The Communities
Carbondale, Illinois
Located in the southern tip of Illinois, Carbondale is home to Southern Illinois University and more than 25,500 residents. The city council created the Carbondale Human Relations Commission with the charge of hosting a study circle program. With strong support from the city, “Carbondale Conversations for Community Action” has involved more than 250 people in study circles since 2003. In two separate study circle rounds, residents have worked on neighborhood and community-police relations issues. Plans are currently under way to launch study circles on racism in spring 2007 using SCRC’s discussion guide Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation.
What study circles led to:
- After hearing complaints about over occupancy in the city from homeowners, landlords, city officials, and tenant representatives, the Housing and Neighborhood study circle action group recommended changes in the city ordinances to increase transparency in leases. The city council approved the suggested ordinance changes in April 2005.
- A new Carbondale Aquatic Complex Committee is working with the city and Carbondale Park District Board to bring an aquatic center to the city.
- The police department published a new brochure about what to do if you’re stopped by police.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Started in 2000 with initial funding and support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate, the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center has engaged more than 1,600 residents in dialogue for change on a number of issues, including building strong neighborhoods, child development, public safety, creating a community vision, and youth. The center offers coaching, help with recruiting, technical assistance with dialogue implementation and action forums, and other support to move action ideas to outcomes.
Over the years, the center’s dialogue-to-change efforts have led to a number of outcomes:
- Starting in the summer 2008, establishing a summer arts and urban farming program for elementary- through high school-aged youth.
- A group working with city officials to address flooding and sewer issues in a neighborhood.
- A reading room with mentoring and tutoring services at a local elementary school to help students improve their reading skills.
- A sign contest resulting in children creating a new identity for their neighborhood.
- With a $2,500 grant from INRC, thanks to the support of The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate, individual study circles are taking on a number of action projects: Recording an oral history of a neighborhood; developing neighborhood newsletter "billboards" to post at bus shelter display cases throughout the city; creating a newcomer resource guide for their neighborhood; and bringing youth and seniors together to get to know each other and share stories of their neighborhood.
Kansas City, Kansas
Beginning as part of a public school reform initiative in Kansas City, Kansas, KCK Study Circles now helps people address neighborhood issues. Since 1999, the United Way of Wyandotte County has directed this project which helps residents in some of the city’s most challenged neighborhoods.To date,more than 1,800 Kansas City residents have taken part in study circles on neighborhood issues,education, and diversity.
What study circles led to:
- Residents in a public housing project started a tenants’ association, set up a youth sports camp, and got rid of about 10 drug houses in their neighborhood.
- Over 100 young people planned and conducted a downtown cleanup.
- Spanish-speaking parents formed a parents’ association.
- A group of young people began doing minor home repairs and beautifying houses in their neighborhood, in hopes of attracting businesses where they can get jobs.
- A local church opened a food pantry for low-income families.
Yonkers, New York
In this diverse city of 196,000, the Yonkers Early Childhood Initiative organized study circles to help foster leadership at the neighborhood level and strengthen ties in the community. Since the spring of 2002,more than 100 residents have participated in the study circles program to strengthen families and improve their neighborhoods.
What study circles led to:
- One circle formed a cleanup committee and persuaded the city to improve trash pickup service in their neighborhood; they distribute “We Care”awards to business owners and residents who take care of their properties.
- A newly established Arabic Youth League provides cultural enrichment for children of Arabic heritage and for the greater community.
- Members of another group enrolled in a Red Cross CPR course to make sure they were prepared to handle family emergencies.