Notes from Table Discussions
1st Annual Meeting
September 23, 2005
How can the Lake County After School Coalition assist you/your organization with developing/expanding after school initiatives in your community?
? Special events
? Location for funding ideas
? Transportation
o Safe
o Running a bus system (2)
? Communication
o Spreading the word about our goal
o Keeping in touch with each other and motivation to keep our eye on our goals
? Staffing
o Spanish speaking people to get ideas out to the Hispanic community
? Programming
o Improve youth programs
o Activities in the teen center
o Programming that includes homework and mentoring
o Models of successful programs to help generate program ideas/potential partners
o Mentoring for youth
o Lake County wide programs (dances, concerts, etc)
? Community involvement – supporting the idea
o Ownership – funding
o Getting a convincing argument to pass referendums
o Community leaders need to continue to work with local and state legislators to help continue to advocate for funding after school programs
o Community involvement/planning – i.e. a residential community is identified to have gang issues, interventions end the gang problem; what is in place to connect the youth to intervention programs with real impact, rather than moving the gangs out of X neighborhood into Y neighborhood
o Assist with getting more volunteers for faith-based programs (schools are leery due to church and state separation)
o Collaboration with agencies to provide services (other agencies in our community)
o Identify resources to expand ESL programs for adults to local community organizations
o Help identify resources to offer counseling programs for parents and youth (family counseling) at no cost to family
? Marketing/Media
o Go to areas youth hang out in and market programs (i.e. movie screen ads, rally for resources, malls, bus billboards, etc.)
o Create a resource list on a website with all the Lake County After School programs to be a resource for people looking for programs for the youth
o Media assistance/forums
o Increased marketing for youth programs – get the word out
? Schools
o We have to begin prevention in grade schools
o How to integrate the schools even if they can’t contribute, the programs can come then
o Getting schools involved
o Facilitating channels of information distribution, especially through the public schools
§ How can after school programs partner with public schools in order to help serve the needs of the children there?
? Funding
o Grants, scholarships to students
o Help find funding
o Support financially and educationally by providing the necessary tools for success
o Lake County funders need to be aware of what’s going on
o This information is critical to getting funding we want to hear what’s going on
? Youth involvement
o Teen involvement and presentations
§ Our point of view
o Making youth responsible for activities
? Figuring out a way to help kids with special needs
? Partnering with businesses and corporations to provide mentoring, career awareness, work experiences, activities, service projects
? Assessment: survey à directory to get resources out to the community
? Teen Center - Why go? What is needed? (Mundelein After School Coalition)
¡ Transportation ¡Central location
¡ Food ¡Time to meet other students
¡ Place to work on homework
¡ Activities/clubs/sports, etc ¡Funding
§ Computers Tax dollars
§ Video games – dance Sponsorship
§ Outdoor Fees per student
§ Crafts
§ Babysitting classes
§ Tutors – homework
? Help Boys and Girls Club to plant the seed in the communities so that BGCA can open up in your area
? Invite parents to club for workshops that may be supported by DCFS (low income)
? How to establish Read2Succeed Program at BGCLC/expand to other community organizations
? Consider Mundelein activities
? Motivating meetings on quarterly basis
? It’s good to see who else is involved
? Northern Illinois Food Bank needs a network to get the word out
? It’s helpful to see the membership so people who want to provide help know what’s going on and where to go
? Endorsement of Kathy Ryg and Chief Rose lends support to coalition and gives credibility