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High Impact Service Plan_city of Service, AARP Recognition GrantMasterpiece on the Mississippi Dubuque bierd All-America City 1 2007 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: High Impact Service Plan - Cities of Service /AARP Recognition Grant DATE: January 11, 2012 Seventeen Mayors from some of America's largest cities in 2009 began a coalition called Cities of Service. By the time Dubuque signed on more than 100 Mayors had committed to become a City of Service. However, Dubuque was chosen as one of ten cities with less than 125,000 residents to participate in a Cities of Service /AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer Initiative. As a Cities of Service /AARP Initiative recipient, Dubuque received a $5,000 Recognition Award, appointed Mary Bridget Corken as the Chief Service Officer and sent Mary Bridget and Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware to the National Community Service Conference in New Orleans courtesy of AARP /Cities of Service. The Mayor and City Council committed Dubuque as a City of Service in March of 2011. The recognition award requires development and implementation of a high impact service plan that leverages citizen service to address the city's most pressing challenges. The $5,000 AARP Recognition Award is to be used to support the volunteer Chief Service Officer's efforts to develop and launch a high impact service plan. Through this collaboration, Mary Bridget Corken as the Chief Service Officer was responsible for the development and implementation of a high impact service plan Recommendations of the Safe Community Task Force and City Council goals were reviewed. Forty (40) community stakeholders including city staff were asked to identify existing service programs in Dubuque, identify challenges facing the city, how these challenges could be addressed through service, and identify other organizations or individuals that could participate in moving forward. Through input received the Service Plan identified neighborhood development and connecting Dubuquers to service as its two specific challenges. Three goals emerged: • Assist volunteers to take ownership of their neighborhoods and build a sense of pride in their surroundings through neighborhood beautification projects. Positive interactions can result in community cohesion. • Create and elevate volunteer opportunities which can increase resident interaction. • Help Dubuquers connect to service opportunities more easily. Specific strategies to help achieve those goals include: • Love Your Block — a high impact service strategy to improve neighborhoods and cohesiveness through neighborhood organized projects. • A volunteer website - a web based clearinghouse for volunteers to locate and access one -time and ongoing volunteer opportunities. The $5,000 AARP Recognition Award will be used to support the volunteer Chief Service Officer's effort to develop and launch a high impact service plan that uses citizen engagement to address pressing city issues. As the High Impact Service Plan has been coming together so also has the concept for a broader community engagement model. This Service Plan and volunteerism is the action piece of the engagement model. As the Service Plan is brought forward for adoption today the intent is that it will become just one part of an Engagement Plan in the future with grass roots leadership and inclusive participatory democracy from the community. Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware and Human Rights Director Kelly Larson are also providing information on volunteerism transforming into a long term engagement strategy. Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware recommends City Council approval of the High Impact Service Plan as part of the requirements of the Cities of Service /AARP Initiative and Recognition Grant. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM:sv Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director Doug Stillings, Chairperson, Safe Community Advisory Committee 2 Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO Michael C Van Milligen, City Manager FROM Marie L Ware, Leisure Services Manager DATE January 9, 2012 SUBJECT High Impact Service Plan - Cities of Service /HARP Recognition Grant Dubuque had NI- America City 'I 1 1 I' 2007 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo is to request approval of the High Impact Service Plan as a part of the requirements of the Cities of Service /HARP Initiative and Recognition Grant BACKGROUND Seventeen tvtayors from some of America's largest cities in 2009 began a coalition called Cities of Service By the time Dubuque signed on more than 100 Mayors had committed to become a City of Service Dubuque however was chosen as one of ten cities with less than 125,000 residents to participate in a Cities of Service /AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer Initiative Other cities included Surprise, Arizona, Allentown, Pennsylvania, York, Pennsylvania, Pierre, South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, Kingsport, Tennessee, Nacogdoches, Texas, Glen Falls, New York and Davenport, Iowa As a City of Service Dubuque committed to • Developing a comprehensive service plan and a coordinated strategy focused on matching volunteers and established community partners to the areas of greatest local need • Working with other mayors and elected officials to advance strategies and best practices that accelerate the service movement and produce measurable results • Encouraging other mayors tojoin this national effort to engage our citizens • Ensuring that the voice of cities is heard in federal legislative, policy and program discussions related to service, which will help the country achieve the ambitious goals of the Serve America Act As a Cities of Service /AARP Initiative recipient, Dubuque received a $5,000 Recognition Award, appointed Mary Bridget Corken as our Chief Service Officer and sent Mary Bridget and Marie Ware to the National Community Service Conference in New Orleans courtesy of AARP /Cities of Service The Mayor and City Council committed Dubuque as a City of Service in March of 2011 The recognition award requires development and implementation of a high impact service plan that leverages citizen service to address the city's most pressing challenges The $5,000 HARP Recognition Award is to be used to support the volunteer Chief Service Officer's efforts to develop and launch a high impact service plan Through this collaboration, Mary Bridget Corken as the Chief Service Officer was responsible for the development and implementation of a high impact service plan Recommendations of the Safe Community Task Force and City Council goals were reviewed Forty (40) community stakeholders including city staff were asked to identify existing service programs in Dubuque, identify challenges facing our city, how these challenges could be addressed through service, and identify other organizations or individuals that could participate in moving forward Through input received the Service Plan identified neighborhood development and connecting Dubuquers to service as its two specific challenges Three goals emerged • Assist volunteers to take ownership of their neighborhoods and build a sense of pride in their surroundings through neighborhood beautification projects Positive interactions can result in community cohesion • Create and elevate volunteer opportunities which can increase resident interaction • Help Dubuquers connect to service opportunities more easily Specific strategies to help achieve those goals include • Love Your Block - a high impact service strategy to improve neighborhoods and cohesiveness through neighborhood organized projects • A volunteer website - a web based clearinghouse for volunteers to locate and access one -time and ongoing volunteer opportunities The $5,000 AARP Recognition Award will be used to support the volunteer Chief Service Officer's effort to develop and launch a high impact service plan that used citizen engagement to address pressing city issues DISCUSSION As the High Impact Service Plan has been coming together so also has the concept for a broader community engagement model This Service Plan and volunteerism is the action piece of the engagement model As we bring the Service Plan forward for adoption today we understand and hope it will become just one part of an Engagement Plan in the future with grass roots leadership and inclusive participatory democracy from the community This Service Plan focuses on specific challenges and specific strategies The Recognition Grant helps to fund Love Your Block proposals that will happen this spring /early summer The website is prepared and ready The work on this Plan with all the stakeholders and preparations to draft plan have been completed by Mary Bridget Corken, VISTA Volunteer Service Coordinator and Chief Service Officer She has been involved with the many volunteer efforts in the community since coming to us last June She is well connected in the community already Mary Bridget along with the assistance of Tony Elskamp, Recreation Program Supervisor worked after the rain event to assist in matching volunteers with low income, elderly and disabled Dubuquers in need of cleaning basements She has been involved with numerous events such as Make A Difference Day, Martin Luther King Service Day and more She has quickly become known for her efforts with volunteerism VISTA is about capacity building and in her short tenure she has indeed done this RECOMMENDATION I recommend acceptance of the High Impact Service Plan Prepared by MLW et cc Mary Bridget Corken Kelly Larson Masterpiece on the Mississippi Dubuque 2007 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director SUBJECT: Volunteerism Transforming into Long Term Engagement Strategy DATE: January 4, 2012 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo is to update you on development efforts related to volunteerism as well as share a broader vision of community engagement. BACKGROUND Marie was asked to begin working on a volunteer engagement program for the City in mid -2010. It began with researching resources needed, resources available and best practices. The efforts started to take shape when as a city we were awarded an AmeriCorps VISTA position specifically for development of volunteer efforts and a volunteer center. A VISTA works full time engaging in capacity building activities that reflect the mission of the organization and needs of the community. Two recommendations of the Safe Community Task Force became an impetus for the VISTA position. Neighborhood Engagement and Social Capital Human Relations (A Task Force Priority) - The SCTF believes that in order to achieve its goals there will need to be a major citywide human relations effort. The human relations effort will have these objectives: 3. Increase resident participation using such vehicles as clean up campaigns, neighborhood picnics, new neighbor welcome events and other strategies developed by residents Management of Physical Environment 6. Increase the number of neighborhood clean -ups and educate the community on city waste disposal policies in an effort to clarify the purpose of neighborhood clean -up programs. Mary Bridget Corken was hired as the VISTA Volunteer Service Coordinator and began her service in June of 2011. Her defined role as a VISTA according to the Memorandum of Agreement with Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service is to work to determine community needs around volunteer management, including identifying gaps in service and working with community partners to develop a Volunteer Center. Over a possible three -year period, the VISTA will work to determine the best organization to house the Volunteer Center and determine the best structure to ensure sustainability for the Volunteer Center. Mary Bridget's term is one year. A second step in the engagement of volunteers was taken as the City Council approved the purchase of a volunteer management software license. The software can be used by volunteers to search by area of interest (Le. children, families, environment), location, keyword or date. The software has additional capabilities for event management like Days of Caring or Martin Luther King service days which helps both the Safe Community efforts as well as AmeriCorps, Multicultural Family Center and more. The software is also very useful for disasters and managing spontaneous volunteers. It can be made available to community organizations and non - profits to post volunteer opportunities. Mary Bridget has been working with Randy Gehl and Kelli Buchenau on preparing the site for promotion and use. A third piece came when we were approached by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS) regarding an AARP /Cities of Service initiative. We were required to become a City of Service. As such we committed to: • Developing a comprehensive service plan and a coordinated strategy focused on matching volunteers and established community partners to the areas of greatest local need. • Working with other mayors and elected officials to advance strategies and best practices that accelerate the service movement and produce measurable results. • Encouraging other mayors to join this national effort to engage our citizens. • Ensuring that the voice of cities is heard in federal legislative, policy and program discussions related to service, which will help the country achieve the ambitious goals of the Serve America Act. We received a $5,000 Recognition Award from AARP /Cities of Service, appointed Mary Bridget Corken as our Chief Service Officer and sent Mary Bridget and Marie Ware to the National Community Service Conference in New Orleans courtesy of AARP /Cities of Service. The Mayor and City Council committed Dubuque as a City of Service in March of 2011. The recognition award requires development and implementation of a high- impact service plan that leverages citizen service to address the city's most pressing challenges. The $5,000 award is to be used to support the volunteer Chief Service Officer's effort to develop and launch a high- impact service plan that will use citizen engagement to address pressing city issues. A separate memo will address this plan and award in further detail. 2 The Cities of Service model focuses efforts on high- impact volunteering that targets community needs, uses best practices and sets clear outcomes and measures to gauge progress. Service is used as a strategy. DISCUSSION All of the above activities have been coordinated through Leisure Services. They started with the impetus of the Safe Community Task Force for neighborhood engagement and building social capital as well as management of the physical environment. Over the course of the last six months we have broadened our conversations beyond the Safe Community Task Force due in large part to the City Council's vision. Sustainable Dubuque's Community Knowledge Principle shares "Dubuque is a community that values education, empowerment and engagement to achieve economic prosperity, environmental integrity and social /cultural vibrancy." Council goal setting outlined a top priority for 2011 — 2013 as an arts and culture strategy under Social Cultural Vibrancy. High priorities for 2011 — 2013 included Multicultural Family Center support and Safe Community initiative. A common theme of engagement has developed. While volunteering and the High Impact Service Plan is an important step toward engaging residents, we think it is important to understand that the Service Plan is only one piece of what is necessary to have a truly engaged community. Ideally, our long term strategy will move beyond the Service Plan and begin to build the capacity to develop and implement a more comprehensive community engagement plan. In response to the Safe Community Task Force Recommendations, the 2010 Study on Crime and Poverty, conversations amongst staff and residents, and various City Council goals, several City staff members have been investigating and discussing best practices around resident engagement appropriate for implementation by local government. Our ultimate goal is a comprehensive engagement plan that is participatory, inclusive, deliberative and collaborative. The National League of Cities Center for Research and Innovation has put forth a document entitled "Planning for Stronger Local Democracy," which describes five types of public engagement activities appropriate for local government. These include: 1) circulating information, 2) discussing and connecting, 3) gathering initial input, 4) deliberating and recommending, and 5) deciding and acting. The coordination of volunteers and the provision of volunteer opportunities as described in the High Impact Service Plan falls within this final "action" category. In order for engagement to be truly successful on a broad scale, however, it will be necessary to engage residents in multiple ways and to do so much earlier in the process than at the action stage. In other words, we should be striving to develop staff capacity to implement an engagement plan that utilizes all five types of public engagement in strategic and effective ways. 3 One of the first steps in developing a comprehensive approach would involve assessment and planning. Components of such an assessment could include conducting the ICMA citizen survey, evaluating the success of current engagement activities performed by various departments, expanding successful initiatives and revising or eliminating Tess successful approaches. The assessment would assist us in determining areas in need of improvement and deciding the changes that need to occur within the organization in order to develop the capacity to successfully implement a well - rounded engagement strategy. Currently, our ability to undertake a comprehensive approach is limited by staff skills and time to devote to these efforts. RECOMMENDATION We believe consideration of a long term engagement strategy is warranted. When we consider in the five types of public engagement, volunteerism falls under just one area — deciding and acting which is a last stage of engagement. We limit our opportunities for engagement when it is at the last stage. As a city we believe we have opportunity to build an engagement strategy that embraces our citizens much earlier in the process. We believe that a comprehensive approach will assist us in better meeting the visions outlined in the Safe Community Task Force, Sustainable Dubuque as well as the Council top and high priority goals and vision. ACTION STEP We request affirmation to pursue development of a long term engagement strategy. This strategy will be more comprehensive and engage our citizens at many more places and in much higher levels — participative democracy at its best. MLW:KL:et copy Mary Bridget Corken Randy Gehl attachments VISTA VAD VISTA Volunteer Coordinator Announcement City of Service Declaration of Service 4 VISTA Assignment Description (VAD) - building tasks VISTA day -to -day Assignment Description: The VISTA assignment description should identify key capacity and activities that can be realistically accomplished in a single year. Include enough detail in the assignment description to guide the VISTA member while still allowing for flexibility in carrying out tasks and activities. Activity 1: Develop an understanding of the community and current volunteer efforts of the city, its initiatives and its partnerships. Step 1: Develop and complete a community assessment. Step 2: Meet with city departments currently utilizing volunteers as well as city initiatives and partnership organizations. Step 3: Identify current volunteer opportunities, recruitment efforts, successes and challenges. Step 4: Identify new volunteer opportunities and future outreach opportunities that have yet to be established. Step 5: Identify real needs that could be addressed by potential volunteers. . Planned Period of Work: 4/2011 - 6/2011 Activity 1 Comments: Currently several city departments use volunteers on a limited basis. There has been minimal coordination, recognition, and training. As a city we are very active in numerous initiatives and partnerships that would also benefit from the establishment of a Volunteer Center. Many of these initiatives and partnerships work on issues related to poverty including but not limited to Crescent Community Health Center, AmeriCorps Partners in Learning, Bridges Out of Poverty /Circles Initiative, Multicultural Family Center, faces and voices, Project Hope, Sustainable Dubuque, Every ChildlEvery Promise, Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation, and the Safe Community Task Force. Activity 2: Develop and establish a Volunteer Center for the community beginning with the city and its initiatives and partnerships with a goal of increasing capacity to engage volunteers in meaningful service. Step 1: Research best practices and develop the tools, policies, procedures and paperwork needed. Specific research can be done on successful city as well as community models. Step 2: Participate in VGF cohort for training, sharing of research, and support during development and establishment. Step 3: Create a volunteer referral program, volunteer management, volunteer training, volunteer recruitment, volunteer recognition program, volunteer retention and consulting and training opportunities for departments and partners based on volunteer initiatives. Step 4: Develop a database of department, initiative and partnership volunteer coordinators. Step 5: Research and select a volunteer management system and input necessary data. Step 6: Identify goal targets for categories including but not limited to volunteers connected by referral, partners engaging volunteers in meeting critical community needs, number of new volunteer opportunities, number of community assessments completed, volunteers attracted and volunteers retained. Planned Period of Work: 4/2011 - 12/2011 Copyright © 2007 by JBS International, Inc., Aguirre Division Step 7: Establish the Volunteer Center focused on connecting people with activities to serve. Activity 2 Comments: The foundation established in this activity will be based on best practices and understanding successes of others. Activity 3: Increase the awareness of civic engagement, opportunities and participation to the community at large. Step 1: Develop a marketing plan and materials Step 2: Assist with creation and maintenance of a Volunteer Center website presence. Step 3: Investigate social media best practices in volunteerism to reach youth and young adults. Step 3: Promote volunteering as a whole in the community through a variety of venues. Planned Period of Work: 6/2011 - 3/2012 Activity 3 Comments: The Volunteer Center will be as successful as the awareness of it. It's about connecting individuals with service but they must be aware that opportunity exists that matches their interests. Activity 4: Organize seminars and workshops and consult individually with departments, initiatives and partners to provide tools necessary to the success of the Volunteer Center. Step 1: Prepare training for the initiation of the Volunteer Center. Step 2: Provide ongoing consultation with departments, initiatives and partners. Step 3: Create evaluation tools to gather feedback from both volunteers and volunteer coordinators for Center improvement. Step 4: Provide volunteer management training for the city, its initiatives and partnerships as well as outreach with training in the community assisting non - profits. Planned Period of Work: 10/2011 - 3/2012 Activity 4 Comments: As we learn, we will share our insights and begin broadening the focus of the Center into the community. Trainings can assist others in our community to manage their volunteer resources better. Activity 5: Create the Volunteer Center with sustainability beyond the VISTA's tenure. Step 1: Investigate sustainable Volunteer Center models in Iowa and the US. Step 2: Research best practices to incorporate into the Volunteer Center. Step 3: Periodically provide written reports on activities and progress toward goals. Planned Period of Work: 4/2011- 3/2012 Activity 5 Comments: Dubuque's sustainability model includes environmental /ecological integrity, economic prosperity and social/cultural vibrancy. Our vision is "Dubuque is a viable, livable, and equitable community. We embrace economic prosperity, social /cultural vibrancy and environmental integrity to create a sustainable legacy for generations to come. The establishment of a Volunteer Center dovetails into this vision on all levels. Copyright © 2007 by JBS International, Inc., Aguirre Division Iowa Volunteer Generation VISTA Dubuque Center Coordinator Overview: The City of Dubuque is recruiting for an Iowa Volunteer Generation VISTA full -time position for Dubuque Volunteer Center Coordinator to assist with capacity building for volunteers for the city of Dubuque as well as its initiatives and partners. The position will research, develop and establish a Volunteer Center for the City of Dubuque and its initiatives and partnerships. The VISTA member will be supervised by the Leisure Services Department but work with a variety of city departments and community leaders. Current Job Posting: Iowa Volunteer Generation VISTA Dubuque Center Coordinator position will require skills of communication, public speaking, leadership, writing, recruitment, computers and community organization. This position requires an outgoing, self - starter that can work well as a team player. The member will work from June 2011 -June 2012. Benefit Information: VISTA living allowance of $10,296. Choice of education award of $5350 or end of service stipend. Health insurance and child care subsidy provided if eligible. No other employment may be held during VISTA term. Dubuque Volunteer Center Coordinator Duties: Develop an understanding of the community and current volunteer efforts of the city, its initiatives and its partnerships. Develop and establish a Volunteer Center for the community beginning with the city and its initiatives and partnerships with a goal of increasing capacity to engage volunteers in meaningful service. Increase the awareness of civic engagement, opportunities and participation to the community at large. Organize seminars and workshops and consult individually with departments, initiatives and partners to provide tools necessary to the success of the Volunteer Center. Create the Volunteer Center with sustainability beyond the VISTA's tenure. Service Description: The City has worked collaboratively with community partners for many years, working to meet community needs. For example, the City was instrumental in establishing the Multicultural Family Center in the low- income, downtown area to offer a variety of services. In addition, the City is taking a leadership role in building green energy and sustainability initiatives that have can have a strong impact for those living in poverty. The City manages an AmeriCorps project as a way to provide increased services to area youth. These are some examples of how the City supports "overall" community development initiatives, including volunteer efforts, to strengthen the community and not just "city" projects or initiatives. The VISTA will work to determine community needs around volunteer management, including identifying gaps in service and working with community partners to develop a Volunteer Center. The VISTA will work to determine the best organization to house the Volunteer Center and to determine the best structure to ensure sustainability for the Volunteer Center. The timing of this VISTA placement will enable them to participate as a cohort with the VGF grantees. The city sees this as a distinct advantage for moving the project forward and participating in a strong network of Volunteer Centers. How to Apply: On -line: Applications are taken on -line at www.americorps.gov. On the homepage under Join AmeriCorps select Iowa, on Iowa listing page, scroll down to Iowa Volunteer Generation VISTA - Dubuque Center Coordinator. Click Apply. Application deadline is 4 -17 -2011. Contact Information: For questions or additional information, please email parkreccitvofdubuque.orq or 563 -589 -4263. CITIES OF SERVICE DECLARATION OF SERVICE WHEREAS America has a proud tradition of service and volunteerism that dates back to the colonial era and today can be found in communities across the fifty states; WHEREAS the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama on April 21, 2009 builds on this tradition, encouraging all Americans to serve their communities in new ways; WHEREAS cities, home to many of the nation's most persistent challenges, are positioned to bring new leadership, facilitation, and innovation to the service movement; WHEREAS the current need for public- spirited residents to help address increased hardship resulting from the global financial and housing crises is clear; WHEREAS service enriches the lives of Americans of all ages, and each new generation of young Americans must be engaged to tackle emerging challenges; NOW, THEREFORE, we resolve to develop a coalition of mayors from cities large and small to work together to harness and focus the energies of our citizens. Cities of Service coalition members will support efforts to increase service opportunities in our cities by: Developing a comprehensive service plan and a coordinated strategy focused on matching volunteers and established community partners to the areas of greatest local need; Working with other mayors and elected officials to advance strategies and best practices that accelerate the service movement and produce measurable results; Encouraging other mayors to join this national effort to engage our citizens; and Ensuring that the voice of cities is heard in federal legislative, policy, and program discussions related to service, which will help the country achieve the ambitious goals of the Sery merica Act. /l (Signs re) Mayor Roy D. Buol (Mayor's Name - please print) CITIESOFSERVICE.ORG CITIES OF SERVICE 50 W. 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 Mayor's Office Address City, State, Zip 563 - 564 -5455 rdbuol@cityofdubuque.org Mayor's Telephone Marie L. Ware Mayor's Email Address Leisure Services Manager Staff Contact Name Staff Contact Title 563- 589 -4264 mware @cityofdubuque.org Staff Contact Telephone Staff Contact Email Address To join Cities of Service, please sign the Declaration of Service, fill in the information above, and return this form to the coalition, attention Na'eem Crawford, via fax at 212- 205 -9162 or by email to info @citiesofservice.org. CITIESOFSERVICE.ORG Take Action Dubuque THE CITY OF Dub City of Dubuque's High Impact Service Plan Masterpiece on the Mississippi SUSTAINABLE_: DUBUQUE viable • livable • eav:rablr 2 Table of Contents Message from the Mayor 3 Executive Summary 4 About Cities of Service 5 About AARP 5 About Cities of Service -AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer 6 Service in our City 6 Initiatives Overview 7 Acknowledgements 13 Appendices 13 Masterpiece on the Mississippi Dear Citizens, Dubuque All-America city 111 1' 2007 3 I am deeply proud of the ethic of service that permeates our city. Whether it's the outpouring of volunteers for Days of Service, the conscious citizens who serve on boards and commissions, the generosity of Dubuque's adults who mentor and tutor children or the hundreds of citizens who volunteer regularly in support of Sustainable Dubuque, Dubuquers have always found meaningful ways to help one another. In June 2011, I was delighted to announce that Dubuque joined the Cities of Service coalition and partnered with AARP to bring the City's first volunteer Chief Service Officer to develop Take Action Dubuque. Take Action Dubuque highlights Sustainable Dubuque's Social and Cultural Vibrancy vision and therefore it is with great pride and enthusiasm that I release Take Action Dubuque, the City's first strategic blueprint for service. Take Action Dubuque is a high impact service plan that seeks to engage citizens through several volunteer initiatives. The answers to some of Dubuque's challenges cannot come from government alone. Residents have always played a critical role in providing essential services to our community. Now with Take Action Dubuque, I purposefully call upon Dubuquers to volunteer with other citizens as both active participants and recipients. I want to thank all of you who will play a role in bringing Take Action Dubuque to life over the next year and beyond. Together, we can share our time, energy, and expertise to make Dubuque an even more viable, livable and equitable community. Ultimately, Take Action Dubuque is an invitation to Dubuque citizens to be a part of solving some of Dubuque's challenges. With assistance from city staff, I encourage you to take ownership of your neighborhoods and connect with your neighbors. Take Action Dubuque will support you in these challenges with two main opportunities. First, Love Your Block — a high impact service strategy to improve neighborhoods and community cohesiveness. And secondly, a new volunteer website — a web based clearinghouse that matches volunteers with opportunities to take action throughout Dubuque. I hope Take Action Dubuque inspires you to become actively engaged and to create a more vibrant Dubuque. Roy Boul, Mayor 4 Executive Summary Take Action Dubuque: Using Service to Respond to City Challenges In June of 2011, Mayor Buol and Dubuque joined the Cities of Service coalition and received support from AARP to bring on the city's first volunteer Chief Service Officer. From this support, Take Action Dubuque was created as a blueprint to address two specific challenges: neighborhood development and connecting Dubuquers to service. In developing this service blueprint, the Chief Service Officer invested countless hours listening and learning from the experiences and goals of a wide range of stakeholders including city staff, service and non - profit organizations, neighborhood specialists, community residents, business professionals, the City Council 2011 goals and the recommendations of the Safe Community Task Force. From this collective knowledge base two specific challenges stood out in Dubuque: neighborhood development and connecting Dubuquers to service. Take Action Dubuque will focus on these specific challenges within: Neighborhood Development • Volunteers need to be used strategically to address the City's most pressing needs within neighborhoods. • Neighbors and residents need to positively interact with each other resulting in community cohesion. Connecting Dubuquers to Service • It needs to be easier for Dubuquers to find meaningful service opportunities. Take Action Dubuque invites Dubuquers to convene and connect with their neighbors to create a more united, vibrant Dubuque. Specifically, Take Action Dubuque calls Dubuquers to take ownership of and pride in their neighborhoods and embrace Sustainable Dubuque's call for social and cultural vibrancy. Take Action Dubuque has three important goals: • Assist volunteers to take ownership of their neighborhoods and build a sense of pride in their surroundings through neighborhood beautification projects. • Create and elevate volunteer opportunities which can increase resident interaction. • Help Dubuquers connect to service opportunities more easily. Take Action Dubuque will achieve these goals with these specific strategies: 5 • Love Your Block – a high - impact service strategy to improve neighborhoods and community cohesiveness through neighborhood organized volunteer beautification cleanup projects. • A volunteer website – a web based clearinghouse that matches volunteers with opportunities and promotes one -time and ongoing volunteer opportunities. It will provide a central location for non - profits and civic agencies to house volunteer opportunities. Take Action Dubuque is an opportunity for Dubuquers to take action and enhance any part of their neighborhood. Working toward a collective goal will lead to greater community cohesion and create a more viable, livable and equitable Dubuque community. About Cities of Service Founded in New York City on September 10, 2009 by 17 mayors from cities across the nation, Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition of mayors who have committed to work together to engage citizens to address critical city needs through impact volunteerism. The coalition aims to create a vibrant and growing network of municipal governments effectively leveraging citizen service as a reliable, viable tool to achieve measurable impact on pressing local challenges. By accelerating the service movement at the most local level— connecting local needs to the supply of willing volunteers in innovative and impactful new ways — Cities of Service aspires to create a new chapter in America's longstanding history of service while making local government more effective. Today, the Cities of Service coalition includes more than 100 mayors, representing nearly 50 million Americans. Like the founding mayors, each coalition member has made a commitment to work with other mayors around the country and advance service strategies in their own city by crafting a high- impact service plan. About AARP AARP, formerly, the American Association of Retired Persons, was founded on the principle of service. Since its establishment in 1958, AARP has been dedicated to delivering value to its members through service. Now, with the heightened interest in civic engagement and a new vitality around service, including the passage of the Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009, AARP is well positioned to tap into the strength of its millions of members to help solve pressing problems at the community level through the Cities of Service – AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer Initiative. About Cities of Service -AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer Initiative The City of Dubuque joined the Cities of Service — AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer (CSO) Initiative in July 2011. Through this collaboration between Cities of Service and AARP, coalition members with less than 125,000 residents have been given the opportunity to appoint a highly - skilled Chief Service Officer for one year. Dubuque is one of 10 cities participating in this initiative along with: Surprise, AZ; Allentown, PA; York, PA; Pierre, SD; Vermillion, SD; Kingsport, TN; Nacogdoches, TX; Glens Falls, NY; and Davenport, IA. A Chief Service Officer is a member of the City's leadership team and is responsible for the development and implementation of a high- impact service plan that leverages citizen service to address the city's most pressing challenges. In addition to appointing a Chief Service Officer, participating cities receive a $5,000 Recognition Award from AARP and technical assistance from Cities of Service to develop and implement their high- impact service plans. Service in our City Between July and October 2011, the City of Dubuque's Chief Service Officer was a VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) who worked in the Leisure Services office and met with 40 key stakeholders in the community. The purpose of these meetings were to: 1) Identify existing service programs in Dubuque 2) Identify challenges facing our City 3) How these challenges could be addressed through service 4) Identify other organizations or individuals that could participate in moving forward The key stakeholders who engaged in this process included a wide variety of city staff and managers, city partners and non - profits throughout Dubuque. Through these meetings the City of Dubuque identified a priority need area, specific challenges within the priority need area and an overarching cross - cutting challenge. (For names and positions of stakeholders, see Appendices). City of Dubuque - Landscape Analysis Priority Need Area Neighborhood Development Specific challenges within the priority need area Volunteers are not always used strategically to address the City's most pressing needs within neighborhoods- particularly around issues of neighborhood beautification and cohesiveness. Neighbors and residents need to positively interact with each other resulting in community cohesion. Cross - cutting challenge It needs to be easier for Dubuquers to find meaningful service opportunities. Take Action Dubuque Using Service to Respond to City Challenges Impact Initiative Overview Love Your Block Love Your Block is a simple and cost effective way to achieve measurable impact in local communities by enhancing any neighborhood space and strengthening a neighborhood's social capital By providing resources to volunteers, Love Your Block works to improve and beautify an area, thereby reducing negative behaviors and instilling neighborhood cohesion and pride Love Your Block is a tested, high - impact service strategy that engages community members in revitalizing any part of their neighborhood Volunteer -led groups and organizations from across Dubuque will work together to create a more vibrant community The City of Dubuque will use the recognition award from HARP to support five Love Your Block grants of up to $750 for each block beautification project to be carried out by community volunteers The other funds will help with the promotion of Take Action Dubuque The City of Dubuque will help coordinate each project and support each project through key City departments Some examples of Love Your Block projects include but are not limited to landscaping, tree planting, communitylblock gardens, painting and litter collection 8 Take Action Dubuque: Using Service to Respond to City Challenges Impact Initiative Overview Love Your Block Challenge We Discovered Goal and Strategy Initiative What We'II Measure Action Plan Volunteers need to be used strategically to address the City's most pressing needs within neighborhoods- particularly around issues of neighborhood beautification and cohesiveness. Assist volunteers to take ownership of their neighborhoods and build a sense of pride in their surroundings. Love Your Block — a high- impact service strategy to improve neighborhood beautification and cohesiveness through community organized volunteer cleanup projects Amount of space or other geographic unit beautified /revitalized, and a combination of the following: trees planted, flowers planted, green spaces or community gardens created /enhance, litter collected and buildings painted. Access the simple application for Love Your Block by calling or emailing Mary Bridget Corken at 563-690 - 6048 or mcorken @cityofdu buque.org. Neighbors and residents need to positively interact with each other resulting in community cohesion. Create and elevate volunteer opportunities which can increase resident interaction. Neighborhood residents and outside neighborhood residents who participated, physical resources created that could be used again by the neighborhood, and community engagement with a short post -event survey. Infrastructure Initiative Overview Volunteer Website The volunteer website is a new initiative developed by the Chief Service Officer to serve as a clearinghouse that matches volunteers to opportunities and promotes one -time and on -going volunteer opportunities. The website will be able to house volunteer opportunities from all across the City. The website will promote the service outlined in Take Action Dubuque while also enabling citizens to review a wider range of volunteer opportunities. The website is infrastructure that will boost Take Action Dubuque in several ways including: enhancing search and matching capabilities, promoting opportunities that address our greatest needs and encouraging individuals and community groups to engage in self- directed service efforts. As well as Take Action Dubuque's initiatives, all other City volunteer opportunities will be posted on the website to allow volunteers to review the most current events and easily register as a Dubuque volunteer. Infrastructure Initiative Overview Volunteer Website Challenge We Goal and What We'II Discovered Strategy Initiative Measure Action Plan It needs to be easier Help more Volunteer website Number of Register as a for Dubuquers to find Dubuquers Dubuque volunteer to find meaningful service easily connect residents volunteer opportunities. to service opportunities. registered and number of opportunities. Dubuque organizations or agencies registered. 10 Other Opportunities to Volunteer in Dubuque Multicultural Family Center The Multicultural Family Center (MFC) officially opened its doors on July 9, 2005 and due to the large amount of growth, in 2008, a partnership was formed between the City of Dubuque, Dubuque Community School District, and the MFC to expand the MFC to a new location at 1157 Central Avenue Since its opening, the Multicultural Family Center has developed a two - pronged approach to reaching out and addressing the needs that are currently challenging the community The MFC first prong is to offer programming to any person or persons in the Dubuque community The second prong at the MFC is community education The individuals who work and volunteer at the Center bring an incredible wealth of experiences and knowledge regarding diversity issues Relationships— intergenerational, intercultural, and interracial —are at the core of the AFC's identity The Center serves as an inviting and safe place for community members, stimulates connections, and provides programs to foster civic engagement and social and economic success For more information visit www mfcdbq orq Green Iowa AmeriCorps Green Iowa AmeriCorps empowers Iowa communities through energy education, home weatherization and outreach This non - profit community service organization is housed under the City of Dubuque's Sustainable Dubuque Some services Green Iowa AmeriCorps can provide are caulking and sealing windows, installing door sweeps, sealing duct joints with aluminum tape and much more Opportunities are available to learn more about weatherization by attending a weatherization workshop or scheduling a free presentation with Green Iowa AmeriCorps There are also opportunities to volunteer for a weatherization service project 11 For more information contact an Iowa Green AmeriCorps at 563- 690 -6032 or through email at greeniowaDB@gmail.com. Green and Healthy Homes Initiative The Green and Healthy Homes Initiative is an integrated sustainability model that the City of Dubuque, its local partners, state and federal partners are implementing to create a holistic household- centric approach to improving health, safety, livability and affordability of housing in Dubuque. Participating households will be given a complete Healthy Homes Assessment, receive counseling on health and safety issues and have lead hazards repaired according to HUD guidelines. Volunteers will assist Green and Healthy Homes inspectors with proper repairs and assist the homeowners in sustaining the improvements. Green and Healthy Homes is looking to create not only healthier homes but ultimately, healthier neighborhoods. For more information contact Mary Bridget Corken at mcorken@cityofdubuque.org. Bridges Initiative In 2007 a group of concerned citizens and service providers met to develop a plan to eliminate poverty in the Dubuque Community. These leaders understood poverty was not just about "having enough money" and recognized ending poverty would require a shift in behavior and thinking of individuals as well as the community as a whole. This group developed the Bridges Initiative. Today, the Bridges. Initiative seeks to address poverty on all levels, from uplifting the individuals living in poverty to addressing the systematic barriers and policies keeping people there. There are opportunities for everyone who wants to be involved in this important work. For more information visit, www.cityofdubuque.org /Bridges. Days of Caring 12 Days of Caring is a yearly event where volunteers from around the Dubuque area will join local charities & organizations to work on one -time service projects. Participating charities & organizations are matched with volunteers from the community and local businesses who choose to give their time, talents and services to impact our community's needs. The most important resource Dubuque has is its people. Volunteers who work, who invest and who care about making a long -term change in the community make it a better place to live, work, play and do business. Volunteers make the Days of Caring so successful! Some services that can be provided are painting, landscaping, washing windows, general cleaning and lawn maintenance. For more information visit www.dbgdaysofcaring.org. Acknowledgments Thank you to AARP and Cities of Service for their collaboration and assistance in so many ways. Take Action Dubuque would not be possible without AARP's generous $5,000 Recognition Award and the on -going assistance and support from Cities of Service staff. 13 Appendices Service in Our City Stakeholder Name Position Maddy Cross Multicultural Family Center Assistant Director Peggy Demker Read To Me Foundation Director Jerelyn O'Connor City of Dubuque Neighborhood Specialist Kelly Larson City of Dubuque Human Rights Director Mary Rose Corrigan City of Dubuque Public Health Specialist Tara Velez Multicultural Family Center Director Amy Schauer Retired Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.) Director Deb Bell AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Director Cori Burbach City of Dubuque Sustainable Community Coordinator Christie Trilk Dubuque Main Street Program Specialist Maggie Baker Iowa Campus Compact Director Chris Olson Four Mounds Foundation Director Carroll Clark City of Dubuque Family Self- Sufficiency Coordinator Stacy Martin Foster Grandparent Program Director Shannon Gaherty Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Newcomer Relations Specialist Beverly Berna Multicultural Family Center Board of Directors Nicole Johnson Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque AmeriCorps Dubuque County Volunteer Reception Center Committee Shelly Malone Live Healthy Dubuque Committee Chair Eric Dregne Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Vice President of Programs Angela Petsche Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation Executive Director Lindsey Harms Green and Healthy Homes Initiative Home Advocate Vicky Sutter Dubuque National River Museum Development Director Dubuque Community Wellness Coalition Dennette Kellogg City of Dubuque Public Library Administrative Assistant Diana Painter Project HOPE Coordinator 14 Iowa Green AmeriCorps Members Angela Grunder Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois Leadership Experience Manager Randy Gehl City of Dubuque Public Information Director Dubuque Downtown Christian Outreach (D.D.C.O.) Dr. Rick Anderson Loras College Professor of Sociology Kathy Eldridge Crescent Community Healthy Center Gardening Coordinator Mary Purdy St. Luke's Methodist Church Wading Pool Gardens Coordinator Crista Koch Dubuque Community YMCA Aquatics Director Kelli Buchenau City of Dubuque Public Information Assistant Kristina Tranel City of Dubuque Sustainable Dubuque VISTA Amanda Dellwo Multicultural Family Center Teen Coordinator Cheryl Peacock Dubuque Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Activities Director Priority Need Area Specific Challenge Initiative Description Impact Metrics Participations Metrics Initiative Lead Start Date Neighborhood Volunteers need Love Love Your Amount of space or # of volunteers Take Spring Development to be used Your Block is a new other geographic unit Action 2012 strategically to address the City's most pressing needs within neighborhoods — particularly around issues of neighborhood beautification and cohesiveness Block block revitalization program created to provide resources for volunteers to reduce blight and instill neighborhood cohesion and pride. beautified /revitalized, and a combination of the following: trees planted, flowers planted, green spaces or community gardens created /enhance, litter collected and buildings painted Dubuque Neighbors and residents need to positively interact with each other resulting in community cohesion. Neighborhood groups from across the City will be invited to propose volunteer -led projects to transform up to 5 spaces with the support of key Neighborhood residents and outside neighborhood residents who participated, physical resources created that could be used again by the neighborhood, community engagement with a short post -event survey City departments. 16 Cross- Cutting Challenge Initiative Description Metrics Initiative Lead Start Date It needs to be Volunteer website The new website was developed by the Number of Take Spring 2012 easier for Chief Service Officer to serve as a Dubuque Action Dubuquers to find meaningful service opportunities. clearinghouse for volunteers to locate and access one -time and on -going volunteer opportunities. It will include enhanced search and matching capabilities, can promote opportunities that address our greatest needs and encourage individuals and community groups to engage in self- directed service efforts. residents registered and number of Dubuque organizations or agencies registered Dubuque Community Engagement Survey 1. I can recognize most of the people who live on my block. 2. My neighbors and I want the same things from the block. 3. If there is a problem on the block people who live here can get it solved. 4. In general, would you say that people on your block watch after each other and help out when they can, or do they pretty much go their own way? 5. Would you say that it is very important, somewhat important, or not important to you to feel a sense of community with the people on your block? 6. Would you say that you feel a strong sense of community with others on your block, very little sense of community or something tin between?