By Jackie Drake
The Daily Reflector
Monday, June 14, 2010

Volunteer teams established last month will meet this summer to begin tackling high school drop-out and county unemployment rates.

The two issues were chosen as the most critical ones facing the county by community members who participated in an April summit hosted by the Pitt County Impact Alliance, a group of local organizations convened by the United Way of Pitt County to create lasting improvements in the community. A series of 15 forums led up to the summit to discuss and prioritize various issues.

Three impact teams were formed, one to address the drop-out rate, one to address unemployment and lack of jobs, and one to maintain the United Way’s basic safety net services for those in crisis. The drop-out impact team has the most members with more than 30, and the unemployment impact team has about 20 members.

“The summit was the conclusion to the community forums but also a kick-off for the impact teams that will be formed to convene everyone who wants to be involved to address the chosen issues,” James Wagner, director of community development and communications for United Way, said

The teams held their initial meeting on May 26 and will meet separately in half-day sessions once a month this summer. The drop-out team will meet June 22, July 14 and Aug. 5. The unemployment team will meet June 24, July 13 and Aug. 4. The basic needs team will meet June 29, July 22 and Aug. 11.

“As teams work to create long-term impact in the chosen areas, it’s critical that we continue to provide relief for immediate, short-term needs,” Wagner said.

The drop-out and unemployment teams will first review relevant data and identify and coordinate with efforts already working to address the issues, Wagner said. Then the teams will identify goals, measurements of success and action steps to implement solutions.

“It’s important the teams go through a deliberate and thoughtful process,” Wagner said, noting the success of the community impact model in other locales. “While it’s natural to want to immediately develop a new program, there are already groups working on similar initiatives. There’s no need to duplicate work or impose on existing efforts, but rather collaborate with other stakeholders and determine the best way to pool and invest limited resources.”

For more information or to assist an impact team, call 758-1604, Ext. 204, or e-mail info@impactpittcounty.org.

Meeting Dates

Drop-out team: June 22, July 14, Aug. 5
Unemployment team: June 24, July 13, Aug. 4
Basic needs team: June 29, July 22, Aug. 11