Smart Communities

Making the School-Work-Community Connection

The connection between school, work, and community is one that's not often made -- but it should be.  When treated individually we get stories about dropout rates that are higher than ever, the decline in a skilled labor force in America, and the inability of localities to attract business investment.  Taken together it is fairly clear that an investment in the first of these, education (and a high school diploma, specifically), will lead to improvements in the other two.

Consider what the December 2005 Skills Gap Report from the National Association of Manufacturers told the world.  Their survey of business executives and human resources officers indicated that over the next three years the workforce will be looking for employees with the following skills:

* Reading, Writing, Communication Skills (51%)
* Ability to Read and Translate Drawings/Diagrams/Flow Charts (39%)
* Math skills (39%)

Many, if not all, of these skills can be gained by graduating from high school and getting a diploma.   What's amazing is that in all the talk about outsourcing of labor there has been little discussion about how to invest in order to retain business in the United States or how to prepare a skilled labor force for the years ahead.  It is tough to argue that public debate has really even started on this topic, do a quick Google news search of the term "human capital" and you get the sense that this is very much a development issue in other countries but not the U.S.

Fortunately, some -- like the author of "A Farewell to Alms" -- are making the argument now about the relationship between wealthy nations and a skilled labor force.  Looking squarely at productivity as the driving force behind wealth creation some economists are beginning to demonstrate how much the investment in a labor force can yield great benefits to individuals and nations alike.  Some areas of the U.S., like Smyth County in Virginia have already identified skills gaps that need to be met, but these efforts are largely focused on reconnecting with those who have graduated from high school but left the area.  A more stategic approach might be to invest local schools now to ensure that more students graduate and a greater pool of skilled labor is available for manufacturers to utilize.

The Slow Cities Movement -- American-style

The USA Today recently published a story on tiny Floyd, VA (Pop. 434) where residents are unconcerned with things like brain drain and attracting new economic development.  They're enjoying the quietude and simple life that comes with being a "slow city."  The term originates in Europe, Italy to be more precise, and refers to a backlash against the type of development that favors McDonalds over a leisurely midday meal or which generally places a premium on economic development over-and-above the enjoyment of life's simple pleasures.  Once just a term, "slow city" is now a movement in Europe with 32 cities with populations under 50,000 offering their commitment to a particular set of "slow city" values.

Residents of Floyd are no strangers to interest in their town.  Since 2002, the residents of Floyd have been able to participate in an underground economy using their own money, called Floyd Bucks, to promote their local economy.  The town is more famously known for its musical festival and is also well-known by travelers of the musical heritage trail called the Crooked Road.  Despite the attraction to a rural utopia that places like Floyd generate there are still economic realities that need to be confronted.  The USA Today article mentioned above indicates that Floyd recently landed a $1 million federal grant and intends to use that investment to focus on job creation in an area where the average annual salary is well below the state average.

Still, in contrast to the drive to create cool cities that capture the interest of young professionals the notion of slow cities has the appeal of something that is genuine or authentic and which harkens back to the roots of a community.

Attracting Young Professionals with Hip & Happening Cities

There is a timeless story in community development -- an area that is economically challenged has bright and talented youths, the perfect base for a fresh start, but loses them to the allure of big cities.  Some cities, long overshadowed by the elan and panache of cities like New York or Los Angeles, are starting to strike back with their own hip initiatives.  According to the New York Times, cities like Portland or  Atlanta are taking steps towards reversing the brain drain and attracting young professionals by touting offerings like a music scene, easy access to airports, hip young culture, and redesigned downtown areas.

The state of Michigan has a particular commitment to this concept with its Cool Cities program.  Cool Cities is a statewide initiative aimed at making innovative communities that attract talented youths (defined by the Cool Cities group as those having a bachelor's degree or more in education or those working in creative class occupations.)  The folks at Cool Cities have pushed individual locales to create their own advisory groups and report back with recommendations.  As part of its 2004 pilot program the Cool Cities group compiled "more than 100 of the state's community improvement grants, tax credits, loans, and assistance programs into a single resource toolbox that can be used by cities and communities for revitalization projects."  In 2006, cities looking to start their own Cool Cities project can take part in one of four programs that have their own funding sources associated with them.

Cool Cities sounds like a truly "smart" initiative and we'll try and find some time to blog some more on these communities in the near future.  Of course, for ideas on how to make your city more "hip", CoolTown Studios has a list of some great ideas.

As Winter Approaches, Concern for Homeless Rises

Homelessness gets a much larger billing this time of year as temperatures drop and communities struggle to find warm places for area homeless populations.  A few stories are particularly compelling.  In Calgary, Ontario the shortage of space at shelters has become so severe that they are housing homeless on transit buses.  The challenge of homelessness in Knoxville, TN led a local TV news team, WBIR, to team with the local News Sentinel newspaper and do a series on the area homeless that maps out the problem for a public that is largely unaware of the scope of the issue.

At least one area is trying to address homeless population needs by bringing multiple services together on one day.  Morris County, New Jersey has designated December 8th as the day homeless can get everything from health to human services to workforce development information to temporary assistance at a local soup kitchen.  The event, titled Project Homeless Connect, is modeled after a similar effort in San Francisco, CA.  This seems like a great idea and best of luck to them in what will hopefully the first of many annual efforts.

Planning Healthy Communities

In news that can be described as less than shocking a new report in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine states that sidewalks, parks, and other open areas conducive to walking and exercising may be one way to ward off America's expanding waistline.  The report was authored by St. Louis University researchers who recommended a number of ways communities can begin to think about organizing in more health-conscious ways.  These recommendations, they note, are not just for the young-at-heart -- the elderly deserve consideration as they are sometimes no longer able to drive.

Apologies for posting a story about exercise on the day after Thanksgiving :-)

Engaging Community Development with Smart City Radio

There's a great web resource for anyone interested in community development and urban development in particular.  Smart City Radio is an hour-long public radio show dedicated to exploring news, trends, and theories about urban areas and their growth and development.  Carol Coletta, of CEO's for Cities fame, often hosts the show and engages experts from a wide variety of backgrounds in discussions of what constitutes "smart" urban growth and where this is being accomplished.

Smart City Radio has a great website that makes all their past broadcasts available for download.  The site gives a brief description of the topic to be addressed in each show and offers an introduction to the discussants including links to their work.  While an hour might seem like a long time to devote to listening to a web broadcast the conversations are engaging and informative.  This is definitely something you'll want to check out.

Discounts on "The School Dropout Crisis"

We've had a few requests for large orders of "The School Dropout Crisis", our dropout prevention discussion guide, and we'd like to give some discounts on these bigger orders.  Here's our holiday offering with regard to orders of 25 or more discussion guides:

20% off orders of 25-50
25% off orders of 51+

There is more information on our website about placing orders.  Please note that we only accept checks or money orders, no credit cards, and that we will provide an invoice but only on request.

A County in Crisis Needs Your Help

We received a note the other day from a gentleman who works in Kittitas  County, WA (pop. 35,000 - and growing) where there is an urgent need for housing for the homeless.  According to him, "the county has developed a 10 year plan to reduce homelessness by 50% within 10 years.  One component of the plan is to address crisis need.  We are looking at developing a bed bank which would buy capacity from the private and public sector.  The thought is to not build, but to buy unused capacity in the rental market."

Smart idea, right?

The question we were posed was - do you know of any model programs we can review or people we can contact to discuss establishing bed banks in rural areas?

I was able to provide some links to resources that we mention on our Solutions for America website but our work typically focuses on strategic, long-term change and thus we don't have answers to crisis situations such as these.  We're hoping, then, that some of our readers will be familiar with model bed bank projects across the U.S.  If you have ideas about model programs or resources that might help this county then please click on the "Comments" link below this post and share them.  A big 'thank you' to anyone wiling to help.

Little Progress Demonstrated in Closing the Gap Between Races

2014 - that is the year by which whites and minorities should achieve parity in test scores according to an ambitious agenda set forth by the No Child Left Behind Act.  Today the New York Times published an article indicating that significant progress toward closing the test score gap has yet to be achieved.  The problem is one reflected at all levels of development according to new research on the achievement gap which, the article indicates, portrays "an educational landscape in which test-score gaps between black or Hispanic students and whites appear in kindergarten and worsen through 12 years of public education."

This is grim news but there are some signs of hope.  The Times article makes mention of a few schools that have made progress and gives a brief discussion about some of the factors that have made a difference.  Other stories about achieving success in narrowing the gap are found in a Washington Post article about Fairfax County (Virginia) Schools.  Those interested in contributing to the increasing body of knowledge on the achievement gap and how it relates to the dropout problem can read more on the Learning to Finish dropout prevention wiki about solutions like instructional reform.  Registration to contribute on the wiki is free and should take no more than a minute or two.

LeadershipPlenty Grads Stand Out in Iowa

We often hear about the efforts LeadershipPlenty graduates in local newspapers, they're the ones driving new community ventures and attracting the efforts of others with their positive outlooks and "can do" attitudes.  This week, though, a really special story appeared in the Keokuk, Iowa newspaper about some graduates who took the curriculum and really made something special out of it.  Consider this quote from the executive director of the Keokuk Red Cross:

"LeadershipPlenty gave me insight into all the stereotypes we carry around with us. I was surrounded by bankers, industry leaders and was intimidated. Working in small groups, I found we're all people. I have less fear. I had the confidence to apply for director of the Red Cross."

We've always had confidence in our curriculum but it's ultimately the people who study the curriculum and "get it" who are the ones to make it work in their community.  What Keokuk is doing with LeadershipPlenty is just outstanding, I hope they keep the trainings going for a long time because I love reading stories like this.