The mission of Opportunity Works is to create a community where the condition of poverty occurs infrequently. When it does occur, it is a temporary condition at which time people have the assets, support and opportunity to become self-sufficient.
This community effort was catalyzed in March 2002 when the Northwest Area Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota awarded a grant of $600,000 for community planning. Our area was one of just four regions in the U.S. to receive support. The foundation selected the region based on its own research about previous community-building efforts and the regions' demographic, economic and social conditions. The initial funds were used to support community planning costs including facilitation, research, and training. Opportunity Works is a project of the Community Foundation of Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Northeast Iowa.
Process Design Team: Over 40 volunteers representing our entire region were involved in developing the overall planning process. Their goal was to design a process that enabled all members of our communities to be heard. This team was comprised of a diverse network of individuals who also helped to launch the planning in each of their respective communities.
Brainstorming Sessions: From September- November 2002, Brainstorming Sessions were used to capture community feedback from over 2,600 people. 215 community organizations, neighborhood groups, businesses, education institutions, and faith-based groups hosted brainstorming sessions where participants described the conditions of their community and shared bold action ideas. In addition, over 300 one-on-one sessions were held with people who were unable to come to group sessions. 49% of participants said that this was the first time that they had been asked to give their input on a community issue. Click here to read a report of the Brainstorming Sessions. Opportunity Works provided fully equipped Brainstorming kits, facilitation training, volunteer facilitators and support for childcare, transportation, translation, etc. Additionally, in spring 2003 pieces from local artists on the subject of opportunity and poverty formed an interactive exhibit that traveled the region.
Strategy Conference: On February 25, 2003 over 600 people attended the Opportunity Works Strategy Conference. At this conference people heard the results of the Brainstorming Sessions, met in small groups to further refine ideas and heard a synthesis of ideas from the day. Click here to find presentations of the day, photos, raw data, and a synthesis of results.
Developing Strategies: At the completion of the Strategy Conference, staff and Process Design Team members worked together to draft action strategies. After the initial drafts were developed, more than 600 people from within the region provided feedback.
Research & Education: Opportunity Works compiled a great deal of research related to the issues of poverty reduction, community building and community data. Studies developed through the Opportunity Works planning process can be accessed through our publications link. For other sources on poverty, statistics or community planning, see our links page.
The Opportunity Works Plan to reduce poverty was completed in December 2003. The implementation of the 10-year plan to reduce poverty was launched in January 2004. Since that time, Opportunity Works has been working dilligently to turn our region's plan to reduce poverty into action. For more information on what's happening now, please visit the Task Team pages and our newsletter archive.
People of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life are encouraged to participate! To get involved you can:
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