Eden, ID

How will your community make decisions about seeking further resources to support its plans?

The Steering Committee meets monthly to discuss current projects and brain-storm on how to best meet the needs of our communities. We have brought in speakers to educate us on opportunities for our projects to grow.

Is a system in place to seek, receive, monitor and report on new resources to support community work?

We currently have our Community Calendar on line and are adding to it the progress of our projects and any events happening in our area.

Is a system in place to maintain contact with or to continue to work with other communities? With your Delivery Organization? In other partnerships? We stay in touch with our communities via email. We are in the midst of planning to attend various workshops in other Horizon communities that would benefit our youth. We are meeting with local leaders and organizations to further expand our partnerships.

What new resources have been secured to assist the work of the community?

We have opened communication with the leaders of the Recreation District to look at how we can involve and create opportunities for our youth. We have a speaker scheduled from the State Disaster Planning Agency to help us work on our Emergency planning project. Several members of the Steering committee are currently taking a Conversational Spanish class to help with any language barriers our area may face.

What is your community’s plan for maintaining a strong community leadership system?

Continue working together with civic, church and community leaders to support the growing changes in our area. Continuing community education opportunities.

How can your community sustain the changes it has already made in its leadership?

Support personal growth of upcoming leaders to ensure they have the tools needed to continue moving forward. Promote the new community resource groups starting like the garden club, fiscal fitness, etc.

What structural changes have been made in how the community does its work/makes decisions?

We have started to diversify our steering committee with new community resource groups. We are participating in several workshops and classes to help the members be better able to communicate and support our growing organization.

What structural changes have been made so that your community leadership sustains partnerships with others?

We have created partnerships with CPR/First Aid businesses to promote community health & awareness. We have partnered with Master Gardener’s to promote

4. Sustaining action and creating structural change around poverty

What structures have been changed that will enable your community to address poverty in the long term?[Taylor, Michelle]  We have begun the local Soup Kitchen again as well as having finished with the community baskets for our holiday season. We offered resources to the low income people in our community on how to utilize the Community Action agency in assistance in weatherization programs, emergency food assistance and home energy assistance.

How will you monitor and evaluate your community’s progress in reducing poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  The attendance of the Soup Kitchen and utilization of our food banks. 

What community resources will be needed to sustain the community plan to reduce poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  Continued support from the SCCA agency and our local churches and organizations. 

What additional resources would make a difference in your community’s work to reduce poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  We are working towards our Community Resource Book to help people connect with services and industries in our area. We are in the beginning stages of creating a Garden club/Community Farmer’s Market to help promote the ability of the local population to be able to grow low their own food products at a low cost.

11. Taking action on community

In what ways is your community operating or working differently? In what new or expanded ways are people contributing to your community? We hold a steering committee meeting each month to identify what the status is on projects or directions we made need to go on upcoming projects. We have members that are now on both city councils so we can help facilitate relationships where previously there may not have been.

How are low income involved? We are providing free CPR/First Aid classes and certifications to help empower our community to reach out an emergency. We are working with several groups on Christmas basket projects and Soup kitchens.

What structures have been created or changed that will help your community? Our Community calendar is working to better inform low income residents on what programs are available to help them. We are looking at different ways to involve and incorporate the youth in projects.

What new partnerships have been created, and what difference have they made for your community? We have started looking at grant possibilities and several group members have received grant writing training to assist in that. We have coordinated with a young entrepreneur to provide the education for our CPR/First Aid classes. We are working with individuals in the State Agencies to assist with projects for our low income residents.

Have you learned anything about how nearby communities like yours are taking action to reduce poverty? There was a free webinar held recently to help educate the Horizon communities on possible grants and who to contact for more information.

Do you see any opportunities to exchange information or combine efforts in this work? The more information that can be passed through the different Horizon communities on previous and current projects will help all of us not try to “re-create the wheel” in our own communities.

7. Taking action on leadership

• How has your community leadership expanded?[Taylor, Michelle]  We have members that have been elected to city council positions. We have been able to gain additional support through previously hard to reach affiliations.   
• What changes have been made in who is now involved in leadership positions? [Taylor, Michelle] Several members have stepped up to be in charge of groups working on team action events. 
• Are more people participating in leadership? [Taylor, Michelle]  We have a more diverse group coming together. 
• Are different kinds of people (representing more sectors or parts of the community) now participating in community leadership? [Taylor, Michelle]  Yes, as we gain positive feedback more people are getting excited about the direction we are going. 
• Does the community leadership reflect the community’s demographic profile? [Taylor, Michelle]  We have started to receive feedback and support from more Hispanic population. 
• Are more low income people participating in community leadership?[Taylor, Michelle]  Yes, we have provided direction and support to many seeking out programs for those in low income brackets.  
• What changes have been made in the way your community recruits and trains new leaders? Sustains existing leaders? [Taylor, Michelle]  We are at this point going by word of mouth but as we expand the communication base of our group we are gaining more people that want to be key figures in the direction we are going. 

What kinds of concrete steps are being taken by your community to address poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  We are working on a community resource guide to provide information on programs for low income people. We are attending seminars and trainings that we can use the knowledge we learn to start programs and create opportunities in our community.

How did your community make choices about the actions most like to have an impact on poverty?[Taylor, Michelle] As a group steering committee we looked at what issues needed to be addressed quickly to start the ball rolling. We meet monthly to continue the work towards our community goals. 

How are low income involved?[Taylor, Michelle]  Many residents that come to the meetings are or know of people who could use resources available to help like with winterization and fuel assistance. 

1.       How will your community make decisions about seeking further resources to support its plans?[Taylor, Michelle]  Identifying short & long term goals then seeking training from local, state & federal agencies to meet those goals.  

2.       Is a system in place to seek, receive, monitor and report on new resources to support community work?[Taylor, Michelle]  By holding community information meetings, as well as email networking and creation of community newsletter. 

3.       Is a system in place to maintain contact with, or to continue to work with other communities?[Taylor, Michelle]   Yes, contact information has been exchanged & on-going communication is happening.

4.       With your delivery organization?[Taylor, Michelle]  Research into best forms of communication to reach a higher level of citizen’s. 

5.       In other partnerships?[Taylor, Michelle]  Identification of training needed as well as where training can be acquired from. Meetings held to establish a timeline of highest priority training needed. 

6.       What new resources have been secured to assist the work of the community?[Taylor, Michelle] Identifying a plan of action to utilize training opportunities within local/state agencies.  

1.       What is your community’s plan for maintaining a strong community leadership system?[Taylor, Michelle] Involving citizen’s from both communities, city councils and civic/church organizations to participate in creating a direction toward positive changes & growth. Creating a plan of action.   

2.       How can your community sustain the changes it has already made in its leadership?[Taylor, Michelle]  Continued involvement of citizen’s working together, good bi-directional communication of status of goals or projects and promotion of community youth involvement. 

3.       What structural changes have been made in how the community does its work/makes decisions?[Taylor, Michelle]  Creating a means of the exchanging of correct information to make sure everyone is appropriately informed. 

4.       What structural changes have been made so that your community leadership sustains partnerships with others?[Taylor, Michelle]  Identifying training opportunities and networking with other towns.

4.  Sustaining action and creating structural change around poverty

1.       What structures have been changed that will enable your community to address poverty in the long-term?[Taylor, Michelle]  Creation of a steering committee made up of residents from both towns channeling resources together.

2.       How will you monitor and evaluate your community’s progress in reducing poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  Increased involvement from community, people being better informed of events & showing up for them, retention of existing businesses.

3.       What community resources will be needed to sustain the community plan to reduce poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  Cooperative Extension agency for training, networking through civic & church leaders.

4.       What additional resources would make a difference in your community’s to reduce poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  Cooperation & collaboration between townspeople.

3.Taking action on poverty

1.       What kinds of concrete steps are being taken by your community to address poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  Researching ways to get free health screenings available, connect residents with food banks and research into a barter/co-op group 

2.       How did your community make choices about the actions most likely to have an impact on poverty?[Taylor, Michelle]  We looked at what the immediate attainable needs were. 

3.       How are low income involved?[Taylor, Michelle]  By providing the contacts for resources available, partnership of both towns to complete a common goal and get involement from those that would benefit most with services provided. 

4.       How does your plan for poverty reduction link with existing leaders, groups and organizations?[Taylor, Michelle]  Partnering with churches, schools & civic leaders in creating a working plan of action. 

5.       What other partnership will help your community carry out its poverty reduction plan?[Taylor, Michelle]  Additional training by the Extension office & researching options in grants or sponserships.