Community Planning
in Action
COMMUNITY
PLANNING PARTNERSHIP PROFILES BY PROGRAM
1. Name of Program:
ACCCESS
2. Community Planning contact person: Andrea Strout
Phone: 508-548-0151 x135 Email: atstrout@earthlink.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
X Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator X Project Coordinator/Director
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Higher Ed
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
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A detailed account of Andreas experience in year two can be found in the
narratives and interviews section.
1. Name of Program: Action for Boston Community Development, Downtown
Adult Literacy Program
2. Community Planning contact person: Mary D. Mello
Phone: 617-357-6000 x7541 Email: mello@bostonabcd.org
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
X Adult Education Coordinator _____ Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
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A detailed account of Marys experience in year 2 can be found in the narratives
& interview section.
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before this year.
Informal relationships with different service providers that were defined
more by the learners place of residence than the location of our program.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year. Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict
was resolved, a shared task was completed.
The establishment of a closer working relationship with the other downtown
service providers.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
The process is very time consuming. If the resources are increased for the
process, than the groundwork that was done may be helpful in the future. Otherwise,
it may just be an academic exercise.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year? How did you learn it?
It is very time consuming, and it takes resources and expertise.
1. Name of Program: Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) North
End/West End N.S.C. ESOL Program
2. Community Planning contact person: Sr. Maureen OBrien, SND
Phone: 617-523-4694 Email: obrien@bostonabcd.org
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
X Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Adult ESOL
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
None of the above. We are a single ABE service site in one of Bostons
neighborhoods, the North End.
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Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
Its been up and down. The data gathering dimension worked well, but it took
a while to find a specific focus for bringing together potential community partners
with coalition members. The single issue we continue to work on is job related.
It involves creating a common ground between the needs and work practices of
current/potential employers and the delivery of ABE services.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
Specific goals with measurable win-win outcomes are the greatest motivators.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
The decision to focus on identifying the needs of employers vis-a-vis entry
level employees was a good planning choice.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
Id like to set the word success to one side. Its too early to use it. Practically
speaking, finding a good point of entry, i.e., the relationship between employers
and our ESOL program as an ABE service provider was key.
Some of the challenges will be:
(1) To continue building relationships
(2) To find ways to broaden opportunities for gradual advancement within traditionally
low paying positions in hospitals, hotels, and restaurants, and
(3) To create an employer awareness that education not only benefits the employee,
but the employer.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Use feedback from community leaders to critique planning agendas. Test the
waters before you proceed. Be willing to make adjustments.
1. Name of Program: Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center Adult ESL
(BCNC AESL)
2. Community Planning contact person: Maryana Huston
Phone: 617-451-6106 Email: aesldir@bcnc.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
_____Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator X ESL Program Director
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
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Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
We have had several core meetings with BCNC, AACA, and sometimes ACCESS (non-DOE)
people active in community planning. Lots of activity through email about state
budget advocacy; two events with larger group of CP members, including a mini-conference
with a keynote speaker and panel on having a voice and focus groups. Some work
with our consultant. Lots of bilingual brochure and website design: check out
www.ccep-boston.net. Some data collection
and training for the assessment.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
Thats hard to say. The people most involved are motivated by the cause of
good ABE and other resources for the mostly Chinese population and are connected
fairly well anyway. This has become a nice, more formal way and reason for people
to meet and share.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
It was hard at the beginning to get all partners to understand what we were
trying to do but creating the website was a constant mantra, so we began to
work on that right away and spent a lot of the CP money on it. The success of
the website has encouraged people to continue to be involved and we proved ourselves
as committed to responding to the needs of the community in raising the awareness
of the resources available. What you see in the website is just Phase I; we
will add the more detailed program chart that Chris is having us do in the fall,
the final draft of the assessment, and links to other community resources. A
longer term goal is to link to Quincy and Malden.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
We had a couple of web design people already on board. It was a clear and
concrete
task that we could show our partners with a projector at the mini-conference;
that was
really satisfying. Not much challenge besides time and money. Also a couple
of small,
non-DOE ESL programs have not really responded to our repeated invitations to
get
involved, so they are not on the website.
1. Name of Program: The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association
2. Community Planning contact person: Janice J. Pokorski
Phone: 978-654-7318 Email: janicepokorski@cmaalowell.org
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher X Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): ESOL.ESL
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
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For the 2001 update, please look under the Lowell Adult Education Center.
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
The members of our partnership bring together the people and interests that
are
needed to reach our goal in completing a comprehensive assessment of our communitys
assets and needs. Everyone who attended was interested in the agenda and most
of all
interested in joining in and collaborating with our services and goals.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
Many phone calls as a reminder after an invitation is sent in the mail. Have
the event during lunch with snacks or food provided.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
Better understanding of other community services as to who we are and what
our mission is for the future.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
Key factors are communication and surveys from the participants. People like
to
discuss their own programs and do comment on the gaps in services for their
clients.
Challenges are having enough money to continue programs and services and to
create
new services that will be discovered in the needs and assets report. Future
thinking and
planning.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Keep an open mind and be creative with your program and clients. Things change
everyday and so should we.
1. Name of Program: Center for New Americans
2. Community Planning contact person:
Jim Ayers Phone: 413-587-0084
Phyllis Robinson Phone: 413-659-3081 Email: pfierrorob@aol.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
PR Community Planning Coordinator JA Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
The partnerships that Center for New Americans, The Literacy Project and International
Language Institute will be involved with several towns with one ABE CP partnership.
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
*****************************************************************************
For the 2002 update, please look under Hampshire and Franklin County ABE
Community Partnership.
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
The Center for New Americans, ILI and TLP all have worked in partnership
with the Northampton and Amherst literacy providers for a number of years. A
few examples of this history of collaboration are provided here. In the past,
there was a bimonthly meeting of literacy providers who met in Northampton.
TLP had a site for its classes at the Jones library in Amherst (the Jones Library
runs its own ESL program as well). CNA has been a part of the Amherst Public
Schools Even Start Coalition.
TLP and CNA worked in a similar fashion in Franklin County. TLP and CNA have
had a good working relationship with Greenfield Community College, regularly
referring students for further education.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a shared
task was completed.
An important accomplishment for the Community Planning work in Hampshire
and Franklin county had to do with the initiation of this work. First, CNA,
ILI and TLP are in the unusual position of having multiple sites in two different
counties. For the first time, our DOE grants were made in collaboration with
two other organizations. Thus, initiating Community Planning work took considerable
preliminary work on the part of the Community Planning contact people within
our organizations. We met among ourselves and with the DOE from December, 2000
through March, 2001 in order to clarify the best way to proceed with our community
planning work. After considering our options and the ways in which residents
use services and the ways in which services are organized, we decided to organize
two partnerships, one in Hampshire County and one in Franklin County. Making
this decision was an important and necessary step for our community planning
team.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Getting together with our grant partners to work on Community Planning was
a challenge because we were all new to the process and didnt know how to divide
up the area that were working in. After we made some decisions regarding the
geographic areas we will work in, we decided to join forces among the three
agencies and hire one staff person to work on community planning. We developed
a community planning coordinating committee that developed a job description,
did outreach for the position and hired our community planning staff person.
4 What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it? ----------------------?
1. Name of Program: Central Berkshire County ABE Community Coalition
2. Community Planning contact person: Claudine Chavanne
Phone: 413-637-0373 Email: claudine@capital.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC):
ABE/ESL program for individuals age 18 or older, based at the Adult Learning
Center in Pittsfield, with additional support from other ABE providers in Berkshire
County. Programs vary from classes to one-on-one tutoring. The majority of the
programs are free to qualifying individuals.
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
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2000-2002
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
There were a number of informal partnerships with other agencies as well
as participation in the Berkshire County Regional Employment Boards Adult Literacy
Committee.
A new position was also established to focus on strengthening the liaisons
between the Adult Learning Center and other agencies.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a shared
task was completed.
Conducted a Focus Group for 26 participants that brought representatives
together for the first time from a broad range of employers, educational systems,
Adult Education
(ABE) providers, state employment and training agencies, other employer and
training related service providers, and social service agencies.
Developed a new definition of Basic Skills that met the needs of all the participants
because it included life/social skills (negotiating effectively in the community,
coping with change) and work ethic (job readiness, problem solving, computer
literacy, ability to present oneself) in addition to the 3Rs.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Learn the language of state educes.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
That people in adult basic education need a formal opportunity to share whats
working, whats not, whats frustrating, and how it can be fixed in an open discussion
that includes representatives from business, social service agencies, educational
institutions, and training and employment agencies as well as from other ABE
providers. The overall education, problem solving, and networking that can result
are well worth the effort.
That sharing the information is just as important as obtaining the information.
This exchange of knowledge in an action-oriented manner allows the various entities
in the community to uncover more effective solutions share ideas and explore
new directions.
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
Flexibility seemed to be the driving force this year due to the emerging
or rapidly changing needs that arose regarding ABE services.
The top issues and actions that I undertook as a community planner were the:
1) ABE budget and the subsequent letter writing and public relations campaigns
that I helped develop to encourage legislative support for adequate funding
2) Need for more information exchange among ABE providers and the resulting
expansion of the Adult Literacy Committee, the Job & Training workshop that
I conducted for the Adult Learning Center to identify resources and engage providers
of job placement and training into ABE planning, the development of a Guide
to ABE Services in Berkshire County and the soon to be released Jobs
& Training Guide
3) Proposed changes to alternative GED programs, particularly the Adult Learning
Centers Adult Diploma Program, that prompted research to gauge the impact of
the proposed changes in the business and education community
4) Expansion of Job Shadow Day at the Adult Learning Center, both in terms
of participants that day and opportunities throughout the year for students
5) Possibility of a collaborative application for a BEST grant (Building Essential
Skills Through Training)
6) Emerging need for a consistent approach to marketing ABE programs in the
region that will be a major focus next year
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
I try to make sure that all the ABE participants at the quarterly Adult Literacy
Committee meetings walk away with something they can use in their own programs.
Some of the benefits that have come out of these meetings are grant strategies,
insights into the budget process, and practical information about new or revised
ABE modules or strategies that other providers are or have implemented.
Our meetings are also planned to be as efficient as possible, so they start
and end on time, the agenda focuses on the two priority issues that were requested
for the meeting by members, and everyone has a chance to provide a brief update
regarding their program. We also provide additional time before and after the
meeting for informal networking.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
ABE issues are so interconnected in Berkshire County, that I found it necessary
to expand my outreach efforts to include all ABE providers in the county, not
just in the central Berkshire area. The result was an expanded Adult Literacy
Committee that I now chair and which meets to focus on two pre-defined priority
issues each quarter in the hopes of creating enough action steps to begin resolving
the issues. This need among ABE providers to network and brainstorm solutions
became increasingly apparent during the budget crisis, when everyone was trying
to plan ahead to do more with a lot less. In the months ahead, our focus will
be on marketing ABE services more effectively and looking at the role that distance
learning could/should play in ABE programs.
An added benefit of this expanded Committee is that they serve as a sounding
board for ABE community planning strategies. Their input led me to develop a
comprehensive Guide to ABE Services in Berkshire County and a Job & Training
Resource Guide that will have widespread distribution in the community, both
in print and online.
Other issues that arose in the first year of community planning research, including
the need for a stronger business/education link and better marketing/communication
of ABE services are also expected to benefit from the valuable input that the
Adult Literacy Committee of Berkshire County can provide.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
ABE providers are pulled in so many directions that it is often frustrating
for them to add one more meeting to their already busy calendar. Convincing
members that Adult Literacy Committee meetings would be productive was an important
consideration in my overall strategy. In order to achieve this goal, I try to
be very organized so that everyone knows about the meetings on a timely basis,
what the priority issues are for that meeting, and what the meeting highlights
and action items are as a result of the meeting. I also try to ensure that everyones
needs are being met at the meetings without distracting from the primary focus
of the meeting. It can be somewhat of a balancing act, but I have often called
on the meeting facilitation skills that I have acquired over the years.
As with any agenda, getting to and implementing action steps is also a challenge.
As a Community Planner, I take the responsibility to keep the process on track
and offer my support, as needed, to bring about the envisioned solution.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Because the role of community planner is not strictly defined, I try to remain
flexible
enough to meet the high priority needs of the stakeholders that I serve while
remaining
true to the overall goals of ABE community planning as set forth by the DOE.
To
maintain the balance, I often call on my organizational and networking skills
to provide
the critical information I need in order to maintain perspective and prioritize
requests
from the various constituencies in my region.
I also realize how important it is to keep talking about ABE programs and issues
in my region, so I try to reach a variety of stakeholders in the community by
attending Chamber of Commerce events and Human Resources Association of Berkshire
County meetings to gather input from the business community, Adult Literacy
Committee quarterly meetings to keep abreast of ABE issues, Adult Learning Center
staff meetings and various educational workshops to learn more about the education
communitys perspective, and any legislative events that allow me to talk about
ABE issues. As a business consultant, I also find that having a diverse group
of for-profit and non-profit clients gives me a valuable perspective, especially
to see the big picture.
In addition, I find that encouraging collaborative efforts often yields satisfying
results, as long as I am able to provide the time and effort required to keep
the ball rolling. At other times, I try to identify at least one action that
I can effectively perform for the constituency (i.e. employer association, educator,
or social service agency) so that everyone has a sense that there is enthusiastic
support and solutions for the ABE issues defined in last years focus groups.
1. Name of Program: Chelsea Adult Education, Inc./Bunker Hill Community
College
2. Community Planning contact person: Bob HighTower
Phone: 617-889-8432 Email: chelabe@massed.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
X Teacher X Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO, Higher Ed
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
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Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your
community before
this year.
There has been periodic conflict with other local agencies. Sometimes attending
events sponsored by other agencies. The everyday struggle of a program that
has been around for some time but is now putting forth a new image from its
recent independent incorporation.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a shared
task was completed.
We have developed and strengthened a partnership with the community-based organizations
that offer ABE services here. The communication among the partners has increased,
allowing for monthly meetings that enable us to review activities and develop
a plan for FY02.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Being the Community Planner for 2 programs is very difficult. I have to keep
in mind the activities, the strengths and weaknesses of both while representing
both optimally.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
How to plan and organize meetings with people on the Community Planning Advisory
Board. These people are from different parts of the community, with different
lifestyles. Getting them to the table together continues to be a challenge.
I have learned that it takes a large amount of cajoling, pleading and all manner
of asking to get folk to make a commitment.
1. Name of Program: Clinton Adult Learning Center
2. Community Planning contact person: Christine Cordio
Phone: 978-365-4226 Email: clinton1@massed.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): LEA
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
Clinton Adult Learning Center has always involved the community in planning
and program development. An active advisory board has been in place for many
years. The group meets four times a year and discusses program issues and helps
with making decisions. Workplace Education has been a component of the Learning
Center for the past three years. Business in the community have taken an active
role in establishing classes for ESOL. The Learning Center has a strong relationship
with the school department and the local childcare partnership.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a
shared task was completed.
The milestone accomplished this year would be finding an existing community
group to join. This group is called the Community Advisory Committee. The President
of Clinton Hospital established this group last May. When we approached him
with our need to have a community partnership he was very willing to allow us
to join this group and share our focus on literacy.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Forming the Partnership and making new connections. As a new Director it
was difficult to discuss the ABE World with community members. I was learning
so much to begin with and then was told to go out and sell it to the community.
Building the partnership forced me to take action quickly and learn everything
I could about adult education.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
The most important thing I learned about CP this year is that it will always
change. I needed to change my focus for developing the group frequently. Members
came and went and I expect that they will continue to do so. I learned that
I need to keep the core group in tack and allow the flow of other members. I
learned this through experiencing it.
1. Name of Program: Condon Community Center
2. Community Planning contact person: Michael Farma
Phone: 617-635-5100 Email: mafsbma@aol.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
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Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
We had been collaborating for several years due to issues which impacted
our community and programs.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a shared
task was completed.
We reached a Memorandum of Agreement with Notre Dame Education Center regarding
GED Referrals.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Meeting with the group which included line staff.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
That DOE Program monitors are more flexible in their interpretations than
I had been led to believe. I found this out by talking to them.
1. Name of Program: Devens Adult Learning Center
2. Community Planning contact person: Jeremiah Riordan, ABE Community Planner
Phone: 978-630-9269 (MWF) Email: j_riordon@mwcc.mass.edu
978-772-0405 (T, Th)
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director X Counselor
X ESOL I Teacher X Site Coordinator (Ayer)
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Funded by Department of Ed.
(MWCC)
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several towns/communities with one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
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Year One (2000-2001): Submitted by Karin Dynice-Swanfeldt
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before this year.
Collaboration with local communities/agencies has been on going for the Devens
Learning Center. Many contacts were already put into place before this year
began. In the past the Community Partnership came together as a unit of a School
Link Program. The foundation for the Community Partnership to date has grown
over the past year.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year. Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict
was resolved, a shared task was completed.
An updated/completed vision and mission statement was created by the Partnership
this year. The Partnership also created a list of projects and goals to be met
for the coming year.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
To expand the Partnership with the right membership was the most difficult.
All agencies are important in all communities but no one has time to waste,
so gathering the members, which will bring something to the table and take something
way with them was difficult.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year? How did you learn it?
The most important thing learned this year with the Community Planning Project
was keeping all members interested and involved. Communication between the membership
was what kept it interesting, and kept the membership involved.
1. Name of Program: Everett Literacy Program
2. Community Planning contact person: Meg English
Phone: (617) 394-2318 Email: elitercy@massed.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator Executive Director
_____Associate Director PT Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
We had 2 more festivals which were multicultural sponsored by the Chamber
of Commerce in Early October and June. The most important activity that occurred,
however, was a Focus Group in November. The focus was on what people believed
the program needed to do to build on itself. This was successful in particular
because the Everett Mayor David Ragucci introduced the group and praised the
program and spoke of some of its achievements. The event was well attended and
we met for 2 hours after a Power Point display that showed the different statistics
regarding the immigrant population in the city and the number of people we have
served since 1998. From this group we gained several people who wanted to become
more involved in the program in whatever way they could.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
I believe the people who want to participate more are the people who are
involved in many other community projects or organizations such as the Library/
Recreation Center/ Elders Center.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
The biggest accomplishment for the partnership is getting others interested
in working
with us.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
A key factor was talking to people after the focus group (doing follow-up).
Minutes of the meeting were sent to all that attended and all those who called
to say they could not come but would like to know more. This helped identify
those who were interested. At the end of the focus group I asked those present
to please think about whether they could participate more in helping the program
implement some of the ideas.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Slow and steady. Be sure who you are inviting to sit with you is sympathetic
to your program and its needs.
1. Name of Program: Framingham Adult ESL
2. Community Planning contact person: Kathie Carroll Day
Phone: 508-416-2212 Email: kcday@jpkeefehs.org
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): LEA
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before this year.
We have had a Partnership in existence for a few years now, called Framingham
Community Partners. FCP is made up of a great many agencies (state and local)
and programs within Framingham, for both adults and youth. We try to work together
to coordinate services and resources and we are now undertaking a community-wide
Community Planning effort, looking at all assets and needs of the entire community.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year. Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict
was resolved, a shared task was completed.
We applied as a community (with everyone going in on it in partnership with
each other) for a $500,000 (over 29 months) WIA (Workforce Investment Act) grant
and were fully funded. One of only two grants funded, we were told that our
proposal was the strongest because it was truly a community partnership. We
also received an Intel Computer Clubhouse grant for the same reason. We decided
to undertake a community-wide planning effort and formed the FCP Community Planning
Task Force, made up of various representatives on Framingham Community Partners.
We developed a mission for the Task Force (to create a picture of the community
resources, assets and gaps existing in Framingham in order to develop a stronger
community through planning and collaboration). And, we have begun identifying
the indicators for which we will collect data and conduct analyses. We have
been asked to present our approach at a SABES workshop in June.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Working together as a community planning task force is definitely worth doing.
The difficulty is trying to find days/times when most people can meet.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year? How did you learn it?
The most important thing I learned about ABE Community Planning was that
its a similar effort to those being undertaken or mandated by other programs
and funding sources and that it makes sense to do them in a concerted effort.
I learned this by knowing some and finding out about other efforts and then
looking at them together.
1. Name of Program: Hampshire and Franklin County ABE Community
Partnership
2. Community Planning contact person: Phyllis Robinson
Phone: 413-659-3081 Email: pfierrorob@aol.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator Program Director
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Multiagency collaborative consisting
of
three CBOs: International Language Institute, Center for New Americans, and
The
Literacy Project
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership X
******************************************************************************
For a profile from year one for the Hampshire/Franklin County ABE partnership,
please see Center for New Americans and the International Language Institute.
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
The Hampshire and Franklin County ABE Community is jointly convened by the
Center for New Americans, the Literacy Project and the International Language
Institute.
To date, the community planning activities have included: meetings of the
overall community planning partnership, focus groups with various community
constituencies, site visits and many key informant interviews. Additionally,
the consultant and representatives from the three primary ABE programs have
begun analyzing significant quantities of primary and secondary demographic
information. This has included Census data, MISER data, and several existing
community needs assessments, reports from several collaborative community agencies,
the Regional Employment Board Blueprint, youth mapping data and DOC statistical
information.
Through these processes, the partnership intends to learn more about the effectiveness
of its outreach and the overall efficacy of its model, as well as perceptions
of
programs in the community and among other agencies. TLP, CNA and ILI also hope
to
build lasting partnerships and to collect data that will inform policy and priorities
in the region and throughout the state.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
It is my opinion via observation and conversation that the core partners
are
motivated by the funding and by their ability to gather important information
for their programs. There is, of course, an interest generally in meeting
the needs of the community as a whole.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
I think that it is too soon for me to tell. We are planning a fall
partnership meeting in which the data we have collected will be shared,
verified and gaps identified. Many new partners have emerged due to the
consultant's data gathering through focus groups and key informant interviews.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the
challenges?
We will see once the partnership meets.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
I would say that what I have been able to garner from my predecessors is
that
it is very important to be able to narrow the range of leads. These leads
have been given often by the partners. They include youth at risk, transportation
in the rural areas, community and area college services. We have looked at what
they can provide that a community-based ABE/ESOL/skill-training organization
cannot
and vice versa, and also how to reach the incarcerated folks before their release.
There are hundreds of potential people to talk to who have buckets of
information. Avoid duplication by picking and choosing those who have the
most broad and seasoned knowledge and yet also have a sense of the
on-the-ground grassroots situation.
Narrow, narrow, narrow or go broad and then do a qualitative analysis of what
you have.
1. Name of Program: Harborside Community Center Adult Learning Program
2. Community Planning contact person: Christine Luongo
Phone: (617) 635-5114 Email: hside00@bellatlantic.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Adult Learning Program
Director
_____Associate Director X Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator X Assessment Specialist
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
Through becoming involved with Healthy Boston Coalition in East Boston (Lisa
La
Mattina), we have with several other agencies become a sub-committee of literacy
providers.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
Because we are already working together and have been for years. Now more
formally, we are discovering services we can all benefit by.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
Expansion of the partnership.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
This was a success because we worked together more, no matter who was sponsoring
the activity or project. The biggest challenge was time....with the state of
the budget
and the cuts, we started later than we projected.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Have a plan early and stick to it.
1. Name of Program: Haverhill Adult Basic Education, Community Action,
Inc.
2. Community Planning contact person: Nancy Tariot
Phone: 978-393-1971 x 263 Email: ntariot@massed.net
3. What are this persons job responsibilities (check all that apply):
_____ Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator X Project Coordinator/Director
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
A detailed account of Nancys experience in years one and two can be found
in the narratives and interviews section.
1. Name of Program: The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.
2. Community Planning contact person: Kathy Smith
Phone: 781-322-9777 Email: ksmith@ilctr.org
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator X Director of Development
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
The ILC has successfully partnered with a number of education and social
service
providers in Malden in order to provide educational services to immigrants and
refugees.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Three major accomplishments this year are: (1) The council divided itself
into two committees. Both Committees exceeded their goals for Year 1. (2) The
Needs Committee developed three instruments for assessment as well as developed
a procedure and time line for assessment. (3) The level of enthusiasm and commitment
is extremely high.
4. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
The time and energy that was spent internally on planning and preparing for
the first Council meeting contributed highly to the success of the initiative
all year.
5. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year? How did you learn it?
It will be a challenge to identify who in the community is actually undeserved
and/or under educated. This became obvious when we started thinking about where
we would conduct interviews to assess educational needs.
1. Name of Program: International Language Institute of MA
2. Community Planning contact persons:
Karine Roesch Phone: (413) 586-7569 x104 Email: karine@languageschoolusa.org
Phyllis Robinson Phone: (413) 659-3081 Email: pfierrorob@aol.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director X Counselor/Teacher
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator X DOE ESOL Program Coordinator
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships X
There are two CP initiatives among the three programs, one in Franklin and
one in
Hampshire county. Together, we have hired one Consultant for both initiatives,
who works for all 3 agencies.
******************************************************************************
For the 2002 update, please look under Hampshire and Franklin County ABE
Community Partnership.
Year One (2000-2001) by Kermit Dunkelberg:
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before this year.
Collaboration with other ABE providers, with Career Center and DTA, other
informal networking and membership in COSA and Chamber of Commerce. No overall
plan.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year. Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict
was resolved, a shared task was completed.
We teamed with other organizations under the same grant to develop common goals
and hire one Consultant. This took the entire year.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Everything under 2. Nothing is easy about this. Simply understanding what
it was we had to do took six months.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year? How did you learn it?
Possibly, it can be done. We were afraid it was just another series of hoops
to jump through. The jury is still out on that, but we are fortunate to have
found a very qualified Consultant to get our project moving.
1. Name of Program: JP Community Centers, Adult Learning Program
2. Community Planning contact person: Sandy Goodman
Phone: (617) 635-5201 Email: s_goodman@hotmail.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
For a detailed account of Sandys experience in year two please see the
narratives and interviews section.
1. Name of Program: Holyoke JUNTOS ABE Collaborative
2. Community Planning contact person:
Phone: 413-534-2026 Email: phyry@hps.holyoke.ma.us
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator Program Director
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Multiple agency collaborative
with
Public Schools as lead agency and six program partners including four CBOs and
the local community college: Holyoke Public Schools, HALO Center, CARE Center,
Community Education Project, MCDI-Holyoke, New England Farm Workers Council,
Mentor Program at Holyoke Community College
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
For a detailed account of Pauls experience in years one and two please
see the narratives and interviews section.
1. Name of Program: Literacy Program of Greater Plymouth
2. Community Planning contact person: Evelyn Strawn
Phone: 508-746-3206 Email: EDStrawn@aol.com
3. What are this persons job responsibilities (check all that apply):
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): ESOL/ABE Volunteer program
located at Plymouth Public Library
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
A detailed account of Evelyns experience in years one and two can be found in
the narratives and interviews section.
1. Name of Program: Lowell Adult Education Center
2. Community Planning contact person: Elaine Nugent
Phone: 978-970-5418 Email: nugentelaine@hotmail.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director X Counselor Teacher
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator X Health Facilitator, Liaison to
Community Schools
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Lowell Public Schools
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
For the 2002 update, please look under The Cambodian Mutual Assistance
Association.
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before this year.
Very positive gathering of 20+ agencies. Lowell Adult Education is a well
established institution with a lot of strong ties to community agencies i.e
Health center, WIB, etc.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year. Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict
was resolved, a shared task was completed.
Greater understanding by community agencies about the goals and multiple sites
for
ABE within Lowell Community
Positive response to ABE surveys
List serv developed by 1 member of partnership
Working with other funded DOE Program on community planning (CMAA) for
benefit of adult learners
Plans to develop Community Web Design
Work with Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Process takes time. Organizing meetings to ensure valid valuable input by
all invited agencies.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
E-mails are great communication tools. However, personal reminders (PHONE
CALLS) are crucial to remind busy people why our meetings are essential to all.
If you dont have people present with encouraging, informative goals one cant
move forward!!!
1. Name of Program: Lutheran Community Services
2. Community Planning contact person: Rebecca Schiffrin
Phone: 413-787-0725 Email: rebeccas@lcssne.org
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator X Program Manager
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
I have met approximately every month with a West Springfield coalition of
social services agencies called United Prevention. The focus of this group is
children and families. The chairperson of the group is the Parent Resource Coordinator,
West Springfield Public Schools. We collaborated on a number of RFPs which would,
among other things, expand services for community immigrants.
I worked with group members on developing a needs and assets survey of ABE students
and other immigrants in the community.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
People want to know what others are doing and how we might connect to and
support other programs. We are also interested in collaboration in terms of
raising money.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
For the first time this group worked together to apply for funding. This
involved assessing the needs of each member organization and as a group deciding
how to prioritize those needs.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
Having a focus (in this case strengthening parent and student involvement
in after school programs) allowed us to see how each agency could support this
goal. The challenge was the limited amount of funding available so that we had
to choose among excellent proposals. It was also a challenge to keep the various
members engaged throughout the process of deciding which proposals to include
and which to eliminate.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
The group works best when there is a specific project that motivates the
members.
1. Name of Program: Massasoit Community College/Stoughton Adult Basic
Education Program
2. Community Planning contact person: Luanne Teller
Phone: Email: Lteller@massasoit.mass.edu
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Higher Ed
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
I cannot envision how we would run our program without our Community Partnership.
Our Community Partners play a very active, supportive role. We meet every six
weeks, and our partners participate in discussions about and contribute to decisions
regarding all program policies, goals, and planning. For example, as Director,
I present our program plan to our community partners for approval, and they
read and approve the grant application before it is submitted. They donate time
and services on a regular basis. One of our partners, the Stoughton High School,
provides free access to classroom, office, and computer lab space. The Stoughton
Library provides free access to meeting rooms and function rooms for student
and community events. At these events, it is typical to have virtually all of
our community partners in attendance.
This year, we were monitored, so the partnership was actively involved in goal
setting, defining policies and procedures, and tracking progress according to
set goals. Since we were monitored in what was only our second year, we still
had a lot of work to do in these areas. The partnership is always actively involved
in program planning, but this year, because of the monitoring, they played an
especially important and supportive role.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
Truthfully, I ask myself every day how I got to be so fortunate to work with
such a dedicated group of professionals. In reality, they see our program as
a way to improve the quality of life for the residents of Stoughton, and they
have remained committed to its success since our inception.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
Our greatest challenge was to have everything in place in time for our monitoring.
On the evening when the monitors arrived, every member of our Advisory Council
(except one who had a prior meeting) attended and met with the monitoring team.
Our monitoring visit went extremely well, and the team specifically highlighted
the active/integral role that our community partners play in the success of
the program.
For a variety of reasons, we felt the need to actively recruit students (despite
our long waiting list) in order to diversify the student population. Our partners
were very helpful in this process, and we increased the number of nationalities
in our program from 11 to 19.
After our first year, we struggled with attendance issues/policies. A new approach
to this issue was discussed with the students, staff, and the community partnership.
All were involved in crafting a new policy for students. As a result, our attendance
improved by approximately 10% last year.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
Key to all our changes/goals/accomplishments is that we all work as a team
with an extraordinary level of mutual respect. Our Community Partners never
bring individual agendas to the table. They are focused on the continued success,
growth, and improvement of the program and services to students. We have two
students who sit on the Advisory Council. They are treated as absolute equals
in the process, and their input is valued and considered in every decision.
In addition, there is no such thing as status quo in our program. We are always
looking for ways to improve services, and the partnership provides leadership
in helping to define goals, as well as the support needed to achieve them.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
The best advice I can give is to try to get people to the table who are there
for the right reasons. It can seem overwhelming at first, but if you just take
it one step at a time, it sort of develops a life of its own. Its important
to figure out what people are good at, and then let them do it so that they
can feel vested in the program and empowered to help. In the beginning, its
a lot of choreographing, but eventually, it becomes self-perpetuating.
In addition, you have to accept that if you are going to truly embrace the community
planning model, you have to learn to have a deep respect for the democratic
process. Everything takes longer because so many more people are involved.
For example, I have to plan an extra week when I write the grant because our
partners review it. They rarely make substantive changes (because we have already
discussed and agreed upon the program design), but they often make editorial
changes, always for the better. In the end, by taking the best of what everyone
has to offer, you are able to forge greater ideas than any one individual could
do alone (the sum of the partsÖ.). Further, as Director, I enjoy a level
of support that is truly rare. This is the best group of people I have ever
had the good fortune to work with, and it makes my job easier and more enjoyable.
1. Name of Program: Massachusetts Career Development Institute - Westfield
2. Community Planning contact persons: Larry Bay & Sheila Kelly
Phone: 413-532-2683 & 413-568-1716 Email: skelly3183@aol.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
LB, SK Community Planning Coordinator LB Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
SK Teacher Technology Coordinator
LB ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC):
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
A detailed account of MCDIs experience in years one and two can be found
in the narratives and interviews section..
1. Name of Program: Maynard Adult Learning Center
2. Community Planning contact person: Karen Pervier
Phone: 978-897-4203 Email: pervier@maynard.k12.ma.us
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): LEA
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
This is my first year with the program. I know that last year they had a
community planning meeting to discuss working together.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a
shared task was completed.
The group decided to consolidate a list of community support services in Maynard
and Hudson. This would be used to develop a brochure to hand students, patients,
etc.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
I found it difficult to gain cooperation and support from community leaders.
They have so much to do and not much time to do it in.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
My last meeting is scheduled for this Friday, June 1. I am finding that this
is a difficult time for people to fit into their schedule. From now on, I will
plan my meetings no later than May. Mostly, I am still in a learning process.
Gaining solid buyin and support still seems to be something that I will be working
on next year.
1. Name of Program: Methuen Community Network
2. Community Planning contact person: Laura Ruiz de Luzuriaga
Phone: (603) 893-9911 Email: laura@walta.org
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): LEA
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
2000-2002
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
The ABE program had little if any collaborative activity with the community
before this year.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a shared
task was completed.
A shared vision was developed partners have a sense of purpose and have agreed
to use the results of the assessment to develop a remedial action plan.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Developing an action plan to complete the community assessment.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
Through lots of discussion and eventual agreement, we discovered that the
ABE planning process does not have to seek to address all facets of community
needs. That it is possible to focus on the ABE specific needs of citizens
and employers and address those needs without taking responsibility for needs
outside the scope of ABE and barriers to ABE participation.
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
Partners assisted in organizing assessment activities. New members were added.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
Limited time commitment, well organized meetings, potential benefit for organization
or constituents.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
Completion of a large part of the needs assessment.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
Assistance from members in coordination.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Keep it short and simple.
1. Name of Program: Middlesex Community College
2. Community Planning contact person: Betty McKiernan
Phone: Email: mckiernane@middlesex.cc.ma.us
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Higher Ed
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
A detailed account of Bettys experience in year one can be found in the narratives
and interviews section.
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Did your program have experience in community collaborating before this year?
While Middlesex Community College has a history of working collaboratively
with communities, the adult learning center did not. Students had always been
recruited from and some referrals had been made to agencies in our partner communities
but unfortunately the Adult Learning Center appeared to be a well kept secret.
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this
year.
We held one meeting this year. We also contracted with a consultant to work
on the Comprehensive Survey of Assets and Needs.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
I have become involved in a town Community Planning Partnership. A number
of members in that group recognize that we can accomplish more working together.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
Although the town has less need for ABE services than other locations, there
seems to be greater acknowledgement of the need to make a broad spectrum of
services available to residents.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
Genuine interest in serving the designated population keeps us motivated.
Challenges surround maintaining interest over the long term.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
I would suggest the continued broadening of the partnership. I would also
suggest delegating appropriate pieces of the task to others who are qualified.
1. Name of Program: Mount Wachusett Community College ABE Program,
Community Planning Collaborative (CPC)
2. Community Planning contact person: Jeremiah Riordan, ABE Community Planner
Phone: 978-630-9269 (MWF) Email: j_riordon@mwcc.mass.edu
978-772-0405 (T, Th)
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator X ABE Community Planner
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Higher Ed
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership X
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001): Submitted by Mirna Rayna
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
N/A
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a shared task was completed.
Three new ESOL classes have been deemed as necessary and have been realized
A partnership has been formed with about 40 members
A shared vision/mission was developed and adopted
Three well attended meetings were held
An existing needs assessment for two of the three cities completed by another
organization discovered
A comprehensive resource guide has begun
A student involvement committee was initiated
ABE/Community Planning as a distinct district presence has begun to be established
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that
was difficult to do?
N/A
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
I have learned so much this past year about Community Planning and Adult
Basic Education that it would take more space to write than I believe this question
was intended for.
The most important thing that I have learned this year is that community planning
is a very creative and necessary process that leads to information sharing and
collaboration that I believe will lead the way for effective change in the communities
that participate in it.
This sometimes arduous process brings many different agencies together as a
team to network and learn about each other, to dialogue, and ultimately take
concrete actions to help one another to meet the collective needs of all constituencies
as a whole.
I believe the challenge ahead is to thoroughly compile all facts and analyze
that data with the limitations on time spent doing this job. Thoroughness is
the key necessary to gather the fullest spectrum of information is imperative
in determining what course of action to take next and how to do that is via
a strategic plan.
The dialoguing with the partners and community, the reading and on-line research,
the preparation and meeting facilitation, the interviews, SABES workshops/sharing
groups, attending City Council meetings, listening and observing our ABE/ESOL
students and teachers, as well as the process itself are how I have come to
this understanding.
1. Name of Program: North Shore Community College, Adult Learning Center
2. Community Planning contact person: Eve Noss
Phone: 978-921-0089 Email: noss@mediaone.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
_____ Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator X Program Director
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Program type higher ed.
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
*****************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
Prior to this year our program participated in community planning in Gloucester
and Salem. In both communities the process involved formal and informal collaborations
with other agencies and entities. Before this year our involvement with city
of Beverly entities had a programmatic reason for being rather than a planning
bent. The only formal agreement was the FY2000 community planning partnership
with the Beverly Public Schools, North Shore Community Action and North Shore
Community Health, Inc. in anticipation of this years community planning funding.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a
shared task was completed.
A milestone for this year that came from community planning is the recognition
by two agencies, the public schools and public library, that they consider adult
literacy as part
of their own mandates and entertain that at some future date they might provide
classroom space to the program. This response is new and previously unthought
of.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Based on the Gloucester and Salem Community Planning experiences, the program
had a specific profile of the person we wanted to conduct CP over the five-year
period a
person with the planning, research and organizing/facilitating skills who was
also already recognized for being actively committed to the Beverly community.
Locating such a person who could make the extended time commitment was the result
of extensive search and took several months. This activity, however, was definitely
worth
doing and has provided the planning process with an organizational base that
would have taken much more time and effort to develop.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
As our program has been involved in two earlier CP activities, we have not
experienced any unexpected occurrences. Probably the most significant event,
as mentioned in the response to question 2, is that two planning partners have
also come forward as potential program partners. This also happened two years
ago in Gloucester when two agencies committed classrooms and equipment to our
program as a result of the CP process.
1. Name of Program: Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education
2. Community Planning contact person: John Breen
Phone: 413-662-5310 Email: jbreen@mcla.mass.edu
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director X Counselor
_____ Teacher X Technology Coordinator
X ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): Higher Ed
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships X
******************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your
community before
this year.
Regular but fragmented collaboration. Held minimally attended advisory council
meetings.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a
shared task was completed.
With the aid of the programs website and professional development initiatives
as well as internet networking, more disparate groups have had shared contact
at our, and other programs, meetings and on-line. Despite the intense workload
and nebulous nature of modern work, the program is in direct contact with more
community entities than ever before.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Keep up with the workload enough to have enough lead time to prepare in more
detail for and coordinate component groups meetings.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
Everyone involved is busy and scrambling to keep up with their individual
workloads. By trying to schedule meetings where response is minimal.
1. Name of Program: SCALE
2. Community Planning contact person: Susan Riley
Phone: 617-625-6600 x6920 Email: willie4841@aol.com
3. What are this persons job responsibilities (check all that apply):
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator X ABE Program Administrator
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): LEA
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
A detailed account of Susans experience in years one and two can be found in
the narrative and interviews section.
1. Name of Program: Seton Asian Center
2. Community Planning contact person: Elana Killilea
Phone: 978-683-7316 Email: elanakilli@att.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC):
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
We collaborate with numerous city and state agencies as we provide multiple
services.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a
shared task was completed.
Our major accomplishment this year has been to establish a healthy rapport with
the other DOE funded program in the city. I think in the next year will be able
to move more steadily toward naming a common vision.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Being honest and up front about what hasnt worked in the past and taking
the risk to trust the partners involved.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
I learned that community planning is not an exact science! You cannot move
from point A to B to C. All parties have to have a vested interest in the common
vision and have the willingness and patience to work toward it. I learned there
is no fixed plan or template. There are some best practices re process and communication;
but each community has to find its own way to the naming of the vision and the
steps to moving toward the vision. I learned that in practice at our meetings
and at various workshops provided by SABES.
1. Name of Program: Southern Berkshire Adult Basic Education Alliance
2. Community Planning contact person: Kelly Jourdain
Phone: (413) 623-5686 Email: jforest@berkshire.net
3. What are this persons job responsibilities (check all that apply):
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): LEA
5. Did your program have experience in community collaborating before this year?
Not funded under DOE previously but given nature of the area, there has always
been some form of community collaboration that goes on.
A detailed account of the experience of Paula Hatch-Sato, the community
planning coordinator in year one, can be found in the narrative and interviews
section.
1. Name of Program: Taunton Public Schools/Bristol Community College
2. Community Planning contact person: Maryann McCarthy
Phone: 508-821-1111 Email: mmccarthy@tauntonschools.org
or meamirish@aol.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator/Teacher _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____ Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC):
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships X
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
*****************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before this year.
In the past, the collaborating was not formal. As of this year, it is more
involved as well as formal.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year. Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict
was resolved, a shared task was completed.
The actual forming of a committee that was willing to sit down and share ideas.
We also finally developed a community assessment as well as compiled the results
to share.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Getting busy people to commit to sit down together for an assessment.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year? How did you learn it?
That there are many needs in the community. There are also many attempts
within the community to meet these needs but they are not coordinated.
People are not aware what other agencies are doing.
1. Name of Program: Valley Opportunity Council Adult Education Program
2. Community Planning contact person: Jane B. Baatz
Phone: 413-612-0206 Email: jbaatz@valleyopp.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator X Program Director
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
A consistent core of members who have been very helpful in gathering data
and identifying participants for focus groups.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
Those that participate are believers in the importance of adult education.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
We expect to be able to complete an exhaustive statement of assets and needs.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
Success factors:
(1) A core of committed members.
(2) A consultant to keep things moving.
Challenges:
(1) Difficult to focus on this aspect of the job with so much else that needs
to be done.
(2) Still need to get public school involvement.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Take one day at a time.
1. Name of Program: Webster Adult Basic Education
2. Community Planning contact person: Terri Stone
Phone: (508) 943-9613 Email: night-school@usa.net
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator X Executive Director
_____Associate Director _____ Counselor
_____Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): LEA
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
2000-2002
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before this year.
The community planning component has been part of our program from its inception
3-years ago. Partnerships were begun at that time with local ABE providers,
but all of those providers no longer exist. Therefore, a strong educational
community group exists in Webster now, but ABE partnering is coordinated between
Webster, Dudley, and Southbridge.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year. Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict
was resolved, a shared task was completed.
The Webster Community for Success Council, our education based community partnership,
wrote the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant together. This was a
wonderful collaboration and we are still waiting to hear if we were successful
or not.
3.
In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was difficult
to do?
Convening the Webster Community for Success Council was easy because we had
grant to work on that motivated educators and human service providers alike.
However, now that the grant is written, defining the future of this committee
is somewhat fragmented. This will be our challenge for approximately the next
3-4 months.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year? How did you learn it?
I learned that there are numerous resources that can assist adult education
students and teachers and that some of those resources are actually free. I
learned about these opportunities, especially the connection with college programming,
through Community Planning sharing sessions that were held through Central SABES.
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
Our Community Planning group is called the Webster for Success Council and
is comprised of Early Childhood providers, K-12 providers, the Chamber of Commerce,
the Police Department, Pediatric Clinic providers, the local college, the United
Way, Clergy, the Boys & Girls Club, and the local hospital personnel. We
identify community wide initiatives that we can work on together and this year's
topics were preparation for writing the 21st Century Community Learning Center
grant, pediatric Oral Health issues, Family Literacy development, and out-of-school
time student and program analysis.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
As an activity at the beginning of the year we asked each individual to list
3 reasons why this council was important to them. We still hadn't determined
a mission or vision yet and this activity was designed to help with that process.
The comments ranged from the need to network and to know what programs exist
in our community to a desire to help make a difference in the future of Webster.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
From our visioning activity we designed the following mission statement:
To promote networking, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between
Webster residents and supporting organizations and services for the betterment
of the community.
We also completed a very thorough analysis of the needs of at-risk youth in
our community. With each level of this development we clearly aligned the needs
of the families and of the adults in our community. This process allowed the
Adult Basic Education Coordinator the opportunity to learn more about the adult
education needs of these individuals and to thoroughly explain the role that
adult education can, and should, play in a community. This was really the first
in-depth discussion of this kind held in Webster and was eye opening to the
members of this committee. Job skills training was part of this discussion as
well and, at this point, the adult education community is in a much better position
to move its initiatives forward in Webster. The understanding that all of these
educational and economic components are completely intertwined is a fabulous
platform with which to begin FY2003.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
The key factors to making this a success, I feel, is the common passion for
and commitment to the issues that the council undertakes. Basically, the unmet
needs of our children is the underlying motivating factor that brought us together
and has been very powerful. The challenges are getting attending members to
step up and take sub-committee responsibilities and attracting members from
the political and business sectors.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Based on my experience, my advice would be to join groups and be broad thinking.
The success of the Webster Community for Success Council really began 4 years
ago when community members gathered to do "community planning" and
we created the Webster Pride Coalition. None of us really knew what we were
getting ourselves into and the mission of the Webster Pride Coalition became:
AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIUALS WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS THE NEW MILLENIUM
TO PROMOTE PRIDE, OWNERSHIP, QUALITY PROGRAMMING, AND COOPERATION UTILIZING
THE NUMEROUS RESOURCES THAT EXIST IN THE WEBSTER COMMUNITY. WE ARE WEBSTER PROUD!!!
This group still exists and thrives and does community projects that are simply
good for the community at large and have no political overtones. Through this
committee, many of us built the much needed trust and presence that has allowed
us to move this to social change initiatives. Be open-minded and let the process
be driven by the community needs. Listen! to everyone, everywhere. Reach out
and ask those who are not regularly asked.
1. Name of Program: Worcester Adult Learning Center, Quinsigamond
Community College, Mass Job Training Inc.
2. Community Planning contact person: Karen Chaparian
Phone: 508-853-2300 x4835 Email: karenrchap@yahoo.com
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X___Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
___ _ Associate Director _____ Counselor
X Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): ABE, ESOL
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership X
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnership
******************************************************************************
2000-2002
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before
this year.
The 3 major grant recipients and their sub-partners have met for several
years. Mayor Mariano established a task force re: adult ed. which has been functioning
for quite some time.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year.
Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict was resolved,
a shared
task was completed.
As a partnership, Worcester established a web site documenting adult education
programs. This web site contains all pertinent information regarding programs,
location, times, number of seats, etc.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
The establishment of a larger partnership to include individuals outside
the education community was a challenge. Keeping and maintaining momentum is
important.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year?
How did you learn it?
How to get people involved was an important skill that I acquired. Developing
contacts and selling the partnership was done by constant contact with agencies
throughout the city.
Year Two (2001-2002):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in your partnership this year.
The programs above are the integral part of the partnership. Other members
attend meetings and are active participants in discussions related to the needs
of their organizations and the needs of their constituents. We have tried to
tie the group together by listening to requests for services and establishing
resources when possible.
2. What motivates people to participate in the partnership?
The motivation for the grant partners is DOE related. For the partnership
as a whole, it is the hope that by working as a group, needs can be addressed
and services can be attained within the city when available. There is a common
goal among the partners. This goal is to provide the population of the city
of Worcester with services that will help them attain a level of living that
is not currently attainable due to lack of English ability, high school equivalency,
or basic literacy.
3. Describe an accomplishment for your partnership this year.
The partnership has expanded its membership to include many groups, neighborhood
centers, etc. which now have an outlet for sharing thoughts, needs and concerns.
We have established a mission statement that reflects our vision.
4. What were key factors in making this accomplishment a success? What were
the challenges?
Communication and understanding everyones different goals! The challenges
were (and will continue to be) to maintain interest in this partnership and
getting the work done in time. Another general challenge is to get more representation
from the private sector interested in our vision.
5. Based on your experience, what advice do you have for colleagues?
Do whatever you can to maintain momentum. Its not easy but I have found that
there are some individuals out there that are willing to give. A large, diverse
community has its challenges, as do the smaller communities. My only suggestion
is to work with what you have and develop other relationships through the ones
already established.
1. Name of Program: YMCA - Fenway
2. Community Planning contact person: Susan Arida & Ionella Istrate
Phone: 617-927-8078 iistrate@ymcaboston.org
Email: sarida@ymcaboston.org
3. Please check all of the following jobs that you hold:
X Community Planning Coordinator _____ Executive Director
_____ Associate Director X Counselor
X Teacher _____ Technology Coordinator
_____ ADA Coordinator _____ Other (please explain)
4. Type of Program (LEA, CBO, Higher Ed, CHOC): CBO
5. Please check which statement best describes your Community Partnership
One city or town with one ABE CP Partnership
One city or town with more that one ABE CP Partnerships X
Several cities or towns with one ABE CP Partnership
Several cities or towns with more than one ABE CP Partnerships
******************************************************************************
Year One (2000-2001):
1. Briefly describe your programs experience in collaborating within your community
before this year.
Our neighborhood collaboration has existed for several years. It includes
a partnership with the neighborhood community development corporation which
has resulted in a joint project to survey residents needs and a referral system
which provides residents with information about ESOL opportunities as well as
other essential services. In addition, our collaboration includes a network
of volunteers who are available to tutor ESOL students. Unfortunately changes
in staff within community agencies have limited our ability for further collaboration.
2. Describe a milestone (an accomplishment) in the development of your partnership
this year. Examples include: a shared vision was developed, a major conflict
was resolved, a shared task was completed.
Our goal this year was to reaffirm the importance of this collaboration for
the existing membership and to expand the membership within the community. Discussions
within the group centered on the development of a list of key constituents who
could make a helpful contribution to the collaboration as well as benefit from
membership. At our final meeting this year, a number of new members joined us.
The fresh ideas of new members along with the experience of former members
energized the group and enabled it to develop a working statement that can provide
the framework for future work.
3. In the Community Planning process this year, what was worth doing that was
difficult to do?
Developing an approach that would attract new members and encourage them
to become involved in the work of the partnership was our greatest challenge.
Numerous phone conversations, several face to face meetings, a mailing describing
our work coupled with a list of potential benefits that might be derived from
membership, plus invitations to lunch resulted in an expanded and diverse gathering
of people. Having established some rapport with potential members through prior
contact was valuable because a common understanding of purpose was already established.
4. What is the most important thing you learned about ABE Community Planning
this year? How did you learn it?
Being new to the community planning process meant that I had many things
to learn. Most obvious, but most important I learned that community planning
requires time. It requires time to begin and continue a dialogue with residents,
students and people in neighborhood agencies. It requires preparation and clarity
of purpose so that people who are interested in this work feel that a partnership
is beneficial and not a waste of valuable time. It requires having an agenda
that is clear and specific but that is open to new ideas and challenges within
the partnership. And finally it requires seeing a human face amid the busy clutter
of papers and programs.
THEMES
Themes
In their narratives and profiles for Community Planning in Action this year,
coordinators describe their partnerships activities, accomplishments, the challenges,
and lessons learned. Coordinators also speak about the work that lies ahead
analyzing the community assessment data, linking the community assessment to
the strategic plan, finding ways to link with other agencies and businesses
in their communities, and maintaining the momentum of the partnership. Advice
for colleagues follows each description. At the core of their efforts is a commitment
to action, accomplishment, and partnership building. This section touches upon
these themes.
Focus on Action and Accomplishment
Measurable win-win outcomes are great motivating factors for partnership members
in the ABCD/South End coalition (Sr. Maureen OBrien). For the Holyoke JUNTOS
partnership, Paul Hyry explains that the outcomes are coming hand in hand with
the developmental work instead of coming afterwards. The activities taken on
by partnerships across the state are characterized by their doability and time-limited
nature. The focus is on common goals, which are supportive of the partnership,
learners, and the community.
Having clear, concrete tasks is a key factor in maintaining the interest and
commitment of partnership members (Maryana Houston). For the Chinatown partnership,
Maryana Houston explains that the
Success of the website (developed as part of the Chinatown community
planning efforts) encouraged people to continue to be involved and we
proved ourselves as committed to responding to the needs of the
communityÖ
The Central Berkshire partnership, writes Claudine Chavanne, focuses on two
pre-defined priority issues each quarter. To move the process along, the consultant
hired for community planning provides leadership.
For some partnerships, focusing on action meant first clarifying partnership
goals and mission. Pat Pelletier explained that, in her partnership: We developed
partnership goals and came to realize that to reach those goals we would each
have to give up something, lighten the load of the ship, if we were to stay
afloat. We have subcommittees now and different members take the leadership
on different kinds of work.
The activities of ABE community planning partnerships include:
Joint grant writing Web pages achievements vis-‡-vis
JP Literacy Forum Score cards on partnership programs
averages
Resource guides Partnership-wide GED graduation ceremony Being a clearinghouse
for adult literacy and ESOL
Family literacy event at a community fair Referral forms Meet & greet day
with local and state political officials
Guest speakers Presentation to community agencies using assessment data ESOL
breakfast to promote awareness of ESOL issues among business community
Job training guide Partnership brochure designed by professional development
class Conference with civic participation theme
Job Shadow Day Literacy Fair Partnership listserv
Assistance/participation in community assessments
Partnership-wide GED graduation ceremony Advocacy for the state budget
Setting up an ESOL class Mini-conference with keynote speaker
A sense of accomplishment comes, too, from the greater understanding that partners
have of each other and their community through opportunities to exchange information
and network in the partnerships. This sense of understanding is at multiple
levels. At one level partnership members have a greater understanding of roles
that the partnership, the ABE program and their other partnership members play
in the community. The more formalized information sharing in partnership meetings
allows the discovery of services that we can benefit by, writes Christine Luongo.
Partnership members also gain a greater understanding of the needs in the community.
These include the needs of employers and youth-at-risk, the aligned needs of
families and adults (Terri Stone) and the need to make a broader spectrum of
services available to residents (Betty McKiernan).
Partnership Building
We can accomplish more by working together (Betty McKiernan).
Nancy Tariot describes the Haverhill partnership as a tightly woven tapestry
made up of the various community components working together to form a well
thought out pattern or design of services. She envisions the strategic plan
to be
something that goes together as a well designed whole like a quilt made
of different colors and designs yet stitched together to form one continuous
fabric. While we work on our design, well find some gaps in the pattern
and well continue to build our partnership until the quilt of tightly woven
fabric is complete.
In the Haverhill partnership each partner brings something different to the
sewing circle and somehow all these different pieces must fit tog