2005-2006 Strenghtening Neighborhoods Initiatives |
Strengthening Neighborhoods Initiatives (SNI) exists to strengthen neighborhood pride and sense of community and to enhance the quality of life of residents in the target neighborhoods of Mill Street, Ivywild and Stratton Meadows.
This year 25 Partners invested 500 volunteer hours and $2,500 in the new and developing non-profit, SNI. We felt that our collective skills and money would benefit three of the most underprivileged neighborhoods in the Colorado Springs community (Meadows Park, Ivywild, and Stratton Meadows). We conducted the following four projects:
1. STVP’s contract with SNI began with writing and conducting a survey for the residents of Meadows Park, Ivywild, and Stratton Meadows in order to better understand their needs/desires. With the information collected we responded by developing a “Needs Assessment” outlining programs that would be well received within the communities. We presented SNI with the Needs Assessment and together we developed three different projects for the Partners to work on during the remainder of our contract. The programs were created by the Partners and the SNI coordinator, Susan Pattee, and they were developed with the intention of the Partners organizing and holding one educational workshop, and building a binder containing research and other information for future workshops.
POST NEEDS ASSESSMENT:
2. STVP Partners researched and developed a binder for SNI. The binder explains in detail all of the legal and financial resources that help aid immigrants in Colorado Springs. The binder also provides information as to how and where immigrants without proper documentation can receive health care.
3. Another STVP Partner group researched and distributed an informative brochure outlining English as a second language (ESL) resources and classes in Colorado Springs. STVP volunteers also conducted a community meeting, at Ivywild School, in which the brochures were handed out and questions were answered concerning different ESL programs in the community. The meeting was also used as a brainstorming session for creating an ESL class for the SNI communities.
4. STVP Partners also hosted a discussion panel for parents of adolescents entitled “Talk is Power.” Two bilingual speakers from Planned Parenthood hosted the discussion. One of the topics of conversation included faith-based sexual education. The STVP Partners also created a binder outlining information from this workshop as well as explaining how to run such a workshop in the future.
Send questions or comments to: STVP@ColoradoCollege.edu
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