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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Family and Community Activity Center Planned for North Champaign |
Current rating: 0 |
by Sascha Meinrath
Email: meinrath (nospam) uiuc.edu (unverified!) |
13 Mar 2001
Modified: 21 Mar 2001 |
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Over two dozen activists and community leaders met on Wednesday, March 7, 2001 to discuss the creation of a "Family and Community Activity Center" that would serve the residents of North Champaign. Planning will be ongoing and the public is welcome to attend future meetings or contact the author or Angela Wiley (awiley (at) staff.uiuc.edu) for more information about the project. |
Over two dozen community leaders and activists attended the first Family and Community Activity Center planning meeting on Wednesday, March 7, 2001. Participants described the meeting as having \"incredible energy\" and \"extremely exciting.\"
The aim of this meeting was \"to envision and create an Activity Center for parents, children and community members in North Champaign.\" While the Activity Center\'s official mission must still be settled upon, it was generally agreed by the meeting participants that the center will address the main concerns raised in the initial center information flyer:
\"This Activity Center will feature a series of concurrent educational programs aimed at parents (and adult community members) and their children that stem from the needs and interests of children and parents in the community. A core principal of the coalition will be a conviction that strong communities and informed, active families lead to strong, confident and healthy youth. The purpose of the Center will be to provide a place and series of opportunities for parents and children to explore and build on their strengths and interests in a way that enhances their future opportunities for success in relationships, school and job.\"
Many community organizations sent representatives including: Partners for Progress, The School for Designing a Society, The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, University of Illinois Extension, Champaign Unit #4 Schools, St. Luke CME Church, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, Champaign Urbana Area Project, Family Information Center, Stratton Elementary School PTA, and the Stratton Community Garden.
Some of the main topics discussed at this meeting included:
o Creating a \"Needs and Assets Map\" that would consider the needs and resources of the community members and within the local community.
o Holding instructional classes on everything from cooking to computer training (for parents) and music and tutoring (for children). Also, holding work training programs and having a \"Resources Clearinghouse\" that operates out of the center.
o Creating partnerships between community members so that people can share their expertise with others (e.g. \"Parent Partners\" who would answer questions and provide information to interested people; resume\' training; Arts and Drama training - especially for children)
o Holding technical workshops on how to create media and use media-creating equipment (e.g. through a partnership with the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center). Have a congregation space for adults and children. And establish liaisons to other organizations around town and create an \"Advisory Committee Council.\"
o Organizing groups of people to go to the School Board and advocate for their own needs. Run a fine arts program (e.g. dance, theater, or other non-traditional sports activities such as golf or tennis). Resource training - how to create the best resources for oneself. Community Newsletter. Barter/Trade-Off System (e.g. if one parent is a barber and the other is a mechanic, have them perform services for other families in exchange for other services). Network with businesses; Job Fair.
o Maintaining relationships with African American males who have a child/children but who are currently incarcerated. Create opportunities for making money legally (e.g. people in the community could make garments and sell them for profit).
o Inviting church organizations to work together and with the Activity Center for the benefit of the community.
Meeting participants decided to hold several smaller group meetings to address specific issues. Byron Smith described the idea of breaking down the larger group into small focus groups as a process that allows all participants to take part in something they are personally passionate about. These groups will meet over the next few weeks and include the following committees:
o Needs and strengths assessment and commitment to action
o Facility/Sites
o Faith-Based Organization
o Fine Arts
o Funding
o Clearinghouse Committee
In concluding the meeting, participants identified four \"next steps\" for people who wanted to be involved in the Activity Center:
1. Carry out a Needs and Assets Assessment;
2. Identify facilities for the Activity Center;
3. Become personally active in the Center;
4. Work with all churches and have them come together to work as one.
The next meeting of the Activity Center Planning Committee will take place in Mid- to Late-April. Committees will discuss their progress and group participants will continue to plan the implementation of the Activity Center. If you have questions concerning the project, please contact Angela Wiley (awiley (at) staff.uiuc.edu).
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