First and Unique
A major factor in our successful projects has been an approach which empowers and encourages the stakeholders or participants to solve or help solve the problems facing the organization and improve the areas that work well. This has led to many “new” approaches, methods or organizational structures. These accomplishments were all the ideas and hard work of stakeholders, supported by their leaders and facilitated by us.
Recognizing the changing nature of student’s families converted “parent organizations” to “Family organizations”
...in four city schools thereby reflecting and respecting those grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings who are the major support of a student. A FIRST!
Turned a quarter mile nature trail into an 8 mile series of trails celebrating not only nature but the Arts, history, culture, diversity, literature, recreation, fitness and science
...Worked with five primary partners and over a dozen secondary partners too. This led to the creation of the unique “Morningside Cultural Trail” where folks of all ages, interests and backgrounds can find multiple joy and fulfillment every day, any time of the year. A FIRST!
Transformed an Urban school program troubled with issues of discipline by empowering staff teachers, family members and students.
...Using our “Leadership Conference” approach with the members of a 400 student program we developed active communication lines between the groups, put forty plus students on “positive rewards” contracts; developed a common goal of a spectacular end of the year showcase of students work and performances and reduced the daily ISS rate from 12 to 14 students a day to 0 to 2 UNIQUE! Perhaps A FIRST!
Developed “Family representatives” as partners in four city schools
...an organization focused on partnership with administration and staff. This organized and empowered the most important stakeholder in a school, the clients, to be a contributing part of the school team. A FIRST!
Created a top producing GED program in one year
...by researching “best practices” in GED instruction and studied the top producing instructors in order to construct completely individualized programs for each student. UNIQUE!
Developed a strong volunteer tutor program to support the GED program
...This empowered retired teachers, University Graduate students and other qualified individuals to be part of the team delivering support and instruction to the clients. This had refuted common thought that a volunteer program could never be sustained by giving the volunteers a real stake in its success. UNIQUE!
Converted a failing volunteer program into a four day a week successful program
...that lasted over ten years and served hundreds of students. A FIRST!
Authored a “Parenting Education Curriculum by using client input and research
...to address the unique needs of non-custodial parents. This allowed the students (parent clients) to give input to, help to construct and even co-teach the course. A FIRST!
Adopted a “support group” structure for parenting classes
...at the request of parent clients who saw the need. This led to highly motivated parent clients who were able to seek immediate help and support on important issues from the instructor and other parents. A FIRST!
Created a Family Advisory Council (F.A.C.) which gave clients input into Human Service Agencies
...At the advice of the parent clients and support of the member agencies of the PSI (Parent Success Initiative) program which sought input from, and gave advice to, both the parents and the agencies, as to what the client needs and best practices might be. A FIRST!
Developed Leadership and Community Conferences which empower the stakeholders
...of a school, community or organization to discuss, address and solve the needs of that organization. Emphasis was given to stakeholder empowerment in teams, under administrative leadership. This structure working under the need for timely, important and fulfilling solutions created many unique and highly successful solutions. A FIRST!
Facilitating the development of a High School alumni group that takes on the role of a partner with their old school
...This group organizes the old classes, publishes a yearly newsletter, raises funds for yearly grants to staff, sits on the board of the non-profit Community partner; conducts a program that honors distinguished alumni and uses them as role models for today’s students, and is seeking to redefine the mission of alumni groups everywhere and serve as a model for them. A FIRST!
Created a totally unique organization for schools in which all the stakeholders were brought together to create successful community solutions
...This organization, named FACES for family, alumni, community, educators and students, employs the strengths of all the groups to support each other’s needs. Within a year it incorporated, went to a non-profit status with a seventeen member board, put in a PayPal button and raised thousands of dollars for a landscaping effort, teacher grants and more. A FIRST!
Developed a Conference in which all of the major groups within the City would work with City Government
....to identify and address the solution of the major problems facing the city. A FIRST!
Created a High School Intern program allowing students to receive credit while serving in the offices of political elites
...Previously only College and adult volunteers had served as interns. This allowed responsible High School students, overseen by their instructors, to work several hours a week meeting the needs of Federal Senators, State Assemblymen and Senators and a City Mayor. A FIRST!
Developed a program using American students to serve as tutors, mentors and guides for their peers who were refugees and immigrants
...Using a shortened version of the highly thought of “Literacy Volunteers” Model we worked with Honor Society students training them to be resources for their peers in the newly created communities of refugees and immigrants seeking to become Americans. A FIRST!
…and more.
*It is important to note that as far as we have determined these are “true” firsts. However the world is still a big place and there may be similar programs. The point to be made is that these are all innovative, unique and developed by the community members involved.