VISION FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY:
Our CommunityWorks Impact Plan

We can enhance a thriving quality of life in our communities by giving our children their best start, providing the tools needed to help communities realize their own vision through quality land use planning, and equipping our workers with the skills needed to do their best work.  Through a process of engaging the DeKalb County community, the Community Foundation has created this plan for working with the community to improve quality of life. 

For the full version of our Impact Plan, click here

For an Executive Summary of our Impact Plan, click here

STRATEGIC RESPONSES
The Impact Plan Committee developed recommended strategic responses in each of the issue areas that address pressing problems, take advantage of the ripe opportunities, and offer effective partners for the DeKalb County Community Foundation. See the full Vision report for details. In summary, our overall goals include:

Childcare - The quality, availability, and affordability of child care programs in DeKalb County have been increased and business support of child care programs has been increased.

Land Use and Protection - Tools that DeKalb County decision makers use to inform future land use decisions have been provided and utilized.

Workforce Development - Soft skills education for all DeKalb County middle school (6th-8th grade) youth has been enhanced and local employer participation in youth workforce preparation has been improved.

COMMUNITYWORKS ENDOWMENT FUNDS & DONORS
Value of combined CommunityWorks Funds: $505,000 (as of 1/31/2008)

NAMED CommunityWorks ENDOWMENT FUNDS:
CommunityWorks
Robert & Mary Pritchard
Cinco de Mayo
Mary M. Awalt
Howard & Martha Mullins
Northern Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine
Bill & Bonnie Mullins
Karen Lee Klein
CommunityWorks Leadership
Curran CommunityWorks
Kishwaukee Kiwanis
Steve & Patricia Faivre

FOR LIST OF CommunityWorks DONORS click here

COMMUNITYWORKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Tim Dunlop, Northern Rehabilitation & Sport Medicine - Co-Chair
Jesus Romero, Taxco Mexican Restaurant - Co-Chair
Mary Pritchard, Northern Illinois University - Child Care Vision Committee
Micki Chulick, Community Coordinated Child Care - Child Care Vision Committee
Lana Haines, Retired Educator - Land Use Vision Committee
Anita Zurbrugg, American Farmland Trust - Land Use Vision Committee
Evelina Cichy, Kishwaukee College - Workforce Development Vision Committee
Liz Hoppenworth, Oak Crest Retirement Center - Workforce Development Vision Committee

For more information about the CommunityWorks Initiative, contact Dan Templin, Program Director, at dan@dekalbcountyfoundation.org or (815)748-5383.