Leadership Development by Community Collaboration

Leadership Development by Community Collaboration Presenters: Dr. Kenneth Ender - President Dr. Kim Warker - Executive Director for Planning and Development

ABOUT CUMBERLAND COUNTY 503 square miles in southwestern NJ 503 square miles in southwestern NJ Vineland is the largest city in NJ (land area) Vineland is the largest city in NJ (land area) 1 hour south of Philadelphia, PA on the west and Atlantic City on the east 1 hour south of Philadelphia, PA on the west and Atlantic City on the east

DEMOGRAPHICS 65% white, 20% African American, 13% Hispanic 65% white, 20% African American, 13% Hispanic Unemployment two times national average Unemployment two times national average 42% of adults 18 or older: no HS diploma 42% of adults 18 or older: no HS diploma 6th highest dropout rate in NJ 6th highest dropout rate in NJ Lowest per capita income in NJ ($20,987) Lowest per capita income in NJ ($20,987)

DEMOGRAPHICS Highest % of income below poverty level in NJ Highest % of income below poverty level in NJ Federal Empowerment Zone designation Federal Empowerment Zone designation 1 in 10 families receive public assistance 1 in 10 families receive public assistance Local businesses have noted a critical need for employees with job readiness and a strong work ethic Local businesses have noted a critical need for employees with job readiness and a strong work ethic

KNOWLEDGE NET Community Colleges… must create the network, or knowledge net, which is “the nexus of pathways leading to empowerment through the acquisition of knowledge and the honing of skills that permit people to exploit change successfully.”

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Must focus on learners Must focus on learners Must continue to provide the vision and leadership required to help their communities remain vital and nurturing places Must continue to provide the vision and leadership required to help their communities remain vital and nurturing places “The purpose of community colleges to empower individuals.” - Ernest Boyer “The purpose of community colleges to empower individuals.” - Ernest Boyer

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Colleges provide… A common ground for people with differing views, experiences, or heritage A common ground for people with differing views, experiences, or heritage Collaboration and development of partnerships Collaboration and development of partnerships Diversity to enrich the educational experience Diversity to enrich the educational experience

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Colleges have a vested interest in developing local leaders Colleges have a vested interest in developing local leaders “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

VISION Cumberland County College serves as a catalyst for creating collaborative relationships across the county that enhance the quality of life through excellence in education, community leadership and economic growth. Cumberland County College serves as a catalyst for creating collaborative relationships across the county that enhance the quality of life through excellence in education, community leadership and economic growth.

MISSION Cumberland County College is a comprehensive community college that is accessible, learning-centered and dedicated to serving a diverse community of learners and employers through quality innovative programs, services and the appropriate use of technology for life-long learning. Cumberland County College is a comprehensive community college that is accessible, learning-centered and dedicated to serving a diverse community of learners and employers through quality innovative programs, services and the appropriate use of technology for life-long learning.

THEMES Literacy Literacy Learning Learning Leadership Leadership

BUSINESS/EDUCATION ALLIANCE Business and educational leaders meet Business and educational leaders meet Identify workforce issues Identify workforce issues Brainstorming: Brainstorming: - Workforce development strategies - Workplace readiness skills instruction - Mentoring and job shadowing

BUSINESS/EDUCATION ALLIANCE Improve understanding of roles in workforce development Improve understanding of roles in workforce development Gain greater appreciation of constraints and challenges Gain greater appreciation of constraints and challenges Complete mutually beneficial projects Complete mutually beneficial projects 1st project: School Counts! 1st project: School Counts!

School Counts! PROGRAM Employers defined following essential workforce characteristics: Employers defined following essential workforce characteristics: - Attendance - Good school attendance - Quality - Quality in work effort - Rigor - Willingness to work hard - Persistence - Ability to finish

School Counts! CRITERIA Make a grade of “C” or better in all academic courses Make a grade of “C” or better in all academic courses Achieve a 95% or better attendance and punctuality record Achieve a 95% or better attendance and punctuality record Complete HS in eight consecutive semesters Complete HS in eight consecutive semesters Take more courses than the minimum graduation requirements Take more courses than the minimum graduation requirements

CUMBERLAND COUNTY COLLEGE ADVANTAGE Foundation commits to scholarships for each student who earns 4 consecutive School Counts! certificates Foundation commits to scholarships for each student who earns 4 consecutive School Counts! certificates

Center for Leadership, Community and Neighborhood Development CUMBERLAND COUNTY COLLEGE CUMBERLAND COUNTY COLLEGE VINELAND, NJ VINELAND, NJ

CLCND Flow Chart

CLCND ADVISORY BOARD Oversees strategic plan and programming of the CLCND Sets and oversees policy for the Luciano Center for Public Service and Leadership

ADVISORY BOARDS Three individual advisory boards Leadership Neighborhoods/Non-Profits Literacy Responsible for overseeing and setting policy for individual programs

LEADERSHIP Objectives Establish a network of leaders Provide a means to ramp-up new leaders as they enter the County Identify emerging leaders Value diversity as a resource county-wide Encourage the development of pride in Cumberland County

PROGRAM CONTENT Two Day Retreat and Orientation Session Eight Monthly Sessions – Criminal Justice Cultural Affairs & Tourism Economic Development Education Health & Human Services Race Relations Rural & Urban Issues State & Local Government Graduation

FUTURE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS Leadership Cumberland County Alumni Programs Municipal Management Institute Youth Leadership

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Created through a partnership between Center for Leadership, Community & Neighborhood Development and Cumberland Empowerment Zone, Corp.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE PROGRAMS Community Capacity Building Series Community Forum Additional Workshops

Offered twice a year Seven weekly sessions A “tool box” of skills for community organizing, capacity building and peer networking Thirty participants accepted per Series from throughout the county Representatives from neighborhood, faith-based, service and non-profit organizations

FUTURE PROGRAMS Grants Workshop, April 2002 “Best Practices” Workshop, Fall 2002 Community Capacity Building Series – Part II/Advanced Sessions

LITERACY Community Technology Centers Cumberland County Literacy Institute New Jersey READS!/AmeriCorps

COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTERS Adult computer based literacy and GED testing Three outreach centers – Bridgeton, Port Norris and Vineland Federal multi-year funding

CUMBERLAND COUNTY LITERACY INSTITUTE Laubach certified One-on-one basic adult literacy and testing Volunteer tutor training and pairing Three year funding provided through a First Union Regional Foundation grant

NEW JERSEY READS!/AmeriCorps Provides reading tutors for at-risk students; Kindergarten – third grade Five schools in Millville and Vineland Utilizes AmeriCorps volunteers Funds provided by the NJ Department of Higher Education and the Cumberland Empowerment Zone, Corp.

FUTURE CLCND PROJECTS Applied research division Non-profit management certificate program Interdisciplinary courses and service learning projects Community Incubator and Resource Center

Leadership Development by Community Collaboration