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National League of Cities Census and Democracy Grant ReportCity of Dubuque City Council Meeting Consent Items # 16. Copyrighted March 21, 2022 ITEM TITLE: National League of Cities Census and Democracy Grant Report SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting the final report submitted to the National League of Cities (NLC) for the Census and Democracy grant which funded the Civic Leaders Program in Dubuque during the fall of 2021. SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Civic Leaders Final Report-MVM Memo City Manager Memo Staff Memo Staff Memo Final Report —Civic Leaders Supporting Documentation THE C DUjIBQTE Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: National League of Cities Census and Democracy Grant Report DATE: March 14, 2022 Dubuque WAWca 914 ii 2007-2012.2013 2017*2019 Sustainable Community Coordinator Gina Bell is sharing with City Council the final report submitted to the National League of Cities (NLC) for the Census and Democracy grant which funded the Civic Leaders Program in Dubuque during the fall of 2021. No action is requested. v Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:sv Attachment CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator THE CIOF DUtB E Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator SUBJECT: National League of Cities Census and Democracy Grant Report DATE: March 10, 2022 Dubuque All -America Gip 'yuhl.li.v 2007-2012.2013 2017*2019 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo is to share the final report submitted to the National League of Cities (NLC) for the Census and Democracy grant which funded the Civic Leaders Program in 2021. BACKGROUND In the spring of 2021, staff applied for and received a NLC Census and Democracy grant to purchase curriculum for the Civic Leaders Project and replicate in Dubuque. In the fall of 2021, the first Civic Leaders cohort met over the course of seven weeks to cover the curriculum and build community. DISCUSSION The program was successful, and we plan to continue it in the future as funding allows. The report details what was accomplished, who participated, and how we plan to improve the program. BUDGET IMPACT We received $19,350 in grant funding and spent $17,782.00. There was no additional City budget impact. RECOMMENDED ACTION This report is for the City Manager to review for informational purposes only. Attachment National League of Cities Census +Local Democracy Final Grant Report What We Did The City of Dubuque partnered with Adelante Mujeres and Washington County (Oregon) to replicate their Civic Leaders project, customized for Dubuque, with the goal of increasing underrepresented residents actively participating in civic life and engaging in local decision making. We designed a program for our first cohort and partnered with (and paid) cultural organizations with existing relationships to recruit participants to the program. This approach was very successful and offered a legitimacy that didn't exist because the program is new, and city sponsored. Our outreach efforts focused on Black, Asian/Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and Immigrant households. The six -week curriculum covered: • Local Government services • Volunteering, engagement & advocacy • Civil rights & responsibilities • Public speaking & influencing • Power analysis • Running for elected office • Environmental justice • Importance of the census & voting We purchased the curriculum which included program basics — history, recruitment/selection, agenda, follow up and graduation gathering, data/tracking grads, potential speakers, popular education methodology and facilitation. The Office of Shared Prosperity's Community Engagement Coordinator, the Sustainability Coordinator and the Training and Leadership Development Coordinator worked together with other city staff and outside partners to fill each week with speakers and activities to address the topics. The program served to prepare people for service on boards and commissions, future census work and overall, for positions of leadership. Collectively, the participants formed a network of community members now connected to government. Our ongoing goal is active engagement with government through service on city boards and commissions, active advocacy with elected officials and active engagement with community. We received 23 applications and accepted everyone. We had 17 active participants and 14 completed the coursework and graduated. What We Spent The majority of funding was spent on curriculum, stipends, cultural brokers, food, interpretation, and supplies. With leftover funds from fewer than expected stipends, we purchased leadership books for each cohort member and had the mayor -elect distribute them along with graduation certificates. Participants invited friends and family to a dinner at a newly opened, Black woman -owned soul food cafe to celebrate graduation. We are very grateful for the funding and time extension to bring this program to Dubuque. We haven't witnessed this level of energy and engagement in our city for a long time. Each week folks were engaged, asked questions, were excited to have meaningful, small group time with elected officials and senior city leadership. AgainstList Each Cost Training by Adelante + Curriculum $3,500.00 $3,500.00 Cultural Recruitment Orgs $2,000.00 $1,500.00 Food + Space Rental $4,375.00 $5,375.00 Stipends for Community Members $6,000.00 $5,100.00 Interpretation $1,120.00 $1,120.00 Printing, Supplies, Snacks, PPE $1,000.00 $1187.00 TOTAL $19,350.00 $17,782.00 Who We Served Generally, we served communities that collectively represent less than 10% of our city's population (Black, Latino and Marshallese). High percentages of our residents of color live in our downtown area, tend to have lower incomes than average and are often un- or under- employed. Most of the cohort has lived in Dubuque for more than 7 years and we had a wide age range of participants. Many have had some college level course study but not graduated. The charts below offer a snapshot of participants. Who We Served Participant's Age 10 8 6 4 2 0 18-29 30-39 40-49 What is your current employment status? 15 10 5 1 0 Over 50 Employed Self-employed Student Unemployed Race/Ethnicity Slavic,White Marshallese or Other Pacific Islander Hispanic or Latino American Indian or Alaskan... African American or Black What is your average household How long have you lived in income? Dubuque? 15 More than $75,000 10 More than $50,000 and less... Less than $24,999 5 Between $25,000 - $49,999 0 _ 1 year or less 1-3 years 4-6 years 7 years or 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 more What is the highest level of education you have completed? Trade/technical/vocational training Some college credit, no degree Master's degree High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (GED) Grade school Doctorate degree Bachelor's degree Associate degree 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Our Impact We believe in this model because the active engagement of underrepresented community members has helped to build the relationships necessary for majority support for policy decisions that effectively address disparities. It is particularly easy for a largely white community, used to focusing on the largest impacts and a majority cultural lens, to overlook or even worsen disparities when the raw numbers of people directly negatively impacted by those policy decisions is relatively small. The personal connections, stories and testimony shared directly with city leaders will have a lasting impact. The cohort formed three groups and each group committed to do a community -facing project. While still in process, the first group committed to take photos of inadequate or totally missing bus shelters/stops and advocate with the transportation department to improve conditions; the second group plans to partner with private groups and the transportation department to help kids get to school during the winter (those less than 2 miles from school) and the third group plans to teach and support a youth -led podcast for the community. Participants have already started to be more civically engaged: 5 have applied to serve on commissions (Human Rights & Equity, Housing & Community Development and Resiliency Commissions) and members of the cohort have committed to serve as rotating participants on a "Chiefs Forum" with the interim chief of police. They've requested this program become a regular city offering so their friends and family can participate. Additionally, every session featured different food/restaurants that are BIPOC-owned which informed the participants and other city employees about these food options and the economic impact and local multiplier effect was significant. Participants' feedback via evaluations: "One of the best programs I have ever been a part of. So grateful it was done." "Please continue to offer this program for many years to come. It is so needed for our community." "My goal is to be more civically engaged by participating in and attending more city council meetings." "I didn't know what I didn't know! Participating in this was just the best and most important thing I have done." "I am going to apply for a commission — I truly learned a huge new way to be a part of my community." "I plan to run for the open seat on City Council." "While this was focused on government, I learned a lot about my own business as well." Photos — Cohort One — Civic Leaders Dubuque Next Steps It is our intention to continue this programming pending funding (—$16,000, some of which can be covered by leftover grant funds). Part of the funding would allow for past participants to take over the facilitation of the program, alleviating staff involvement except to support and connect with city officials. Facilitators would be paid a stipend and receive training on facilitation and popular education methodology. How We Will Improve Staff spent time debriefing the program, reviewing the evaluations from participants, and have committed to the following improvements/changes for future cohorts. • Designate one point person to communicate with participants • Be very clear about expectations for participation o Include expectations on application and in reminder emails o Reminder at open session o Clear # of hours to complete course and receive graduation certificate o Include hours completed on certificates • Larger space is critical o Main area at MFC o Library o NICC • Need a plan of what group follow up looks like and facilitator involvement • Materials o Put all materials in binders before starting with tabs for each week o Continue to keep binders but make time to review the following week before ending session o Make all materials available electronically, as a pdf. • Provide coffee and tea in the mornings • Do not schedule during holidays • Add in time for group project work on a consistent basis