Community Engagement Model Development plans

So, I want to spend some time learning about community engagement.  Since I began this final internship of my graduate education, this seems to be a huge part that's missing in community change efforts.  I want to know what I can learn from the research out there - what are well-researched methods? what are best evidence-based practices? what "should" we be using in our change projects? when is best to poll the community?  in the beginning, before we start, as a check-up on progress, to gain satisfaction rating on the job we're doing, in the end as an evaluative measure?  ALL OF THE ABOVE?  How can we partner with communities and their members, the people who are actually affected most by these changes, and the ones who probably know best (despite our best efforts at studying them)?  How can we act as community members' consultants, instead of what usually happens that we end up doing things to them?

Below is a mind map of some of the thoughts I have on the issue, and where I want to go with these ideas.  Ultimately, I'd like to continue the work that I'm doing at my internship -- collaborating with other community planning staff on unique ways that we can do this as social scientists, ways that including use of the many tools available to us on the Internet, and ways that make partnering with community representatives and stakeholders as painless, inexpensive, and rewarding as possible.

I don't know if anyone will read this, but I'm looking for people to partner with to work on this project.  I have an idea to start us off with that I believe would be effective. 

If you think you might be interested, please let me know.  Eventually, I want to publish a paper about the development of the model and the data collected about its effectiveness during testing.  At the least, I want to publish it in the "grey literature" (websites and other self-publishing media).

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President to Ease Student-Loan Burden for Low-Income Graduates - NYTimes.com

President to Ease Student-Loan Burden for Low-Income Graduates - NYTimes.com:

President to Ease Student Loan Burden for Low-Income Graduates

By TAMAR LEWIN

Published: October 25, 2011

President Obama will announce new programs Wednesday to lower monthly loan payments for some students graduating next year and thereafter and to let borrowers who have a mix of direct federal loans and loans under the old Federal Family Education Loan Program consolidate them at a slightly lower interest rate.

Multimedia

Graphic

New Increases in Tuition

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• Times Topics: Student Loans | Occupy Wall Street

years, and have the rest of their federalstudent loan debt forgiven. That plan would start next year.

At a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, Melody Barnes, director of the Domestic Policy Council, said the president would use his executive authority to expand the existing income-based repayment program with a “Pay as You Earn” option that would allow graduates to pay 10 percent of their discretionary income for 20

Thank you, Pres. Obama. I mean that sincerely, as we need all the help we might possibly get. Our economic system is seriously out-of-sync with any notion of what's right, makes sense, or is fair.

Notwithstanding, I would like to point out the expectations that new working professionals are expected to pay -- what I claim is the quite unreasonable burden:

- 15% of income --> Federal income taxes (at least)

- 10% of income --> Federal student loan repayments

- 10% of income --> new Health Reform Act health insurance plans

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65% of income left

- 33% of income should go to housing/home ownership.

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This leaves....? What you have left to support your families' needs on:

= 32% of your income, after working 40-60 hours a week, for 20 years?

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Here's an example with numbers of how the average salary earner fares:

The national average wage index for 2010 is $41,673.83 (according to SSA.GOV) :

$41,673.83 x .32

$13,335 LEFT $1,111/month!

for ALL other expenses beyond barely-there bare basics, not including food or transportation!

FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE, $674 is the basic amount of SSI (given to people unable to work and/or support themselves)

This is what new working professionals have to look forward to for at least 20 years.

This is the consequence of your choice to become educated.

How is this possible in our country??

NYT News: Obama Signs Overhaul of Student Loan Program

Obama Signs Overhaul of Student Loan Program
By PETER BAKER and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

The new law will expand Pell grants, make it easier for students to repay outstanding loans after graduating and invest $2 billion in community colleges over the next four years.

This new law was included in the recent health care bill.

Thank you, President Obama and all the Congress people who supported this legislation!!!!

Girls Rock Summer Camp: I have found my calling (at least one of them)

GIRLS ROCK! is a documentary about girls 8-18 attending an annual summer camp, where they learn to express themselves, be who they are, learn how to play an instrument, write a song, and perform it at the end of the camp. What is so endearing, for me, is to see women artists (most from the Riot Grrl era of the 90s) running this camp - encouraging every little effort and telling these girls that they are GOOD - just for being themselves and expressing that. What wonderful role models - powerful, independent, happy with themselves - positive role models that girls often lack in childhood. One teenage girl actually admitted at the end of the camp that she never knew she was amazing, interesting, friendly, and cool. At the beginning of the camp, she admitted that she hated herself, but not in a maudlin way, more like it's something a girl is expected and commonly says. This is so typical. And, I can definitely relate to what the socialization that all of us girls receive as we're growing up.

Anyway, I did an internet search and found out that Rock N Roll Camp for Girls accepts volunteers year-round and offers some opportunities to work from a distance (such as grant writing, research, and data administration).

I am going to apply to work with them on a weekly basis, especially since I have quite a lot of free time right now. I would also like to consider volunteering to be a camp counselor or "band manager," possibly at the home org in Portland, OR. There are also satellite camps emerging all over the country; since my best friend lives in Atlanta and could put me up, I may give Girls Rock Camp (ATL) a go, if they can use me.

Lastly, there is also a Ladies Rock Camp for adult women! Definitely on my radar.