About Us
Vision
Our vision is that Citizen Resources That Work will be, gathered on one website, a complete listing of all the trainings offered in the Greater Cincinnati region to citizens, advocates and leaders, whether volunteer or professional, to enhance their ability to serve the needs of the region and of their fellow residents, and to evaluate the usability of the trainings they receive.
Mission
Our mission is to create a website that will reach broadly to find, list and provide the ability to evaluate trainings being offered, both free and for a fee, on the web, via conference calls, and in traditional training settings, throughout the Greater Cincinnati region, and in some instances, tristatewide and nationally, to enhance civic life and efforts, and the ability of citizens to create positive change.
Introduction
We've designed this website so that you, as a citizen, advocate and leader, can easily find the information you need to access the process and issue trainings you want to be more effective. We know that increasing your skills in the the many issues confronting our region - the environment, health, transportation, community development, civic engagement, human services, diversity, education and many more - will make you more effective in creating positive change for all of us. And will increase your personal satisfaction and achievements.
A click or two should bring you to the areas of your interest, allow you to link to the group providing the training, and sign up on the spot, or request more information. After you've received the training, please come back to the site and evaluate that training, so that those coming after you have the benefit of your thinking.
And after that, please click on 'contact us', to give us your ideas, and suggestions. You can also tell us about additional groups to contact for training information, and groups who should be alerted to letting their members know about the site.
History
Through the leadership of the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation, one of whose goals is citizen participation in public affairs, a Request for Proposals was sent out into the Greater Cincinnati community in the spring of 2007. The Foundation wanted to "participate in funding a website that will provide useful information about all the varied training programs currently in existence to assist citizens' effectiveness as they participate in the civic arena." The website would include links to all possible programs and courses, both content-oriented and process-oriented, and provide evaluative comments about training sessions from those having taken the courses.
The Community Development Corporations Association of Greater Cincinnati already had a well-established website, and provided calendars electronically and on their website of upcoming events and trainings to the entire community development community in the region. The development community includes funders, bankers, elected and appointed public officials, community development organizations, for profit developers, technical services providers, business associations and community councils, housing service agencies and consultants in the field. The CDC Association also partners with LISC - the Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky - in providing trainings to the community development audience. The Association also holds issue Roundtables and public events to keep that audience apprised of current information and best practices.
The CDC Association's proposal was accepted and the website is up and running. We'd appreciate your comments, suggestions and ideas for the site. Please contact us at www.cdcagc.org
