The Extraordinary Results group met for the day in Nashville, working on making themselves available to bring their stories of success to any place that would like to hear it. Attending the meeting were Becky and Ed Anderson from Handmade in America (located in Asheville, NC); Marilyn Frauenkron-Bayer from Houston, MN (exciting story about education results); Joy Jinks and Karen Kimbrell from Swamp Gravy (folklife theatre); and Phyllis and Barry McKuin from Morrilton, Arkansas, whose economic development story is worth hearing. Absent in person but present by their ideas (gathered earlier that week by Vaughn and Sandy Grisham) were the Haven Acres group. Their strength is seen in getting the crime out of their African-American, working class neighborhood and getting a multimillion dollar community center which now houses a Boys and Girls Club. Vaughn Grisham, Director of the McLean Institute, a lifetime scholar of how small towns get things done successfully, was the moderator. Sammy Moon from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, whose generosity has funded much of Dr. Grisham's studies, was also present. Sandy Grisham acted as adminstrative assistant and recorder.
The key result was that there is an important message to get out to small towns and rural areas...that being "IT CAN BE DONE!!!" In each of these cases -- ranging from neighborhoods in a larger town to regions of an entire state -- there has been evidence of local citizens taking control of the future of their place and making it a success. The messages are powerful; the structure of process is able to be duplicated. And, the Extraordinary Results team wants to tell the stories.
In general, it was decided that there would be one major workshop per year, with each of the participants being "continuing consultants" to interested groups. Those who attend the larger meetings will be provided ongoing support as they work in their own communities -- and will be contacted at various times during the following two years to see the process through.
For further information on this exciting program, contact shgrisham@bellsouth.net. We will be working our our website for Extraordinary Results...keep tuned.
Posted by Sandy Grisham on January 26, 2007 04:21 PM
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