MCD Publications: The Diarist Project
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Diarist Project
The Diarist Project is a new approach that is being used by Making Connections-Denver and the Annie E. Casey Foundation in their efforts to strengthen families and transform struggling neighborhoods. In Making Connections cities, the Diarists work to capture the stories and insights of people in the various communities who are working on a day-to-day basis to transform their neighborhoods. The result is an in-depth publication that provides a thorough review of a particular issue.
The idea is to delve beyond the details or of a project. Diarists seek to document the process of bringing the project to fruition through the eyes of those most closely involved with the work. By thoroughly documenting the successful process, the goal is that other communities can learn how to implement winning strategies in their neighborhoods.
The articles in the Diarist publications can include first-person segments titled "In Their Own Words" that allow residents and leaders to speak directly to the reader. A "Lessons Learned" segment includes insights into what makes a program successful. Click on the title of each publication to open the entire document.
The Gates Cherokee Redevelopment Project - "A Huge Step Forward for Low Income People in Denver" - A broad coalition has successfully advocated for "community benefits" in exchange for government tax subsidies of large development projects. A coalition of Denver neighborhood groups and union organizations led by the Front Range Economic Strategy Center collaborated to secure promises of high quality jobs at close to family-supporting wages and more affordable housing for the Baker and Lincoln Park/La Alma neighborhoods. The developer agreed to these goals in exchange for government tax subsidies in the re-development of a closed Gates rubber manufacturing plant.
Unleashing the Power of Parents to Fix their Kids' Schools - A Making Connections-Denver partner is working to engage parents in their children's schools and to reform education in Denver and Colorado. Concerned with inequities in public school funding, the Metro Organizations for People has worked to involve parents in the Cole neighborhood to join in the struggle. The result has been an effort that stretched from one neighborhood to the entire Denver school district to a legislative battle for statewide education reform.
Taking Care of Our Own - The Cole neighborhood in Denver is leading the way on alternative youth justice with a community court that demonstrates how communities can help build a model for system reform. The court requires restitution but also addresses root problems that caused the behavior. The publication provides a good case study on how residents can work with the city and local organizations to build their own systems, even when faced with severe obstacles.
Learning from a Learning Partnership - Denver's Community Learning Network began as a small partnership of residents in 1999 and the early years focused on recruiting residents, developing leadership and basic research skills. It has evolved into a powerful network that engages a larger group of residents and stakeholders in an effort to keep the Making Connections initiative accountable to the community. Starting with a list of nine principles, rather than projects, the residents and partners have worked together to confront difficult issues in the four Making Connections - Denver neighborhoods. While they are working to collect data and make the information and research available to neighborhood residents, they also strive to build the skills and abilities of the residents to become leaders.
