Recommendations / Education / Big Idea #3: Educate for a Diverse Dalton: Sharing to Grow Together

Big Idea #3: Educate for a Diverse Dalton: Sharing to Grow Together

Part of the "DALTON UNITED/UNIDOS" initiative

EducationDalton-Whitfield Under $250,000

Overview

Educate for a Diverse Dalton will use existing community infrastructure to identify Hispanic/Latino community members who recognize the benefit of civic engagement and have an interest in increasing participation. The program will organize a steering committee, gather data on community needs, categorize those needs, create outreach materials, and mobilize residents through education and advocacy campaigns. The initiative is designed to increase representation across elected and appointed offices, business groups, nonprofit boards, civic clubs, and voter participation.

Action plan

Short-term
Identify a steering committee of volunteers and paid staff from Believe Greater Dalton and Dalton Unidos. Include members from the business community, nonprofit sector, local governments, Chamber of Commerce, civic clubs, faith-based institutions, schools, colleges, student organizations, and athletic organizations. Develop a meeting schedule with leadership roles, gather data on community needs, and identify potential funding partners.
Medium-term
Identify and categorize needs gathered from the community. Sort feedback into perceived needs, expressed needs, absolute needs, and relative needs. Assess the partnership’s capacity to address identified needs and determine whether solutions require policy change, systems change, or environmental change.
Long-term
Create outreach materials, including a compelling message, accessible educational materials, and immediate next steps. Initiate community mobilization efforts by planning authentic, consistent, and purposeful engagement strategies for Latino communities.

Expected impact

Projected Community Awareness CampaignCommunity

Tracks creation and delivery of outreach materials, including educational resources, messaging, publications, mailings, advertising, print ads, and social media.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Public Feedback SessionsCommunity

Tracks annual focus group interviews with identified stakeholder groups.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Civic Engagement GrowthCommunity

Tracks increased participation by Hispanic community members in local government elected offices, appointed offices, business groups, nonprofit boards, civic groups, and voter turnout.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Participation RateCommunity

Tracks community members reached through outreach activities and civic education campaigns.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Operational CostOperational

Tracks annual estimated budget for the Educate for a Diverse Dalton outreach campaign.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Learning Resource DistributionEducational

Tracks accessible educational materials provided to community members about issues, importance, and action steps.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Outreach CampaignsCommunity

Tracks community mobilization efforts designed to increase awareness, participation, and engagement among Latino communities.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Partner OrganizationsInstitutional

Tracks funding partners listed for the initiative.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Demographic InclusionEquity

Tracks improved perception of the community’s acceptance of Hispanic/Latino persons.

Timeframe: Long-term

Key stakeholders

Believe Greater DaltonDalton UnidosCity of DaltonWhitfield CountyChamber of CommerceBusiness CommunityPublic and Private Schools, Colleges, and UniversitiesUnited WayCatholic CharitiesWhitfield County Family Connection

Estimated budget

Annual estimated budget shown is $29,000.00. Budget includes advertising such as television and radio at $5,000, publications and mailings at $10,000, print ads at $5,000, online and social media at $1,500, special events at $5,000, and miscellaneous at $2,500.