A project paper related to the community development
This is the combination of the work on creating a plan to implement the community development process. The writing assignment is completed by providing the summary of how you plan to implement a community development process and the questions about the issue you would want to have answered/answer before undertaking implementation of the community development process. The written assignment should include a description of the community development process or processes you used as the basis for your plan. This should include references to the printed or web resource(s) your team used as the basis for developing the recommended plan for the community development issue.Johnstown, PA
"Brain Drain" -- the issue of young people leaving and not coming back
Community Development Process/How group will implement process:
What questions need to be answered? Should we split into 2 surveys w/people who need help and people who would provide help? One for native residents, one for university?
? How do you feel about your community now?
? What types of things would you like to see in your community?
? Are you the first in your family to go to college?
? Do you feel safe going to college in Johnstown?
What types of information should be collected in order to effectively implement this community development process?
Cambria county example?
Brainstorming:
? How to help poor kids: low interest rates, pay for books, pay for meal plans/room and board, vocational schools
? How to convince kids who go to college to come back: discount on property/rent, tax breaks to start new businesses
? University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown https://www.upj.pitt.edu
? Johnstown was a steel town https://www.jaha.org/DiscoveryCenter/steel.html
¦ What could the university do to help the city?
? Degree options: https://www.upj.pitt.edu/en/academics/academic-divisions/
¦ Example of UPenn mentoring program, investments in and around campus; universities can be a very powerful resource if used correctly https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/eap/smp/participatingschools.php
¦ Example of college/high school mentoring program and its goals: https://www.redlands.edu/student-life/college-and-high-school-alliance-mentoring-program.aspx#.ViUf09aJnww
¦ University want to attract better students and faculty
? Identify what community groups/initiatives are already active SERVICE & SOCIAL CLUBS - Greater Johnstown - Cambria ...
? Bad crime problem and bad drug problem (needle exchanges?) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2015/05/10/PA-law-prohibits-needle-exchanges-that-can-save-lives/stories/201505100067
? Must reinvent the economy; highest free lunch meal program
? Super poor school district
? Vocational kids can fix new buildings that can be used for college students (construction)
? Street art grafitti https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/07/11/when-does-graffiti-become-art/graffiti-is-a-public-good-even-as-it-challenges-the-law
Mentoring program with university students so that kids in vocational school can get help starting a business with students who are learning about those things for their degree
Proposed Plan
? Mentorship program- college students to high school students/working young adults
? Vocational School- provide training to reinvigorate blue-collar jobs (small business focus groups) https://www.gjctc.org/?pID=13756, https://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/hiram_g__andrews_center/10357
? Organize college students for beautification programs (give school credit hours in return): Pair with existing community groups
? See if business owners will expand internship opportunities
UPJ Survey
1. On a scale from one to ten, how involved in or connected to your community do you feel?
2. Why did you choose to attend University of Pittsburgh
Community Survey
1. On a scale from one to ten, how happy are you with living in Johnstown?
2. What is your salary? *put at end of survey*
Population Decrease Johnstown, PA
1950-63,232 -5.2%
1960- 53,949 -14.7%
1970- 42,476 -21.3%
1980- 35,496 -16.4%
1990- 28,134 -20.7%
2000- 23,906 - 15%
2010- 20,978 -12.2%
"Most people that I went to school with who pursued higher education like myself, went to college, and once they finished college sought opportunities elsewhere"
Cost of living is 13.1 below the national average. Housing is 74% cheaper than the national average
City of Johnstown government offers low interest loan programs for businesses.
Johnstown median household income is $10,010 lower than the median Pennsylvania household income
UPJ students generally are from the area, so they have a natural interest and connection to Johnstown and will want to make it a better place to live -neighborhood beautification projects
-create a vibrant, exciting place where young people want to live. develop a sense of place and improve quality of life, foster a culture of innovation, market Johnstown to educated people looking for an affordable place to settle
-if this happens, well-paying jobs will be easier to attract
-similar former steel towns such as Bethlehem have done this and have seen encouraging results
-"it takes a group effort" ....growing energy among a small group of like-minded young entrepreneurs in the city
-bring specialized manufacturing jobs, as well as health, biotech, and tech sector companies
What people feel is going well:
-Businesses and government are starting to come together to work. Community organizations that help mediate between small businesses and government are the most effective
-college readiness programs are really effective
-coming together and working together
What people feel is not going well:
-lack of career opportunities for graduates
-lack of unity in decision making--too many development organizations without a common vision
What people feel Johnstown's greatest assets are:
-the people of Johnstown and their connection to the community
-Universities
Get the University, community leaders, business owners, and young people, all on the same page to create a strong sense of community
https://issuu.com/cfalleghenies/docs/vision_2025_strategic_vision_with_a/1.