Hot Springs, SD Horizons

Since the Hot Spgs community has become involved in the Horizons concept, a more focused view of the scope and nature of poverty in this community has emerged. Many persons who otherwise would be carving out their own future here have paused, and begun participating in one or more of the target areas of need. We all know what is needed to make a quantum leap, economically speaking. We all know we have yet to discover a solution to the jobs dilemma. Yet, we have chosen not to close our eyes to “inching” our way forward. And so the Horizons based community Children & Youth Steering Committee has chosen to make a concerted effort to bring a Boys & Girls Club of America program to the community. If we can expand our kids opportunities to succeed even in small ways, we can reduce, a perceived poverty of opportunity for our kids.

The “report card” discussed in another blog today asks Hot Springs bloggers to address specific questions. The questions were sent by email to about 100 people, and here is the first response, in boldface.

What do you think, do you agree with the blogger, do you care to comment?
___________________________
Please answer these questions by including it in your blogs for January: *******

Please choose one or two questions in EACH category to address on your blog:

Category 6: Building skills and mobilizing around leadership

What changes are you seeing in the way community leadership is exercised or carried out? How is it different? I see no changes in Hot Springs by leaders and think our present leadership is burned out. We need change.

How has your community changed after LeadershipPlenty® training?

In what ways have leadership skills been improved/enhanced? What is different?

What changes are you seeing in the way leadership is carried out? How decisions get made in your community?

What difference does the involvement of low income people make in community leadership? none

Category 10: Building skills and mobilizing around community

How has your community changed since joining Horizons?

Is your community more hopeful about the future? How do you know?

What evidence do you have that community members see poverty as a community issue?

Are more people involved in creating ideas, plans and taking actions on behalf of the community? No What difference does this make?

What new partnerships have been created (within your community, or between your community and others)?

This week we received a “report card” from SDSU Extensions administrator of the Horizon blog site. I admit, we received a poor rating, and are out of the running for winning a laptop for the program. If we’d had more bloggers we would have won that prize. Loss of the prize is not crucial. However, not taking advantage of a great opportunity to communicate as a community would be sad. I really think people are going to discover this site and find out how transformative it could be, for Hot Springs. It is the ONLY way that many many people can be involved, and all have an equal opportunity so long as they have access to the internet.

I think most all of us have heard of micro-loans, and I know there’s been some discussion of trying to get them started in Hot Springs. While we haven’t figured out how to make that happen here, I have learned of a cool website where you can make micro-loans to entrepeneurs around the world. The recommended loan amount is $25.00 and you choose the country, person, and business you want to loan to. Check it out at www.kiva.org

I have been asked, “Why don’t we have more blogs on our site?” In thinking about this, I have come up with several reasons.

1. Signing up as a user and accessing the page to write a blog is difficult.
2. People are uncomfortable writing their thoughts for all to read.
3. People may think that they do not have anything useful to write about.

The answer to the first problem is not too difficult. On the right side of the main screen just below the search bar is a section called pages. In this section are two helpful sets of instructions; How to sign up as a user and How to write a blog. Clicking on either of these will provide you with all the information you need to sign up and to access the page to begin writing your own blog.

The first problem is relatively easy to resolve, but the second problem is a bit more difficult. We all are afraid of criticism and writing our thoughts on the internet for all to see and comment on is a bit daunting. But, this is really no different than a conversation. If you discuss something with a friend or acquaintence, you may receive some criticism in return and you use this to your advantage to change your thoughts or update your ideas. You may also receive encouragement. Some people will really like what you say. Your thoughts and ideas are wanted and criticism and encouragement are part of the process. This blog is a way to make the Horizons Project work and even criticism of an idea can be important to the efforts of this blog.

Third, yes you do have something important to say. Everyone does. The Horizons Project is about community and every one of you are part of this community and everything you have to say is of value. We have several questions to help you get started. You don’t have to write pages. In fact, a good blog note is only a paragraph or two. A sentence or two on one of the topics below would be a good start. Remember, the process is to create a dialog. Your comments may get more people involved and therefore a more successful result for the Horizons Project. Remember, your comment does not have to be positive. The process is to create change and if change is not happening, then everyone needs to know this. Many of the questions below are about changes. If you don’t see any change, then this is an opportunity to let everyone know.

If you are really unsure about what you are writing, type it out first on your word processor and let your family and friends read it first. Take their advice, criticism and encourgagement to refine your comment. Then you can cut and paste it to the blog site or re-type it in, if necessary.

Here are some questions from Cheryl Jacobs that really need to be answered.

Category 6: Building skills and mobilizing around leadership
1. What changes are you seeing in the way community leadership is exercised or carried out? How is it different?
2. How has your community changed after LeadershipPlenty® training?
3. In what ways have leadership skills been improved/enhanced? What is different?
4. What changes are you seeing in the way leadership is carried out? How decisions get made in your community?
5. What difference does the involvement of low income people make in community leadership?

Category 10: Building skills and mobilizing around community
1. How has your community changed since joining Horizons?
2. Is your community more hopeful about the future? How do you know?
3. What evidence do you have that community members see poverty as a community issue?
4. Are more people involved in creating ideas, plans and taking actions on behalf of the community? What difference does this make?
5. What new partnerships have been created (within your community, or between your community and others)?

Horizons takes an “asset-based” approach to alleviating poverty and creating a thriving community. Community development programs of the past started with needs and deficits. Horizons is different because it recognizes that a community’s strengths (assets) provide the best foundation upon which to grow a thriving community that meets the needs of the whole community.

Here is the beginning of a “community asset and leadership map.” Please comment. Which individuals, groups, institutions, and regional partners should be added to this list? Please click on the link below to view the map.

Community Assets Leadership Map