Guestbook Entries

I am the President of the Utica Citizens in Action, a progressive multi-issue organization. I am interested in learning about models of community development which we can replicate in our area. The City of Utica is located in Upstate NY between Albany and Syracuse. We have lost one-third of our population since 1970 and have rates of poverty. Much of our housing stock has been demolished. However, we have significant opportunities at this time to transform our community into a model for sustainable urban redevelopment. We have large tracts of vacant land, housing prices are low, and our city has a large immigrant population. (Utica is home to the third largest Bosnian community in the U.S.) The Utica Citizens in Action is a multi-issue advocacy organization concerned with neighborhood redevelopment, predatory lending, affordable housing, and community-based economic development. We have over 500 members. Located In Utica, New York, our community-based and multicultural organization is committed to living wage jobs, affordable health care and education, educational opportunities, and improvement in living conditions for low and moderate income people. We are a membership organization which consists of working people, tenants, small business persons, the elderly, students, clergy, and representatives of the labor movement. Our organization is a community-labor-faith-based coalition dedicated to revitalizing Utica's distressed neighborhoods. We also advocate for low-income and marginalized neighborhoods in the Central New York region. Our group is affiliated with Citizen Action of New York, a large multi-issue membership organization consisting of over 20,000 members. Utica Citizens in Action has organized a successful 40 hour fast for the working poor, news conferences on a wide variety of issues, lobby days in Albany, and local coalitions to work on funding for schools and against predatory lending. We have published studies on alternative economic development, affordable housing Community Development Block Grant, and school funding. Established in 1997, our organization has been successful in highlighting public attention on local economic development issues, health maintenance organization reform, affordable housing, and consumer rights. We have successfully conducted campaigns on neighborhood development, media accountability, and health care and joined state and national organizations in advocating for progressive policies. Our organization has helped low income people in our community to obtain more local, state, and federal funding for housing programs. We are one of only a handful of organizations in Central New York that represents a progressive vision for our community and develops alternative analyses of local, state, and federal policies. We would appreciate technical assistance on developing community-based development programs for our community. We are interested in integrating progressive and ecologically sound planning principles into the redevelopment of our central city communities. Our organization is interested in replicating such projects such as community gardens, creating community schools and community centers, green construction techniques, neighborhood-based energy conservation and recycling, mixed use and economically diverse housing, eco-indusrial parks, business incubators for low-income people, green belts and neighborhood parks, bike and hiking trails, and ecologically sensitive and democratically controlled economic development. We would appreciate any information on these topics you could share with us. We are particularly interested in specific replication materials (e.g., neighborhood plans, funding proposals, newspaper articles, studies) which we can use to improve our community. We are seeking descriptions of innovative programs/projects/legislation that address any of the following categories: 1. Identifying sources of funding for community development 2. participatory planning models 3. Integrating economic development with housing 4. Developing vacant lots into new development 5. Maintaining historic character of neighborhoods 6. Using arts to promote economic development

Your website is a wonderful source of very useful information to create positive social change.

Online RN to BSN student at another University and Staff Educator at my hospital.

I am using it to prepare a major final project about raising awareness for and addressing social determinants that may be negatively affecting the health of a specific community or population.

I'm a freelance trainer and community development worker. Came across your site by tapping in to issues around conflict resolution.

Your information on conflict resolution was excellent, and knowing about the other areas of community health and development you cover was a lovely and encouraging surprise. Keep up the great work. Thanks.

I have a short term job with Cancer Society, Northland, assisting Events Co-ordinator with preparations for Relay For Life.

I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother,a teacher, a Medical Technologist, all of which I wear all the hats in one day. I love my positon in a hospital laboratory and have been doing the same job for many many years. As my career winds down I am moving in a new direction of more volunteerism, and it is very rewarding.

I am working with a city wide comittee of People with Disabilities, and I came accross your web site. while looking for information on grant writing. We are trying to obtain hand held readers for our library and possibly at city hall to help visually impared people, read letters and documents themselves, vs waiting for someone to read the document to them.

I am the Manager of 3 programs at the Tulsa Health Department - School Health, Healthy Communities Access Program, and Tulsa Fetal and Infant Mortality Review.

We are always looking for tools to use where we do not have to reinvent the wheel and also for best practices and models to implement within our community.

I am a new resident of Charlotte/Waxhaw N.Carolina. My work experience is in non-profit/trade association. I am interested in a career as a youth program coordinator for the American Red Cross; a diverse organization with a sense of purpose. At my age, I need to feel that I am making a significant contribution to society :)

I came across your website as I was researching the skills required as a youth program coordinator- developing action plans. I was delighted to discover such a wealth of information on your website, and I now feel confident about my ability to develop an action plan as a required skill in this position. I will definitely use and recommend your services and products! I plan to spend more time on your excellent website. Thank you! Kindly, Joan Gallo

I am a public health analyst, working with CDC. I am also a member and volunteer of the Vision Church of Atlanta. I want to help the Church to develop a multi-service, community-based organization focusing on health and human services needs for disfranchised populations.

I will use the Tool Box to assist the VCA Committee of volunteers working in the development of the Empowerment Center, d.b.a. the Vision Church of Atlanta, Inc.

I am a school registered nurse and child protection advocate for the Aurora Public Schools. I came across your website via a link from cadca.org.

I imagine that I might be able to use CTB in a multitiude of ways, to improve our school district's child protection program, introduce CTB to the Wellness Initiatives group, and as a resource in a workship I am preparing for school nurses.

Information on organization, structure, surveys, outcomes. It has been very helpful.

Developing strategic plan for non-profit community organization. Keep up the good work!

Entrepreneur, own a bookkeeping and transcription company. The company website is www.globalintegra.com

The leadership program information from your site has been useful to us. I have given it to our team managers. Thanks for the info.

I am a research analyst in the Data Resources Program in the Maternal Child Bureau at the Utah Department of Health. Our program supports the other programs in our bureau regarding their data needs. This includes program development and evaluation.

Your Community Tool Box was recommended to me during a presentation by Dr. Meg Scarlet. I am interested in learning more, taking your training, and using some of your developed techniques in working with health policy makers and educators at the Utah Department of Health.

Community Support Officer with a State Government agency and Teacher at a Tertiary Institution (TAFE)

Point to tools for Community Services I work with and to students with a view to achieving best practice

I am a trainer in leadership (women and men) in many community spaces political, services, violence against women, local public and private organizations.

Is a wonderfool tool for planning training (conceptual and exercises). I use it as guide in many ways. Thanks for your work.

I am a student working on my Masters in Health Education at Touro University International.

This is a great resource for students. Especially as a graduate student using an online college this is perfect. I'm glad I came across this resource and am sure I will use it in the future.

I work for the Primary Health Care and will soon be doing a community development course

I am using the tool box for information only at the moment. Will continue to use this site as I progress.

Community health and health planning expert. I've been in public health over 17 years -- and am still passionate about collaborations, access to care and reducing disparities in our communities.

Hello, I am a student enrolled at MCNY in New York, NY. I will get a BA in Human Service. I will continue on to become a Principal of school or an Administrator. I have been proactively involved in education all of my life. I will continue to seek knowledge. I am striving to be the best at what I do so that I can help others be the best too.

I haven't thought about it yet I have to research what kinds of information and resources your website has available.