Change and Well Being

What are the key issues you would like to see addressed next year?

1) Big barrier is culture

-What can we do to get more info out about different cultures? How can we pass it on?

-Census data under estimates actual population. We need better/more accurate info.

-Someone to work on generating better data.

2) OSEDA might be able to help with letter data generation

- Can we find a way to get more elected officials involved next year?

- Seems to be little interest

- Budget cuts might have had an impact on agency/officials attendance

- Different culture within Latino population.

i. Find most population and explore in more detail

- As population grows stereotypes also increases. Need more diversity education options. Need to prepare educators to deal with it.

3) Need to work with all cultural communities-

- Coalition building/ Advisory boards to begin discussion/ action on issues before they develop into problems.

- Additional research needed

i. Business development newly arrived and impact on local economies.

ii. Leadership development within minority groups Iowa model- community building

- Provide examples of positive impacts of newcomers on different communities and economies. St. Louis areas.

4) What are the obstacles to homeownership? Coalition building, small business dev., community building- asset building…

- How do we build information networks that will enable access to programs/services?

- Examples/models of communities that have successfully managed/ dealt with large numbers of newcomers, different cultures

- Look for examples of what has worked, what didn’t and why?

- Look at volunteer programs

- Provide info on opportunities to volunteer

What resources are needed to address the issues?

- Volunteers/ retired with cultural experience. Examples: opportunities

- More research need on

i. Buying power

ii. Networks

iii. Economic impact

iv. Market research

- Do large corporations do their fair share in the communities in which they locate?

- Identify documentation assistance programs

- Youth programs that teach cultural/ diversity- examples.

- School-based programs- what’s working/what’s not? Why?

- Working with business community- identify them- get them involved

- Find out what business need and try to partner with business to provide services, education, and industry specific language training

- Find local resources that can fill gaps in language training for employers/employees

- Ellis software

- Identify resources, funding opportunities.

- Clearing house of conference information