Collaboration w/ Educators on Curriculum Development

Community Organization-Based

Description

Such collaboration can involve a continuum of strategies -- from helping a staff member in a community-based organization to strategize about how to connect with area schools or faith communities, to working with staff members in the development of educational strategies, to convening a gathering to showcase educational opportunities available through community-based organizations.

History

In August, 2004, Kevin recommended to the members of the St Cloud Area Homeless Concerns Coalition (which meet monthly) that they form a "Community Education" subcommittee. (He had been participating in the coalition for the previous nine months, through my position at the Technical College.) They agreed, and asked him to be its chairperson. Monthly subcommittee meetings have since yielded two letters-to-the-editor of the St Cloud Times (November, 2004) and the development of a power-point presentation, along with a collection of other learning activities (September, 2005) that can be used by all coalition members to educate the wider community about issues related to homelessness and ways of being "part of the solution". A video version of this presentation is scheduled to be finished (August, 2006), making the presentation available even when a presenter is not. An area-wide conference on homelessness is also scheduled (November, 2006).

In September, 2004, Kevin joined the St Cloud Human Rights Commission, which meets monthly. Their primary goal is to educate the wider community about human rights issues; his emphasis has been on helping them consider ways that they can do so with youth (and with those who work with youth). In March, 2006, he was elected chairperson. [Note: Dan Anderson is also a member, and past chairperson, of the commission.]

In January, 2005, Kevin was invited by staff at Anna Marie's Alliance to join a committee focused on developing a training program for male coaches and male athletes about how to become allies on issues related to relationship violence. (See article from Saint Cloud Times.) In the spring of 2005, this initiative (called "Coaching the Coaches") visited with Athletic Directors in area high schools, and developed an outline for the training program, which will began to be implemented in the 2005-6 school year in five schools. Planning has begun (May, 2006) to add a follow-up dimension to the program.

Between March and early May, 2005, Kevin worked with the St Cloud Human Rights Commission, the St Cloud Area Homeless Concerns Coalition, and the Coaching the Coaches committee to design and promote a gathering for educators of youth from area schools, faith-communities, and community-based organizations. The gathering would provide these three organizations (and the Center) to do 25-minute interactive presentations about some of their educational resources, and also give all participants an opportunity to network. The gathering was held on May 10th. In addition to strong appreciation for the opportunity to learn of educational resources, the consensus among participants was that it was very helpful to connect with other kindred spirits.

The Center's strategic planning in 2005-6 yielded a recommendation for expansion of collaboration with community-based organizations. In April, Kevin began conversations with three organizations:

  • Boys and Girls Club of Central MN: The recommendation is to start with development of training for the staff (scheduled to begin in June, 2006).
  • Kids Against Hunger: The recommendation is to collaborate on the development of educational activities and materials for youth-volunteers, focused on understanding and responding to the underlying causes of poverty and hunger.
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters: The recommendation is to work with the site-based program in Bel Clare Estates, which has a newly-formed group of youth (Youth of the Future) focused on service.
Cost

Community organizations are asked to pay a stipend that they can afford; the Center seeks other funding sources to supplement these stipends.