Tripp

Building skills and mobilizing around community.

How has your community changed since joining Horizons?

The citizens of Tripp have become more aware of poverty within our community, not only financially, but also socially.  Many citizens are unaware of special programs that are available, and our Horizons brochures and website provide much of their information.  Contact people and phone number and addresses will be provided as a community service to all current and potential residents.  The quality exchange experiment was a big success in its initial year – and helped provide needy people with clothing, furniture and other articles at no cost.

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

The food pantry and community exchange are most directly addressed to the issue of poverty.  These are certainly deeds of kindness and generosity that are individually and privately carried out on an ongoing basis.  Hopefully public knowledge and aid through community brochures and its website of available programs etc. are helpful in reducing poverty.

Building skills and mobilizing around leadership

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

In providing leadership opportunities to all local citizens-many leaders have emerged with backgrounds that have helped them assume diverse responsibilities.  The knowledge and skills of these potential leaders may have otherwise gone untapped.  Bringing good leaders to the forefront also encourages others to become involved, as many citizens need guidance and structure to keep them active. 

Pride increases within the community as projects are initiated and completed.  More cooperation among those who are in leadership positions and in potential leaders is occurring.  

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

The Horizon’s program has provided opportunities for many participants to learn leadership skills, as well as new skills such as blogging, grant writing, etc. and the ability to share ideas with other area communities.  New leaders have emerged that are involved in other organizations.  All citizens have developed better speaking as well as listening skills.  Decisions and actions are carried out in a more timely, goal-oriented manner.

Our community has shown our commitment to reduce poverty by staying focused on the Horizon’s project, by establishing goals within our Strategic Plan and beginning to accomplish those goals.  We held our Strategic Plan celebration event at the end of November to present our plan to the community.  The entire group was excited about the goals and many people joined the committees to help out.  Our community is excited about the goals, and wants to see everyone succeed.  Poverty reduction is addressed throughout our Strategic Plan.  Some examples of that is the continuation of the Town and Country Exchange (a free garage sale), the purchasing of the house that will be fixed up and resold to a low income family.  The community web-site and brochure are almost complete

We have become more aware of our assets through the Horizons project.  We can look at what we have already accomplished and see our assets are all around us.  We have had lots of people step forward, with their assets, to get things done.  Furthermore, since we began our Horizons project we are more aware of others needs and people continue to assist those in need. 

Members of our planning team met with our coach Dave Olson on Jan. 15 and reported the progress of our seven goals we chose in our strategic plan to work toward reducing  poverty and increasing  leadership for Tripp. Dave Olson facilitated the meeting and had lots of good ideas and new information on upcoming workshops.  Look under “upcoming dates to remember” for more information about the workshops.  (more…)