The Evolution of Thought Institute - Mending the Elmira Syndrome Endeavor

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Mending the Elmira Syndrome Endeavor

Mending of The Elmira Syndrome Endeavor

Started: August 2007

As part of the Mission of E.T.I., our members are encouraged to participate in collaborative projects that aim to improve the present day condition and offer a better tomorrow. The “Mending of The Elmira Syndrome” is an endeavor to revitalize our local communities by recommending solutions that restore the harmony and economic stability to the regions we live. This project will focus on the ailments of Elmira, New York. However, we believe individuals from any community, world-wide, will be able to recognize and institute the successful measures that this project brings forth. Utilizing a broad range of leaders, citizens, groups and organizations, we will provide solid information about local circumstances, opportunities and aspirations. The sharing of opinions and ideas will help seed the fruit of real life progress in all of our diverse communities. All are welcome to join and contribute to this project!

Where do you think the Mending the Elmira Syndrome Endeavor is up to at the moment?

The Mending the Elmira Syndrome Endeavor is still in its conception state, members are currently defining a public evaluation procedure which will allow for the easy application of a public evaluation model to parallel communities worldwide. This is an extremely comprehensive task which may ultimately become a template used globally to assess and evaluate governmental and organizational efforts and programs aimed to revitalize economically challenged communities such as Elmira, New York.

The Evolution of Thought Institute is at this time seeking out individuals who would like to participate in the design, research, advocacy and implementation of this endeavor. Any interested individual, group or organization can sign on and contribute to the management and direction of this project.

What do you expect will change in your area when MESE is complete?

Our aim is to define and illustrate the needs and deficiencies of current revitalization attempts in Elmira, New York.

By establishing a universal assessment and evaluation model for local developmental and revitalization initiatives will advance the abilities of similar declining communities, worldwide to identify and address the successes and failures of comparable initiatives and programs.

E.T.I. Would also use its advocacy and organizing role to increase voter registration in Elmira, New York. If demands on politicians to focus greater attention on the area are to be effective, they must be backed up by a significant voting constituency.

We as well anticipate to further advance community awareness and encourage the involvement of local residents, organizations and institutions in the effort of sustainable development and revitalization.

One way for E.T.I. to have a considerable impact on the revitalization process would be for E.T.I. to set up an information and referral center online.

Some of the functions that could be undertaken would include:

Acting as an information provider.
Reaching out to organizations and institutions to gather information in order to promote the services they offer.
Providing assistance to residents in their dealings with other organizations and institutions.
Requesting funding for the enhancement of local programs and physical facilities.
Advocating greater access to underutilized resources and improvement of city services.
Encouraging the involvement of residents on important issues.
Holding neighborhood meetings in order to remain responsive to residents' concerns.
Coordinating neighborhood cultural and educational activities.
Encouraging cooperation and coordination among local organizations, institutions, and residents in community-building activities.

What are the biggest hurdles we need to overcome?

At this time the biggest hurdle is finding dedicated individuals and professionals who wish to participate in the organization of this effort. We are currently establishing a means of effective communication and collaboration for project leaders, members and affiliates within the Evolution of Thought Institute‘s website and online forum.

Other obstacles include:

Identifying similar communities within the United States that could be examined and compared to the assessment of that carried out in Elmira, New York.
Establishing a public evaluation procedure which will allow for the easy application of a public evaluation model to parallel communities worldwide.
Securing sponsors and donations to effectively promote and conduct the initiatives within this endeavor.

What differences of opinion exist regarding the project?

At this time there has been no difference of opinion regarding the necessity of this endeavor.

What are the biggest risks to the project?

The greatest risk to the success of this project solely revolves around participation from individuals, governments and organizations. Communities are revitalized when people commit their time, energy and resources to address the issues that cause communities to decline, issues like poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. Revitalization occurs when people help others realize their strengths and use those strengths to improve life for themselves, their families and communities.

We also realize that the Evaluation Design is crucial for its success: there is a need to try and specify the objectives of evaluation, the specific questions that should be posed in order to design the evaluation exercise, and finally the methodologies that could be used in order to effectively answer these questions.

In your eyes, how will you judge the project as a success?

As already mentioned, the role of evaluation is in this case clearly oriented towards triggering learning about factors and conditions for success, more than towards comparing specific results in front of a given definition of success. If through the review and recommendations of this study there is an increased awareness and participation of community revitalization and sustainable developmental programs, this endeavor will be considered a success.

Currently we are working on Service Reviews and Recommendations for 2009 on these following issues:

First Time Homebuyer Program
Public Services and Community Programs
Pharmacy Market Saturation
Community Development Block Grant Funding
Signage Improvement Program and Facade I.P.
Southern Tier Economic Growth
Elmira Downtown Development
Elmira Infrastructure Integrity
Eminent Domain Issues in Elmira
South Main Street Urban Renewal Project
Blue Ribbon Task Force
Public Works Assessment and Evaluation

What issues characterize a declining neighborhood or community?

Many issues, most often related to poverty, threaten a community’s well-being. No single issue means a community is declining, but the presence of multiple issues can signal trouble. Eventually, these issues can impact a community’s growth and significantly reduce the quality of life for residents.

Distressed neighborhoods are often marked by:

Poverty
Chronic unemployment
Crime
Domestic violence
Gang activity and substance abuse
Substandard and inadequate housing
Deteriorated buildings, damaged streets and other infrastructural problems
Lack of new businesses and economic development opportunities
Depressed real estate markets
Limited access to healthcare, transportation, child care and other human services
Poorly performing schools
Racial or ethnic isolation
Inequities between the haves and have-nots in the neighborhood

High-functioning neighborhoods are often marked by:

Diversity of residents in terms of age, culture and income.
A sense of shared relationships, concerns and pride.
Homeownership, which can help strengthen neighborhoods by attracting residents with a shared interest in maintaining community well-being.
Diversity of property use (a mixture of single and multi-family housing, businesses, community services and recreation), which promotes a steady flow of people (pedestrians and drivers) and deters crime.
Clean, attractive landscaping that includes trees, green space, street lighting, signage, sidewalks and calm traffic flow.
Well-lit pedestrian-friendly pathways that are safe from vehicles and accessible to transit systems, schools, services, parks and jobs.

What factors can distress communities?

Poverty and poverty-related issues can cause community decline. The causes of poverty are widely debated, ranging from individual hardships and local economic troubles to systemic inadequacies (lack of supportive programs and policies). Cultural dynamics can also distress communities. As concentrations of low-income residents increase and more residents struggle to meet day-to-day challenges, the conditions in their neighborhoods often decline.

Specific factors that can distress a community include:

Poor land and housing use.
Employer downsizing or closing.
Population changes as residents grow old and/or move out of neighborhoods
Natural disasters like earthquakes, fires or floods.
Shifting of resources from older neighborhoods to hot new communities and areas, resulting in less opportunities and services for residents of the older neighborhoods.

How are communities revitalized?

Communities are revitalized when people commit their time, energy and resources to address the issues that cause communities to decline, issues like poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. Revitalization occurs when people help others realize their strengths and use those strengths to improve life for themselves, their families and communities.

Community revitalization is often neighborhood-centered, or driven by the priorities, processes and leadership of neighborhood residents and leaders. As such, community organizers often map assets, or identify what is valuable and productive in a community. These assets include financial resources (like grants and other funding) and non-financial resources (like the skills, talents and time of volunteers) that help strengthen neighborhoods and address issues that cause communities to decline. When revitalization efforts are neighborhood-centered and call on the strengths of a community, they better reflect the collective values and goals of the community and ensure long-term success.

Here are some excellent research links regarding this project:

If you are interested in participating in this project, become a free registered member of E.T.I. and join our forum. E.T.I. will publish articles, reviews and recomendations periodically on the site. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to email E.T.I. or post them on the Forum. Thank you.