CEO Roundtable Update February 19,

Sustainable Communities The way children experience life is determined by the families and communities in which they are raised; it falls to families and communities to create a way of life that is healthy, prosperous, and sustainable. Phil DeVol, 2004

3 Causes of Poverty Behaviors of the Individual  Dependence on Welfare  Crime  Addiction  Planning skills and orientation to the future Human and Social Capital in Community  Availability of well paying jobs  Childcare for working families  City and regional planning  Adequate skill sets  Availability and quality of education Can you and community partners overcome those barriers?

4 Causes of Poverty Exploitation  Drug trade  Sub-prime lenders  Lease/purchase outlets  Gambling Political/Economic Structures  De-industrialization  Taxation patterns  Immigration patterns  Declining middle class

Resources Necessary for Self-Sufficiency  Financial  Emotional  Mental  Formal Language  Spiritual  Integrity/Trust  Physical  Social  Relationship/Role Model  Motivation/Persistance  Knowledge of Hidden Rules

6 A Bridges Community Guiding Principals At the community level: Organizations will be challenged to rethink the design of their programs Collaboratives will smooth the pathway for people who use their services Communities will protect members from predators (Pay Day Loans, Gambling, Rent-to-Own) Business: Improve retention rates Create better paying jobs The whole community will be encouraged to become engaged in ending poverty!

Steps to Developing A Bridges Community 7

Steps to Developing A Bridges Community 8

Steps to Developing A Bridges Community 9

Steps to Developing A Bridges Community 10

Copyright © 2006 by Philip E. DeVol. All rights reserved. Philip DeVol aha! Process, Inc.

What’s involved?  Work groups of people  sessions that are two and half hours long.  Putting our knowledge into a series of mental models.  A facilitator who helps us explore solutions; not someone to tell us what to do.  Long term support for our plans.

What does a participant get? What are the Getting Ahead Goals:  to explore and analyze the themes of our lives;  to assess our resources;  to build our own future stories;  to make our own choices;  to enjoy the power that comes from solving problems and controlling our own life,  to make concrete plans for economic stability;  and to become skillful at using the hidden rules to class to build resources.

Resources Financial Emotional Mental Spiritual Physical Support System Relations hips Hidden Rules Integrity Motivation Module 8

Support for Change MEME Daughter Brother Son Friend Wife Mother Friend Module 11

Getting Ahead in Santa Rosa Goals: To conduct a minimum of 2 Getting Ahead Courses for 24 participants by June Assign an ally (mentor) to each Getting Ahead participant Graduate a minimum of 20 (83%) participants from Getting Ahead A minimum of 19 Getting Ahead Graduates will enroll in an educational program (GED, college, university or technical training) and/or become employed Local employers will become aware of the Getting Ahead course and participate and/or employ Getting Ahead Graduates Getting Ahead Graduates will serve as future facilitators and mentors for future Getting Ahead Participants 16

Getting Ahead in Santa Rosa Funding: Participant Books: $19.50 per book x 24= $ Participant Stipends: $24 participants x $15/a session x 15 sessions= $2,700 per course Total funds requested for two Getting Ahead Classes: $5,

Getting Ahead in Santa Rosa Support: Local churches or other organizations donate food for each session. Local churches or other organizations donate child care during Getting Ahead Local leaders volunteer to be a mentor to a graduate and meet on a monthly basis after graduation Local employers and colleges are aware of Getting Ahead Graduates and provide opportunities for education and employment. 18

For More Information Dr. Karen Barber 5086 Canal Street Milton, FL /