09/25/08 - What does DeKalb need? Foundation seeking goals that unite us

By Lindsay Winslow Brown

lindsayb@kpcnews.net (Created: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 9:38 AM EDT)

 

AUBURN — The DeKalb County Community Foundation is trying to discover the fundamental needs of the community, its executive director, Wendy Oberlin, said Tuesday afternoon.

 

“The big funding for TerraFirma is coming to an end, and before we move forward, we want to go back and see what the county’s aspirations are,” Oberlin said.

 

She said TerraFirma received $5 million worth of seed money several years ago from the Lilly Endowment to improve educational attainment. To determine how to best proceed, however, the foundation wants to hear from the community.

 

The foundation hired consultant Jay Connor, founder and CEO of the Collaboratory for Community Support, to help lead the community foundation through the assessment process.

 

Several area residents have joined forces to form a steering committee, including Auburn Mayor Norman Yoder. He said he believes in Connor’s vision that forming a united “aspiration” is a key element to success, whether the community’s goals are education, literacy, substance abuse reduction or poverty eradication.

 

“I’m often introduced to the community by different catalysts,” said Connor, who has worked with chambers of commerce, nonprofit organizations, schools and businesses across the country for the last 10 years.

 

“My ultimate goal is to help communities make sure the outcome is what’s driving us,” Connor said.

 

Doug Marsh, who has been active with the United Way for many years, said sometimes it is difficult to collaborate with groups across the county.

 

“Activities from various fragmented groups don’t equal performance,” Marsh said at an Auburn Rotary Club meeting Tuesday afternoon after Connor’s presentation.

 

Connor said often many organizations are working side-by-side, duplicating efforts, but not reaching the same goals and outcomes.

 

TerraFirma director Judy Sorg said TerraFirma often has worked with other community organizations and schools, but goals often were not the same. TerraFirma did not have a formal outcome focused on kindergarten readiness, but it’s something Children First Center measures for the children it serves. DeKalb Central and Garrett-Keyser-Butler school districts both were awarded grant funding for kindergarten readiness.

 

“But can you tell me how many kids in DeKalb County are ready for kindergarten?” Sorg asked. “Nobody seems to be talking together.”

 

Sorg encouraged anyone who is interested in unifying the community to reach common goals and outcomes to attend a meeting Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bridgewater Golf Club. Dinner will be provided. For more information, contact Sorg at 927-9356.

 

“This process isn’t about building programs,” Connor said.

 

Sorg said she’s seen improvement across the board since implementing TerraFirma’s literacy curriculum in every DeKalb County public school, except Riverdale Elementary School at St. Joe.

 

In spring 2004, 74 percent of DeKalb County kindergarten students were reading at grade level. Four years later, 91 percent of kindergarten students were reading at grade level. In addition, she said, parental awareness of the importance of literacy skill development has been raised.

 

“Kids became involved. Parents became involved. It just snowballed,” said Van Gehl, a former educator and Auburn resident.