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Attachment 22_Project HOPE ReportProject HOPE Report 1 % r / Ur 1,�� i !� i �� are giV111 . e at& �� L PROJECT HOPE This report is a recap of the programs Project HOPE is involved with and the progress that is being made. The next steps are also outlined and meetings that are already scheduled are documented. We are currently framing the work with the Bridges Initiative, including Bridges Out of Poverty, the Getting Ahead program and the new Circles program with the Office of Economic Development and the Housing and Community Development, and are not fully outlined in this report as it is a work in progress. Convener The Project HOPE Coordinator and staff are responsible for convening community organizations and stakeholders around various community issues, facilitate conversation and ensure action steps are being taken to address certain issues. Eric Dregne, the Vice President of Programs for the Community Foundation will act as facilitator and oversee the work of Project Hope. As the convener, the Coordinator will provide meeting space, supplies, information, prepare agendas and meeting minutes, follow -up with attendees and complete any research that is needed. Six steps for the next six months 1. Formalize a collaborative structure. A collaborative body needs to be redefined. Stakeholders from across the community representing government, business, service providers, advocates, residents, media and the faith community will be engaged. 2. Select priority actions for implementation. The goal for the first meetings will be to identify priority actions from those proposed, address existing gaps and secure commitment from partners for implementation. 3. Develop benchmarks for monitoring progress. Develop goals and actions that can be used as a format to identify, monitor and report benchmarks of progress toward the long term goal of reducing rates of poverty and impacting rates of unemployment/underemployment. 4. Identify resources. Work with partners to identify resources either new or redirected for implementing the adopted actions. 5. Build public awareness and will. Encourage the media (print, radio and television) to commit to providing their leadership to keep the poverty issue on the minds of Dubuque residents. Build a robust communication plan, including a robust website that engages the public and provides information. 6. Continue to engage new stakeholders. Continue to engage business community members and support the public awareness strategy. Dubuque Works: The President/CEO represents Project Hope and the Bridges /Getting Ahead program on the Dubuque Works Committee. The Community Foundation accepts all charitable contributions and grants for the Bridges /Getting Ahead program, including the Dubuque Works funding. The President /CEO or the coordinator will meet with the City's Director of Housing and Community Development monthly to track progress and identify ways the Project Hope committee can support Getting Ahead. Opportunity Passport: Opportunity Passport is headed up by Marianne Yunt. Currently, a new contract is being developed for the youth to sign and outlines the rules of the program. There will be stricter rules on the amount saved and how often they save. We have notice that some have not saved anything yet while others haven't saved for a while. These new regulations will help wean out those participants who are not actively saving and open spots for youth who want to participate. Future: • In the near future there will be a meeting set -up for participants to learn about the new rules of the program and reflect on their saving habits. • A meeting between the social workers, Community Foundation and DuTrac will be set -up and explained the changes in the program. • Another round of Opportunity Passport will begin this fall. Bank On Bank On Dubuque initiative has been handed over to Paula Connors. She will be the lead on this initiative. There has been a steering committee developed for Bank On Dubuque and has met and started developing this program. Two additional committees will be developed: marketing /outreach and financial education. Kevin Shields, from the FDIC, requested we add one more committee to focus on reporting and tracking. All the information gathered during this process has been copied and given to Paula. The launch date for this program is October 1, 2010. I have given Paula my personal contact information and informed her if she has any questions she can give me a call and I could try to help after I leave. Future • Develop subcommittees • Develop a budget and timeline • Paula will be setting up a meeting with Nancy Van Milligen to go over a contract for the banks and credit unions and a ideal budget Training Center Project HOPE sits on the "Caradco" committee that is discussing building a training center, to be modeled after the Bidwell training center. Future • Next meeting is August 16 12 -1:30 at the MFC Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Outreach The EITC outreach taskforce is headed by Becky Jenkins from Operation New View. Project HOPE sits on the taskforce. Our role in this event is not well defined. In the past, we have developed the marketing pieces and done some of the outreach. For this next year, Project HOPE's role needs to be defined. The meetings are becoming smaller and less interactive. This committee needs to be reexamined and new people need to be brought to the table. There wasn't very much outreach done in the downtown neighborhoods and there were no Spanish speaking tax sites this past year. Future: • Next EITC Meeting - Wednesday, August 4 at 3:00 at Operation New View 2 floor • Work with Operation New View to bring more people to the taskforce and keep them engaged • Work this in with Bank On Dubuque, opening accounts when filing their taxes Dare to Be King The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is the fiscal agent for Dare to be King. There are quarterly reports that are completed by Project HOPE. Information about these reports can be found in a black binder. The last report was submitted July 1, 2010. The next report is due October 1, 2010. We have gotten the OK for Victor and Robert to purchase a laptop and camera. The laptop will be purchased instead of purchasing the TV and DVD Player. Robert and Victor's contact information can be found in the black binder as well. Future: • October 1, 2010 next report is due Road to Success The Family Self- Sufficiency Program Coordinator Carroll Clark and Project HOPE work together to put on this annual event, Road to Success. This year's event was July 26 from 3 -7PM at Prescott Elementary. Project HOPE does a lot of recruiting for volunteers, donated items, and beverages /snacks. We also created the marketing pieces for the event. This year's event went well and the participants had a very educational experience. This event happens in the summer and there isn't much work to do until spring. WINC (Women In Nontraditional Careers) WINC is a committee developed and ran by Kelly Cooper and Megan Starr from the Dubuque Area Labor Management Council. We meet every few months to discuss what is being done to help women break in the nontraditional fields which include manufacturing, construction, and technology. They are planning an event for this spring at NICC in Peosta to have women come and sit in on some of the classes NICC offers in these fields. A date has not been determine yet. Emails are sent out to inform us when the next meet will be. I have contacted Megan and told her to email Nancy with any information about upcoming meetings and events. Communications Ever quarter, Project HOPE puts out a 4 page newsletter. The last newsletter went out in July. Every newsletter is saved on the S drive under Project HOPE, Marketing. There are also hard copies in the Project HOPE binder. MJ is given a draft two weeks before the send out date. She has it back after one week and there is a week to make changes and send out. The list of who gets it is located in the black binder. Future • Next newsletter is due out October, 2010 • A website and e- newsletter is being developed. Small Working Group A small working group has been meeting at the Multicultural Family Center the 1st and 3 Friday of each month. In these meetings we discussed more in -depth what Project HOPE is and try to make sure we stay focused on our mission. I have informed them that the meetings will be put on hold until further notice. We are also most recently involved in the start-up of the Coalition of African American Males and are working with the Human Rights Department and Mission Creative on developing communications around being an inclusive community.