The Community Conversations has helped our community better support students as
they complete their Civic Action Projects. Last summer we successfully helped a
small group of students deliberate about the issues they care about and to
determine the unique skills or experiences they want to bring into their projects to
make them personally engaging. Those students who have participated in the
conversations have praised this process and the opportunity to meet with adults and
students who share their concerns and appreciate their efforts.

I am a founding member of Ko Theatre Works and the Ko Festival of Performance at Amherst, now in its 19th season. Since I moved to Colorado, Ko Festival director Sabrina Hamilton (a good friend and longtime collaborator) and I have sought ways to continue our work together, work that emphasizes creativity, rigorous arts practice, ensemble and devised work, design innovation, community-based inspiration, and collaboration.

Wilson, Kansas, is a town of 765 people. We have many problems associated with an aging and declining population base, lack of adequate employment, housing and activities for youth, and citizens stuck in a rut of resisting anything that looks different. The MIYO grant has given us the tools and incentive to reach ways to identify and address our problems. As a result of the MIYO grant we have conducted community surveys, held town hall meetings and created work groups to address major issues that have been identified by the community.

Lauren Curry wondered if her small rural Vermont town had a food shelf. So she posted a note to her neighbors on Front Porch Forum (FPF). When she learned that none existed currently, she reached out again through FPF for a steering committee. Then it was through FPF yet again they found food, cash, space, volunteers, and, eventually, recipients -- her neighbors delivered on every count! Now, one year later, the food shelf is critical in the lives of many town residents effected by the recession. And no government, foundation, or corporate money or leadership has been needed.

In 2007, I personally met a young girl who was volunteering at IMAN for the Takin’ it to the Streets festival. At that time, I remember Sadia telling me about her desire to be a DJ, and told me she would like to learn from me but was also embarrassed. Since then, she became more involved with IMAN with our social justice and civic engagement work. Once we started the Leaders of the New School project, she finally got her chance to DJ as well. In April of 2009, she took over my regular role as a DJ for IMAN’s Community Café.

Prior to the MIYO program we had a base of 40 civic leaders and six supporting institutions who had developed a model for a new civic culture that consisted of three parts: (1) A process to build trust hope, norms and other social conditions that increase the odds that public conversation across differences will lead to long-term collaboration; (2) A process for convening an on-going series of public conversations where a cross section of residents decide which community issues to address, how to do so and who will act; (3) A process for brokering assistance from community volunteers to thos

First came the BIG vision: a HEALTHY COUNTY & HEALTH FOR ALL!
Structure and staff added courtesy of Whatcom County Health Department
and theWhatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities
Thanks!
Then came CASE w/MIYO and they had the vision
$100 for seed $
$10,000 becauseMAKING HEALTH OUR OWN became Top 20
Thanks Case Foundation!
Voters put us in 7th place!...no $25,000 but we felt the love.
Thanks voters! It’s all about you!
33 one-on-one interviews with community stakeholders LATER…
22 focus group interviews with community stakeholder groups LATER…

Since receiving the Case Foundation grant we have learned much about the values shared by diverse people in our community. By sharing stories, hopes and dreams, citizens of Park County are better able to connect with each other, and feel more comfortable expressing what is important to them in a public context. We are grateful for the support of the Case Foundation for recognizing the value of this citizen-centered approach.

It has been rewarding to watch a community form based on the goals we all share from SEA. An example of this came with SEA Celebrates!, our first film event in May. On a day-to-day basis, the members of the four groups work separately and others receive updates about the group they are most interested in. SEA Celebrates! was great because it brought all four groups together in one place. It allowed attendees to hear a little bit about each of the groups and helped to show that there were people in Sarasota making a difference in our environment.

Two years have passed since I applied for this Make It Your Own Awards grant and launched Madison SOS (Speak Out, Sister!), a city-wide organization aimed at engaging young women in grassroots leadership and action on the issues that most matter to them. Over the past two years, with the support of the Case Foundation, our organization has grown considerably – from a small group dedicated to empowering a core group of girl leaders, to an emerging coalition engaging diverse stakeholders in developing and advancing young women’s visions for change in our community.