MONUMENT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

2006 Annual Retreat

 

Fair Oaks Baptist Church, 1925 Risdon Road, Concord

October 21, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 

Table of Contents

 

AGENDA REVIEW & HOPES FOR THE RETREAT. 1

Hopes. 1

Intentions. 1

WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM: HOW OUR PARTNERSHIP HAS GROWN AND DEVELOPED. 1

THE HEART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP: SHARING OUR STORIES AND EXPERIENCE. 1

OUR HUMAN BANK: WHAT WE BRING TO OUR PARTNERSHIP. 2

OUR PROJECTS: WHAT WE CAN DO IN PARTNERSHIP AND OUR VISION OF SUCCESS. 5

Transportation. 5

Safe Community. 5

Redevelopment 5

Healthy Eating Active Living. 6

Parent and Youth School Leadership. 6

LEARNING TOGETHER: HOW WE KNOW WE ARE SUCCESSFUL. 6

GOING FORWARD: TRYING OUT THIS WAY OF ORGANIZING MCP. 6

CONCLUSION, NEXT STEPS. 6

 

Meeting Notes

 

AGENDA REVIEW & HOPES FOR THE RETREAT

Participants were asked to share their hopes for the retreat and their intentions for working together

 

Hopes

  • To get to know many people I don’t yet know and to connect
  • Everyone here can understand what everyone does and how everyone inter-relates
  • Relationship building time
  • Feel we are all one partnership
  • Learn about the partnership and get a sense of direction about my work
  • Find out about the rest of the partnership and what people do
  • Take information and share it with my staff
  • Every person understands we each have a voice and can make our community what we want it to be

 

Intentions

  • I am willing to…
  • Listen to everyone’s point of view
  • Have an open mind and heart
  • Share
  • Learn and give my honest opinion
  • Listen, contribute, and respect ideas of others
  • Hold things said as confidential
  • Learn from people
  • Support and be supported, feel connected in our work together

 

WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM: HOW OUR PARTNERSHIP HAS GROWN AND DEVELOPED

Molly Clark, Executive Director, reviewed the development of the partnership

 

  • Where we are now: we are like a snake that has outgrown our skin
  • We do things in three different ways:
    • Our Human Bank
      • Deposits of talent, experience, knowledge
    • Projects
      • We spend our “human capital” on projects
    • Measuring our success

 

Group reflection

  • We started small and we grew
  • Have seen many changes, many activities
  • Becoming a family, first in own immediate family, then we built an extended family and made friends. We are building connections, getting hugs and living longer
  • We can feel comfortable in this community, can live in the present and feel alive
  • We have action teams and community celebrations
  • We influence what people do in the City of Concord and the City is proud to work with us every day
  • First we came to listen and learn and saw many changes – we became leaders and received much support – we now share information and support others. We feel very positive and our families are very proud of us

 

THE HEART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP: SHARING OUR STORIES AND EXPERIENCE

Participants shared stories of their experiences with the Partnership. They wrote about their heartfelt connection to the Partnership on paper hearts; these were posted on the wall for all to see.

Hearts

  • Para mi el programa es mui …… y mi corazor esta aqui por que me dan el espacio de participar para hacer el cambio
  • Connecting people from the community with various services
  • I like to be an advocate for the latino community; I love working with women; MCP builds new opportunities
  • I cam here today to hear all the great things you guys have to say about how to save our community
  • Improving the health of the community; learning more about Mexican culture; practicing what we preach about “resident-driven” and “asset-based”; learning strategies that will work in other communities; develop partners for our work in community improvement
  • Involucra a todos los sectores y ofrece ayuda a estos.  Deben hacerse proyectos de mas corto plazo con su seguimiento oportuno para evaluarlos mas oportunamente
  • Helping families find resources to help children positively transition to a school environment
  • I’m here because I think it’s a good thing what we are doing; I think I would volunteer for as long as I can
  • the love we share as we grow together; El amor que compartimos mientras que crecemos juntos
  • I want to be a part of the community’s change for the better.  When change happens in individual’s lives, the community changes as a result.  MCP is a partnership that makes change possible
  • Economic leadership; civic integration; First Five education; Heart of the family; leadership; best education; diverse leadership; safe community; housing
  • I love MCP because it gives voice to residents who otherwise might not be heard; I love MCP because, as an organization, it can be our vice and power in city government, the more people who are involved, the more powerful it is; I love MCP because it celebrates our diversity and multi-cultural experience and helps all of us enjoy working and living together; I would like MCP’s participation to be even broader and more diverse, reach more people and businesses; I would like MCP to help create a community center in the Monument
  • Helping people in the area we live, feeling good and kind and helpful
  • Oportunidades; el liderazgo; exitos; la union hace la fuerza; seguridad en nuestro vecimdario
  • Helping to make the Monument Community more walkable and healthier for everyone; to make friends and allies
  • MCP gives people hope and a voice, a place to come together with others who want to change things; MCP needs to be proactive in addressing the violence and racism in our community
  • Seguridad para mi familia y comunidad; mejorar la educacion para padres latinos; tomo guiar a nuestros hijos por los caminos correctos; informarnos nuestros derechos como personas Latinas
  • I love the potential of the Family Resource Network but need additional Hosts and Lead Partners; I really like the way residents, city, county and community agencies are working together; MCP model “rocks”; keep the progress moving forward
  • Seeming community residents, agencies and government work together collectively with (mostly) mutual respect
  • I am here to help make the community a better place and I’m here to volunteer
  • I am here because I meet new people and love working with the community
  • Conocer masa aprender cooperar; Feliz de conocer que haya un grupo de personas que se preocupen por mi comunidad; Pienso que es bueno el programa pero hace falta que mas personas conozcan de Monument Community Partnership
  • Caring people, things get done
  • Health task force; community; First Five Center; Education task force; salud!
  • Being able to  help the community
  • I love working directly with the residents, they have so much to offer!! I love feeling like the bridge and the connection point between residents and community.  I would like to see a Volunteer Action Team developed with all the wonderful youth we have in the Monument Corridor
  • Basis of the passion: God loves people, cities, strangers and especially the poor.  To come out of poverty people need….English language skills. People are held back by illiteracy. Being God’s person, I want to help in my skill area: words and language. So I am passionate and committed to do what I can to love the city by helping as I am able
  • I feel good about MCP activities to be able to learn
  • Hola mi nombre es Fabiola y mi experiencia a sido incredible en MCP. He recibido ayuda de todos los programas. Empece con Primeros 5 y despues Monument Futures y cuando tuve un problema. Donde a mi hermana le quitaron a de sus hios. Esta organizacion fue la mas grande “ayuda” de todos los programas. Fue como si en ningun momento estuviera sola, Gracias; Creo que es momento que todos los programas se amplen porque el cupo de algunos ya es limitado
  • To learn and get a better education. To help others who need education and to be part of something good and big. To help the community grow.
  • Getting involved requires action and I chose to start with me
  • I am impressed with how MCP supports and empowers its community, who is mainly immigrant, to participate and better their families, themselves and their community; my best friend in the 2nd grade moved here from El Salvado and I have a family in Bolivia whose son moved to the U>S. seven years ago and they are in my heart here.  Estoy impresionada con MCP y como apoya y da poder a su communidad, mayormente imigrante, para participar y mejorar sus familias, ellos mismos y su communidad.   Mi mejor amiga en 2nd curso vino con su familia aqui de El Salvador. Tambien tengo una familia en Bolivia cuyo hijo major vino a los EEUU hace 7 anos. Ellos estan en mi Corazon aqui.
  • Le doy las Gracias a la Senora Ruth Rodriguez por la organizacion del (Liderato de mjueres) el cual he aprendido que no por ser mujer debo quedarme callada. He aprendido abrir mi Corazon y expresar lo que siento saber escuchar.  Otia de las cosas muy importante es que en el cuidado de los ninos he sabido, escuchar a mis hijos tenerles mucha paciencia y saber escuchar sus opinions respetarselas y darles buenos consejos; Uno do los proyectos que me gustaria es que en los parques hubiese un poco mas de seguridad para podernos reunir con nuestra familia.  A los primeros 5 les agradesco todas las actividades que hay para nuestros hijos
  • A more refined system of measuring progress. How are we doing? how do we know?
  • People helping people, caring for children as well as the elderly
  • It is a very nice group in the area of Concord, California
  • That our members some day soon become elected to city council – and city employees
  • Sentir la coneccion con mi nueva familia con diversidad de culturas
  • Accountablity.  I’d like for the community to be more involved with holding the organization / MCP accountable for their ultimate decisions.  Communication. Realy as much information as possible, factual and emotional, between organization and community.  Provide options to stay and prosper
  • I am here to meet new people, make friends and have lots of fun
  • So where I live is a good neighborhood
  • It is my duty to serve the community.  It is my privilege to work with the residents, organizations and businesses that from the MCP, to participate in projects that improve community life
  • Por amor a mi comunidad me gusta estar involucrada en diferentes grupos y saber a donde acudir por ayuda
  • Hope for Monument Future; human capacity; environmental improvements; better health of residents; center where all can meet!
  • Teamwork is very important to me; I love working with Mary Lou’s Senior Action Team
  • Quiero aprender cosas nuevas para mi familia y mi comunidad
  • I was very moved by the Monument Futures program – the integrity, pride, and resourcefulness of the members.  I was happy to have the opportunity to contribute to this program
  • Hope and opportunity
  • MCP allows me to unite with people that are sharing their unique skills to empower others; we offer each other a place of belonging
  • I am here because I get to meet lots of people and I have lots of fun
  • Help immigrants improve their lives; to learn how to help others; be a helping hand to the ones in most need; learn about community, local and county level politics and organizing
  • Real community participation; find creative ways of fundraising
  • To see people succeed and improve their lot in life
  • I want systems to better serve individuals, youth and families
  • My daughter never went to pre-school but right now she is an A++ student at her school in Kindergarden and all the credit for the A++ goes to the hard work and programs at First Five Centers; thanks a lot to the “First Five” MCP
  • Seniors are given the opportunity to participate in cross-cultural activities; children see a healthy active community; people have avenues to find solutions to problems; person to person we can affect change; the idea of a Human Bank is really working; we can all be a part of the joy and celebrations in our changing city; happiness; hope

 

 

OUR HUMAN BANK: WHAT WE BRING TO OUR PARTNERSHIP

Participants worked in small groups to brainstorm the talents, knowledge and skills they possess: their “human capital.” Each group’s work is separated by asterisks.

 

  • Software / computers
  • Web site design
  • Humor
  • Management skills
  • Motivation
  • Organization
  • Listening, talking
  • Network of people
  • Sharing, kindness, respect
  • Ambition
  • Translation
  • Event coordinating
  • Mobile Health Clinic
  • Personality (amiable, friendly)
  • Decorate
  • Loves to cook
  • Bilingual
  • Artist
  • Hospital resources
  • Connection to schools
  • Organizational skills
  • Sewing
  • Knows how to play instruments
  • Quilting
  • Being happy
  • Learning skills
  • Knowledge of computers
  • Knowledge of built environment / community planning
  • Writing grants
  • Entertainment connection
  • Love to eat
  • Likes to help others
  • Knowledge of children
  • Driving skills
  • Service oriented
  • Developing skills (learning)
  • Punctual
  • Social
  • Gardening
  •  Spiritual
  • Read
  • Dancing
  • Video game skills
  • English classes
  • Listening to music

 

*******

  • Improving in cultural competency
  • Elder issues
  • Speak French
  • Youth substance abuser problems
  • Women in leadership
  • Know how to partner
  • Early childhood education
  • Domestic violence education
  • Public administration
  • Use computers
  • Design computer program
  • Translation
  • Community knowledgeable
  • Mental health and health
  • Members from all age groups
  • Grandparents, parents, children
  • Spiritual support
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Art skills
  • Lemonade out of lemons – squeezing skills
  • Think out of the box
  • Facilitate
  • Critical thinker
  • Connections with providers
  • Cook
  • Eat
  • Multi-ethnicity
  • Cultural awareness
  • Carpenter
  • Inspector
  • Minister
  • Language skills
  • Counseling skills
  • Passion for community
  • Love strangers
  • Hugging skills
  • Learning skills
  • Organizing events
  • Running projects
  • Asking for money
  • Great community input
  • Know how to invest
  • English major
  • Good in crisis
  • Foster parenting
  • Criminal justice
  • Organizational skills
  • Support group
  • Empathy skills
  • Singing
  • Salsa dancing
  • Managerial skills
  • Write grants
  • Honestly evaluate mistakes
  • Listening skills
  • Buy house
  • Psychotherapy
  • Teaching ESL
  • Adapt to reality
  • Know how to work with schools

 

******

  • Persistent / determined
  • Persistente / insistente
  • Fast learner
  • Aprende rápido
  • Willingness  to take leadership
  • Actitud de liderazgo
  • Problem solver
  • Resolver ó ayudar eb=n revolver problemas
  • Positive
  • Positiva
  • Fighter
  • Luchadora
  • Hard worker / dedicated
  • Trabajadora dedicada
  • Flexibility
  • Flexibilidad
  • Receptive
  • Receptora
  • Risk taker
  • Toma riesgo
  • Courageous
  • Valiente
  • Sense of humor
  • Humorismo
  • To be bi-lingual / bi-cultural
  • Ser bilingue / bi-cultural
  • Good singer
  • Buen cantante
  • Helper
  • Ayudante
  • A bridge between worlds / cultures
  • Un coneción entre mundos / culturas
  • Accounting / auditor
  • Contador / auditor
  • Arts & crafts
  • Artesania / artes manuals
  • Teacher
  • Maestra
  • Diplomatic
  • Relacíones publicas
  • Rediscovering roots
  • Recaptor los raíces
  • Listener
  • Escuchadora

 

******

  • Cooking
  • Child care skills
  • House cleaning
  • People person
  • Good communicator
  • Bilingual
  • Good writer
  • Good problem solver
  • Organizational development
  • Computer skills
  • Good management skills
  • Good budget skills
  • Good team player
  • A facilitator of change
  • Good teacher
  • Good dancer
  • A good leader
  • Cooking
  • Leadership skills
  • Political skills
  • Teacher
  • Good voice / speaking skills
  • Good connections
  • Volunteering
  • Math
  • Good at being a friend
  • Good helper

 

 

******

  • Manicure
  • Pedicure
  • Beauty salon – salon de bellezza
  • Give shots – inyecciones
  • Cook – cocinar
  • Teaching / tutoring
  • Helping people with special needs
  • Patience
  • Cooking healthy: Indian food, Peruvian desserts / postres, jarocha
  • Teach to read / tells stories
  • Sales / EBay / entrepreneurial
  • Fútbol - soccer
  • Organizing trips – organizer viajes
  • Motivador
  • Physical conditioning
  • Leadership
  • Bilingual / bicultural
  • Poetry – poesia
  • Basketball
  • Bartender
  • Baila, cumbia, salsa
  • Knows lots of people – relaciones publicas
  • Basic computer skills
  • Enjoy music
  • Sew – coser a máquina
  • Makes a good: shrimp cocktail, tamales a masa, pastels
  • Latin American studies
  • How to start a business – empezar un negocio
  • Basic financial planning – planificación financioro
  • Good housekeeping – amar la casa excellentemente
  • Eager, willing, ready to work – tiene las ganas de trabajar
  • Event planning – planíficación de eventos
  • Makes hamburgers – hamburguesas
  • Translator – traductor

 

******

  • Sewing
  • Design clothes
  • Connections to people in city / county / government / nonprofits
  • Bilingual
  • Know local geography and history
  • Can manage a restaurant
  • Geriatric caregiver
  • Sing
  • Paint – art
  • Interior design
  • Teach
  • Love to help people
  • Cleaning
  • Event coordinating
  • Organized
  • Loud and / or outgoing
  • Projecting voice
  • Bargain hunter
  • Young mother – energy, learning every day, flexible
  • BRAVE
  • Eucharistic minister
  • Fabric painting
  • Fix cars
  • Babysitting
  • Computer skills
  • Gardening
  • Dancing – Folklorico
  • Multi-taking
  • Public speaking
  • Cutting hair
  • Troubleshooting
  • Taking care of pets
  • Aware of current affairs
  • Writer
  • Get $$

 

******

  • Resourceful
  • Good teamwork skills
  • Bi-lingual
  • Open, flexible in working with a community I don’t know much about
  • White water rafter
  • Design gardens in spare time
  • Strong advocates, especially for children and education
  • Practical
  • Knowledgeable about health
  • Connections to politicians
  • Fast typist
  • Good salesperson
  • Empathy for people
  • Can talk / communicate at all levels
  • We know the Monument like [picture of two hands]
  • Good thinker, strategic and realistic
  • Leadership skills
  • Computer skills
  • Play guitar (some)
  • Good dancers
  • Have staff I can assign to work on projects
  • Talent to create, design and carry out projects in a timely manner
  • Good cook
  • Good motivator of people
  • Passionate
  • Sense of humor!
  • Good at talking to bureaucrats
  • Helping groups focus in meetings
  • Relationships with funders
  • Writing skills
  • People person (many of us)
  • Connections to county, community organizations
  • Funds $$ to share
  • Connections to school district
  • Like to help
  • Have own housekeeping business
  • Cosmetology
  • Translation and consulting business
  • Volunteerism

 

 

 

OUR PROJECTS: WHAT WE CAN DO IN PARTNERSHIP AND OUR VISION OF SUCCESS

Participants chose a group to work with to discuss one of five projects. The groups identified what success will would look like and what human capital is needed.

 

Transportation

Brackets [ ] indicate human capital: people and agencies who can help with a particular part of the project

 

  • Artist  [Francisco]
  • Reduced fares [Gerry Witacki Schools’ principals – Gary McHenry]
  • Bike lanes – wide, safe [Ken]
  • More Spanish information / other languages [Martha]
  • Shuttles go further[County Connection / Transportation Action Teams]
  • More para-transit [Gerry W., CCEG / AAA Trans.]
  • Shuttle pick up for children [Gary McHenry]
  • Seamless transportation transfers – no waiting [Gerry M L]
  • Bus shelters [County Connect, Terry House]
  • Bike trails
  • Shelters / benches
  • Bus safety / waiting safety [Gerry Adrianna]
  • Marsh Creek Detention folks continue to make benches [Terry House]
  • More speed bumps / street safety [Adrianna, Mark Deven, Beatrice]
  • More bus ambassadors (helpers) [County Connection Residents training]
  • Special lighting at street crossing [Mark Deven, Police Dept.]
  • Traffic light beepers for blind [City of Concord Transportation Dept.]
  • More seats on busses for students [County Connection TAT]
  • Stroller space on busses [County Connection TAT]
  • Shorter waits between busses [County Connection, TAT, AAA Transportation Comm., CCEG]
  • Promote car pooling [TAT – NATS]
  • Weekend shuttle service

 

Safe Community

 

Challenges / Opportunities

  • No gang activity
  • No prostitution
  • Less men loitering in the streets
  • Less loitering / drinking in public
  • No assaults on laborers
  • Decrease in all violent crime
  • Decrease in domestic violence
  • Healthy activities on streets
  • Collaboration (residents, law enforcement & schools) to protect children off campus
  • Increase neighborhood watch
  • After-school / after-hours activities for youth
  • Overcome fears associated with reporting crime
  • Students and parents feel safe with attending neighborhood schools
  • Collaboration to focus on outcomes
  • Establish service centers
  • Support the Resource Network and its connection with safety
  • More discussion / information re: gang issues
  • Address substance abuse
  • Promote safe, affordable and quality housing
  • Provide more leadership from the Faith Community

 

Human Capital

  • Leadership in Faith Community
  • Residents, property owners
  • Schools
  • Police
  • Local government (city)
  • Health Dept.
  • CBOs – AOD, STAND, New Connections, Family Stress, Catholic Charities, AA, Al Anon

 

Redevelopment

  • Sidewalks
  • Pedestrian friendly
  • Landscaping
  • Lots & buildings not used
  • Bulk food that is affordable
  • Farmer’s market
  • Community events – ongoing
  • Active business association
  • Market study: what we have, what we need, what we want
  • Common theme
    • Color – vibrance
    • Banner program
    • More art – public
  •  Timed traffic lights
  • Living trees
  • Evidence of community buy-in – business and property owners
  • Walkable community
  • Variety of restaurants – open & accessible, with ambience
  • CLEAN
  • SAFE
  • From mess to folkloric
  • Mercado – movable stalls
  • Business organized – merchandise selective to new business
  • Organize property owners

 

Skills & Talents Resources

  • Communicating with property owners (more resources needed)
  • Needs assessment – residents, property owners (need resources time & people)
  • Investors conscious
  • Structure
  • Information about opportunities to make a plan (time)
  • Information about moveable markets – models  that have worked in the past (research skills needed)
  • Realtors & lenders – creative financing
  • Joint investment strategies
  • Financial education
  • Research – successful development projects in the Bay Area – bringing business owners into
  • Someone with design experience – urban design
  • Organize landscapers and businesses to use what we have available instead of going outside
  • Skills are available but we need money to pay for time and resources

 

Healthy Eating Active Living

  • Bike lanes
  • Little parks and playgrounds
  • Activities for all
  • Exercises classes
  • Grocery
  • Streets and sidewalks encourage walking
  • Permanent craft co-op
  • fast food
  • good healthy restaurants
  • Places to walk
  • Farmer’s market every 10 blocks
  • Place to do active things with niños
  • Cut portions in restaurants & cheaper
  • Change school menus to lower calorie meals
  • Schools encouraging eating balanced meal

 

Human Capital

  • $$$ - Walkability workshop; Kaiser Health; Redevelopment
  • Residents and business owners to design
  •  Advocates on City Council and Planning Commission
  • Engineers who know how to do this
  • Place / space to do this
  • Residents knowledgeable about health and exercise

 

Parent and Youth School Leadership

 

Exito como lo vemos / How we see success

 

  • When a parent calls the school within the 24 hours
  • Parents have input in school events
  • Having a monthly meeting where they share success and progress in academics and other areas of their children’s education
  • 100% estudiantes han pasado los examenes necesarios para pasar a un grado superior. Los padres nuevos en a escuela conocen y aprenden acerca de como funciona el sistema escolar
  • Todos los padres estan involucrados 100% en  la ayuda escolar de sus hijos
  • todos los padres de familia estan pendientes y apoyan a que todos los ninos en edad escolar esten asistiendo a la escuela
  • Todos los ninos en las escuelas usaran un uniforme unico
  • todos los etudiantes que estan aprendiendo ingles si tienen integrados a la escuela independientemente de su habilidad para hablar ingles
  • Todos los padres conoceran acerca de programas educativos para apoyar el exito academico de sus hijos

§                  Todas las eslueas entenderan, y respetaran las caracteristicas culturales de las familias y estudiantes de diversos paises

  • Todas las escuelas desarrollaran programas de prencion que ayuden a que los jovernes se desarrollen saludablemente y tengan exito
  • Todas los padres pe familia conocen y entienden su responsabilidas en el exito de sus hijos
  • Padres y maestros trabajian en colaboracion para asegurar el exito academico y personal de los estudiantes a ensenar y reforzar valores y morales de los estudiantes – ensenar el valor practico de los conocimientos (illegible) caracter de los estudiantes
  • Todos los estudiantes pasaran de un nivel escuela media – a secundaria de manera exitosa. Desarrollar planes para apoyar la transicion de una escueia de un nive a otro
  • Todos los ninos con formas de aprender cuentan con los progamas y recursos para tener exito
  • Aumentar el nivel y cantidad de estudiantes que se graduan de educacion secundaria 90% de todos los estudiantes se graduaran
  • Todas las esuelas contaran con servicios de apoyo (consejeria tutoria, salud mental) de calidad Y culturalmente apropiados
  • Re-asignacion en areas designadas para las escuelas

 

 

 

LEARNING TOGETHER: HOW WE KNOW WE ARE SUCCESSFUL

Participants chose one of five interest groups:

  • Resident leadership
  • Economic development
  • Education
  • Health & well being
  • Housing

The groups discussed how they will know when they are successful in these areas. This was an exercise in sharing and understanding and no notes were taken during this discussion.

 

GOING FORWARD: TRYING OUT THIS WAY OF ORGANIZING MCP

The full group agreed to try out this way of organizing Monument Community Partnership for the next six months and expressed interest in a further retreat in six months time.                            

 

CONCLUSION, NEXT STEPS

Molly Clark explained that progress updates will be shared over the next six months by the facilitators and leaders of the different action groups.

 

 

Facilitation and note transcription: Quinlan Gaston Huey Associates: 415-499-1050, gastonhuey@eartlink.net