Bridge to Prosperity The Anaconda Horizons Project 2006 - 2009

Barbara Andreozzi, MSU-Deer Lodge County Extension Educator &

Anaconda Horizons Project Coordinator

Jim Davison, Anaconda Local Development Corp Director

Dan Villa, State Legislator

Adam Vauthier, Vauthier & Ferguson Design

Creating New LeadersCreating New Leaders

Outline of each of our presentations

Barb = Overview of Horizons, dev. steering committee, study circles, etc

Jim = Overview of Survey process and input, Foundation, Expanded Ed. Esp CNA cert

Adam = Blog, and his classes of expanded ed (plus his business)

Dan = Youth involvement & input via Blog (plus his position/business)

“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers”

Ralph Nader

We planned the project with the end in mind Evaluated who needed to be involved Involved current leaders, emerging and

potential leaders with a passion for the project, who knew or worked with target population

“The Leader has to be practical and a realist, yet must talk the language

of the visionary and idealist.” Eric Hoffer

Built a complimentary Leadership Team who could become change agents

Success breeds success… We Started with “Leadership”

Learned from our Past:Leadership = Volunteer Success

1995 – 2006 Visioning Projects completed: Master Plan in place, first ever in 100+ yrs CBD in place along with TIFDs Commons park totally revamped, permanent

tree in place, raised over $250,000 for project Smelter Interpretive site open, MOU’s with

FWP, BP ARCO, County, $150,000 + raised

Visioning 1995-2006 projects continued…

Beautification projects = multiple: 1000+ new Street Trees in place, 225 last yr Storefront facade work completed by six

businesses, more plans to continue Flower baskets throughout town in summer New entrance arch sign & others in place Skateboard Park enjoyed by youth Teams addressed community capitals

A One Company TownAnaconda Company

First electric lights west of Mississippi 1913

First clay tennis courts in Montana

First outdoor pool in area

September 1980 closure:

1,500 jobs lost over night

65% of tax base gone

Developing a Steering Committee

Current Leaders with an interest or passion for the project

Current Leaders with power to change current situation

Emerging Leaders with an interest or passion for the project

Potential new leaders via PR, direct invitation, involved in the issue

Balancing Leadership Potential for a Successful Steering Committee

Current Leaders skills Team players Love planning to

implementing Visionary Change agents Power/influence to

make a difference

Emerging Leaders skills Risk Takers Willing to try something

again or new Team players Represent project Committed to all

phases of the project

“An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the

knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed

in a way that leads to collective organizational success.”

Stephen R. Covey, Principle-Centered Leadership

Team reviewed data…

Steering Committee develops asset maps, knowledge & learning….

Plan for “Inclusion”; Team Building

First meeting sets the stage: Communicate Vision/Goals of the project Be truthful about project, expectations,

timeline, time commitment, etc. Utilize individual assets, expertise Build knowledge of Community Assets not

just needs/issues/data Consider focus groups & surveys

Build Your Ideal Team

Look for Opportunities to build Leadership Capacity

Allow for Champions to emerge Utilize the Teachable moments Expect Leadership from all Empower your team to Lead Build capacity at every phase

Study Circles Involved 166 Community Members: Listen, Study, Plan, Act

Community Input via Surveys

Steering Committee developed survey Mailed to 500 random households Survey Monkey version available to all Findings help focus efforts from Study

Circles, Visioning Forum and surveys

Ask for Help Montana State University Extension and The Northwest Area Foundation are working with

citizens to help improve the quality of life in this community through the Horizons program. Horizons is a community leadership program created to assist small rural and reservation communities faced with economic decline or population change to enhance their quality of life.

As a part of this project we are gathering input from community members. We invite you to take a few minutes to fill out this brief survey so that your opinions will be heard, and so that you can have a direct hand in promoting positive change in this community. We would appreciate your participation greatly, and look forward to learning more about your views and ideas.

Your participation in the survey is completely voluntary, and your responses will be anonymous. Summaries of all surveys will be provided to a Horizons project committee in this community. Watch for a community event in October/November where community members will be invited to create a vision statement and a basic community plan based in part on these survey results.

For additional surveys or more information, contact your Horizons Community Coach, ---, at (406) ----, or by e-mail at --@--.

If you have any questions regarding the purposes, content or use of this survey, please call --- to speak with the MSU Extension staff conducting the survey. Please return the survey in the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope enclosed for your convenience. Thank you in advance for your participation in

What We Found Out

• Top focus: Create livable wage jobs with benefits, • Expand Educational Opportunities• Develop a Foundation,• Expand Clean-up,• Health issues• Expand After School Programs• Develop more Volunteer Coordination

Words to Actions

Leadership Investment Financial Investment Training Investment Volunteer Investment Tested all via our Visioning Forum

A Free Nine Week Leadership Series offered three times: Mondays starting – March 26, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm, ALDC Wednesdays starting – March 28, 10:00 a.m.-2:30 pm, ALDC Saturdays starting – March 31, Noon – 3:30 p.m., St. Mark’s ending May 21, May 23, May 26 The nine modules cover: 1. FINDING LEADERS WITHIN 2. IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY ASSETS 3. MANAGING GROUPS FOR RESULTS 4. MAKING MEETINGS WORK BETTER 5. MANAGING CONFLICT 6. BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS 7. MOVING FROM TALK TO ACTION 8. VALUING EVALUATION 9. COMMUNICATING FOR CHANGE Undergrad credit (Dawson Community College – 3 credits for $140) and OPI CU’s are available if attending all nine modules. Ask for the credit information when you register. Register by calling the MSU-DLCo. Extension Office – 563-4035.

Leadership; a plan for success

Build capacity to succeed Review current Leadership capacity Develop Leadership opportunities via

education and learn-as-you-achieve… Blend Leaders, styles, abilities Involve current, new & emerging Leaders Be ready for Teachable moments

Action

First Successes via Horizons

Bridge to Prosperity first “low-hanging fruit” Anaconda Community Foundation

Horizons Projects 2007

Anaconda Community Foundation established, raised over $100,000

Training for the Future

Expand Educational Opportunities Committee addressing multi layers

working with high school to revamp/expand “shop” classes to state-of-art tech & trades

researching community college model, offering current course needed by small business,

development of CNA certification

Local CNA Training

Enabled low income to bridge to a career Horizons offered scholarships, baby sitting

costs, book/materials costs, test fees, gas Hospital offered covering cost of certified

trainer, on-site training, training wage for time with patients, etc

Next class set to begin this fall Local LPN training “in the works”

Certified Nurses Assistant

Developed training local to enable low income to participate

Horizons projects continued…

Volunteer Center set to launch in 2009 Medical Transportation Group established,

taking patients to treatment in Missoula, Butte, Billings

Home Fix-it Group established, helping with home repairs, co-hosting fix-it workshops

Clean-up Committee expanded town cleanup and Superfund clean-up

Youth programs expanded in 2008

Developing a Blog for Community Input / involvement

Asked Question of the week on Survey findings, Study Circle findings, etc

Issues in smaller communities• People in smaller communities are less

technologically seasoned and thus less likely to visit a blog.

• Simple solutions• Make it easy to get to• Give them a reason to go.• Make it have a look and feel of the community.

Student Involvement

Study Circles involved Youth, one circle was at the High School during classes

High School Honors classes: Created their Vision of the Future and presented to the Community

High School Students were encouraged to respond to survey

Expanding Educational Opportunities: Computer Classes

Technology courses were implemented to build skill sets of people inside the community.• Current courses include Microsoft Office 2007 and

QuickBooks. • Both are focused on developing necessary skills for

the office environment.

Classes took place in five week sessions.• The overall theme of the classes was to cover the

basics of the pieces of software and some conceptual ideas

• Resources were given out along with the classes for future reference on the material to allow for self – education to be competitive in the workforce.

Expanding Educational Opportunities: Computer Classes

Volunteer Center ready to take-off

Vista position starting July 2009 Committee set to work with Vista position Computer program ready… Partnership between PCA/Family Resource

Center, Library, MSU Extension, ALDC, etc Non-Profits agree to work together /

Coordinate!

Other Projects… Community Involvement

Special emphasis: Youth & Those most in need

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead, anthropologist

Questions???