conversation action items: week Three Action Items from: Public Summit held on April 10th. May 2016 Positive. People. Potential.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "conversation action items: week Three Action Items from: Public Summit held on April 10th. May 2016 Positive. People. Potential."

Heather Williamson
7 years ago
Views:

1 Three Action Items from: Public Summit held on April 10th. May EMPLOYEE OWNED

2 Executive Summary: In January of, Sunshine Place asked the Sun Prairie community to engage in a conversation: How can we help change the circumstances of those in poverty in Sun Prairire related to Food Insecurity, Housing and Transportation? Poverty s Presence in Sun Prairie: > 2,300 people out of the total population 30,000 people in Sun Prairie live below the poverty line. (For example, the federal poverty level is defined line for a family of four total combined income of is $24,250 or less annually.) > 37 kids in the school district of Sun Prairie are considered homeless(as self-identified to the school district). More are likely unreported. > 57% of students at Westside Elementary School get free or reduced breakfast and lunch. (41% of students at Bird Elementary School and 35% at Creekside Elementary School). Taking Action! We asked for your help and you delivered! We gathered the ideas/suggestion for change in our Summary document. And then held a Conversation Week Public Summit on April 10,. 26 folks came out to help us create an action plan. What follows are the three action plans Sunshine Place will embrace and encourage community action on the weeks ahead. Please contact me with questions or comments: Peter Curran, executive director: director@sunshineplace.org

3 #1: Food Insecurity Current Circumstances: Understanding that Kids and Seniors are most likely to have food insecurity issues, focus efforts on supporting programs of the Food Pantry. > Lack of transportation increases the problem of access to affordable, nutritious food. Action Plan Recommendation: The Public Summit participants have recommended the following action plan: > Confirm Needs/New Services Needed: Meet with the Food Pantry team to help identify what additional services are needed to protect kids and seniors. For example: > Delivery of Food Pantry goods to Seniors who sign up for a volunteer service. > Provide access to kids to come into the food pantry on their own to get a snack from the food pantry. > Develop a plan to respond to food emergencies. > Nutrition Education: Collaborate with nutrition education resources to create an on-going education plan that demonstrates how to create affordable, healthy meals from: > Food Pantry items > Convenience store strategies > Introduction to fresh produce (Explore having Sunshine Supper kitchen commercially certified to allow classes/food prep for retail sale, etc.) Assets to be involved: A. Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry B. UW-Extension C. Sunshine Supper D. Colonial Club E. Interested Daycare providers F. Community volunteers

4 #2: Housing Current Circumstances: While Shelter from the Storm Ministries will handle non-emergency needs for shelter for single moms with children, there are no other shelter options in Sun Prairie for men, familes and women who need shelter in an emergency. (Especially in the winter.) Action Plan Recommendation: The Public Summit settled on the following solution: Create an Emergency Housing Plan for all genders. > Invite the Road Home ( into Sun Prairie to help us create a plan in Sun Prairie based on their model of housing homeless people in churches at night. Churches set up a rotating schedule of volunteers to feed, and provide sleeping necessities for nighttime hours. (Through research of the needs for shelter for all genders for all times of the years, determine if a physical, permanent shelter solutions is needed.) Assets to be involved: A. Sunshine Place B. Shelter from the Storm Ministries C. The Road Home D. Interested SPAM (Sun Prairie Area Ministries) members E. St. Vincent DePaul (Sun Prairie) F. Community Volunteers

5 #3: Transportation Current Circumstances: Lack of transportation options in Sun Prairie appears to be the focal point for many issues facing those in poverty. Especially, because lack of transportation most likely means there is very little access to affordable food, healthy foods, affordable means to get to and from work, and then the ability to get a high enough paying job to afford housing in Sun Prairie. Action Plan Recommendation: At the Public Summit, the following was recommended to provide solutions on two tracks: Immediately: Embrace Dane County TimeBank via their Transportation Coordinator. 1. Create a consistent promotional plan to create awareness of the Ride Service. > Build database of volunteer drivers > Target populations to inform them of the ride service (Seniors, Teens, etc.) > Press release/flyers/meetings/etc. Six to 12 Months: 1. Host the Sunshine Shuttle. Options to consider: > Purchase a shuttle bus. Determine needs and schedules. > Create a co-op that aligns Sunshine Place with privately-owned shuttle buses to utilize them. > Negotiate a shuttle run by Kobussen Bus Co. to meet priority needs. Assets to be involved: A. Sunshine Place B. Kobussen Bus Co. C. School District of Sun Prairie D. Youth & Families Commission E. Private shuttle owners: Prairie Athletic Club, Colonial Club,??? F. City of Sun Prairie G. Community volunteers

6 Take Action: Please contine to show the collaborative spirit of Sun Prairie that has helped Sunshine Place succeed for the last nine years. 1. Join an Action Team Committee. > Please me which team you d like to join given experience or a passion. > Food Insecurity > Housing > Transportation OR 2. Share the Conversation Week Summary document along with this document with another interested person so we may engage them in the story and mission of Sunshine Place. > Visit our Web site to download the reports or copy the links: OR 3. Like our Facebook page, Sunshine Place. > Stay informed of our stories and action requests. AND, please embrace the collaborative spirit that builds communities and neighborhoods. Change can t come if one organization or asset is asked to do the heavy lifting. A collaboration of many community assets will engage the enthusiasm of the willing to help the hungry, homeless and hurting. Please share our voice. We are Sunshine Place. Relentless. Caring. Hopeful. Peter Curran: director@sunshineplace.org

7 Appendix: What other community assets should be added to list? Sun Prairie Community Assets: African American Parent Network Black Student Union Business Community Churches Colonial Club Sr. Center Community Schools Dane County: JFF ECI FSET? Neighbors Prairie Athletic Club St. Vincent DePaul Service Club: Lions Optimists Rotary Shelter from the Storm Ministries Social Workers SPARC Sun Prairie Dream Park Sun Prairie Park & Rec Sun Prairie Police Dept. Sun Prairie Public Library Sun Prairie School District Sunshine Place YMCA Youth & Families Commission

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Greater Chicago Food Depository About Us The, Chicago s food bank, is a nonprofit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository, founded in 1979,