Engaging Communities to Reduce Poverty and Build Opportunity
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Transcript of Engaging Communities to Reduce Poverty and Build Opportunity
Engaging Communities to Reduce Povertyand Build Opportunity
Julie Keown-Bomar and Nancy CoffeyEau Claire County
Principles and Lessons We Share…
Principle #1 Poverty reduction is not a solo act– How can we engage
more people in helping people?
– Reach key stakeholders?
– Engage new audiences?
Changemakers Summit
Augusta, WI 2008
Examples—Horizons Project
The St. James, MN community photo taken at 6 a.m. on July 30, 2008. Part of the Horizons Project.
St. James factory workers, high-school students, business people, educators and civic leaders have joined together to grow opportunities for more people
• Iowa Extension works to reduce poverty
Poverty Awareness for Community Engagement
• PACE - Cooperative Extension - University of Wisconsin-Extension
Principle #2: Policy and programs are more effective andbetter informed when citizens from all walks of life help create them
• The secret to success of the program, one St. James leader said, has been its focus on a "grass roots, not top-down" approach. Including community members young and old, and from all walks of life, has been key as well.
• "It's about getting people together to solve their own issues," she says. "Once you do, magic happens."
Principle #3: Community resources should be made
known to all that could use them
• Resource directories, warm lines, 2-1-1• Collaboration• Breaking down the barriers• Staying informed
Principle #4People will participate if their needs are accommodated, they are acknowledged and listened to
• Encouragement and affirmation• Break down the barriers (childcare, time
of day, stuffiness, asking for money, etc)• Inclusivity• Relationships
Ideas• Language /framework is
important
• Dialog tools: World Café, sharing experiences, local perspectives
• One to one dialogue for relationship building
Success!
• What success have you had…– Breaking down barriers?– Building community resources?– Getting people from all walks of life to work
together?
Four Solutions for Communities
• Increasing awareness and discussion about poverty
• Expanding the number of residents in the community helping people who are struggling to make ends meet
• Mobilizing toward concrete actions to reduce poverty
• Creating policy change strategies to reduce poverty
Developing An Effective Plan
• What is the community ready for?• What are the necessary steps?• Who are the necessary partners?
Tools for You To Use
Community Readiness Model
• Barbara A. Plested• Ruth W. Edwards• Pamela Jumper-
Thurman
Visit their Web site at www.TriEthnicCenter.ColoState.EDU.
What Are the Necessary Steps?
• Logic Model--flexible
Committed people - unfocused
Get Others Involved and Synchronize Efforts!
Committed people - focused
Mobilize!
Who Should We Get Involved And How?
• Power Mapping– activity
• One on One Dialogue To Discover Self-Interest and Passion– activity
• People of Low Income• Media
Results in Eau Claire Area
• 95% of the participants “felt their voice was heard” during the summit process
• 89% indicated the summit worked to engage them in impacting poverty
• Concrete tools developed to assist people
• More depth and breadth of people working on poverty reduction
• Blueprint and action steps developing
El Centro de Conexión de Chippewa Valley
• Power mapping• World Café• One on ones• Celebrations
Welcome to Public Achievement