Local Government High School Curriculum Available

What consists of 6,700 parts and nearly 200,000 people and is rarely studied in Illinois public schools? The answer is "local government," which thanks to a coalition of several groups is now explained in a new curriculum targeted to Illinois high school students.

"Tomorrow's Leaders: Understanding Illinois Local Government" was created by the Partnership for Local Government Education, which includes the Illinois Association of County Board Members and Commissioners, the Illinois Municipal League, Township Officials of Illinois, and University of Illinois Extension.

So much of what we hear about government concerns issues in Washington, DC or in Springfield. People are more likely to know the name of the President of the United States than they are to know the name of even one county board member, alderman or trustee who represent them at the local level.

Illinois local government includes an estimated 70,000 elected officials and 100,000 appointed officials. In the past, local government has been rarely studied in the classroom. As a result, many citizens do not have a clear understanding of the functions of our various units of local government.

Tomorrow's Leaders not only helps students understand how local governments work but will help build an informed citizenry ready to assume leadership roles in their communities in the future.

The curriculum takes an experiential, as well as intergovernmental approach to understanding local government. Students are encouraged to compare and contrast the operations of local

government, and to interact with local officials in order to comprehend the ways that they are served by officials.

For information about the workshops and the curriculum, contact Jeri Marxman, University of Illinois Extension, 539 Bevier Hall, 901 South Godwin, Urbana, IL 61801, (217) 244-2850, jmarxman@uiuc.edu.

- Jeri Marxman, Extension Specialist, Public Policy

Community Swap Update

The social and economic environment in small communities and urban neighborhoods has changed dramatically in the last ten years. The markets for products and for labor are now global; the competition for resources is also worldwide. To survive and thrive, are small communities and neighborhoods must reinvent themselves. Where these communities are successful, they must confirm their identity and recommit to the future. Whatever strategies these community groups use to prepare for the future, they are much better off if they can build capacity within their ranks. But for most communities, seeing the situation clearly is nearly impossible. Our perceptions are colored by our experiences, and that reality is clearly evident in residents' ability to assess their home town or neighborhood.

Teams of visitors from two similar communities "swap" for a day-long visit, posing as tourists, prospective business owners, relocating families, and out-of-town shoppers. They explore the partner community, recording notes on a detailed assessment guide and taking color slide photographs. Using the information they have gathered, each team reports back to the host community. The reports are supplemented with economic and demographic information provided by Extension Educators. As a final component, the community at large uses this objective assessment to create an agenda for action.

This summer participants in "swaps" held three-to-five years ago were asked about what had happened as a result of this program. Twenty-seven responded. They indicated that more than 550 folks from their community had participated in one or more aspects of the swap. In more than three-quarters of the communities, "swap" had influenced planning and had brought about changes in the community. Ninety percent of those responding would unconditionally recommend "swap" to other communities.

Committed residents and forward-thinking leadership always make a difference! Nearly 50 residents gathered in Dieterich, Illinois on February 16, 2003 for a Community Planning session to brainstorm ways to improve the community. University of Illinois Extension staff facilitated the community meeting. Dieterich, a community of approximately 550 residents, is located in Effingham County in east central Illinois.

Over the two-hour time span, residents came up with 55 ideas that they believed would make Dieterich a better place to live, work and visit.

Through small group discussion and a nominal group process, the following were voted as the top six ideas: obtain a grocery store; Main Street beautification; improve the area around the schools; develop and promote incentives for builders and developers; make the civic center self-sufficient; and obtain a new village hall with a library and museum.

Committees were formed around the top six ideas and reported their plans for the future at a follow-up meeting on March 4. Nearly 40 people attended the follow-up meeting. After reporting the general goals for their respective group, the committees met to determine specific actions they will tackle over the next six months to begin to meet the goals. Another follow-up meeting is planned for September.

In the past, Dieterich residents have gathered for similar community meetings where ideas were created and eventually executed.

Projects already accomplished by Dieterich committees include a veterans' memorial, after-school activities, a comprehensive Internet Web site, a posted list of houses and apartments for sale or rent, the adoption of a new zoning ordinance, a village map, and the development of new entrances for all four entrances into the community.

Extension has worked closely with the Dieterich Community Development Corporation on community and economic development issues for over 10 years.

- Rachelle Hollinshead, Extension Educator