This is the powerpoint presentation I created for the echicago symposium at Dominican University on September 9, 2010 with my colleagues.

1. Westside CommunityWestside Community
CollaborativeCollaborative
Dr. John Morrison, Program DirectorDr. John Morrison, Program Director
Maria A. Conforti, MSW, Student InternMaria A. Conforti, MSW, Student Intern
Susan Killelea, LCSW, HSI Executive Research AssistantSusan Killelea, LCSW, HSI Executive Research Assistant
DeLundon Spearman, Because I Care, Inc.DeLundon Spearman, Because I Care, Inc.

2. DUWCC - TIME LINEDUWCC - TIME LINE
• Pre-2006: DU has historic ties withPre-2006: DU has historic ties with
WS dating back to sister’s workWS dating back to sister’s work
• 2006 – GSSW starts working with2006 – GSSW starts working with
Faith, IncFaith, Inc
• 06/2008 - Community Practice class06/2008 - Community Practice class
compiles Westside Demographicscompiles Westside Demographics
• 08/2008 -Student placed at IYC St.08/2008 -Student placed at IYC St.
Charles in response to needs on WSCharles in response to needs on WS
• 09/2008 - Increased awareness of the09/2008 - Increased awareness of the
needs of the Westside begin to takeneeds of the Westside begin to take
shapeshape
• 11/2008 - Deans meet about the11/2008 - Deans meet about the
possibility of collaboration for 1stpossibility of collaboration for 1st
timetime
• 1/2009 - Deans again meet to discuss1/2009 - Deans again meet to discuss
direction of collaborationdirection of collaboration
• 04/2009 –GSSW meets informally to04/2009 –GSSW meets informally to
discuss future directiondiscuss future direction
• 08/2009 –Student at IYC selects08/2009 –Student at IYC selects
successor & progresses to FAITH, Inc.successor & progresses to FAITH, Inc.
• 09/2009 – Students placed on WS meet09/2009 – Students placed on WS meet
for first time w/facultyfor first time w/faculty
• 01/2010 –Collaboration is named and01/2010 –Collaboration is named and
formal initiation begins, brochureformal initiation begins, brochure
createdcreated
• 03/2010 – Inaugural Meeting/Needs03/2010 – Inaugural Meeting/Needs
Assessment/Nominal GroupAssessment/Nominal Group
Technique =Needs & Oppty’sTechnique =Needs & Oppty’s
• 04/2010 – 204/2010 – 2ndnd
Meeting: InformationMeeting: Information
GatheringGathering
• 07/2010 -307/2010 -3rdrd
Meeting: preparation &Meeting: preparation &
Connections for upcoming year’sConnections for upcoming year’s
placements.placements.

3. VISIONVISION
• The vision of the DUWCC is a dynamicThe vision of the DUWCC is a dynamic
interaction in order to establish a partnershipinteraction in order to establish a partnership
between the Chicago Westside community, itsbetween the Chicago Westside community, its
residents, and agencies and the Dominicanresidents, and agencies and the Dominican
University faculty and students who share aUniversity faculty and students who share a
neighborhood.neighborhood.

4. MISSIONMISSION
• Dominican University has a long tradition ofDominican University has a long tradition of
making its resources available to the Westsidemaking its resources available to the Westside
community through its core mission ofcommunity through its core mission of
“Caritas” (compassionate service) et “Veritas”“Caritas” (compassionate service) et “Veritas”
(truth in knowledge). The DUWCC is an(truth in knowledge). The DUWCC is an
intentional approach to understanding eachintentional approach to understanding each
others needs and exchanging resources andothers needs and exchanging resources and
services as guided by this relationship.services as guided by this relationship.

5. INITIAL GOALSINITIAL GOALS
• To collaborate as a group to assess the needs and gapsTo collaborate as a group to assess the needs and gaps
in services that exist within the community andin services that exist within the community and
university.university.
• To share resources to meet those needs and gaps inTo share resources to meet those needs and gaps in
services.services.
• To provide real experience to our students in pursuit ofTo provide real experience to our students in pursuit of
their learning which benefits the community.their learning which benefits the community.
• To strengthen the community from within and create aTo strengthen the community from within and create a
professional relationship and network.professional relationship and network.

6. Westside AgenciesWestside Agencies
• Youth Outreach ServicesYouth Outreach Services
• West Suburban Medical Center*West Suburban Medical Center*
• West Side HolisticWest Side Holistic
• The Midwest Learning Center of FamilyThe Midwest Learning Center of Family
FocusFocus
• Taller de Jose*Taller de Jose*
• San Jose Obrero Mission*San Jose Obrero Mission*
• Marrilac House*Marrilac House*
• La Casa NorteLa Casa Norte
• KaleidoscopeKaleidoscope
• H.O.P.E. Inc.H.O.P.E. Inc.
• Cook County Social Services DepartmentCook County Social Services Department
• Community Christian Alternative Academy*Community Christian Alternative Academy*
• Circuit Court of Cook County JuvenileCircuit Court of Cook County Juvenile
Justice*Justice*
• Child LinkChild Link
• Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation*Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation*
• Casa Central Social ServicesCasa Central Social Services
• Association House of ChicagoAssociation House of Chicago
• Association HouseAssociation House
• Habilitative System, Inc.*Habilitative System, Inc.*
• F.A.I.T.H., Inc*F.A.I.T.H., Inc*
• Representative LaShawn K. Ford*Representative LaShawn K. Ford*
• Because I Care, Inc.*Because I Care, Inc.*
• * = Active* = Active

7. Dominican University encourages inter-disciplinaryDominican University encourages inter-disciplinary
collaboration between its programs including:collaboration between its programs including:
• Rosary College of Arts and SciencesRosary College of Arts and Sciences
• Brennan School of BusinessBrennan School of Business
• School of EducationSchool of Education
• Graduate School of Library and InformationGraduate School of Library and Information
ScienceScience
• Graduate School of Social WorkGraduate School of Social Work

8. A Coordinated EffortA Coordinated Effort
• Used technology to easily create stationary,Used technology to easily create stationary,
marketing materials, and presentation materialsmarketing materials, and presentation materials
to create a cohesive visual “brand”:to create a cohesive visual “brand”:
– BrochureBrochure
– Business CardsBusiness Cards
– Tent CardsTent Cards
– Folder LabelsFolder Labels

9. The BrochureThe Brochure
A Mutually Beneficial PartnershipA Mutually Beneficial Partnership
required a brochure that saidrequired a brochure that said
“community” just as much as it said“community” just as much as it said
“Dominican”.“Dominican”.
By using community symbols fromBy using community symbols from
clip art and blending them withclip art and blending them with
subtle DU colors,subtle DU colors,
a brochure was created thata brochure was created that
We thought was friendly andWe thought was friendly and
inviting.inviting.

12. Coordinating StationaryCoordinating Stationary

13. The Needs AssessmentThe Needs Assessment
Used Microsoft Word to create an InitialUsed Microsoft Word to create an Initial
Assessment Form which was then used withinAssessment Form which was then used within
the meeting and in conducting the nominalthe meeting and in conducting the nominal
group technique to prioritize responses.group technique to prioritize responses.

14. Youth
Development
Health:
Physical &
Mental
Economic
Development
Agency Development & Resources
Student Faculty Engagement
University Resources
Needs
Community Development
THE RESULTS,
AN OVERVIEW

16. Technology = OrganizationTechnology = Organization
• Used Microsoft Excel to createUsed Microsoft Excel to create
– Gantt Charts to show progress at any given momentGantt Charts to show progress at any given moment
and to stay on task.and to stay on task.
– Mailing Lists to coordinate attendance and newMailing Lists to coordinate attendance and new
possible partners.possible partners.
– To create charts that would show resultsTo create charts that would show results
– To hold raw dataTo hold raw data

17. Technology = InnovativeTechnology = Innovative
• Used Google Earth to begin a community mapUsed Google Earth to begin a community map
of agencies in order to decide service area withof agencies in order to decide service area with
greatest need.greatest need.
• Eventually this tool can be used to shareEventually this tool can be used to share
resources or to create better access to localresources or to create better access to local
services to clients that makes sense to theirservices to clients that makes sense to their
ability to get to what they need.ability to get to what they need.
• http://www.google.com/earth/index.htmlhttp://www.google.com/earth/index.html

18. Technology = Cost EffectiveTechnology = Cost Effective
• Postage used only for initial mailingPostage used only for initial mailing
• Emails were used to communicate FREEEmails were used to communicate FREE
• Copiers and Desktop Printing made meetings aCopiers and Desktop Printing made meetings a
snapsnap
• Desktop Publishing made a coordinated effortDesktop Publishing made a coordinated effort
look easy.look easy.
• Information was shared instantlyInformation was shared instantly

19. DIGITAL DIVIDEDIGITAL DIVIDE
• Westside needs access to the same kinds ofWestside needs access to the same kinds of
technologytechnology
• A recent mailing list sign-up gathered 15A recent mailing list sign-up gathered 15
agencies and names but only 3 gave emailagencies and names but only 3 gave email
addresses….Why?addresses….Why?
• Is this Cultural or evidence of Digital Divide?Is this Cultural or evidence of Digital Divide?

20. Technology = Information &Technology = Information &
ExpertiseExpertise
• Technology, as described by the EncartaTechnology, as described by the Encarta
Dictionary (2010), is also the “sum of practicalDictionary (2010), is also the “sum of practical
knowledge” further described as Culturalknowledge” further described as Cultural
Anthropology: the sum of a society’s or culture’sAnthropology: the sum of a society’s or culture’s
practical knowledge, especially with reference topractical knowledge, especially with reference to
its material culture.its material culture.
• Challenging to get people to come to theChallenging to get people to come to the
university, even though we were minutes awayuniversity, even though we were minutes away
and offering resources.and offering resources.

21. IYC – Technology DesertIYC – Technology Desert
• Outdated Apple Computers in LibraryOutdated Apple Computers in Library
• NO computers/internet allowed in schoolNO computers/internet allowed in school
• Internet access for staff allowed only recentlyInternet access for staff allowed only recently
and only for administratorsand only for administrators
• Teachers have inadequate classroom technologyTeachers have inadequate classroom technology
and ultra limited - access to updated infoand ultra limited - access to updated info

22. Westside Agency ExampleWestside Agency Example
• Data was kept in pen and paper format only andData was kept in pen and paper format only and
only limited data regarding number of peopleonly limited data regarding number of people
served required for grant funding wasserved required for grant funding was
painstakingly counted by hand.painstakingly counted by hand.
• Simple excel or databases would workSimple excel or databases would work
• Culture: fear of doing things differently/fear ofCulture: fear of doing things differently/fear of
unknownunknown

23. Lack of Basic DataLack of Basic Data
• Demographics by NeighborhoodDemographics by Neighborhood
– DCFS, DOC, & Health DataDCFS, DOC, & Health Data
• We have Census Data, but not enough on SocialWe have Census Data, but not enough on Social
Indicators.Indicators.
• Input Data: What expenditures go into the 6Input Data: What expenditures go into the 6
neighborhoods we are concentrating on?neighborhoods we are concentrating on?

24. What’s Your Budget?What’s Your Budget?
• Very difficult to get this question answered byVery difficult to get this question answered by
agencies.agencies.
• Many agencies do not want to part ways withMany agencies do not want to part ways with
data and information such as budgets anddata and information such as budgets and
financing.financing.
• Makes rational planning very difficult.Makes rational planning very difficult.
• If this was a corporation: What are you payingIf this was a corporation: What are you paying
and what are the results would be an acceptableand what are the results would be an acceptable
expectation.expectation.

25. Habilitative SystemsHabilitative Systems
• http://www.habilitative.org/http://www.habilitative.org/

26. Because I Care, IncBecause I Care, Inc
An example from the communityAn example from the community
www.BecauseICareInc.Comwww.BecauseICareInc.Com

27. Questions & CommentsQuestions & Comments

28. Thank YouThank You
for your participationfor your participation
For more info please contactFor more info please contact
Dr. John MorrisonDr. John Morrison
jmorrison@dom.edujmorrison@dom.edu