Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Weeks in Review (July 19-30)…

The last two weeks have been very busy for me.  I had a conference in Charleston, West Virginia to attend for work.  The conference was called Faces of Leadership.  A very good conference I must say.  The conference was from July 20-22.  Even though this conference was mainly for West Virginians, it was still great to go too.  Tori, myself, our one other person from our organization were the only three out of state conference attendees.  Which we thought was funny.  Plus, it seemed like it rained every day we were up there.

On July 20, 2010, my office mate Tori and I drove to West Virginia in the morning.  We started at 7:00 am and after a few wrong turns and missed exits, we finally got there around at 11:30 am.  We registered and went to lunch.  Our first workshop was at 1:30 pm that day.  I took a workshop on “Organizing your workspace”.  I very much like the presenter in this workshop.  His name is Timothy Johnson.  He is the President/CEO of Leadership 101.  He is a must see person if you or your organization gets him or has a chance to go to where he is presenting.  This guy is just amazing.  A personal favor of mine.  The second workshop I attended was “Community Partnerships and Linkages”.  Both Tori and I signed up for this workshop.  The workshop was a little confusing because the presenter set up the workshop around the different regions of West Virginia and the organizations within the state.  They worked on problems involving what’s going on in there community.  So, Tori and I had to think of this workshop more as a conceptual and how those concepts would relate to what’s going on here in the Northern Kentucky area.  After these two workshops were over, we had dinner with the West Virginia’s VISTAS that were there at the conference.  Then after that we were finally able to check into our hotel rooms.  We got situated and then Tori and I went out to see the movie “Inception”.  Which is a very great movie.

On July 21, 2010, the second day of the conference.  I slept in on this morning as our workshops didn’t start until 1:30 pm.  I got up around 10 am and got ready.  Around 11 am, I walked over to the Civic Center and walked thru the exhibits that were setup and got several good informational stuff.  Then at 11:30 am, I went to lunch and listen to a great speech by Timothy Johnson.  He talked about it it means to “Lead” and be a “Leader”.  I think I would enjoy working for this guy.  He would be a great leader and be able to inspire me to be great under his supervision.  Then our workshop started at 1:30 pm.  On this day, I signed up for a two part workshop called “Financial Fortress”.  For this workshop it was about implementing a financial piece within your community.  This financial piece was modeled from the Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace.  What I love about this workshop was I’ll be getting the whole financial folder that is used to teach this piece.  One of the reason I decided to take this workshop.  After this workshop, Tori and I went to a local restaurant called “Fifth Quarters Steak House”.  It was a very great steak house.  Tori and I ended up staying there for like 4 hours as we ate dinner, drank a little at the bar, and was outside on the patio talking about different things enjoying the beautiful evening after it stopped raining.  Just chatting away and relaxing before heading back to the hotel for the night.

On July 22, the last day of the conference.  Things switched up a little.  The last two workshops were first thing in the morning basically.  At 9 am, the first workshop I had was “Technology used by West Virginia Youths” was mainly about an E-mentoring program being implemented in the school’s of West Virginia.  It gave various overview of the program and how it will help the state.  I think it’s something we here at Kentucky can used.  Which reminds me I have to e-mail the lady and talk to her because I have yet to hear from her.  The last workshop was “Social Media for Non-Profits”, which was ran by Emily Bennington.  She went over various social media that non-profits could use and ways to use them.  So, it was more of a refresher workshop for me in a way.  Then after this workshop was lunch at 12:30.  They had some kind of entertainment during lunch but Tori and I left right after we ate lunch.  We got back on the road at 1:45 pm and ended up back in Newport 5:30 pm.  We met Amy and her mom at Mokka’s for dinner right at 5:30 pm.

So, basically that was our whole conference and mainly our week at work.  Yes, we had to return back to work on Friday but this conference gave us the necessary rest and energy that we needed for the last month of our VISTA service year.  I have really enjoyed this year of my VISTA service.  Yes, I’m doing it again that is for sure for another year.  More on this later in the month.

As for this last week, July 26 through 30, it’s been hectic.  One of VISTA’s important job is outreach.  Outreach is very important when creating partnerships and working with other agencies.  This week was very busy as Tori and I attended several meetings for outreach.  Not to mention, I started a few new outreach projects with other departments within Brighton Center.  Also, re-packaging the packet that I created.  Plus, I had my first supervision meeting under my new supervisor.  Which I loved very much.  I like when a supervisor gives you ideas and bounce things off you.  So, the 1.5 hour long supervision was just perfect for me.  Then to end the week, I attended the company picnic.  The picnic was a nice distraction.  I played cornhole for three different teams and lost.  I held my own I thought.  But still lost.  But it was good to catch up with employees.  Which leads me to the weekend where it is nothing but rest and relaxation.  Gotta love my life!

TL

Friday, July 16, 2010

HOUSING RESOURCE OUTREACH REPORT

Ever wonder what I do as the Housing Support VISTA for Brighton Center?  Well, read the following report that I just wrote this week about one of my main projects.  What’s funny about this is that my total number individuals I’m supposed to reach for the whole year of my service is 500.  Read my report and see what my actual number is for one month.  Below is the whole report:

HOUSING RESOURCE OUTREACH REPORT

TL Jackson – Housing Support VISTA

7/16/2010

The Housing Support VISTA distributes the Northern Kentucky Informational Packet, which includes the Rental Resource Guide insert, to various in-house departments and partnering agencies throughout the Northern Kentucky community. The four channels through which the Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and the Rental Resource Guide are distributed are as follows:

1) Primary Outreach Distribution List – Weekly updates of the Rental Resource Guide and periodic updates of the Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet are distributed to 146 community partners. These community partnerships agencies are comprised of, (includes Safety Net members and other community agencies), Family Resource Youth Services Centers, Brighton Center Career Connections, and local libraries. The graph below depicts this breakdown:

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The Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide are sent to 58 agency’s contacts (40%), 75 Family Resource Center’s contacts (52%), 11 Career Connection’s contacts (7%), and 1 local library’s contact (1%) on a weekly basis. On a monthly average, both the Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide are distributed to a total of 584 individuals (146 community partner contacts x 4 weeks).

The Housing Support VISTA expects this monthly average to continue to grow as outreach continues with additional community agencies and the Family Resource Centers. Recent efforts in outreach to Northern Kentucky Area libraries, churches, apartment complexes, and the One Stop in Covington and Florence will continue to influence these numbers.

2) Community Partnerships Distribution List – Community partners receiving the Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide updates distribute this information intra-agency and inter-agency, as well as, directly to individuals and families. Reported monthly averages from 34 community partner contacts out of 146 community partners reveal that Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide are provided to 2944 individuals within the community. In order to determine the full extent of the distribution through these community partners it will be necessary to receive weekly averages from the remaining 112 community partners.

3) Safety Net Alliance (SNA) Website & E-mail List – The Housing Support VISTA distributes the Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide for posting on the SNA website at http://www.nkysafetynet.org. Website tracking logs reveal monthly average downloads of 57 times a month. In addition, SNA distributes the Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide to their e-mail list of 100 SNA members which accounts for a total of 400 individuals. SNA website and e-mail list distributes to 457 individuals.

4) Brighton Center’s Family Center – Brighton Center Family Center’s staff distributes an average of about 93 Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide to individual and families per month. In addition, Family Center staff stock and distribute 12 Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide from the West End building. This accounts for a total of 100 individuals per month receiving the Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide from the Brighton Center’s Family Center. The graph below shows the actual monthly count for the both lobbies since the Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide started being distributed.

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In conclusion, 4085 individuals per month receive housing assistance resource information and services by the Housing Support VISTA in the form of Northern Kentucky Housing Informational Packet and weekly Rental Resource Guide. This number will continue to increase as outreach continues to agencies and Family Resource Centers, as well as new partnerships with community partners. Additionally, the Housing Support VISTA plans to identifying new outreach opportunities and improving the outreach system in preparation of the next Housing Support VISTA.

TL

Monday, July 5, 2010

Why am I doing this…

Have been asking myself lately on why I’m doing this blog?  Apparently nobody is interested in me.  That’s evident by the number of people that visit my blog.  Not to mention that nobody leaves meaningful comments.  It’s rough when I’m not getting much attention in my life but even rougher when I’m not getting any attention at all online.  What do I have to do?  People this is me…I’m a shy kid that want friends but it’s hard for me to make them.  My comfort zone is my place where I live.  My only real joy in life is when I’m at work, I’m cooking, or hanging with the very few friends I do have.  Here is a novel idea for you all?  Maybe you should approach me first rather than waiting for me to approach you?  I feel more comfortable when I know it’s ok for me to approach somebody or if they approach me.  When I’m home, it’s very rarely do I turn on lights, or open my blinds.  Invite me out with you all and you might just see a whole different me.  Anyway, just thought I get that off my chest.

So, what’s new with me?  Well, later this month, I’ll be going to a conference in West Virginia on Volunteerism.  Something I’m looking forward for.  It’s from July 20-22nd and I’ll be going with a fellow VISTA/friend, Tori.  I’m excited.  It’s like a mini paid vacation.  Yippee!!!!!  Speaking of work, I know I’m definitely coming back to the Brighton Center for another year.  If it stands as is right now, I’ll be coming back as the Housing Support VISTA again.  But I’m hoping that I’ll be getting somewhat “promoted” I guess you can say?  There is a new AmeriCorps position coming open that I’ll be applying for that I would love to get.  It is more of a direct service in which I want to do.  Should know something in August about that position.  So, keep fingers cross.

In other good news, in less than 4 hours, I’ll be able to cancel two of my cell phone lines.  For the last year or so, I’ve had 4 cell phone lines and only using one of my phones.  So, I’ll be very happy when I can cancel two of them finally.  Been waiting for this to happen in a very long time.  Yeah!!!!!!

TL