Actions/Results

• The development of a website to attract more minorities to respond to local job listings and to provide individuals with access to training for computer-based employment application and testing has been developed:  www.vigo.lib.in.us/naacp 
• Helped to develop a website that directs Indiana residents to prescription drug programs that offer free or discounted medications:  www.RxforIndiana.org  
• Provided scholarships for 4 minority candidates for the 2005/2006 Leadership Wabash Valley class.
• Periodic meth impact sessions for the community to make people more aware of this issue and the dangers it poses to our entire community.
• Development and placement of methamphetamine warning signs to be visibly placed in pharmacies, grocery stores, Wal-Marts, K-Marts, hardware stores, convenience stores and gas stations, and other businesses that are committed to fighting meth.  Many of these businesses sell the perfectly legitimate ingredients,i.e., Sudafed, that can be used in cooking meth.  It is hoped that these warning signs will deter the purchase of meth precursors by letting these people know that they are being watched.
• Development of a website on meth awareness: www.vigo.lib.in.us/methawareness 
• The Racial/Ethnic Non-Discrimination Implementation Team conducted two very successful half-day racial diversity seminars with Mitzi Martin of Baker & Daniels in 2004 and 2005.  The seminars, called "21st Century Personnel Practices for a Diverse Work Force, Part I and Part II:  Managing a Work Force of Differences," were both held at the Vigo County Public Library.  The focus was on managing racial and ethnic discrimination in the work force (racial/ethnic differences).  Many area employers attended.  
• The Racial/Ethnic Non-Discrimination Implementation Team also conducted four successful political inclusion seminars for minorities in 2005 and 2006 at the Vigo County Public Library.  Many extremely interested minority citizens of our community attended and were made aware of key boards/commissions in our community where minorities could and should be appointed.  Because of these seminars, this COMPASS II team has had success in getting minority appointments made to the Human Relations Commission and the Board of Public Works & Safety.  In addition, one of the seminar participants has expressed an intent to run for the Vigo County School Board.
• The Racial/Ethnic Non-Discrimination Implementation Team developed some very eye-appealing posters and brochures in late 2005 dealing with education, employment and political inclusion of minorities in our community.  These were distributed throughout the community to remind people that "Everyone Wins when Everyone's In! ," which was the slogan used on both the posters and the brochures.
• The Affordable, Accessible Health Care Implementation Team along with Union Hospital planned a half-day cultural competency seminar in late 2005.  The topic was "Eliminating Ethnic Healthcare Disparities."   There were actually two presentations, the first focusing on health disparities, cultural competency and implications for quality care.  The second presentation was about culturally and linguistically competent health care.  The speaker for both was Dr. Robert Like, Professor and Director of the Center for Healthy Families & Cultural Diversity, Department of Family Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey.  The seminar was targeted primarily for nurses, resident physicians, dentists and medical students, however, United Way member agencies and volunteers were also invited.   This COMPASS II team has also helped educate medical and dental care providers on opportunities to provide volunteer health care services, as well as having shared information with them regarding liability concerning these volunteer services.
• The Family Literacy Implementation Team has had some success with the 4Community Implementation Grant to the Indiana Association of United Ways (IaUW) based on a strategic plan developed by SDG (Strategic Development Group) out of Bloomington.  The community issue to be addressed by the grant is early childhood literacy/education.  It was approved by IaUW in May of 2005.  IaUW is offering an implementation grant in an amount up to 10% of each IaUW member's 2002 campaign final results as reported to IaUW (in our case, final campaign results in 2002 amounted to approximately $2 million) available for a match on a 1:1 basis.   If we can find $100,000, they will now match it with $100,000, giving us a total of $200,000.   Whatever we can find, they will match on a 1:1 basis.  The Wabash Valley Community Foundation did award us $20,000, as one result of our search.   We are still in the process of finding additional sources for the match money.   An Early Childhood Literacy Strategic Plan was developed with the Planning Grant money also obtained from IaUW.  SDG was hired as a consultant with this Planning Grant money to help develop this strategic plan.  SDG helped us develop a plan that addresses the areas of need in early childhood literacy/education.  The partners in this 4Community Planning Grant and also the Implementation Grant (ISU, Vigo County School Corporation, Union Hospital, Wabash Valley Community Foundation, United Way of the Wabash Valley, the Community Alliance & Services for Young Children (formerly 4C) and Ivy Tech Community College) originally raised $7,000 among themselves and this, in turn, was matched with $35,000 from the Indiana Association of United Ways for the Planning Grant portion.  This COMPASS II team continues to address action items of the Early Childhood Literacy Strategic Plan while looking for additional sources of the match money for the IaUW implementation grant.  In accordance with this strategic plan, this COMPASS II team is developing a website to showcase parenting skills.  In addition, they are developing a list of early learning skills for children ages 0-6.  A brochure is also being developed to feature those early learning skills and give tips to parents of young children so that their kids will be better prepared for school beginning with kindergarten.
• An Early Childhood Development Symposium, part of the 4Community Planning Grant and also a project of the COMPASS II Family Literacy Team, was successfully conducted in September of 2005 at the Landsbaum Center in Terre Haute.  Approximately 150 people were in attendance.  The speaker was Dr. Michael K. Meyerhoff, Executive Director of The Epicenter and authority on early childhood education.
• The Meth Implementation Team conducted some in-service presentations for Vigo County schools McLean and Otter Creek in November of 2005 to help teachers understand the impact of meth on kids (if exposed to it in some manner, such as at home) in their classrooms.  Marshall, IL, in Clark County had a very useful and informative in-service presentation for their teachers and staff in August of 2005.     
• The Meth Implementation Team also continues to plan and implement a community-wide prayer campaign across all faiths and religions.   A community prayer weekend was successfully conducted in Terre Haute in September of 2005 and included a candlelight vigil attended by about 100 citizens.   A part of this prayer campaign included five different meth educational sessions at five different faith locations in the community held in October and November of 2005. 

• One of the project teams from the current Leadership Wabash Valley Class 28 is pursuing the COMPASS II priority issue of Leadership Development, one of the six COMPASS II priority issues, as their class project for 2005-2006.  They conducted four informational sessions at the major universities/colleges in the community.  The sessions were geared towards college students, who will be entering the work force soon, and emphasized the importance of being involved in the community.  Panelists consisted of community leaders who explained to the students the importance of community involvement and that employers look for people who have a history and/or interest in helping their community.  The Leadership Wabash Valley class had a prepared series of questions to ask the panelists, and students also had the opportunity to ask questions.
• The Racial/Ethnic Non-Discrimination Implementation Team is planning a minority parent forum in May of 2006 to gain parental input on issues such as how to improve parental involvement/visibility in our public schools.  The event is being called "A Parent Forum on Closing the Achievement Gap."
• A faculty/staff in-service called "Leadership in the Classroom" will be held for the Marshall, IL public schools (K-12) on August 17, 2006.  This addresses the COMPASS II priority issue of leadership development in that it is designed to develop effective leadership skills and positive role models for Marshall's youth, the leaders of tomorrow.  The in-service includes school support staff, as well as teachers.  CPDU's (Illinois Certified Professional Developmental Units) will be awarded to the teachers attending by the Illinois State Board.