Tag: CPW Associate Director

Our Partner: Colette Ramirez-Maddock

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Partner Interview: Colette Ramirez-Maddock

 Recreation Program Assistant at City of Eugene Outdoor Program at the River House

What Community Service Center program(s) did you work with

The Community Planning Workshop (CPW)

Briefly describe the project(s) you work on with the Community Service Center (CSC).

The Inclusivity Assessment was created to examine the Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services department in the city.  We wanted to analyze our service delivery and to identify how we could  improve our services. The process identified barriers for participants including physical and cultural. The assessment facilitated us using the lens of cultural awareness to make our facilities and programs as  inclusive and accessible as possible.

Why did you decide to work with the Community Service Center (CSC)?

The Community Planning Workshop has done comprehensive work for the City of Eugene. They have a good reputation for process, defining next steps and  a high level of work that comes from the CPW team. Bethany Steiner, CPW Associate Director helped us set the foundation, including developing questions for assessment, and building relationships in the community that otherwise would be difficult without them. CPW was very thorough in the work they did throughout the process.

What were the benefits of engaging the CSC program?

I enjoyed the collaboration of the process, we benefited from the shared resources that could be exchanged with the City of Eugene and the Community Services Center.

What role did CSC staff/students/members have in the project?

Bethany Steiner, CPW Associate Director was a  valued component of the project along with the  project managers and students. They facilitated the process including organization and forward momentum, this included developing surveys, survey implementation, interviews, listserv creation and data entry. After collection they analyzed the data and presented the recommendations and next steps from beginning to end, all the while being collaborative and accessible in the process.

How did the engagement of the CSC program(s) increase your organization capacity to complete the project?

The  project would not have been the same without them (CPW). We had a sense of what we wanted completed but not the experience to carry out such a comprehensive project or the capacity to do it. The Community Planning Workshop kept the process moving throughout the summer (our busiest time), they checked in, set deadlines, and built groundwork for future projects.

What advice do you have to other potential community partners about working with the CSC?

I would suggest an open mind; CPW is for those that would like to work collaboratively with a team and be involved in the process.

Plug Something!

We have so many amazing programs and services at the City of Eugene – Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department.   You can find more information about our programs at http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?nid=127.    We hope you get a chance to discover, create, and grow with us this year!

 More about the Community Planning Workshop(CPW)

Our Partner: John Punches

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John Punches is an Associate Professor in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management at Oregon State University. He has been with OSU since 1994 as an Extension Forester and Wood Scientist, and has served in a variety of Extension leadership roles. He now holds a full time administrative role overseeing Extension and Outreach & Engagement programs in Curry, Coos, Douglas and Lane Counties, and serves statewide as a specialist in Extension Service District formation and operational issues. In his spare time, John is an active volunteer and instructor for the Douglas County Search and Rescue and Mountain Rescue units, and teaches cave rescue throughout the United States as a member of the National Cave Rescue Commission.                                                         

What Community Service Center program(s) did you work with?

Community Planning Workshop (CPW)

Briefly describe the project(s) you work on with the CSC

We partnered with CPW to produce a needs assessment for our Extension Service program in Lane County.

Why did you decide to work with the CSC?

The Community Service Center came highly recommended and we were aware of their prior work with similar programs. Their community programs and close connections in Lane County made it a logical decision.

What were the benefits of engaging the CSC program?

The Community Service Center understands local dynamics; they are embedded in the community and are trusted as a resource for Lane County. Our partnership made sense and overlapped with our mission. They were able to harness tools that we could not with our limited resources.

What role did CSC staff/students/members have in the project?

Bethany Steiner, CPW Associate Director was the project coordinator. I worked with her and the students assigned to the project to identify goals and to develop a plan of action. Bethany  guided the team as they refined objectives, produced a timeline, and established the process. The group worked together on each stage to identify our target audience. The CPW students handled the work and data collection and reported findings to me, and then  we collaborated on the next steps. They developed lists of potential audiences, developed and implemented a survey, analyzed data and wrote the project report.. CPW provides a source of informed experts and accomplished goals that otherwise would be impossible without their help. Bethany Steiner is a leader and an excellent student motivator.

How did the engagement of the CSC program(s) increase your organization capacity to complete the project?

The Community Planning Workshop was the capacity. We would have not have been able to reach the depths that they did with our existing resources.

What advice do you have to other potential community partners about working with the CSC?

Do it. Tremendously positive experience; excellent working relationship. CSC is a resource of experts; they were able to understand and develop objectives, facilitated the framework, and provided all the information I needed for the project.

Get involved with our Volunteer Opportunities!

The Oregon State University Extension Service is the largest grassroots educational organization in Oregon. In 2010, OSU Extension trained 18,000 volunteers. In Lane County, Extension Service volunteer opportunities include Master Gardeners, Master Food Preservers, 4-H Youth Development and more. We also over lots of practical educational opportunities. For more information visit our website at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane.

More about the Community Planning Workshop(CPW)

Contact John Punches