Accomplishments during 2005 included the following:
- Established County Councils
A series of meetings were held with a diverse group of residents in each COOgeographic site to give them the opportunity to determine the composition,
process for the selection of COO council members, and membership for eachof the four committees - community development; economic development;
education; and leadership.
Developed Comprehensive Community Plans
Based on the information from the surveys and focus group meetings, residents in Leflore County and St. Francis County Communities of Opportunity developed a Comprehensive Community Plan (2005-2010). President George Penick and Vice President/Director of the Communities of Opportunity Beverly Divers-White presented this plan to the Walton Family Foundation in May 2005.
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Hired Residents from Each County to Serve as Liaisons at the Local Level
Community Liaisons were selected and trained to administer surveys within each incorporated and unincorporated small town in the county and to administer a comprehensive survey for the entire county. In addition, Community Liaisons facilitated focus group meetings throughout each county.
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Provided Sector Specific Training
Mid South Delta Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) A contract to LISC in the amount of $196,000 was used to provide an organizational assessment, training, technical assistance, and networking opportunities for community development corporations in each geographic site. In addition to the support provided by LISC, the COO staff funded the participation of the community development corporations in a regional conference sponsored by the Housing Assistance Council.
Learning 24/7 A cost–share contract with The Delta Bridge Project (Phillips County) was supported with $67,000 from the Communities of Opportunity for Snapshot Audits in Forrest City and Hughes School Districts in St. Francis Counties. The audits conducted for each classroom in both districts were used to establish a common language and understanding of effective leadership skills and behaviors, effective teaching, and measures of student learning.
Learning 24/7
A cost-share contract with The Delta Bridge Project (Phillips County) was supported with $70,296 to implement a Summer Learning Institute for administrators in Forrest City and Hughes School Districts. The Institute provided instructional leaders (central office and building) with the tools and strategies to lead the school improvement process. Participants left the Institute with an implementation plan for school improvement and a professional library of books to deepen their understanding of the role of leadership in creating school improvement.
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Provided Grants for each Community of Opportunity
St. Francis County CDC - A grant in the amount of $150,000 was used as a leverage to support a 15-unit affordable housing development, with a total project cost of $2,448,000. The development will be constructed in Forrest City for Phase I of the five-year plan.
Valley CDC - A grant in the amount of $213,500 to support the construction of a 14-unit rental complex for low-wealth residents in Itta Bena, Mississippi will complete the project cost of $854,000.
Hughes School District - A grant in the amount of $102,416 was awarded to the school district. Of the total amount, $51,632 was used to support the ongoing implementation of Learning 24/7, a systemic approach to school improvement. A sum of $50,784 was used to support a Classroom Library Program at the high school. Training was provided to each teacher to identify effective instructional and motivational strategies for improving the reading skills of high school students.
Awarded $85,000 in Mini-Grants in Leflore County:
Morgan City ($45,000) - The Morgan City Cultural Enrichment/Recreation Project will create an academic environment for youth to promote learning and academic excellence and will improve the health and lifestyle of community residents through health and physical wellness education.
Three Rivers CDC for the Browning Community ($20,000) - The Browning residents will renovate and expand current park facilities to provide physical and recreational activities in order to promote a healthy lifestyle for youth and adults.
Quito ($20,000) - The Quito project goal is to drastically reduce the mosquito infestation throughout the community and eliminate unhealthy environments where the mosquitoes breed and thrive.
Received $95,000 in Mini-Grant Funds for St. Francis County
Madison Street and Drainage Project - The project goal is to install a drainage system that will reduce safety hazards during peak raining seasons and reduce flood damage to streets, parking lots, buildings, and residents' vehicles. Wheatley Street Repair Project - The project goal is to enhance citizen safety and extend street life by widening and repairing majo r city streets throughout Wheatley.
Widener Street/Road Improvement Project - The project goal is to increase the potential for single family housing unit development, for low to moderate- income residents, through the improvement/repair of city streets adjacent to development sites. Hughes Beautification, Health, and Fitness Project - The project goals are to engage citizens in city beautification efforts to build positive relationships and foster a sense of community pride; and to improve the quality of life for residents by implementing a structured wellness and fitness program, free to all residents.
Palestine Summer Ball Team Project - The project goal is to mobilize the community to promote health, discipline, teamwork, competition, and self-confidence among adolescence and youth and to decrease youth crimes, by providing opportunities for structured participation in community baseball leagues (an opportunity that is not currently available to the youth of community).
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Convened the COO Advisory Committee
The COO Advisory Committee includes national, regional community development leaders, and citizens from the Communities of Opportunity sites. The Spring COO Advisory Committee meeting was held in Leflore County and included dialogue with fifteen Leflore County community leaders and residents. Through a facilitated process, residents and advisory committee members made recommendations to the COO staff for strategies to be implemented as the community change model continues to evolve. These recommendations are being incorporated in the COO 2006 implementation plan.
Additional Information:
>>> Goals
>>> History
>>> 2006 Planned Activities
Download the entire document:
>>> Communities of Opportunity: Moving Forward in 2006
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