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Sustainable Communities Training Program
By Laura Kemp-Rye,
Community Collaborative, Inc.
The Community Collaborative, Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming West Virginia communities through leadership, collaboration, and partnerships. In 2005-06, it will sponsor the 10th Sustainable Communities Training Program (SCTP.)
Representatives from chosen teams take part in leadership development and team-building activities that help communities reach their goals. SCTP provides opportunities for skills development, peer learning, and networking, leading to more successful planning and implementation of community projects. It’s unique training format blends presentation, peer exchange, group process, networking, and site visits from training team members into a unified learning experience.
“Each year the selected communities have different characteristics,” Laura Kemp-Rye, project manager observed, “but all have similar goals of bettering communication, building skillful leaders, and increasing collaboration. The Community Collaborative looks forward to another productive yet fun year.”
National and local experts, including Vaughn Grisham, University of Mississippi; Peter Hille, Brushy Fork Institute; and Larry Peppers, University of North Carolina are talented featured trainers. In previous years, West Virginia faculty has included Jean Ambrose, Joe and Eileen Barker, Leslie Stone, and Michael Tierney.
Two highlighted speakers in 2004 told a story of community development, Minnesota-style. Marilyn Frauenkron Bayer and Kelly Stanage explained how citizens used their school system, which was about to be shut down by the state for declining enrollment, as the major organization for community development issues, including senior services, tourism, environment, trails, and job creation. They significantly increased the enrollment and graduation rate, at the same time improving teacher morale.
Jean Ambrose, Community Collaborative board chair and WVCNCS executive director emphasized, “There is such strength to be derived from hearing about the struggles of other rural communities like ours. Every county in West Virginia could be able to tell a story of turning around declining school enrollment and improving the quality of life in the process. This Minnesota community did it with very few resources and we can, too.”
Selected teams meet as a group six times over the course of the year in locations across the state, including Lewisburg, Oak Hill, Charleston, Clarksburg, Pipestem, and Morgantown. Through a variety of activities, participants gain cutting-edge knowledge about team building, communication, conflict resolution, and asset mapping. At the end of the year, teams are eligible for access to a funding pool to continue their community team’s leadership abilities. The four teams chosen for the 2005-06 program are:
Over the last 10 years, major funding for this project has been provided by
the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Additional funding for the program has been provided by local governments, nonprofits,
and businesses. Groups and communities may register for individual sessions
or apply for a place in the 2006-07 training year. Interested groups and sponsors
may contact Laura Kemp-Rye at 304.291.5484 or email communitycollaborativeinc@verizon.net
.
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*** Websites ***
Brushy Fork Institute
http://www.berea.edu/brushyforkinstitute
George McLean Institute for Community Development
http://www.olemiss.edu
*** Books ***
Beyond Boosterism: A Model for Community Development
by Vaughn Grisham
Tupelo: The Evolution of a Community
by Vaughn Grisham
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