Minnesota

Horizons II communities successfully completed the 18-month program and Horizons staff  want to share two documents developed that highlight the many successes the communities accomplished.  The first is a report on activities around the three outcome areas of Horizons - leadership development, poverty reduction, and community/partnership/infrastructure development.  You can access this report by clicking on:  Action on Horizons Outcomes 

The second document highlight the findings from the pre and post test done in the communities during the study circle and LeadershipPlenty components of the program.  You can access this report by going to Community Evaluation Results of Pre and Post Tests

 Amazing work by amazing people that reinforces our belief that Minnesota is the best place to live!

Last January, we compiled an update for the Minnesota Horizons communities that included the vision statement and the ideas each community was looking into.  To take a look at where you were in January and how far you have come, click here:  community-updates-108.doc.  To read the final work plans, visit each community’s blog site.

Everyday Democracy recently recognized Eveleth for their blog.  CONGRATULATIONS, Eveleth bloggers, on your efforts to highlight positive change in your community!

Check out Eveleth’s blog at: eveleth.blogspot.com

Communities have scheduled their Horizons Transition events.  At these community events, Horizons Teams will discuss their accomplishments, recognize all the volunteers that made the program such a success, and present their workplans for future activities.  Please click below for a full schedule of dates and times.

Transition Community Events

Below is a link to Extension’s Center for Family Development and resources they offer for teaching youth about money.    For example,

Did you know?

• 1 in 5 teens have their own credit card or access to their parents’ card.
• High school seniors’ basic financial literacy is declining.
• 30% of youth report their parents rarely or never discuss saving and investing with them.
• Undergraduates carry an average of three credit cards, and have an average credit card debt of $2,327.
• As little as 10 hours of personal finance education positively affects students’ spending and savings habits.

Find out how you can address these issues at:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/Youth&Money/ 

 
Do you wonder what others see when they visit your community? Are you looking at tourism opportunities or revitalizing your downtown? Then read on!

The University of Minnesota College of Design has developed a community partnership program where 2-3 communities work together to bring outside perspective to what your community has to offer.

Through this process team members develop a skill set that allows them to look at communities in a different way. You will:
• Have fun being a secret shopper in another community
• Work collaboratively
• Develop observational skills
• Share new ideas and information with your partnering community
• Plan and complete a small project for your community

The goal of Designing the Future: Community Strategies is for communities to collaboratively and critically view their own community through viewing another. As Designing the Future is sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s College of Design, you will have the opportunity to consult with faculty and/or classes on projects related to graphic design, historic preservation, housing studies, landscape architecture, or retail merchandising.

To learn more about this program, read their brochure and application: dtfprogrammaterials.pdf

If you are a Horizons community and you are interested in this process, please let Lori or Jessica know as well and we will help you make the connections.

Rails to Trails out of Washington, D.C. is recruiting 20,000 people to pledge to walk and bike more this year and use their vehicle less this year. Horizons communities around the state have identified actions to address poverty in their community. Many have identified our cultural reliance upon personal vehicles as an impediment to thriving communities. There is little public transport in rural areas and safe-bike ways are forgotten. Rails-to-Trails is an organization that has addressed this concern positively around the country, including in some of the Horizons communities. Take the pledge to support the effort to reduce our reliance upon oil and to build healthier communities where people are at the center. Visit their website to take the pledge.

Community Visioning Sessions are set to start this week. David Beurle will be facilitating the discussion in each of the Horizons Communities. Get ready, get set, and come on out to share your input:

10/20: Wabasha: Coffee Mill Golf Club. 8:30 am to 5 pm.

• All-day Scenario Planning session
• Breakfast at 8:30, lunch about noon
• Door prizes from local businesses

10/22: Mt. Lake: Alliance Missionary Church. Dinner 5pm, Rally 6pm.

• Meet-and-greet with David at Parkside Depot, 12 noon
• Student rally at Mt. Lake School at 2:14
• Dinner catered by King Egg Roll
• Door prizes from local businesses
• Child care available. Please pre-register children by calling Tara Kleven at 507-427-8943

10/23: Elmore: Shiloh Lutheran Church. Dinner 5:30pm, Rally 6pm.

• Dinner catered by Evy’s Diner
• Door prizes - Elmore Dollars and other treats
• Child care stipends available

10/25: Hokah: Hokah Old City Hall. Dinner 5pm, Rally 6pm

• Dinner catered by Rose Doering
• Door prizes from local businesses
• Child care stipends available

10/26: St. James: First Presbyterian Church. 8:30 am to 5 pm.

• All-day Scenario Planning session
• Breakfast at 8:30, lunch about noon
• Door prizes from local businesses
• Child care stipends available

10/27: New York Mills: NYM High School. 5:00 pm, dinner; 6:00 pm program.

• Hear the local jazz band perform during dinner.
• Childcare will be provided.
• David will meet with local youth leaders on Monday, Oct 29 at 8:30 am.

10/29: Fertile: Fertile-Beltrami High School. 6:00 dinner, 7:00 program.

• Door prizes!
• Childcare stipends will be available.

10/30: Floodwood: Floodwood Fair Building. 5:30 dinner, 6:30 program.

• Childcare stipends will be available.
• Door prizes!

10/31:

• Craig and Kate Radio Show, 9 am

11/1: Eveleth: Eveleth-Gilbert High School. 5:00 pm dinner, 6:00 pm program

• Childcare provided
• Door prizes!
• David will meet with the E-G School at 2:30

11/2: Chisholm: Armory. 5:00 pm dinner, 6:00 pm program

• Childcare stipends provided
• Door prizes!
• Tentative meetings are scheduled for David to meet with area students, the Community Foundation and Hibbing Taconite.