Tips for Overcoming Challenges in  

Neighboring Programs

Neighboring by its nature tries to effect systemic change to challenges that have, over generations, become engrained in every aspect of your target community. This is inherently difficult to do. All agencies that engage in Neighboring have significant hurdles to overcome, even after several years of successful programming.

The key to sustaining Neighboring through these challenges is to leverage your connections, nurture residents' sense of empowerment, remind them of the strides you have made, and support them through the process. Below is a list of common hurdles and strategies to overcome them.

Be aware of resident time and schedules.

• Be flexible with project timelines. It's okay if a small project takes more than one day to complete.
• Organize neighborhood activities and schedule meetings during times that are convenient for most residents.
• Host partnership meetings in a location central to residents-a nearby community center, church, local volunteer center, resident's home, or school.
• Provide food and child care. It will make it easier for residents with children to attend.

Help to build residents' pride in their neighborhoods

• Recognize resident volunteers for their hard work and participation; make recognition meaningful.
• Help residents identify their individual unique skills and talents through assessment tools such as Alliance for Children and Families 1999 Individual Capacities Inventory and Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets.
• Show the relationship between residents' skills and project outcomes.
• Encourage residents to plan and lead projects.
• Provide community resiliency or similar training to increase residents' self-worth and confidence.

Understand differences in community language and/or culture

• Learn and understand the community's history, culture, and values.
• If residents speak a different language, identify someone to work with the community who is bilingual and knowledgeable about the community's culture.
• Learn and understand the community's vocabulary or vernacular, especially in terms of how they reference service and volunteering.
• Identify cultural tension and use creative ways to resolve conflict.

Know potential neighborhood safety issues

• Host meetings in a place where residents feel safe.
• Help residents develop a plan that includes local law officials.

Avoiding failed promises and unmet community needs

• Meet with leaders and residents to understand expectations for the partnership.
• Develop realistic expectations and a realistic timeline to implement new projects and initiatives.
• Be clear about your organization's role in the partnership.
• Be honest about what your organization can and cannot do.
• Allow residents to express their needs and desires.
• Do what you say you will do; be there when you say you will.

Week of Caring

2011  

Photo Contest Winners

"Most Fun Getting Dirty"  

 Evonik having fun getting dirty spreading 30 yards of mulch on the playground at Tippecanoe County Child Care East! They received a $100 gift certificate to Great Harvest! They announced that they will be donating their winnings to a charity or their choice.   

You put in a long hard day but the children at Tippecanoe County Child Care now have a fun and SAFE place to play! Thank you for your selfless giving of your time and muscles during the week of caring and for your generous gift to the charity you give the gift too. You have and will touch many lives!

Congratulations!!  

Check back next week to find out who wins the next category! 

Learn more about the United Way

Do you want to find out more about what the United Way of Greater Lafayette is all about? Visit the website

Now accepting applications for United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Last tax season we were able to assist in over $205,500 in returns to low income families. Now we need your help to ensure this program is a success again. VITA is your opportunity to help low income families in our community. We will provide free training and certification to prepare taxes beginning in January 2012. VITA is a WIN WIN WIN program. Our community wins because tax dollars that are saved can be spent locally to boost the economy. The client wins because taxes are prepared accurately and for free saving an average of $200. As a volunteer you win because this is a great opportunity to give back while also learning how to prepare your own return. To volunteer or for more information about VITA contact Jennifer Million at (756) 742-9077 ext. 227, text (765) 237-2344 or visit our website.

*On-Going Volunteer Needs*

Are you good on the Phone? 

Big Brothers Big Sisters are looking for individuals to answer the telephone and welcome agency guests. Days and hours are flexible. If interested, email or call 765-446-2227.

STAND DOWN 

A Stand Down is a community effort to provide much needed relief to our service members, veterans and military families. Lafayette Stand Down will be held Saturday, November 5th and about 50 volunteers are needed. Great group project! For more information or to sign up email Martina.

B-I-N-G-O is the NameO

Bickford Cottage are looking for volunteers who love calling Bingo and visiting with their seniors! They have bingo on Thursdays at 1pm and Saturdays at 2:30pm. If you have an hour to have fun then contact Rachel or call 490-6290.

Feed Minds Not Cavities

Be a Stable Person in a Child's Life

Sunnyside 5th & 6th graders are in need of some lunchtime mentors and after school homework helpers. The children are no longer elementary but not quite middle school and they are in need of some extra support. Lunch times are between 10:39 am - 1:35pm in four different lunch periods. If you would like to be a stable person in a young person's life contact Debbie Gutwein by email or call 771-6100 x 8429.

Christmas for Everyone

Christmas for Everyone is a community ministry of compassion organized by the Tippecanoe Evangelical Association of Ministers and Ministries and the American Red Cross to provide Christmas gifts for children in need in the Greater Lafayette area. Volunteers are in need to help with registration and data entry from 9am - 5pm. Shifts vary depending on availability, but ideally done in 4 hour increments. Bi-lingual in Spanish is a plus! For more information or to sign up contact Jennifer by  email or call 742-6975 x 2215.

A Child's voice. A child's life. Lifted up. By you. 

Learn how you can be a voice for an abused or neglected child. How you can make a difference. Tippecanoe County CASA is currently recruiting for a training series that will begin on October 25th. Call 765-423-9104 or email today to find out how YOU can make a difference in the life of a child in Tippecanoe County. Act now - a child is waiting for your voice.

Are you Hungry?

Sign up to volunteer to help feed the hungry in our community! St. John's/LUM Food Pantry are looking for people to help pass out food on any of the days, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday mornings from 8:30am - 12pm. Typically once a month. For more information email Jane or call 463-6158.

Are you Cool for Cool School? 

Tippecanoe County Child Care's after school program "Cool School" is looking for volunteers to help children with homework Monday - Thursday from 3:00 - 4:00pm at Miller and Earhart elementary schools. This can be ongoing or once, part or full week and/or all of the hour and a half. If interested in becoming a Cool School helper, email Jennifer or call 765-742-4033 x 119.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 

Tippecanoe Villa are looking for a group of 4 volunteers on November 22nd and 23rd from 8 or 9am - 12 or 1pm to set up Christmas trees with the lights only. They need to be set up and ready to decorate before Thanksgiving. If interested, email Judi.