5 Keys to Community Impact
Want to create sustainable, healthy changes in your community? Learn from our panel of 2014 Smart from the Start PTA Council Grant winners.
It’s true that one person can move mountains when their mind is set on it. But what if there were 10 minds? And what if each one is backed locally by dozens of stakeholders and nationally by a proven platform loaded with free tools to inspire and engage the people who need it most? Well, that mountain becomes a hill, and moving it can be an attainable—and even sustainable—goal with some purpose, planning and passion.
1) Identify a need. The winners of our 2014 PTA “Smart from the Start” grants are charged with bringing energy balance programming* to at-risk preschoolers in their communities. By aligning with local Head Start programs, they immediately activate change where it’s needed by first creating a dialogue with targeted families. Uncovering community need together—such as access to safe play spaces or availability of fresh fruits and vegetables—ensures your program will serve a purpose.
2) Envision your program. Working backwards, how can you best create a solution to help solve the community problem? A one-time fix is not only costly, but will do little to improve the community and gain the trust of the people you mean to serve. Consider ideas that leverage established partners and pipelines for new purpose. Establish measurable and attainable goals the first time out of the gate. Aim high and imagine making a difference.
3) Engage stakeholders. Don’t reinvent the wheel! You’ve identified the need and know what you want to do to solve it, now look around and enroll team leaders who share your passion for change and who reside in your community. Local businesses such as grocery stores and fitness centers alongside organizations like community parks and county farmers markets are all critical stakeholders in the health of your community. Meet with them. Find out how they will benefit from the program you’ve outlined and determine how they can fill the void to create a win-win.
4) Deliver on your promise. Get organized! Enroll good people to lead projects, coordinate details and move the ball forward. Check in with your partners and update them on progress toward your program goals. Get the word out and brand your programs as recurring and important to fabric of the health of the community.
5) Share results and benefit of impact. Inform your partners of your collective achievements against measurable goals. Capture stories and images and promote the news to the community at large to broaden the footprint as you evolve your program.
*Download the free, Pre-K Energy Balance curriculum by visiting the Pre-K section of the Together Counts™ program website: https://togethercounts.com/
Pictured: (back row, l-r) John Watson of Miami-Dade County Council PTA/PTSA, Val Newcomb of HWCF, Porcha McMillan of Cumberland County (NC) District PTA Council, Naomi Frierson of Hillsborough (FL) County Council of PTA/PTSAs, Otha Thornton, President National PTA, Susan Powell of Rochester (MN) Area Council PTA, Heather Parker of National PTA, Anna Travagline of Duluth PTSA Council, Susan Ralston of HWCF (front row, l-r) Ann Rollins of Wake County, (NC) PTA Council, Leslie Cullers of Round Rock (TX) ISD Council of PTAs, Celeste Bobryk-Ozaki of San Diego Unified Council of PTAs, Agnes Dwenger of Denver Council of PTAs and Mary Dewberry of Clayton (GA) County Council of PTAs.