Loading...
Cities of Service Grant_Letter of IntentMasterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Letter of Intent to Apply for Cities of Service Grant DATE: July 6, 2012 Dubuque bierd All-America City 1 2007 Human Rights Director Kelly Larson is transmitting a Letter of Intent to apply for the Cities of Service Grant to implement the High Impact Service Plan. Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO Michael C Van Milligen, City Manager FROM Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director DATE July 3, 2012 SUBJECT Letter of Intent to Apply for Cities of Service Grant Dubuque had NI- America City 'I 1 1 I' 2007 INTRODUCTION This Letter of Intent to apply forthe Cities of Service Grant is to implement the High Impact Service Plan that was created by Mary Bridget Corken BACKGROUND Attached please find the Letter of Intent to apply for the Cities of Service Grant In the Letter of Intent I focused on initiatives listed in the High Impact Service Plan since the Plan was already approved by the Mayor and Council We are free to change our focus areas in the final grant if we so choose I have designated Nikola Pavelic, our Community Engagement Coordinator, as the Chief Service Officer If we intend to apply for multiple initiatives, we need to designate someone who will be employed full time for the duration of the grant, so we cannot designate Trisha Federspiel, our VISTA member Attachment Kelly Larson Dubuque, IA Dubuque, IA Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Volunteering Fund 2012 Dubuque, IA City Clerk's Office 50 W. 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 Kelly Larson rdbuol @cityofdubuque.org 0: 563- 589 -4121 1300 Main Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Idarson@cityofdubuque.org 0: 563 - 589 -4190 M: 563 - 564 -5807 F: 563 - 690 -6691 Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Printed On: 28 June 2012 Volunteering Fund 2012 1 Kelly Larson Dubuque, IA Application Form Report Fields City, State* Dubuque, IA Instructions Number of initiatives * Indicate the number of initiatives for which funds will be requested. 7 Amount requested* Indicate the grant amount requested. Please note that only cities with Chief Service Officers funded through the period of the grant are eligible for multiple initiative grants. $100,000 (multiple initiatives) Mayor and City Information Name of City* City of Dubuque City population* 57637 Name of Mayor* Roy D. Buol Date the Mayor's current term in office will conclude* 12/31/2013 Is your city a Cities of Service coalition member ?* Yes Involvement with Cities of Service How has the City been involved with Cities of Service in the past? The City of Dubuque received a $5,000 grant and joined the Cities of Service Coalition in 2011, with AmeriCorps VISTA member Mary Bridget Corken serving as chief service officer. During her tenure, our CSO Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Printed On: 28 June 2012 Volunteering Fund 2012 2 Kelly Larson Dubuque, IA created a high impact service plan and also inflated the Love Your Block Service Strategy. Additionally, she took some initial steps to create an on -line portal for volunteering here in our community. In June 2012, Mary Bridget completed her VISTA term. In the meantime, the City has created the full -time position of Community Engagement Coordinator. We have hired a person to fill this position and he will begin work on July 23, 2012. While his duties will expand beyond volunteer work, he will also serve as the City's CSO. Advancing Cities of Service Principles* Describe how the City has acted in accordance with the Cities of Service Declaration, which can be found at http://www.citiesofservice.org/about/declaration-of-service/: The City of Dubuque has acted in accordance with the Cities of Service Declaration by identifying areas of community need and creating the high impact service plan in alignment with those needs. The initiatives listed in the service plan have a level of staffing and resources sufficient to indicate that leadership in the community is dedicated to their continuation and their ability to address unmet needs, yet breadth of measurable impact will be dependent on our ability to garner sufficient volunteers to assist the staff in carrying out the work We have begun to articulate measurable targets for these initiatiaves. We have purchased a software license that will allow us to match volunteers to these opportunities based on volunteer skills and interests, along with the needs of the major initiatives. In addition, the City has created a full time position of Community Engagement Coordinator to develop systems and strategies to enhance community engagement on an ongoing basis. City's Service Plan If the city has a service plan, please upload it here or provide a link to the plan if it is available online. High Impact Service Plan.doc Contact Information Name of individual to contact regarding grant:* Kelly Larson Title* Human Rights Director Email* Idarson@cityofdubuque.org Phone number* 563 - 589 -4190 Mailing address* 1300 Main Street, Dubuque, IA 52001 Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Printed On: 28 June 2012 Volunteering Fund 2012 3 Kelly Larson Dubuque, IA Chief Service Officer Information Name of Chief Service Officer (CSO) or individual in similar full -time role, if any Nikola Pavelic Title if not using "Chief Service Officer" Community Engagement Coordinator Reporting relationship of CSO Please state the reporting relationship of the CSO to the Mayor (i.e., does the CSO report directly to the Mayor? To the Chief of Staff who reports to the Mayor? Other line of reporting ?) Reports to department head who reports to city manager & mayor Average number of hours spent per week on CSO responsibilities? 20 Will the CSO position be funded through the proposed term of the grant? yes Primary source of funding for CSO position Please note that proof of local funding will be requested when the application is submitted by August 31, 2012. If the CSO position is defunded during the period of the grant, the grant may be terminated. City agency Initiative Information (first initiative) Working title of initiative Volunteer Center Brief description of initiative This initiative will continue the creation of the infrastructure needed in our community to support our efforts to recruit and retain volunteers for the remaining six initiatives listed in our application. It will involve launching the volunteer matching software, training the staff involved in each of the other six initiatives in use of the software and in volunteer recruitment and retention best practices, educating the public on the importance of the other six initiatives and the need for volunteers, and marketing the volunteer opportunities available. Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint Blueprints may be downloaded at http: / /www.citiesofservice.org /resources /blueprints/ Not based on a Blueprint Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Printed On: 28June 2012 Volunteering Fund 2012 4 Kelly Larson Dubuque, IA Initiative Information (second initiative) Working title of initiative Love Your Block Brief description of initiative In 2010, a Safe Community Task Force (SCTF) working in our community contracted with Northern Illinois University Center on Governmental Studies to examine crime and poverty in Dubuque. The study resulted in recommendations that the community focus on building social cohesion in neighborhoods, particularly those impacted by crime and poverty. We launched Love Your Block this past spring as one response to this community need, and we are currently evaluating the results of that effort. We intend to apply for funds to expand this effort into another year. Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint Love Your Block Initiative Information (third initiative) Working title of initiative Green Iowa AmeriCorps Weatherization Brief description of initiative Dubuque has a significant stock of older housing in need of upgrades in order to improve energy efficiency and affordability for the homeowner. Green Iowa AmeriCorps members currently provide home weatherization services and are in need of volunteers who can be trained to assist with weatherization work This initiative would involve training volunteers so they can carry on the work of the AmeriCorps Members work when the AmeriCorps grant comes to an end. Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint Sustainable Home Makeover Initiative Information (fourth initiative) Working title of initiative Green and Healthy Homes Initiative Brief description of initiative The Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) is a public - private partnership that refocuses how we as a nation repair and improve housing in economically challenged communities. GHHI is leading a national strategy to make sure all families and children live in homes that are healthy, safe, energy - efficient and sustainable. Creating greener, safer, and healthier homes leads to more stable housing, a higher quality of life and better health, mental health and social and economic outcomes for parents and their children. GHHI is in need of volunteers who can assist homeowners in cleaning and organizing their homes both to improve health and safety, and to ready the home for contractors to come in and perform the needed repairs and energy Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Printed On: 28 June 2012 Volunteering Fund 2012 5 Kelly Larson Dubuque, IA efficiency updates. The focus of this initiative would be on recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers to fill this need so that GHHI can reach its goals related to homeowners served and issues addressed. Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint Not based on a Blueprint Initiative Information (fifth initiative) Working title of initiative Circles Initiative Brief description of initiative Circles® is an innovative model based on a body of research suggesting that in order for low income families to improve their situation, they must have bonding social capital within the community, bridging social capital to access the resources contained by higher income networks, and linking social capital that connects the first two with public institutions. Operating in communities around the country, each Circles® initiative consists of a family working to get out of poverty and several middle and upper income Allies who befriend them and lend support. The family is the Circle Leader, setting direction for activities. With the help and friendship of their Allies, each Circle Leader sets and achieves goals unique to their own needs. The City of Dubuque recently launched Circles and the success of the intiative will be dependent on recruiting and retaining sufficient volunteers to serve as Allies and measuring the outcomes for Circle Leaders. Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint Not based on a Blueprint Initiative Information (sixth initiative) Working title of initiative Multicultural Family Center Brief description of initiative Our community is growing and changing demographically, and this initiative relates to building a cohesive pluralistic community. The mission of the Multicultural Family Center (MFC) is to build unity through diversity by offering programming and education designed to meet needs that are currently challenging the community. Relationships — intergenerational, intercultural, and interracial —are at the core of the MFC's identity, and much of the work to build those relationships and the associated social cohesion in the community depends on recruiting and retaining volunteers that bring a wealth of experiences and knowledge regarding diversity issues. 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. This initiative would focus on raising awareness of volunteer opportunities at the Center, recruiting, retaining, and supporting volunteers. Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint Not based on a Blueprint Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Printed On: 28 June 2012 Volunteering Fund 2012 6 Kelly Larson Dubuque, IA Initiative Information (seventh initiative) Working title of initiative Days of Caring Brief description of initiative Days of Caring is a yearly event where volunteers from around the Dubuque area 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. Some services that can be provided are painting, landscaping, washing windows, general cleaning and lawn maintenance. This initiative will focus on expanding the Days of Caring concept beyond a once a year event by encouraging businesses to support volunteering by their employees on a monthly basis. This initiative is aligned with citizen recommendations from the Safe Community Task Force that we enlist more volunteers in assisting residents in low and moderate income areas with their home repair needs. Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint Not based on a Blueprint Initiative Information (eighth initiative) Working title of initiative (Unanswered) Brief description of initiative (Unanswered) Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint (Unanswered) Initiative Information (ninth initiative) Working title of initiative [Unanswered] Brief description of initiative (Unanswered) Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Bluepint [Unanswered] Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Printed On: 28 June 2012 Volunteering Fund 2012 7 Kelly Larson Dubuque, IA Initiative Information (tenth initiative) Working title of initiative [Unanswered] Brief description of initiative [Unanswered] Indicate if initiative is based on a Service as a Strategy Blueprint [Unanswered] Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Printed On: 28June 2012 Volunteering Fund 2012 8 Kelly Larson Application Files Dubuque, IA File Uploads • High Impact Service Plan.doc Printed On: 28June 2012 Intent to Apply - Cities of Service Impact Volunteering Fund 2012 9 THE CITY OF Dui Take Action Dubuque City of Dubuque's High Impact Service Plan Masterpiece on the Mississippi SUSTAINABLE DUBUQUE viable • livable • equitable 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 3 Message from the Mayor Dear Citizens, 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, our new website, www.cityofdubuque.org /volunteer — a web based clearinghouse for volunteers to locate 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. • www.cityofdubque.org /volunteer - a web based clearinghouse for volunteers to locate and access one -time and ongoing volunteer opportunities and 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. 7 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 AARP 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, community /block gardens, painting and litter collection. Action Dubuque: Using Service to Respond to City Challenges Impact Initiative Overview Love Your Block Take 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. Find the simple application for Love Your Block on our new website, www.cityofdubuque .org /volunteer. Or call or email 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 www.citvofdubuque.org /volunteer The new website, www.cityofdubuque.org /volunteer, is a new initiative with the City of Dubuque and will become the City of Dubuque's first Volunteer Center. This website was developed by the Chief Service Officer to serve as a clearinghouse for volunteers to locate and access one -time and on -going volunteer opportunities and to house volunteer opportunities from all across the City. The website, www .cityofdubuque.org /volunteer, 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. Other Opportunities to Volunteer in Dubuque Infrastructure Initiative Overview www.citvofdubuque.org /volunteer Challenge We Discovered Goal and Strategy Initiative What Well Measure Action Plan It needs to be easier for Dubuquers to find meaningful service opportunities. Help more Dubuquers easily connect to service opportunities. www.cityofdubuque Number of Dubuque residents registered and number of Dubuque organizations or agencies registered. Register as a volunteer today at www.cityofdubuque .org /volunteer and find possible volunteer opportunities. .org /volunteer Other Opportunities to Volunteer in Dubuque 10 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 MFC'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 To become a volunteer with the Multicultural Family Center, register as a volunteer at www citvofdubuque orglvolunteer Snow Angels Program The winter season brings lots of excitement and Joy, but for some Dubuque residents it can also be one of the most difficult times of the year Therefore, Dubuque is introducing Snow Angels Snow Angels is a referral program connecting willing volunteers and individuals in need of assistance with snow - shoveling in the winter Snow Angels also aims to develop a culture of neighbors - helping - neighbors in the Dubuque community Snow Angels are volunteers who commit to serving a neighbor -in -need for an entire winter Snow 11 Angels look to make snow removal less daunting for Dubuque elderly and physically - disabled residents and foster stronger community relationships. Individuals seeking assistance must be age 60 or older and /OR have a physical disability. Individuals must also live within Dubuque City limits and lack access to the available resources (financial resources or local family /friends) to assist with snow removal. Anyone looking for assistance can learn more by calling or emailing Mary Bridget Corken at 563 - 690 -6048 or mcorken@cityofdubuque.org. Willing Snow Angels can register as a volunteer at www.cityofdubuque.org /volunteer. 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. For more information contact an Iowa Green AmeriCorps at 563- 690 -6032 or through email at greeniowaDBegmaii.com. To become a volunteer with the Iowa Green AmeriCorps, register as a volunteer at www.cityofdubuque.org/volunteer. 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@cityofdubugue.org. To become a volunteer with Green and Healthy Homes, register as a volunteer at www.cityofdubuque.org /volunteer. 12 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 immix/Pr] in this important work. For more information visit, www.cityofdubuque.org /Bridges. To become a volunteer with the Bridges Initiative, register as a volunteer at www.cityofdubuque.org /volunteer. Days of Caring 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 along -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.dbqdaysofcaring.org. To become a volunteer for Dubuque Days of Caring please register as a volunteer at www.cityofdubuque.org /volunteer. 13 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. 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 14 Dubuque Community Wellness Coalition Dennette Kellogg City of Dubuque Public Library Administrative Assistant Diana Painter Project HOPE Coordinator 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 easier for www.cityofdubuque.org / The new website, cityofdubuque.org /volunteer, was Number of Dubuque Take Action Spring 2012 volunteer Dubuquers to find meaningful service opportunities. developed by the Chief Service Officer to serve as a 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?