LANSING i2i

PROJECT ACTIVITY TEAM Minutes

Meeting Date: 12/16/11

2:30-4:30 PM @ CCED

Present: Angela Austin, Ken Sperber, Laura Bates, Cassie Larrieux (by speaker phone), MC Rothhorn, Bob Brown, Peggy Roberts, Miles McNall, LeAnne Lock

Angela distributed the Agenda.

Developmental Evaluation Planning Guide

Miles presented and explained the Lansing Equity Initiative EvaluationPlanning Guide. He and we discussed our assumptions about the role of Developmental Evaluation (DE) members of this team. It was generally agreed that the DE members help inform the decision(s) but not make the decision(s).

Miles, then, walked us through our homework assignment of: ‘The community engagement process will be successful if…….’ Each team member completed the statement by writing on sticky notes and Miles posted them on the board. The team worked together to “group” the statements (on the sticky notes) and how these statements help us look back and look forward as we move through the process.

(Special humor note: Miles’ wheels are turning – in a good way, to assist us and work with us as a team!)

Engagement: Neighborhood Selection

Angela asked Cassie (via phone) re: Asset Maps. Therefore we revisted discussions re: census tracts, but reminded ourselves that the selection of neighborhoods/areas is not based solely on census, but many factors. We come to the conclusion that the neighborhoods are actually areas or clusters. We will attempt to begin with 3. MC mentioned that some Lansing schools will be closing and might be a factor to consider.

Angela talked about the GSC site(s) she visited. And, then we talked about:

  • What do we hope to learn?
  • We brainstormed about how to get connected to the neighborhood clusters by considering:
  • Who do we know?
  • Who else should we be talking to?
  • What is it that we are asking people?
  • Identifying key informants or who we know that will lead us to others, and so on.
  • Agency contacts.
  • Formal and informal contacts.
  • What is in it for the receivers of this grant?
  • What is in it for us?

Angela will contact the PAT members through Wiggio re: Theory about ‘who do you know?’

While doing these next steps, we feel we are ready for PAT members to begin “contacting” people and agencies they know, chatting and “listening to stories” as we move forward to fulfill the purpose of this grant.

Organizer job description

We will begin the process of searching for organizers. Angela will initiate that process and involve the PAT members through Wiggio.

Next meetings: January 6th9 – 11 AM January 13th12 – 2 PM

January 20th9 – 11 AMJanuary 26th 9 – 11 AM

Respectfully submitted,

LeAnne Lock