Getting Ahead Program_Move the Mountain ContractMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Gettin' Ahead Program: Contract with Move the Mountain
DATE: April 2, 2010
Michael C. Van Milligen
Dubuque
klitgi
All-Anita City
2007
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris recommends
City Council approval of a contract with the Move the Mountain Leadership Center
authorizing their services for the April 10 -March 11 contract year, at a cost of $20,500.
The services, based on a model currently being used in communities nationally, are for
graduates of our "Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin'-by World" program. The concept is to
initiate the Circles program, which provides on -going mentoring and support services
to Gettin' Ahead graduates. This is accomplished through establishing "circles" of
graduates and community mentors, who meet regularly throughout the year, helping the
graduates to form on -going networks as part of a social and employment support
system.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director
Dave Heiar, Economic Development Director
Nancy Van Milligen, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van illigen, City Manager
FROM: David arris, Housing and Community Development Department
SUBJECT: Gettin' Ahead Program: Contract with Move the Mountain TM
DATE: 1 April 10
Dubuque
kitd
all- AmedcaCity
1111 Li
2007
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the City Council's authorization of the
Mayor's signature on the attached contract with the Move the Mountain TM Leadership
Center, for services related to implementation of the Circles TM initiative.
Discussion
The Council has authorized a three -year, $30 000 /year commitment for the Move the
Mountain TM (MTM) Program, beginning in Fiscal Year 2011. For the first year of this
contract, $20 500 will be paid to Move the Mountain TM . In succeeding years, the annual
contract cost is reduced.
The services, based on a model currently being used in communities nationally, are for
graduates of our "Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin' -by World" Program. This is co-
sponsored through the Housing Department's Family Self- Sufficiency Program and
Project HOPE, under a contract with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.
The concept is to initiate the Circles TM program, which provides on -going mentoring and
support services to Gettin' Ahead graduates. This is accomplished through establishing
"circles" of graduates and community mentors, who meet regularly throughout the year,
helping the graduates to form on -going networks as part of a social and employment
support system.
The Move the Mountain TM organization provides the following contractual services:
1. On site visits, for planning and resource development
2. Registration at national training workshops
3. Phone and e-mail `coaching'
4. Publications
5. Access to a national resource base of best - practices and fund raising materials
6. Inclusion in MTM's national network for data compilation and evaluation
7. Access to a national peer -to -peer collaboration network
8. Inclusion in MTM's national media campaign
9. Use of the Circles TM trademark
Action Step
The action requested of the City Council is to approve the attached contract from Move
the Mountain TM , authorizing their services for the April 10 -March 11 contract year, at a
cost of $20 500.
Attached are materials provided by Carroll Clark, Family Self Sufficiency Program
Coordinator, describing the 'Bridges Initiative,' which is the umbrella entity established
to coordinate activities of the Bridges out of Poverty, Gettin' Ahead and Circles TM
programs. This is staffed by personnel from the Housing Department, Project HOPE,
AmeriCorps members and Jim Ott.
att
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department
FROM: Carroll Clark, Family Self Sufficiency Program Coordinator
SUBJECT: Bridges Initiative — Circles Contract
DATE: 01 April 10
Dubuque
ANYnaiacb
2007
The Bridges Initiative is set to begin phase three of its expansion. This expansion
includes the Circles TM program. Circles TM is a National service delivery model through
the Move the Mountain Leadership Center (www.movethemountain.org). This model
pairs up Getting Ahead graduates with community allies or mentors who continue to be
a support and role model for that graduate as they make changes in their lives. "Circles
TM i s designed to not only help families out of poverty, but to initiate changes in the
community that result in eliminating barriers to economic stability. The Tong -range vision
is to eliminate the condition of poverty altogether."
The following statistics are based on a group of 33 individuals who have completed
Getting Ahead and six months of Circles to -date: "88% experienced an increase in
earned income, 30% decreased their use of welfare benefits, and 56% had an increase
in assets." In addition, the median income rose from $637 /month to $1200,average
assets went from $604 to $941, welfare benefits dropped from $436 /month
to$306 /month, and the average number of "friends I can count on" went from four to
nine.
With the additional $30,000 budgeted from the City of Dubuque for FY 2011, the
Bridges Initiative is now ready to bring Circles TM to Dubuque. Attached is the contract
between the Bridges Initiative and Move the Mountain.
We are requesting permission to have the contract signed so that we may begin this
collaboration as soon as possible. We currently have 72 graduates and 36 more
participants that will be graduating in June. Circles TM will enable us to maintain contact
with our graduates, track results, see changes and support those in poverty in our
community as they work to become financially self sufficient.
03/29/10
1072
CONTRACT FOR SERVICES
Services Provided to:
Bridges Initiative
Carroll Clark and Jim Ott
350 West 6th Street Ste 312
Dubuque IA 52001
(563) 589 -4230
cclarla,cityofdubuque.org
jmott30 @ao1.com
Services Provided By:
Move the Mountain Leadership Center
1525 Springwood Lane
Faribault, MN 55021
888 - 232 -9285
Scott Miller, scottAmovethemountain.org
Move the Mountain
Inspiring and Equipping Communities to End Poverty
www.movethemountain.org
Move the Mountain
LEADERSHIP CENTER
Effective Dates: Communities enter into a year to year agreement with MTM to develop and
expand a successful Circles initiative. As a member of the National Circles Campaign, the community
will be asked to pay yearly membership fees and services contracts to cover costs of MTM services to
help expand their local Circles initiative, maintain fidelity to the evolving standards of the national model,
participate in national data collection, national media campaigns, and other national activities that
contribute to effectiveness and impact on the mission to end poverty.
MTM acknowledges the commitment and interest of the community in being a learning environment for
the development and implementation of a local Circles initiative to transform the community to end
poverty. Because of the community's commitment, MTM wishes to provide support, coaching and
guidance for the growth and further development of the Circles initiative AND to partner with
community as a national laboratory for testing and refining the Circles TM model, including the
incorporation of aha! Process Bridges and Getting Ahead tools. The lead organization representing the
community and responsible for this contract will be known as "partner" in this contract.
This contract runs from April I, 2010 to March 31, 2011
Scope of Service:
I. Delivery of two (2) on -site Circles TM visits for planning, resource development and best
practices assessment and development
With signed contract
$800
June 30, 2010
$1,000
July 31, 2010
$18,700
2. Up to 4 (four) registrations to Circles Hands -On Training (travel and lodging expenses not
included)
3. Up to 4 (four) registrations to Circles- Bridges conference (travel not included in contract)
4. Up to 10 phone coaching calls and email coaching from MTM to Exec Dir and Circles staff
5. 25 books of Until It's Gone for Guiding Coalition members, allies, and Circle leaders
6. Access to the Members Section Clearinghouse of the Circles Campaign for latest manual,
fundraising templates and samples from across the nation for any and all Circles activities
7. Access to MTM's fundraising supports
8. Inclusion in our national data compilation, reporting, and evaluation
9. Access to peer -to -peer network for ongoing support and collaboration
10. Media support and inclusion in national media campaign and national partnership
development activities
11. Use of the Circles TM trademark
These services are available through the contract year and cannot be carried over into the following
year.
Fees, Invoicing and Payment:
The fee for these services is $20,500. The partner will pay MTM $800 in advance upon receipt of a
signed contract and the remainder on a quarterly schedule, indicated below. Travel expenses for Move
the Mountain staff are included in these fees. Travel expenses for your staff to MTM events are not
included in these fees.
Move the Mountain
Inspiring and Equipping Communities to End Poverty
www.movethemountain.org
2
Membership
As Circles TM expands, fidelity to the model becomes more critical. We are using a green- yellow-
red Tight mutual assessment tool to guide development of Circles. As part of this contract and
2010 membership in the National Circles Campaign, each site agrees that the following steps
will be utilized in the case of a site which has RED status for three months in a row:
* Conference call with MTM and the Executive Director within 10 days of the third "RED"
assessment
* A written plan from the site staff or Guiding Coalition detailing steps to be taken to
move out of red -light status in the next 1 -3 months; plan agreed to by Executive
Director and MTM
* Coaching calls increased from monthly to every two weeks until site shifts to yellow
Any site remaining in red status for 6 months in a row or 7 of 12 months in a year will be
addressed by a team of Certified Trainers /National Guiding Coalition members. A site's
membership may be discontinued until there are sufficient resources (leadership, time, and /or
funds) for the community to move its model toward green status.A site may also be requested
to obtain an additional Circles on -site visit at its own expense.
Red Site Characteristics
* Getting Ahead graduates unmatched more than 3 months after GA graduation due to
lack of trained allies;
* Fewer than 5 matched circles for any initiative whose weekly meeting has been in
progress for 12+ months;
* Funding for staff salaries and on -going expenses not solidified for the upcoming quarter;
* Guiding Coalition has 5 or fewer members, and /or GC is not engaged in Circles;
* One of the non - negotiables is missing for 3+ months (e.g. no weekly meeting);
* Circles staff /GC do not participate in monthly coaching calls for 3+ months
* "matched" means in a Circle with one Circle Leader (or a couple) and at least 2 allies
Additional agreement note: The National Circles campaign has a standard process for entry
and training of new communities and /or new lead organizations. Membership in the National
Campaign does not grant your initiative permission to train those outside your local Circles
initiative or lead agency unless and until you have completed the entire process of becoming a
certified training site. As a partner in the National Circles Campaign, you have access to
proprietary intellectual property owned by Move the Mountain, including know -how, written
materials, research and related data and analysis, training techniques and oral presentations (the
"Proprietary Materials "). We acknowledge that the Proprietary Materials are the sole and
exclusive property of Move the Mountain and may not be used outside of our local Circles
initiative.
Amendment and Termination:
This agreement may be amended by written consent of both parties and such amendments will be
attached to this contract and shall become a part thereof.
This contract shall continue to be binding on both parties unless terminated by either party upon 30 -day
written notice of intent to terminate. In the event the partner terminates the contract with MTM a
minimum of $1,800 is nonrefundable, and MTM will invoice the partner for all unpaid services provided
to the community up to the date of contract termination. Total amount of compensation to MTM will
not exceed the total of this contract.
Both parties agree:
Roy D. Buol, Date Scott Miller, CEO Date
Mayor, City of Dubuque Iowa Move the Mountain Leadership Center
Bridges Initiative
Date
Move the Mountain
Inspiring and Equipping Communities to End Poverty
www.movethemountain.org
3
PR
Jim &
Carroll
Bridges Out
of Poverty
( Transitional
Employment
Carroll
Coordinate
Trainings
Carroll &
Alyssa
Follow -
Up
Ermina 4)
Bridges Initiative
Bridges Steering Team
Follow Up
Tracking
Ermina
Getting
Ahead In A
Just Gettin'
By World
Training
Expansion
Jim
Circles Organizers
Carroll & Alvssa
Circles '1
Leader
GA
Graduate
Circles Coordinator
Ermina
Service
Projects
Alyssa
Community '
Allies
Community
Mentors
Below is an explanation of each of the pieces of the Bridges Initiatives (Bridges Out of Poverty, Getting
Ahead In A Just - Gettin' -By World and Circles). In parenthesis you will find the name of the person or
persons who is coordinating that effort. As we grow and expand, we will continue to keep you updated on
any changes taking place. Community Sponsors/Partners: City of Dubuque Housing and CD Dept,
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, and Dubuque Works.
Bridges Steering Team- (Carroll and Jim) Made up of sixteen community members, staff and Getting
Ahead graduates who will meet quarterly to discuss and oversee the programs goals, integrity, direction,
and results. Our initial meeting was held on March 18, 2010.
Bridges out of Poverty
* Public Relations- (Jim, Carroll and Project Hope) This is currently accomplished through the local
meetings that each of us attend, the exposure we receive from Jim's presentation on City Channel
8, our Bridges Initiative newsletter (which is distributed widely throughout the community) as
well as by word -of- mouth.
• Coordinate Trainings- (Carroll and Alyssa) Trainings done for local agencies or businesses. These
can be done anywhere from one to eight hours in length. Approximately four shorter Bridges
trainings are done per month by Jim or Carroll. Sr. Pat Conlon can also help with these as needed.
We also organize one large community training on a yearly basis. This is typically held in
January.
* Follow -Up- (Ermina) Tracking of results taken from surveys as well as follow -up with attendees
either personally or through mass e-mail.
* Community Partners: Loras College, Project Hope. In 2010, Prudential gave us a $5000.00
sponsorship.
Circles TM
Bridges Initiative
* Circles Organizers- (Carroll and Alyssa) Since this is a new project, there is a bit of set up and
coordination involved. This will be done by two members of the staff to ensure program integrity.
The initial contact with Move The Mountain has been established. We are in the process of
signing the contract for their services. Ermina and Carroll will be attending a Circles Hands On
Training in Indiana from April 5 -9, 2010.
* Public Relations- (Ermina, Carroll and Project Hope) After attending the training in Indiana,
Ermina and Carroll (as well as Jim, Alyssa and Project Hope) will begin talking about this new
effort and recruiting community mentors.
* Circles Coordinator- (Ermina) The Circles Coordinator will be the first point of contact for the
Getting Ahead graduates, and community allies. They will help coordinate the meetings and
ensure that the program is running smoothly.
* Circles Leader- (Getting Ahead Graduate) We currently have 72 grads and will be graduating 36
more in June. We will start with 5 -10 circles depending on the number of community allies we
recruit.
* Community Allies- (community mentors) A community member actively guiding the Circle leader
through the transitions of realizing goals. They provide mentorship and direction.
* Community Partners: To be announced.
Getting Ahead In a Just - Gettin' -By World
• Transitional Employment- (Carroll) Seeking employment opportunities in the community for the
Getting Ahead participants to gain skills, experiences and to build references for future
employment.
Currently we have two AmeriCorps Campus Compact positions for one of our transitional
employment programs. Participants in this program will complete a 300 hour AmeriCorp
position. In exchange, they receive a monthly stipend, a $1000.00 education award that can be
used at any college in the next 7 years as well as the skills, experiences and references. Currently
we have two sites on board.
AmeriCorps Campus Compact positions:
Current sites are Global Goods (12 weeks) and City Of Dubuque Housing and
Community Development Department (12 weeks)
- Current sites run from March 29, 2010 to September 10, 2010
Global Goods is paying half of the stipend and the Bridges Initiative is paying the other
half (through profits incurred at the Bridges trainings).
We are currently working on setting up sites for fall 2010 and beyond. It is our goal that
these sites will be able to pay the stipends in full.
* Community Partners: Global Goods, Section 8, Loras College
* The other transitional employment program that we are currently undertaking is also a fundraiser.
The funds raised from this project will be used specifically to send 2 -4 Getting Ahead graduates to
the Getting Ahead/Circles Leadership conference in October.
Bakers Men:
- This is comprised of four men from the Getting Ahead programs who have extensive
baking skills. These four men are in the process of setting up a small baked goods
catering service. They will be presenting a limited menu of coffee cakes, sweet breads,
muffins and cinnamon rolls. Each of these items will be hand baked fresh each morning
of the catered event.
One graduate /facilitator has taken on the role of obtaining the supplies and coordinating
the men's efforts. This menu and catering option should be available after April 1, 2010.
* Community Partners: Dubuque Rescue Mission, Hope House, Community agencies who purchase
the product.
* KIT (Keeping in Touch)— ( Ermina) Keeping In Touch, or KIT is a networking and educational
opportunity that is offered to all Getting Ahead graduates and current participants. Although KIT
meetings have been taking place for over 2 years, they were recently redesigned based on
participants feedback. Not only do these meetings encourage networking, they also reinforce the
skills learned in Getting Ahead. Meetings take place eight times per year; these include six
community speakers and two social events.
* Community Partners: Speakers from various agencies and businesses, NICC, AmeriCorps.
* Follow- Up/Tracking- (Ermina) This consists of keeping the database current as well as conducting
follow -up surveys of all graduates. These are done at 6 months after graduation, 12 months, 18
months, and 24 months. These statistics are kept in our own database as well as given to the
statistics class at Loras College who analyzes the data and reports the results back to us.
* Community Partners: Loras College.
* Training Expansion- (Jim) Since Jim Ott is now a nationally certified Bridges trainer he will be
training other agencies on how to implement their own Getting Ahead classes. Our first training is
scheduled for June. A fee is charged to the agencies attending. This money is then put into the
Bridges budget to be used as needed (ie: other trainings for graduates, etc...)
Those community agencies who are considering starting, facilitating and funding their own
Getting Ahead classes are Opening Doors, Kennedy Manor, the Catholic Charities Prison
Ministry, as well as groups from both Clinton and Waterloo Iowa. All off shoots of the Getting
Ahead program will be supported and generally supervised by the Bridges Steering team and staff.
This is to ensure the integrity of this initiative.
* Community Partners: Agencies requesting training and support to start Getting Ahead classes.
* Service Projects- (Alyssa) Based on multiple requests from our Getting Ahead participants, we
have begun doing quarterly community service projects. This is an opportunity for the Getting
Ahead participants to give back to their community. Different service projects will be offered on a
quarterly basis. Our first community service project was held on March 3, 2010.
* Community Partners: Project Hope, Area agencies who we serve.
* Public Relations- (Ermina) While Ermina handles the general publicity of the Getting Ahead
program; each individual activity will handle the publicity for their own events.
* Community Partners: Agencies who support and promote the Getting Ahead program to their
participants, including but not limited to the Multi Cultural Family Center, Opening Doors,
Dubuque Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities, Hope House, Josiah House, Hillcrest Family
Services, The Source, Hillcrest Wellness Center, ECIA, Cornerstone, Four Oaks, Iowa Kids Net,
and local churches.
* Classes- ( Jim, Carroll, Ermina) We hold two rounds of classes per fiscal year. Each round is
made up of two classes with approximately 20 individuals in each class. Classes are facilitated by
Getting Ahead graduates with the assistance of Jim or Carroll as needed. Either Jim or Carroll
typically attends every class (even if not facilitating) to ensure program integrity and answer
questions. Recruitment for these classes is done primarily through word of mouth and displaying
brochures with our local partners. Each interested person is interviewed. These interviews are
rated based on a grading rubric. Who will attend each class is then decided based on this
information. Each round of classes lasts 15 -20 weeks and culminates in a graduation ceremony.
Due to part of our funding coming from the Section 8 department, a minimum of 36 Section 8
participants participate in the classes each fiscal year.
* Community Partners: In the past, we have partnered with St. Luke's Church, Project Concern and
First Baptist Church for free locations to hold the classes. We have also partnered with many
local businesses and individuals who provide meals for the events. AmeriCorps provides child
care for the classes.
Last Name
First Name
Organization
Phone
Email
Clark
Carroll
City of Dubuque -
Bridges Initiative
Advisor
563.589.4230
work
cclark @cityofdubuque.org
First Baptist Church
Ott
Jim
Bridges Initiative
Advisor
563.564.2456
cell
jmott30 @aol.com
Soler
Ermina
GA Grad & Facilitator -
GA Ameri-Corp
563
gett @live.com
Volunteer
cell
563.588.2700
Hauser
Al ssa
y
NICC- Green Jobs
Coordinator
work
630.624.5747
ahauser87 @gmail.com
cell
Morgan
David
Getting Ahead
Participant
563.495.1318
DavidMorgan06 @yahoo.com
Gonzalez
Joe
Alliant Credit Union
563.585.3733
work
joe @hscudbq.com
Schumacher
Jim
Lamar Advertising
g
563.556.4141
work
jschumacher @lamar.com
Denlinger
Norma
Community Member
563.585.0821
Mutly00 @mchsi.com
Glover
Marrichell e
GA Grad
773.540.3304
marrichelle @yahoo.com
Kurt
Ben
College Student /MFC
563.582.3681
benjamin.kurt @gmail.com
Loras College — Service
563.588.7937
Baker
Maggie
Learning Coordinator
Maggie.Baker @loras.edu
563.556.3040
Parks
RaeAnn
TRIRHA /Sedona Staffing
Ext. 234
raparks @careerpros.com
Principal - Central High
563.552.5800
cbees @dubuque.k12.ia.us
Bees
Claudette
School
Coan
Mary
Community Member
563.557.9747
mary.coan @gmail.com
Jacobs
Steve
Landlord - Ecumenical
Housing
563.556.5125
Dbqsmhaa2@aol.com
Thomas
Jerome
John Deere
563.589.5143
thomashjerome @johndeere.com
Bridges Initiative
Steering Committee Members