Coordinators:

Niagara University ~ Dr. Marilynn Fleckenstein, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs- Programs and Policy

Community ~ Mr. Willie Dunn, Executive Director, Highland Community Revitalization Committee, Inc.

Specific Issues/Barriers:

• No coordinated Volunteer Center serving urban Niagara Falls and the immediate surrounding areas
• Persistent underutilization of community assets and resources
• Lack of education and understanding on roles and responsibilities of community leadership and board members
• Limited capacity due to an increasing lack of resources and budget cuts among service providers at all levels

Proposed Outreach

• Creation of Volunteer Center (VC) based on Points of Light Foundation model
• Design and provision of volunteer opportunity linkages between agencies and individuals
• Design and provision of educational programming, training, and technical assistance related to non-profit management and leadership

Proposed Research

• GIS Neighborhood Asset Mapping and Analysis
• Evaluation of Capacity Building Activities

• Capacity Building
• Education
• Voluntarism
• Citizenship

End Results

1. Residents and organizations will be more engaged, prepared and connected;
2. Agencies and volunteer cohorts will report greater volunteer utilization leading to expanded service provision and community improvement;
3. Neighborhood residents will increase their involvement in leadership positions within their community; and,
4. “Service culture” will be rooted in the community that responds to the cultural, educational and capacity needs of both organizations and residents.