Horizons Overview
What
is Horizons?
Horizons
is a community leadership program aimed at reducing poverty in
small rural and reservation communities faced with economic
decline and demographic change. The program explores
perceptions about sources of poverty and builds a stronger
community leadership base to help address this issue.
Who
funds Horizons?
The
project is funded by the Northwest
Area Foundation, whose mission is to help communities reduce
poverty in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana,
Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The Foundation has invested
in experienced regional institutions to provide training,
consulting and technical support in each Horizons community.
The North Dakota State University Extension Service currently
supports 15 communities in North Dakota for Phase III of
Horizons.
How
long does it take?
The
program is 18 months long with four required segments.
Each community involved must meet thresholds for each segment
within defined timeframes before they can move forward.
Each threshold is connected to skills and achievement that help
strengthen a community.
What
does it involve?
Each
community involved in the program receives an initial foundation
of resources and tools. NDSU Extension then helps
community select additional resources customized to address
their unique needs. For one community, it might mean
economic development training, for another, conflict resolution
counseling or technical skill courses. All communities
take part in:
- A
Study Circles conversation - this community conversation
and action planning is focused on poverty. It requires
12 hours during a two month period and the involvement of at
least 30 people. The goal is for the community to
learn what poverty looks like there and what they might be
able to do about it.
- A
leadership training - the leadership training in each
community involves a program called
LeadershipPLENTY
and at least 20 people will participate in this program.
It assumes every community member can
provide leadership.
- Community visioning and planning - this is focused on
leadership growth and poverty reduction. It involves
the whole community.
- Idea Implementation - NDSU Extension and others will
provide support, coaching and additional resources as
communities put their plans into action.
How
does a community benefit?
By
completing the entire Horizons program, a community can expect:
- a
community-wide understanding of poverty and ways it can be
solved;
- more
people in leadership roles in the community;
-
community leaders who come from all ages, backgrounds, and
incomes;
- at
least six people with better skills to help lead community
discussions and move toward community action;
- three
people who can present ongoing leadership training in the
community;
- at
least 20 people with enhanced leadership abilities;
- a
vision and a plan created by many in the community
- up to
$10,000 to sustain community strategies for poverty
reduction and leadership;
-
connections to many organizations and hundreds of other
Horizons communities that can help for the long haul; and
-
changes from within the community that allow their work to
continue long term.
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