City of Galveston Families, Children and Youth Board Second Annual Report November 2003 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MISSION STATEMENT BE A CREATIVE HUB TO PROMOTE THE PHYSICAL, ACADEMIC, PSYCHO SOCIAL AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF ALL FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The COGFCY Board recognizes with appreciation the Logo Design created by Peter Davis. CITY OF GALVESTON FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOARD MEETING CALENDAR 2003 January 6 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 20 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs February 13 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 17 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs March 2 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 16 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs April 6 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 20 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs May 4 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 18 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs June 1 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 15 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs July 6 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 20 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs August 3 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 17 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs September 7 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 21 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs October 5 Board Meeting Old Central Culture Ctr 4:30-5:30 p.m. 19 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs November 2 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 16 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs December 7 Board Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. 14 Executive Meeting Rosenberg Library 4:30-5:30 p.m. ZONE TF Chairs CITY OF GALVESTON FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOARD SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 2003 MISSION STATEMENT BE A CREATIVE HUB TO PROMOTE THE PHYSICAL, ACADEMIC, PSHYCHO SOCIAL AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF ALL FAMILES CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON CREATION On November 8, 2001 the Galveston City Council unanimously passed Resolution No. 01- 057 to establish the City of Galveston Families, Children and Youth Board (COG FCY) to promote communication and collaboration among volunteers, agencies and organizations, both governmental and non-governmental. The purpose of the COFCY Board is to target families, children and youth concerns identified as important and urgent and develop possible strategies/solutions for City Council’s consideration. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The City of Galveston Families, Children and Youth Board of Directors gratefully acknowledge the generous time, energy and guidance provided by City Council members and City staff who helped the volunteer board. We also appreciate the support provided by the City Manager’s Office, the Grants Department, and Community Outreach at UTMB, the Law Office of Anthony Griffin, GISD, and Rosenberg Library. We value the COGFCY Board’s thoughtful deliberations and its ability to make a difference in the lives of families, children and youth in Galveston. (Appendix A) The COGFCY Board accomplishments have been remarkable for its second year of operation. First, it hosted four (4) well attended city summits to prioritize citizen concerns. (Appendix B) Second, the board adopted the Renaissance Zone concept to implement an action plan to address community concerns in a systematic fashion. Third, the CIGFCY Board partnered with the City of Galveston and Community Youth Development (CYD), Galveston Housing Authority and the Boys and Girls Club to sponsor a Youth Summit that provided students with a forum for discussion. Fourth, the COGFCY Board evolved as a cohesive organization to accomplish clear goals and objectives. In its first year of operation, the CIGFCY Board hosted seven mini meetings during the fall of 2002 to ask the following questions in each councilperson’s district: 1. What do you like best about Galveston for its families, children and you? 2. What do you like least about Galveston for its families, children and youth? 3. What do you want in the future to make Galveston a better place to live for its families, children and youth? From these responses, the COGFCY Board developed four areas in which to study citizen concerns. The themes included: health, education, city infrastructure, and safety. A fifth category, youth participation, was added to support the outcomes of the Youth Summit, “A Journey to a Better Galveston” that was held in May 2003. The CIFCY Board adopted goals that had been identified by task force groups from their findings from assessment and summit meetings. These initiatives were reviewed with City Council in March and May 2003. The Board launched its first City Summit on February 15, 2003, where seventy-five citizens prioritized the issues provided by the mini meetings. (Appendix C) In April, citizens streamlined the issues and by May, Anthony Griffin proposed the “ZONE CONCEPT” as a creative method of addressing the diversity of community issues in a targeted area. Griffin recommended that the ZONE “be designed to stress the importance of families, children and youth in the Galveston community by coordination of efforts of governmental and non- governmental entities. The zone creates the blending of services and makes concern for families, children and youth part and parcel of the City’s focus.” (Appendix D) It was suggested that the location of each ZONE should have similar boundaries – four blocks in each direction around a school in GISD. Therefore, it will be a ten-year process that includes eight elementary schools, three middle schools, an alternative high school and one high school. The public schools will be the epicenter for each ZONE, since they emphasize the importance of children and their education. The ZONE will follow a calendar of events that have been developed with input from participating entities. Key stakeholders will supply letters of support that document their respective duties within the ZONE so there is a clear understanding of responsibilities. In August 2004, a “Renaissance Report Card” will be released that will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the first endeavor. (Appendix E) The COGFCY Board supports the goals proposed by the Youth Summit. The Education Task Force and the Renaissance Zone Chairman of the COGFCY Board are working with GISD, CYD and the Parks and Recreation Department to accomplish the following goals that were proposed from the Summit: • Produce a Youth Summit with CYD, City Grants Department and other community entities. • Determine criteria for school credit when working on city initiatives (city boards, city volunteer activities). • Develop a city ordinance that empowers youth to serve as advisors on the Parks and Recreation Board. • Develop an Annual Report Card on Parks that is graded by the Youth Advisory Board. The COGFCY Board appreciates the corporate support of ANICO and Mary Moody Northen Inc., and the in-kind help from CYD, Boys and Girls Club, Mario’s on the Seawall and the Galveston Housing Authority. (Appendix F) In addition to accomplishing the youth goals for 2004, the Board will: • Finish the Rosenberg Zone in August 2004. • Produce a Renaissance Zone Report Card on our efforts. • Start the L.S. Morgan Renaissance Zone in January 2004. • Continue to educate COGFCY Board members about city services. • Investigate making a “Little Red Primer” for citizens about city services. • Recruit community consultants to assist the COGFCY Board in its deliberations. • Maintain open dialogue with City Council to seek their input and guidance . • Start a community Profile by conducting a City Infrastructure Inventory in the Renaissance Zone. The COGFCY Board is experiencing true community interest and collaboration by using the Renaissance Zone concept as a vehicle to meet community needs. By combining the engine of City Hall with the efficiency of the volunteer and non-profit sector, the CIGFCY Board is making a constructive difference in the lives of families, children and youth. To better define our method of operation we have even changed our mission statement to read “BE A CREATIVE HUB TO PROMOTE the physical, academic, psycho social and character development of all families, children and youth on Galveston Island. (Appendix G) Finally, we wish to thank the board members for their incredible patience and commitment to a volunteer vision. They are an extraordinary group of citizens who have given substance to a dream. Last, but not least, we must thank an extraordinary executive committee, better known as “the little engine that could.” These amazing volunteer board members include Dr. Ben Raimer, Arriene Kaplan, Rose Tijerina, Bing Skyiepal, Kathy Tiernan, Anthony Griffin, Cynthia McEldowney, Noah Skaggs, Matt Stanford, Shirley Russell, Pat Williams, Leah Rae Marchand and community consultants Lynn Hale and Ruth Finkelstein. The board epitomizes the best in community volunteerism; it has served as a resourceful partner for the Galveston City Council to support initiatives identified as important by families, children and youth. Respectfully submitted, B.J. Herz Br. Ben Raimer Chair Vice Chair 2004 Proposed Goals November 4, 2003 • Finish the Rosenberg Zone in August 2004. • Produce a Renaissance Zone Report Card on our efforts. • Start the L.A. Morgan Renaissance Zone in January 2004. • Continue to educate COGFCY Board members about city services. • Investigate making a “Little Red Primer” for citizens about city services.