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What are people talking about?

  1. Danie: With the NATO summit in Chicago in May I posted this article about how we might adopt planning strategies used by Generals to assure a better distribution of programs and resources in high poverty areas. http://www.scribd.com/daniel-f-bassill-7291/d/93233051-Planning-Cycle-War-on-Poverty

    I host a conference every six months in Chicago to bring people together who are involved in this work. The next is June 14 at First Unitarian Church in Hyde Park. I'm still looking for programs to be part of panels and talk for a few minutes about what they do. See http://www.tutormentorconference.org

  2. Sheri: The Jane Addams Resource Corporation promotes strong communities, businesses, and households to ensure that people who work do not live in poverty. JARC provides high quality skills training and support services to help lower income and unemployed workers achieve self-sufficiency. JARC provides economic and workforce development services to businesses to improve their competitiveness.

    Since 1985, JARC has offered a range of social, economic and educational services. Current program offerings include: manufacturing training for incumbent workers and disadvantaged job seekers, adult basic education tutoring, English as a Second Language classes, computer training, financial coaching, business services and real estate development. Clients come from throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. In fiscal year 2011, JARC served 1,396 clients.

  3. Brett: We've been working on getting out new blog, Digital Placemaking, off the ground! http://digitaplacemaking.com

  4. Angeline: Currently engaged in a comprehensive community development strategy in collaboration with our local school district, unions, university and nonprofits entitled "Schools as Hubs." Schools as Hubs is a STRATEGY (not a program) for organizing the resources of the community around student success. This initiative is intended to make a school – a place that already acts as a natural anchor for kids – the center of an entire neighborhood. Its integrated focus on academics, services, supports and opportunities leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Therefore, even though this strategy is anchored at schools, it is truly a tool to engage neighborhoods and communities. Not only will kids learn at their school, but that school will become a hub outside of normal schools hours for an entire neighborhood, offering services like…

    • Out-of-school activities and enrichment
    •Parent involvement
    •Medical and dental services
    •Mental health services
    •Social services
    •Adult education
    • Community and economic development

    What does this comprehensive approach create? It creates a neighborhood of people engaged in having their needs met while building community with each other. It is creating a neighborhood that ultimately takes care of one another. Our goal is to transform the way our community provides support for our kids and delivers services to our neighborhoods simultaneously!

  5. Gary: KING project, along with WMU "Spring Into the Streets" and Volunteer Kalamazoo, recently fielded 40+ volunteers to do yard work and pour concrete footings for 34 solar-powered light posts.

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