Mobilizing experienced adults to build community
The Albion Community Foundation recognizes there are a variety of support resources and services available to “help” older adults in Albion, such as prescription drug coverage and Meals on Wheels programs. However, few of these opportunities seek to actively engage older adults in the community. Older adults are often undervalued by communities, though they tend to be the ones who value communities the most.
The foundation is designing a new plan for Albion to become a stable, yet vibrant small town that attracts and retains creative, diverse, hardworking and civic-minded citizens. The Community Experience Partnership (CEP) assessment is helping the foundation assess the current environment in Albion and identify the tools necessary for it and its partners to mobilize the time, talent, and experience of older Americans to revitalize the community to create a “new and ideal Albion.”
The assessment is also helping the foundation address the capacity issues of area nonprofit organizations. The greater Albion area has many venues for civic engagement, but there appear to be several unidentified barriers preventing active civic engagement in our community. Data indicates that among foundation donors, health and senior services are two of the areas they would like to see the foundation focus on most. The opportunity to participate in the Community Experience Partnership allows the foundation to address our donor interests and create a useful tool for its community.
Partners in the work
Several foundation partners in the community play a key role in this project and are direct beneficiaries of its results. These include the Albion Academy of Lifelong Learning, the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce, Calhoun County Office of Senior Services, The Forks Senior Center and Albion Volunteer Service Organization (AVSO).
A key issue of the work is a request for the foundation to take a lead role in addressing local leadership deficit issues, which includes the projected retirement of several key community leaders within the next five to 10 years. It also includes the need for more volunteers to lead non-staffed community organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity. The ongoing need for a strong, fresh board leadership pipeline across organizations also is a concern.
Phased process
The assessment process is being divided into phases. A research/evaluation consultant is being retained by the Albion Community Foundation to coordinate and conduct an assessment of experienced adults within the community and to assist in assessing the potential of local nonprofits to provide meaningful engagement opportunities for this population. The foundation is working with community partners to recruit community members to attend a series of town hall meetings and focus groups. The foundation will also survey nonprofit organizations to assess their volunteer needs and will conduct a series of key leader interviews.
Gathering data
Working with the consultant, the foundation is creating surveys and focus group questions that are deepening understanding of the current level of civic engagement by the older adult population, as well as the interests, needs and skills of this population so that future opportunities for meaningful engagement may be created. Surveys provide quantitative results and baseline data, and two are being developed: one for experienced adults and one to be completed by nonprofit organizations.
Report to the community
Dissemination of the assessment results includes the creation of a three-minute information video featuring interviews with experienced adults who are civically engaged in the community. From Encore careers, to paid-volunteerism and lifelong learning, the video will demonstrate the wealth of opportunities for those who want to become more involved in our community. A public launch and celebration includes special coverage in the newspaper that defines a vision for future civic engagement and illustrates progress made to date. Regular showings of the video on the local public access channel are also slated.
