Chisholm, MN

‘Better late than never’ they say and so it is true with our “Chisholm Community Connections” resource booklet that the Community Awareness Group, along with the help from other Horizon Team Members , created and finally had printed and distributed to (hopefully) all Chisholm and Balkan residents.  If you did not receive a booklet, there are copies available for viewing at the Chisholm Area Chamber of Commerce at 223 West Lake Street.

This resource booklet was intended to help new people moving into Chisholm, as well as people already living here, to know of  services our town/area has to offer that they may not have been aware of.  We feel that it would be a good tool for people in poverty who may not otherwise have those resources available to them. 

Until we find new goals to work toward, the Community Awareness Group has joined with the Youth Engagement Group to focus on our youth.  The Youth Engagement Group is currently working with Shane/Chisholm Youth Center to help work with and educate our youth to further their skills for a bright future.   After all, the youth are our future! 

KUDOS to the other 2008 Horizon Team Members for all their work and dedication to Horizons:   Suzy Pocket-Fesnick, Renee Olson, Brenda McPeak, Lynne Johnson, Gus Cronberg, Sadie Anderson, Kelsey Anderson, and Marketa Anderson. 

We are always looking for new faces and ideas.  If you would like to be a part of Chisholm Horizons, please contact Gus Cronberg at (218)254-2960, Marketa Anderson at (218)254-7628, Brenda McPeak at (218)262-7306 or myself, Karen Amistadi at (218)969-1310.

“The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention.”  - Dugest

Here are some of the topics discussed at the August 19th Youth Awareness Mtg.

September will be Poverty/Homelessness Awareness month at the youth center. We are searching for a speaker on that topic for one evening and are planning a Sept. 19th sleepout/lockin near the center. This coincides somewhat with the Duluth/Virginia Sleepout on the 20th. Shane will be setting up for donations of winter clothing, food, etc.

Shane has arranged for a free concert/dance to be held at O’Neil Park on Saturday Sept. 6th as a kickoff to Chisholm Fire Days. At least four local bands have agreed to take the stage from 4:00-8:00. Fire Days will run from Sept 3rd thru the 13th when there will be a parade and kids day at the Museum.

We are working on a Thanksgiving project and a Christmas project and plan to work with the City on their Holly Jolly Christmas Program. More info on these will be coming soon.

I have received word that the Dollar Works 2 curriculum is on the way and we are really excited about that. This financial literacy program was developed by educators from the University of Minnesota Extensions Center for Family Development.

That’s the “Reader’s Digest” version on what’s goin’ on with more to follow.

The Youth Engagement Team will be meeting at the Youth Center on Tuesday, August 19 at 4:00.  Some of the topics will be Chisholm Fire Days youth dance plans, Christmas programing ,and the local Homeless Sleepout and Poverty Awareness Week .

Hello is anybody here ? Maybe I can sneak in and they won’t notice I haven’t been around for awhile. I’ve been playing hookie but now I’m back.

Chisholm Horizons teamed up with the Chisholm Youth Facility on June 25th for a Skateboard/Family Day event at the the Lake Park. The upgraded Skateboard Park withstood the onslaught of about a dozen determined skateboard warriors with their tricks and unpadded elbows for 3 hours on that breezy, sunny day. The wish to be younger could be seen in the eyes of the those over the legal age (quite a bit over) and the yearning to show off the would have been battlescars from attempting this x-games sport. There were a few spills and a few chills but nothing the youngsters couldn’t handle. All the spectators young and old were treated to a fantastic showing of fine talent. If you missed this demonstration, don’t worry because Shane from the Youth Center has plans for more in the future.

Chisholm Horizon’s tent contained literature from Rural Rides, Arrowhead Transit, Kids Plus, Horizons, AEOA, and a final inspection showing of the Chisholm Horizon’s Resource Directory before final printing of 2000 copies.
Representatives from the Chisholm Rec , Chisholm Chamber, and Kiwanis manned the Kiwanis food trailer which was transported by Chisholm NHS/NSS. Jubilee Foods donated chips to go along with the hot dogs and buns purchased there. McDonald’s of Chisholm donated their punch, dispenser and cups , Kids Plus the pop, and the Range Center loaned the tables and chairs. The local SWOP took care of the park cleanup before and after. The Summer Work Outreach Program consists of 10 or 12 kids each from Mt. Iron, Buhl, and Chisholm ages 12 to 14. They are taught a mixture of life skills while earning a wage by working in the 3 towns.

The Chisholm Police Annual Children Fishing contest followed the Horizons event and included a record 88 registered kids. They fished out of 12 boats and from the fishing piers around the north side of the lake. Some prizes passed out were Minnkota trolling motors, fishing rod combos, and filled tackle boxes. Wednesdays just don’t get no better.

I admit that I am late in blogging, but you know I’ve NEVER been called Late for Supper .

     Deborah Moore, from the Youth Work Institute, gave a mixture of Chisholm youth and adults a real treat on June 18th at the Chisholm Youth Center. Her impressive presentation called New Horizons : Step Back, Step Up, Make Change initiated inter-generational dialogue within the group. We focused on what gets in the way of youth and adults sharing leadership, what can make or break relationships between youth and adults, and how the community can partner with youth and make the partnerships work. We also looked at recognizing individual strengths that can be shared within leadership roles.
We highly recommend Deborah Moore and the Youth Work Institutes programming for any communities youth/adult partnership training.

www.extension.umn.edu/YouthWorkInstitute/

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the University of Minnesota Extensions for helping us thru this process over the past 18 months.  Monica and Lori were alot of help and we do appreciate all you did for us.  It was great meeting and working with you these past months. 

The Horizon’s Community Awareness Group met for what would turn out to be the last time under the guidance of the University of Minnesota Extensions on Tuesday, June 10th.  As of June 30th, our Horizon’s groups will be “on our own” to reduce poverty in Chisholm.  We are in “transition” now from participating in a multi-state prescribed program to an independent local, community-driven program.  New faces and ideas are always welcome.  If you are interested in joining our groups to help fullfil our project goals, please contact any one of the leaders listed below.

One goal the Community Awareness Group had was to create a resource guide that focuses on resources and services available for residents, both old and newcomers. We identified resources that link people in our community to services in the following areas:  Housing, Transportation, Food, Health, Legal, Community Services, and Community Centers.  A template has been created and a “draft copy” will be available for community viewing at the “Family Day at the Skate Park”, which is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25th from 11am - 3pm at the Chisholm skate park at the North end of Long Year Lake. 

After the community viewing of our “CHISHOLM COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS”,  corrections will be made, if needed.  Then we will have 2000 booklets printed in which we will mail to every home in the community.  We also hope to have copies available in some local establishments in town.

I am very pleased with the way this booklet turned out and I hope the community feels the same way.  I hope it is a great resouces for everyone in our community, old and new.

Anyone interested in joining our Horizons groups please contact:   

“Youth Involvement” Group Leaders:   Gus Cronberg @ (218) 254-2960:  Sadie or Marketa Anderson @ (218) 254-7628 

“Community Awareness” Group Leader:  Karen Amistadi @ (218)  969-1310                                                                                                                                                    

Local Organizer:   Lynne  Johnson  @ (218) 966-1256

COME ON!   GET INVOLVED!                                                                                HELP MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER FOR  EVERYONE! 

 Submitted by:                                                                                   

Karen Amistadi, Community Awareness Squad Leader            

    A Dollar Works 2 Training was held on April 29th in Grand Rapids. This is a comprehensive personal financial education program developed by educators from the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Family Development. This “train the trainer” workshop explains how to present the 12 financial subjects in the curriculum such as making a spending plan, understanding pay statements, and using credit wisely.

Shane Walters , the adult advisor of the Chisholm Youth Center and I had the opportunity to attend this training. We feel that financial literacy is one of the most important life skills lacking in todays culture. Cindy Petersen and Lori Hendrickson gave an outstanding presentation on financial literacy and managing money. We plan to use this training to help develop and enhance Shane’s own programming for the Chisholm youth. We will purchase the curriculum when it comes out in print later in June and are very thankful that Horizon’s gave us this opportunity to attend.

Submitted by Gus Cronberg

On May 28th Marketa, Karen, Brenda and Gus attended the grant writing clinic in Duluth. The class was taught by Lori Ann Williams. It was a packed 3 hours of information. We hope we were able to gain some insite on grant writing to continue with the Horizon’s program. We were given a lot of web sites to help in the research process. If anyone has more information or wants some information please get a hold of one of the Horizon team members.

    On May 20th we met. We had 16 in attendance. We finalized that we would be offering scholarships for up to 20 people (students) to attend the summer rec. program. The skateboard family day was also finalized! There will be resource booths, skateboard competitions, exhibitions, and food!! The location is Chisholm Skate park. Which is located on 8th street north (by the lake). Time: 11 to 3 on Wednesday June 25th. If rain Thursday June 26th. All youth and families are invited to join us for a day of family fun!! This event is sponsored by Chisholm Youth Center, Chisholm Horizons, City of Chisholm, Chisholm Police dept., McDonald’s, Jubilee, and Kiwanis.

Also on this day….The annual fishing contest sponsored by Chisholm Police dept., Parks and Rec, Chisholm Chamber, Kids Plus, and Chisholm Sportsman’s Club. The time is 3:30 to 7:00.

Sorry if i forgot to mention any sponsors : )

The next youth meeting will be on June 17th at 4 pm at the Chisholm Youth Center.

On May 28th there will be a Grant Writing Clinic in Duluth. The Horizon team has decided to send 4 people down to learn more about grant writing. We are hoping that with this knowledge we will be better equipped to continue to help Chisholm in are fight to reduce poverty. We will report back to the team on what we learned and keep everyone up dated.