There are 4 primary impact teams in place to support the SoP project: social, economic, environmental and community. All sustainable development programs and activities fall under these four teams. The four teams all have leaders who meet independently with endorsing partners and community residents on a regular basis. A new SoP advisory team continues to meet monthly and receive activity reports from the four working impact teams.
a. Administration:
3
b. Transactional:
4
c. Transformational:
3
10. Project results :
What are the current results of the project in terms of Outcomes:
Twice a year reporting reveals the following:
Social impact-health and wellness; tutoring of students; youth development; and mentoring of family members etc. Over 5000 after-school food baskets have been provided to needy children. An active Girl Scout program has been established. About 50 students have been tutored during the school year, including a Schools of Hope program through the United Way.
Economic impact: training and development; creation of local jobs; social entrepreneurship opportunities etc. Grand Rapids Community college is providing local job training. Several business are being targeted for relocation to the SoP area. New social entrepreneurship business opportunities continue to incubate.
Environmental impact: neighborhood revitalization and residential energy efficiency etc. Distribution of compact fluorescent light bulbs has occurred. A furnace replacement and weatherization program is available for local residents.
Community impact: community leadership development etc. A new SoP advisory team has been established and is working with board members. 8-10 local residents form the core of the Host Neighborhood organization. The SoP initiative has recently moved into the local neighborhood at the Southeast Community Alliance (SECA) building as of May 1, 2011. GVSU has also provided support through three interns from the Master of Social Work (MSW) program.
11. Contribution to reforms and innovations:
The SoP sustainable neighborhood initiative is a transformational new model based on expressed local community needs and wants including the training and development of local neighborhood residents who are willing to take an empowered leadership role in helping to make better decisions for their local community. The SoP is not driven by specific grants and funding opportunities typically pursued by NGOs. The SoP is able to generate resources through both shared monetary and non-monetary sources, as well as through shared sustainable development knowledge and best practices. The SoP model is of interest to the city of Grand Rapids as they look to learn about new transformational community development models and best practices.
12. Unexpected / unplanned results:
First, there is the overall innovation and creativity surrounding social entrepreneurship. Both the private and public sectors can now address "quality of life" issues and concerns with new strategies and organizational structures. Secondly, social entrepreneurship has opened the door for businesses with new job positions to be placed and/or related within the SoP community. There are associated training and development opportunities as well. This, is the opportunity for the Seeds of Promise neighborhood community to create and generate its own financial capital.
13.Core Partners:
There are now 50 stakeholde groups endoring the Seeds of Promise initiative. Some of the primary partners include: Goodwill Industries, United Way of West Michigan, Cascade Enginneering, the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University among others.
a. Information network:
2
b. Knowledge network:
5
c. Innovation network:
3
15. Type of involvement:
There are currently 53 endorsing partner organizations who have signed a commitment to provide and share resources and best practices with others on a best efforts basis in the SoP community. These partners work together in separate teams to help meet specific neighborhood needs and wants.
b. Consultation participation:
4
c. Decision influencing participation :
3
17. Educational activities:
Educational activities are primarily focused on students at Dickinson middle is pr school. Tutoring is provided for specific students in grades 1-4 through local college and university students. The United Way Schools of Hope program is also provided by trained individuals. Scouting and other youth development programs are also available.
18. Learning activities:
One example includes overall healthy food access. Michigan State University has invested in an targeted the Dickinson middle school for a childhood obesity program which has provided the platform for an overall health and wellness program for the school. The kids Food basket also provides after-school food baskets of healthy nutritional products that the children can take back to their families each evening. This awareness about healthy nutritional food has led to a new school program know as Project Fit. Children and families receive a bag of nutritional food items that are available and can be purchased at select local neighborhood stores.
a. Theory:
2
b. Discussion:
5
c. Interactive and Multidimensional "action oriented education":
3
20. Research & Development (R&D):
The R&D component is provided by the applied sustainable development best practices that come from the endorsing partners. The implement of these best practices enable improvement in overall social, environmental, economic and community impact.
21. Research partners:
Grand Valley State University (triple bottom line sustainability)
Grand Rapids Community College (job training and development)
Calvin College (environmental sustainability)