many more who expressed an interest in participating who could not be there. We are on target to begin four groups in February. We were able to organize and settle on times and venues for all four groups. I continue to get emails and registration forms, so I believe all four groups will be full.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Plans for the New Year
During October and November, Ken Rioland, Marilyn Warren and Merthia Haynie facilitated a pilot Community Conversation. Participants included Lorraine Justice (Bay Aging CAP), Sandy Griffith (Grace Church Outreach), Torrence Harman (Priest, St. Mary's Whitechapel and Trinity Episcopal Church), Jean Poole (VISIONS advisory board), Wardell Carter (Boys and Girls Club), Jessica Jordan (Family Maternity Center of the Northern Neck), and Belinda Gaskins (Social Worker). They met on Monday nights for 5 weeks. Although the Community Conversation process would normally involve 6 weeks, the final week is an Action Forum meeting when all groups come together to share their ideas with each other. Since there was only one group, they could not do the final step.
The feedback from the group was that it went well, that participants were willing to invest the time needed, and they were able to identify some tangible goals. Specifically, this group wanted to develop programs to reduce teen pregnancy and find better ways to mentor children. They felt better mentoring would provide role models and promote higher goals. They also discussed the issues of financial barriers to getting drivers licenses and GED's and were concerned about high school graduation rates.
Towards the end of this process, Lindsy Gardner and Merthia Haynie got together with some people to begin the work of recruiting facilitators for the February-March round of Community Conversations. The training for those facilitators is planned for January 16th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lancaster. Gwen Whiting will be on hand for that training. We hope to recruit at least 15 facilitators; some of the participants in the pilot indicated a willingness to train to facilitate other groups.
The Communications group (Susan McFadden, Marilyn Warren, Paula Fisher and I) have continued to meet about every other week. Susan and her team at Open Door Communications have been enormously helpful. They developed a logo for us and will be producing all the materials for a mailing early in January. We are close to finishing a packet of materials that will go out to churches, social service departments, and other agencies at that time. The packet will include a cover letter, explanatory information, poverty fact sheet, mini-poster, and registration forms. In addition, to promote the activities of VISIONS, I have set up a Facebook presence which we hope will increase interest and reach a wider demographic.
Cindy Balderson (Connect Rappahannock) and I have continued with the Resource Sharing Forum for Lancaster and Northumberland Counties. We held one in October and one in November, but were unable to meet in December because of holiday conflicts. We will meet again on January 21st at 9 a.m. at the Lancaster Community Library. Although we feel we have made a good beginning, we are disappointed that there has been so little follow-up use of Connect.
The Kick-off Event for the Community Conversations on Reducing Poverty will take place on January 23rd at the Ruritan Center on Rte. 201 near Lively. All participants and facilitators will be invited to attend this two-hour event and we hope to take this opportunity to assign participants to groups and ascertain any specific needs that we will need to meet to help participants, including childcare and transportation. The groups will meet from late January to early March and will conclude with an Action Event to share their ideas and strategies. Those ideas and strategies can then hopefully be incorporated into an implementation grant.
Please visit the VISIONS Facebook and become a fan! I will continue to post news here and on Facebook, as well as on Connect Rappahannock.
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