Back to home page Back to the News page
May 2008
Community Building Celebration
March 27, 2008
More than 95 Adams County business & community leaders and citizens attended the Community Building Celebration presented by the Alliance for Building Community (ABC) on Thursday, March 27th. It was a time of celebration and recognition for the organizations, individuals and groups who have partnered with ABC in the past year to improve the quality of life for all residents of Adams County year, as well as a time to learn from Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI), an organization with 23 years of experience measuring quality of life indicators in order to make community change. ABC also took this time to announce the upcoming community assessment that will take place in Summer-Fall 2008.
The morning featured leaders from Jacksonville, Florida - Ben Warner, Deputy Director, JCCI; Sherry Hall, Policy Director for the City of Jacksonville; and Jarik Conrad, President, Conrad Consulting Group. Each of the panelists shared his/her connection to the Progress Report published annually by JCCI.
Warner manages the Progress Report and facilitates discussions surrounding the data found in the Report. He spoke to the importance of having a Report (Adams County has the ABC Community Wellness Report), and how it shows a community its strenghts along with its problems and priorities. He also stated that the "quality of life is for all and needs the involvement of all" because "the problems of some are the responbility of all". Having community wellness data readily available informs and educates the community on its well-being and also encourages all members of the community to be engaged, active participants in finding solutions to those problems and priorities.
Hall explained how the city of Jacksonville uses the JCCI Progress Report for public policy-making and resource allocation. The most recent policy change based on data in the JCCI Progress Report was passed March 25th and concerned waste water management. Conrad explained the role of the JCCI Progress Report in day-to-day activities of both the Chamber of Commerce and the city's Planning & Development Department. The Chamber uses the Report to show potential in-coming businesses the well-being of the community, especially when Jacksonville is "short-listed" by the business. This allows Jacksonville to show the potential business what it has to offer the business in terms of quality of life for new employees. It also offers the business a chance to see where Jacksonville is struggling and the business may be able to get involved to help make the needed change(s). The Planning & Development Department looks at the Progress Report when planning for land use, facilities, utilities, transportation, and other development areas.
Also featured at the Community Building Celebration were five area organizations recognized by ABC as "Community Builders" for their efforts to improve the quality of life in Adams County. Organizations, and their efforts, receiving Community Builder awards were:
- Adams County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) - Recruiting and placing citizens of Adams County in volunteer opportunities
- Let's Walk - Implementing a walking program to increase health & well-being of Quincy area residents
- Quincy Family YMCA Biggest Loser - Implementing a physical fitness program to decrease the adult obesity rate
- Quincy Service League - Encouraging women to actively participate in raising the standards and promoting human welfare in the Quincy area
- Young Professionals (YP) of the Quincy Area - Providing young adults with volunteer opportunities
Community Building Celebration was co-sponsored by: Adams County Substance Abuse Coalition, Adams/Pike Regional Office of Education, Center for Effective Nonprofits, City of Quincy Human Rights Commission, Community Foundation of the Quincy Area, Great River Economic Development Foundation, League of Women Voters of Adams County, John Wood Community College, Quincy University, University of Illinois Extension.
Since March 27th...
The ABC Steering Committee has been in contact with Ben Warner to discuss the process used by Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) to engage citizens in making positive change within the community. As a result of this discussion and the Adams County Health Department receiving information about a nutrition, physical activity, and obesity grant opportunity, ABC will hold a two-part Community Discussion to gather community input and expertise for a community-wide wellness initiative. The Discussions will be Monday, May 5th and Monday, May 12th, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in room D-022 of the John Wood Community College Heath Center in Quincy. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Laura (lhyde@uiuc.edu or 217-223-8380) by May 2nd.
Community Assessment
It has been five years since the release of the last community assessment conducted by United Way of Adams County and is now time for another community-wide assessment. Since 2003, Alliance for Building Community has stepped in to take the lead on assessments such as this and is preparing to launch the 2008 process.
Earl Bricker, University of Illinois Extension, and the Alliance for Building Community Research & Evaluation Committee have been meeting for & planning the 2008 assessment for several months. A timeline is being formulated and surveys will be conducted in the coming weeks.
The data gathered from this survey will be used to guide Alliance for Building Community in identifying and addressing the areas of concern in the Adams County community. The data will also help determine which, if any, indicators in the Community Wellness Report should be revised.
