Colaborando Juntos December 15, 2005 Tanya Gonzalez, City of Richmond Hispanic Liaison Office

What is Colaborando Juntos? ä Statement of Purpose: Colaborando Juntos is an innovative network of government, nonprofit, faith, private and community volunteers who work with and for the Latino/Hispanic community and its well being. CJ increases public awareness of critical issues by encouraging partnerships and leveraging resources. CJ serves the Central Virginia region. “Colaborando Juntos”…it means working together.

How did CJ come about? ä Initially the Multicultural Outreach Coordinator of the Red Cross saw need for service providers to network and share information ä 1 st informal meeting occurred on 1/21/04

acción Colaborando Juntos-Working Together 1/21/045/7/0410/8/0410/25/05 Red Cross Hispanic Initiative share information input re: focal areas explore collaboration Workshops: legal issues ESL resources Hispanic culture special interest groups Case Studies Tropical Storm Gaston Immigration Access to health care El Camino Hacia el Futuro: Purpose/Statement Group Leadership Metro Richmond Communication Strategy Ideas en Acción Formalizing Leadership Organizational Development 11/16/05

Use of Community Resources ä Leadership Metro Richmond, who undertakes community projects on a yearly basis, was asked to research best practices for CJ as well as to recommend a structure as we move forward. ä During the months that LMR was working, a CJ subcommittee worked in tandem to develop CJ’s statement of purpose, principles and goals. ä Connect Richmond, an initiative of the University of Richmond, has also created a CJ community list serve facilitate effective communication.

CJ Principles ä CJ facilitates acculturation, where Latino/Hispanic and U.S. cultures learn from each other, exchange ideas and enrich their mutual understanding. ä CJ cultivates strong Latino/Hispanic voices and avenues for those voices to be heard. ä CJ is a catalyst for systematic change through action oriented solutions.

CJ 2-3 Year Goals ä Build effective communication among CJ participants (e.g. list serve, website, etc.) and the community at large. ä Increase partnerships between CJ participants and Latino/Hispanic community members. ä Establish linkages and dialogue with other diverse groups. ä Seed new initiatives which foster change.

LMR Recommendations ä Compared Richmond with other cities in US – Charlotte/Raleigh- Durham, Harrisonburg, Winchester, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Miami, Maryland, DC area ä Homeward and Success by Six as a model ä Recommendation – CJ meet with Susan Crump from United Way, Reggie Gordon from Homeward, Cathy Brown from United Way, and Barbara Koto from Success by Six ä Senior Navigator Website as a model for communication ä Findings from survey done among Hispanic community leaders ä “…there is fragmented (yet, in some circles, solid) leadership within the community. There is also a fragmented focus on service provision. CJ’s primary focus moving [forward] will need to be to clearly identify the leadership, the role of CJ and the key areas of focus.”

LMR Recommendations, cont. ä Proposed Structure: ä Issues Based with four issues based themes: Education, Business, Legal/Workforce, Family Support, at the center are the Core Stewards (8-12 people). ä Core Stewards will identify two co chairs to lead the Issue Action teams ä First team: Education of People and Organizations ä Second team: Remove Legal and Workforce Obstacles ä Third team: Improve Quality of Life Through Family Support ä Fourth team: Inclusive, Innovative Business Growth ä Develop, integrate, and implement through action teams ä Ongoing communications, and communicate progress ä Maximize leadership learning

Steps after LMR Recommendations ä Organizational Development Subcommittee was formed. ä OD Subcommittee’s task was to review, analyze, and make recommendations on the LMR report that was presented in May ä Findings were reported on at recent 11/05 meeting.

LMR Recommendation: Study Existing Collaborative Organizations ä As part of its work, the OD Subcommittee held several panel presentations from the following collaborative organizations to learn about their experiences, structure, functions, best practices and challenges. ä Homeward ä Virginia Organizing Project ä Youth Matters ä Senior Connections

Homeward: Lessons Learned ä Reggie Gordon, previous Executive Director ä A systems integrator organization for issues of homelessness, created in 1998 after a recommendation by a Task Force that saw the need for collaboration and a streamlining of services. ä Homeward’s first tasks were 1) to establish a common goal and 2) create a common pool of data.

Homeward: Lessons Learned, cont. ä Homeward then focused on an acquaintance initiative that sought to: 1) to facilitate collaboration between groups, and 2) to streamline duplicate services. ä The organization was then able to distill an action plan for its work, which has included a centralized access process, data collection, and applying for grants through partnerships.

VA Organizing Project: Lessons Learned ä Cathy Woodson, Richmond Organizer ä VOP is a state-wide, not-for-profit grassroots organization that identifies issues and solves them through community organizing strategies. Their goal is to move people from complaints to action. ä VOP works by preparing the community members to take responsibility for their own leadership. In this way, VOP shifts the power base with coalition building, thus educating people to be local leaders so that they can educate their own elected leaders.

Youth Matters: Lessons Learned ä Joan Marable, Deputy Director ä Youth Matters is an initiative that promotes the need for quality early childhood development. ä YM is housed in the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, which allows for neutral ground to facilitate collaboration. ä YM works to bring people and organizations together, collect data, reduce duplication of services. YM also provides meeting space and support in going after funding. ä YM will often pilot projects then spin them off into the community.

Senior Connections: Lessons Learned ä Thelma Watson, Executive Director ä Network of 25 aging organizations, created in 1973 that coordinates services for seniors ä Currently working on a Services Integration Project through Senior Navigator website where organizations will have a shared database for clients and referrals ä Role of Senior Connections once program is implemented will be to provide oversight, coordination, and facilitation to secure funding

LMR’s Suggested Structure Business Leaders Government Other Non- Profits The Larger Colaborando Juntos Network ( people) Core CJ Committee (8-12 people)

LMR Recommendation: Issue-Based Structure With Four Action Teams Education Legal/ Workforce Family Support Business Servant Leadership

Defining Four Action Teams ä Team 1: Education of People & Organizations ä Team 2: Remove Legal & Workforce Obstacles ä Team 3: Improve Quality of Life Through Family Support ä Team 4: Inclusive, Innovative Business Growth

Forming Core Committee ä After reviewing the LMR report, the OD subcommittee of CJ decided to implemented the structure as recommended. ä The subcommittee and Susan Wilkes worked together to identify specific roles for each leader on the core committee. ä An internet survey soliciting volunteers for leadership roles was sent out to the full list, and the committee was pleasantly surprised to see a large number of people respond.

Forming Core Committee (continued) ä Given the high interest level, the OD subcommittee rethought the original plan of simply slotting interested people into positions. ä After considering several alternatives, the committee decided the fairest course of action was to hold elections at the Nov. meeting. ä Those who had expressed interest in a leadership role were asked to confirm their desire to serve and to provide a brief description of themselves. ä Subsequently, elections were held and the core committee was named. Other CJ members selected their Action Team of choice

Positions of Core Committee ä Chairperson – Provides coordination across the different committees and activities. Calls and chairs bi-monthly meetings of the Core Committee. ä Assistant Chair – Supports the President by taking on special projects when asked and filling the role of President when the President is not available. Serves as a President “in training” for the following year. ä Ad Hoc Core Committee Member – Serves as at-large representative for CJ. May be asked to take on special projects or serve on a committee. ä Bi-Annual Event Chair – Chairs the committee to plan the program for and implement a fall and a spring full CJ meeting. With the committee, arranges for facility, meals, program and communications.

Positions of Core Committee, cont. ä Communications Coordinator - Serves as liaison to website designer. Works to maintain lists, website, and other forms of communication. ä Fundraising Coordinator – Works with Chairperson on seeking funding for the organization. Works with Event’s Chair and Communications Coordinator to fully integrate activities. ä New Immigrant Advocate – Works to ensure representation of immigrants on the various teams and programs. Leads the formation of advisory committee for CJ to be made up of new immigrants. ä Team Leaders (4 positions) – Chairs a committee in one of 4 areas: education, business, family support, and legal/workforce. Works with committee to refine purpose for the team and to formulate goals. Coordinates collaborative efforts in implementing goals.

Challenges ä Resources – Time & Funding ä Since all members have their own job responsibilities, finding extra time to work on CJ is a challenge ä Funding for our outside facilitator has also been a challenge. We are hoping that new fundraising coordinator will be able to submit grant proposals.

Where is CJ going from here? ä Newly established Core Committee will plan to meet in 1/06 and act on information gathered by Org. Dev. Subcommittee, as well as further action items ä Action Teams will plan to meet shortly after that, possibly 2/06

Questions? Tanya Gonzalez, Manager City of Richmond Hispanic Liaison Office Tel Fax Hull Street Road, Suite 16 Richmond, VA