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Four Mounds Foundation Work SessionCopyrighted July 18, 2022 City of Dubuque Work Session - Top # 02. City Council Meeting ITEM TITLE: 6:00 PM - Four Mounds Foundation Work Session SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting information for the Four Mounds/HEART Program work session. Four Mounds Foundation staff will make a presentation. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Four Mounds Foundation Work Session - July 18, 2022-MVM Memo Staff memo Presentation Handout Type City Manager Memo Staff Memo Supporting Documentation 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: Four Mounds Foundation Work Session DATE: July 13, 2022 Dubuque WAWca 914 ii 2007-2012.2013 2017*2019 Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware is transmitting information for the Four Mounds/HEART Program work session. This work session is the opportunity for the staff of Four Mounds Foundation to share information on their past, current, and future work and initiatives. v Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:sv Attachment CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Marie Ware, Leisure Services Manager Jill Courtney, Executive Director Four Mounds Foundation THE CITY OF DUB E Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager SUBJECT: Four Mounds Foundation Work Session DATE: July 18, 2022 Dubuque AII•Amerlea City 2007-2012.2013 2017*2019 The City Council has Four Mounds/HEART Program: Funding as a 2020-2022 High Priority. This work session is the opportunity for the staff of Four Mounds Foundation to share information on their past, current, and future work and initiatives. cc: Jill Courtney, Executive Director Four Mounds Foundation Jill Connors, Economic Development Director Alexis Steger, Housing and Community Development Director Dan Kroger, Recreation Division Manager FOUR.,,,MOUNDS PRESERVE EDUCATE PARTNER SERVE Restoring People. Restoring Place. G.. Program Update Served over 70 students on one of 3 pathways in adult and youth programs. 1. HEART Youth 2. Build Dubuque • Construction • Cabinetry • Transitional Employment • Home Modifications *new 92°o Graduation Rate Demographics • 27% Female • 73% Male • 30% Black • 63% White • 5% Marshallese • 2% Hispanic • 44% are/have been involved in the criminal justice system • 76% of individuals served are in poverty before they receive training (6% after training) Pathway Highlight: Maggie "I have learned to problem solve on my own. I didn't come in not knowing how to problem solve, but I have learned that I can do it by myself. can even complete tasks I don't know how to do by looking at them and problem solving:' .-W Overall Program Outcomes Build Dubuque serves students in the youth program once they graduate high school. Currently 4 enrolled in adult programs. Students coming into the program average $15,000/year Average income among students who are employed is $38,000 Program Growth Over Two Years • Doubled staff • Over 70 students served • Outgrown current training/classroom spaces • Had to turn students away ��� '��.#�.�.•ti. .,n _ .. tom,,. � f�,.. • Introducing Home Modification Program W . � � � *+vim 1 � 5F * + . h ;. r 'A * s y[ r .' {' � � .. � � ;bra-< ,;�- - .,ate". �, _ ,. i _ lr ` �. - } i }}t4 -[i-" {ram -" nr: Site and Program Vision Develop infrastructure to increase site accessibility, thereby expanding and enhancing programming. Pictured: drat of lower level classroom facility. Public restrooms on first floor. Potential Funding Sources • Dubuque County ARPA Funds 0 Iowa Nonprofit Innovation Fund • DRA Mission and Core Grants 0 Capital Campaign 0 Donors } --- -------------------- Pictured: drat of upper level classroom facility with public restrooms. Site & Educational Improvement Plan 1. Fire Protection: planning and implementation ?. Site Improvements: continued support #3. Classroom Construction: to begin 2023 Partnership Evolution HEART Partnership — City of Dubuque restoring places, restoring people — City Housing Department — Clarke University — Fountain of Youth — Carpenters Union — Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation — Dream Center Services — Dubuque Community — Northeast Iowa Community School District College —Opportunity Dubuque — Dupaco Community — Steeple Square Credit Union — Transition Alliance Program (TAP) 1 ®r T�lir; dp ,ems �,. �; ,.� �• '. • � .�.�� . '_� FOURMOUNDS PRESERVE EDUCATE PARTNER SERVE Four Mounds Program Overview Staffing: We currently have eight full-time staff, with an increase of four since this time last year: Jill Courtney - Executive Director, Jay Potter- Grounds and Conservation Manager, Becky Bodish- Program Manager, Nate Peterson -Project Manager, Joy Mayne, Job Coach for adults aged 18-24 (new position), Terry Frost- Job Coach, Emily Mentzer- Operations Coordinator, and Chianne Schweitzer- Guest Relations Coordinator. Further, we have Daniel Miller, a Social Work Intern from Clarke University until August, Sadie Richter, a Conservation intern from University of Iowa, and we share two part-time job coaches with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) for our adult construction and cabinetry certificate pathways. Additionally, we are hiring an additional job coach for adult programs with an anticipated start date of late June. Housing Education and Rehabilitation Training (HEART) is our overarching program. HEART began in the early 90's and serves youth at risk of dropping out of high school. Students in the HEART Youth program range from ages 16 to 21. The goal for our HEART Youth program is high school graduation and our graduation rate is 91%. BUILD DUBUQUE PROGRAMS In Fall 2019, Four Mounds expanded programming to include adults, resulting in HEART Build Dubuque. Three pathways were established in HEART Build Dubuque, Construction, Cabinetry, and the Transitional Employment Pathway, to serve adults with barriers to employment. All students receive paid, hands-on training, financial literacy, soft skills training, and have access to transportation and food resources. HEART Build Dubuque Construction: This pathway consists of two programs through NICC, a short-term certificate (about four months) or a long-term diploma (approximately one year). Once students receive basic training, including OSHA, tool use and safety, first -aid, CPR, and basic math (approximately three weeks), they are hired by Four Mounds to complete the rest of their training on an authentic construction job site with a job coach. They receive mentor support, financial literacy, and connections to employment. HEART Build Dubuque Cabinetry/Casework: Students take this class in the Four Mounds Woodshop. It is a short- term certificate program in partnership with NICC. They are introduced to the basics of cabinet making, casework, and finish carpentry skills. Additionally, they are introduced to tools of the trade from hand tools to basics of CAD and the CNC router which is the current trend in the cabinet making industry. Heart Build Dubuque Transitional Employment Pathway (TEP) Students on this pathway are 18 to 24 years old with significant barriers in life and work. Students on the TEP work on site to develop a diverse skillset from woodworking, to landscaping and cooking, to building maintenance while also working with a mentor to set and attain personal and career related goals. The duration of this program varies based on individual need and typically ranges from three months to one year. Restoring Place. Restoring People. FOURMOUNDS PRESERVE EDUCATE PARTNER SERVE Program Outcomes Construction and Cabinetry In our construction and cabinetry pathways, we have a 92% graduation rate. The average income when students enter the program is $15,300 and average income upon employment in entry level positions is $38,000. Demographic Information for all HEART Build Dubuque Adult Programs • 27% Female • 73% Male • 30% Black • 63% White • 5% Marshallese • 2% Hispanic • 44% are/have been involved in the criminal justice system • 76% of individuals served are in poverty before they receive training (6% after training) • 92% Graduation rate • 65 served since August 2019 with 16 enrolled to begin late summer/fall Site and Program Vision New building that will house public restrooms and essential classroom space How Classroom and Amenities Space will be Utilized When all of our programs are in session concurrently, we have between 25-35 individuals enrolled in our youth and adult programs. • HEART Youth: 18 students per year will use the space for window restoration training, tool use and safety, teambuilding, soft skills training, and financial literacy • HEART Build Dubuque Construction: Up to 24 students per year (3 cohorts) as classroom space when they begin making trim and window restoration training for gut rehabilitation projects, teambuilding, soft skills training, and financial literacy • HEART Build Dubuque Cabinetry: Up to 15 students per year (2-3 cohorts dependent upon enrollment) for classroom components of their 70-hour training, teambuilding, soft skills training, and financial literacy, CNC training, CAD and software design training • HEART Build Dubuque Home Modification for Local Seniors -New Program, 6+ students (anticipated) per year for specialized training in home accessibility, teambuilding, soft skills training, and financial literacy • HEART Build Dubuque Transitional Employment Pathway: Up to 8 students per year for window restoration training, tool use and safety, CNC training, CAD and software design, soft skills training, financial literacy training Restoring Place. Restoring People. FOURMOUNDS PRESERVE EDUCATE PARTNER SERVE Community Use • Four Mounds Adventure Day Camp: 215 students per year for classroom components of day camp and in the event of rain • As a classroom meeting space for field trip groups from local schools up to 300 students per year • Volunteer training and meeting space: Up to 75 individuals per year Summary Our programs benefit individuals by teaching them skills and connecting them to employment. The wider community is also benefitting through rehabilitated neighborhoods and the skilled employees being added to the workforce. Though we know vocational skill development is important to finding a living wage job, we also know positive thinking patterns, healthy habits, healthy relationships, community engagement, spirituality, and effective communication are equally, if not more, important. For that reason, our strategic and intentional programs provide a holistic approach to guide students through the process of examining many areas of life. We do this because over the years we've learned that we can teach anyone how to swing a hammer, however, the soft skills and life skills that so many of our participants lack are essential for them to achieve long-term, gainful employment. Some of these skills can be taught on the jobsite, but the emotional intelligence, goal setting, and wrap around support all require more than a jobsite. Though most of our training is hands-on, there are classroom components to all training options. We currently utilize space in our boiler room for a classroom and students and the public use port -a -potties for restrooms. We need infrastructure to maintain momentum with programs and the expanded use of the site by local visitors. We have wide support from community members, grant awards, and our longest and most substantial supporter has been the City of Dubuque. In the last two years we have made significant progress in preparation for the addition of the new classroom space with the City's support in the following ways. The City has invested $307,628 into the Four Mounds site in the last two years. 100% of these funds were allocated to phase one of this project. Phase 1 was heavily focused on accessibility • $37,628: Entrance Roadway Overlay Project • $200,000: REAP grant toward Environmental Restoration and Parking Project • $70,000: additional dollars was invested for the parking lot project in the REAP grant, including ADA sidewalks and parking, and landscaping The City has also contributed in other ways onsite and toward the HEART program: • $4,500: Approximate costs to remove diseased and dying trees onsite (yearly) • $10,000 for the HEART program (yearly) Restoring Place. Restoring People. FOURMOUNDS PRESERVE EDUCATE PARTNER SERVE $150,000 to $270,000: material costs to rehabilitate homes through the HEART youth and adult programs (yearly) $152,425: grant to cover costs of new HEART pathway (Aging in Place), including startup costs and wages for a new Job Coach position $351,200 funding for City to purchase the Four Mounds Farm (Peru Conservancy) — dollars are dedicated to site improvements in 2022 Without the ongoing and sustaining support we have received from the City over the last three decades, none of what we are doing would be possible. Your annual program support and more recent support in making our site more accessible is paving the way to new infrastructure that will allow us the capacity to maintain momentum with our program growth. Thank you! Restoring Place. Restoring People. FOURMOUNDS PRESERVE EDUCATE PARTNER SERVE Alignment with City Goals & Priorities Four Mounds HEART Build Dubuque Program advances key City Goals and Priorities. In addition to being a high priority on the Policy Agenda, our work aligns with the following goals: Robust Local Economy: Diverse Businesses and Jobs with Economic Prosperity HEART Build Dubuque is building workforce development and economic vibrancy through restoration projects that revitalize and invest in our urban core. The project is positively impacting downtown economic prosperity and creating jobs and opportunities for adults who are unemployed, underemployed, and who have been incarcerated, through holistic education and hands-on training in historic restoration trades and more. Vibrant Community: Healthy & Safe Four Mounds HEART Build Dubuque contributes to a vibrant community. Our team holistically and individually addresses participants' needs from food and transportation, to brain health, and life skills mentoring. Projects completed in Dubuque's downtown invest in dilapidated buildings and neglected neighborhoods. These projects build neighborhood and community pride which translates into further investment and safe neighborhoods. Livable Neighborhoods & Housing: Great Place to Live HEART Build Dubuque is transforming distressed properties and buildings into homes typically sold to first-time homebuyers. Because of the addition of our adult program, our teams are working on four homes simultaneously in partnership the City and soon will begin our fifth project in one year. Sustainable Environment: Preserving and Enhancing Natural Resources As the last remaining intact gentleman's farm in Iowa, and with 100 acres of rare natural resources, Four Mounds is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural resources at the site. In the past year, we have hosted a summit with Native American/Indigenous People to ensure the protection of prehistoric burial mounds. Additionally, our HEART Build Dubuque transitional pathway program trains participants at the site in ecological restoration, work on the gardens and trails, and more. Partnership for a Better Dubuque: Building Our Community that Viable, Livable, and Equitable By working to recruit and attract community members who are frequently underserved, the HEART Build Dubuque program is a critical partner in building equity in Dubuque. We continue to strive to partner to serve more people and enhance our program. Restoring Place. Restoring People. TEP Highlights January - March 2022 We continue to develop and expand our adult programming. In this expansion, the Transitional Employment Pathway at Four Mounds is ever evolving as well. We started this program for students that were not ready to be successfully employed. The reasons vary from student to student, but the need remains. While on the Transitional Employment Pathway, students build a diverse skillset that contributes to their Life and work success. Their work stretches to every corner of the site and includes skills they will use regardless of the career paths they choose. Soft skills and personal development are as much, if not more, of an emphasis than hard skills in the TEP. The duration of this program varies based on individual need and typically ranges from three months to one year. We are grateful for your support as we continue to transform Lives through hands-on, authentic, paid work experience for young adults with barriers to employment. We could not do what we do without your support, thank you. Recruitment and Selection Recruitment is ongoing and Largely happens through referrals from partners including Dubuque Community School District, northeast Iowa Community College, and Iowa vocational Rehabilitation Services. We have more referrals than we can support at this time, however, we remain intentional as we transition students to make room for more. It is a team effort and a team decision, and we wiLL not let them go until they are ready. We are making efforts to expand capacity to serve more individuals in the upcoming year. Andrew and Liz building a compost bin for the garden with Joy, Job Coach in the Four Mounds Woodshop, Spring 2022. Liz working on the roof and chimney at the cabin, Spring 202 1. Liz and Andrew learning to repair wicker furniture at the Grey House, Spring 202 1. FOUR MOUNDS PRESERVE EDUCATE PARTNER SERVE Intake Process and Program Outcomes We have added a component to our current intake process that wiLL help us to articulate the impact of our Transitional Employment Pathway. The duration of this program varies based on individual need and typicaLLy ranges from three months to one year. Though we have several success stories, TEP is a new program, and it is individualized to student needs and barriers. We have individual outcomes based on individual student goals, but not as a whole. We are working with partners to define coLLective measurables for TEP and have started using the Ryff PsychologicaL Scale of WeLL- Being. We do not have enough information to share at this time as we just began using this measure in December 202 1. This tool wiLL measure a student's overaLL well-being when they enter and exit the program. Measures include areas Like purpose in life, personal growth, being in charge of their personal situations, and positive relationships. We chose this tool because it assesses several areas related to personal growth and well-being and wiLL be beneficiaL in that students in TEP are not aLL working on the same areas. The Ryff scale Aso aligns with the curriculum we developed organicaLLy around students we work with. The Model While students are in the program, they work with a job coach to deveLop interpersonaL skills and soft skills. They also have time to set work, life, and career goals while also building a diverse skiLLset. The uniqueness of our site allows for this to take place organicaLLy through meaningful work experience. Examples of hands-on projects toward skill deveLopment and student goals for this quarter are outlined on the next page. Maggie and Liz working on the compost bin in the Four Mounds, Spring 2022. Liz and Jacob tuckpointing the fireplace at the cabin at Four Mounds, Spring 2022. Maggie and Liz tuckpointing the Grey House fireplace at Four Mounds, Spring 2022. PROJECTS HARD SKILLS SOFT SKILL EMPHASIS Tool Use and Safely using handheld routers, ban saw, jig saw, sawzall, Daily set up and Safety Kreg jig, table saw, chop saw, and multitools tear down -leave no trace, being on time, Listening and following directions Furniture Assessment, research, and planning on repair of furniture. Being on time and Repair Hands-on practice in restoring antique furniture flexible with the inn schedule, showing positive attitudes Furniture PLanning, ordering supplies, blueprint reading, using Kreg Problem -solving, Construction jig forjoints, constructing a kitchen island for the Grey critical thinking, house kitchen collaboration, brainstorming Restoration Window Restoration -Purpose and Processes Workshop: Perseverance, setting hands-on practice with Fletcher hand cutting tools and goals and follow other glass cutting mechanisms, best practices in window through, positive glazing and restored 18 four- panel windows and ready attitudes even when for installation on the historic hog shed building onsite hard Roofing Temporarily sealed a hole in a roof in the event of an Being on time, proper emergency - a tree fell on our woodshop roof. Seal and clean-up, effective - repairs will be made in the upcoming weeks collaboration, and communication Identified and repaired a leak in the cabin roof. Learned about damage that can take place inside the walls of a building when a leak is left unaddressed and how flashing works around a chimney Maintenance/ Designing and building a three -stage compost bin, Planning, research, Restoration learning construction skills: planning, design, framing, problem solving _ and best practices of composting Finishing Cabinet maintenance and restoration: stripping, sanding, Persistence, attention color matching, varnishing, veneer replacement and to detail repair, and proper ventilation and PPE when working with strong chemicals Tuckpointing A hands-on workshop training with a mason. After training, Listening and following they tuckpointed three historic fireplaces and thresholds instructions Student Personal Goals STUDENT GOAL Andrew Andrew is learning to budget and is currently saving to buy a car. He is also working on replacing some negative personal habits with positive ones. He is in the process of developing his resume, and had a tour at Klauer manufacturing and will be applying there when he completes his cabinetry class in June. Jacob Jacob is working developing positive eating habits and his knowledge of basic nutrition. He also recently started appointments at Hillcrest to deal with his anxiety. Koral Koral is a single mom new to the program. She is working on financial literacy with an emphasis on budgeting in an effort to stay in her apartment and provide for her daughter. She is also taking a microcourse through Clarke University on conflict management. Recently completed the FAFSA and was accepted to NICC. Liz Liz's goal is to learn how to verbalize her thoughts, asking for help, and developing positive parenting skills. Liz is also working on developing self- confidence and will practice presenting at the upcoming Dubuque College Access Network (DCAN) event. She will be sharing the story of her journey through completing high school as a young mother and the network of support that has helped her to walk at NICC's graduation this May. Liz is a single mom of a 3-year-old daughter. Maggie Maggie transitioned into three-quarter time employment at Adam's Architectural and Restoration in Dubuque. The other quarter time she is working to complete the last math class that stands between her and her Building Trades Diploma. Also working on self -advocacy and assertiveness skills. She was able to practice this during her recent contract negotiation with her new employer. Summary Though we know vocational skill development is important to finding a living wage job, we also know positive thinking patterns, healthy habits, healthy relationships, community engagement, spirituality, and effective communication are equally, if not more, important. For that reason, this strategic and intentional program provides a holistic approach to guide participants through the process of examining many areas of life. Working in these areas with the support of mentor staff facilitates Long-term success in their personal and professional lives. Participants work one-to-one with mentor staff to identify strengths and weaknesses and set personal and professional goals. Simultaneously, they are immersed in authentic work experience to develop a variety of transferrable skills.