SEK-CAP’s Community Engagement services partner with organizations and entities to combat poverty and improve communities in Southeast Kansas
Our Services
Community Planning – The Community Engagement Coordinator seeks opportunities to work within communities throughout SEK-CAP’s service area on planning initiatives that result in change. Potential partners include (but are not limited to) County Commissions, City Commissions, School Districts, Pittsburg State University, Community Colleges, Service Providers, and Project 17. A few of the special projects that the department is/has been involved with as the need arises include the following:
• Pittsburg – We’re working in collaboration with the city of Pittsburg and its Downtown Advisory Board (DAB) charged with all things related to ongoing development of the downtown area. To date, there have been policy changes, creation of development standards, special event programming, user amenities added such as bike racks, and numerous ideas about physical changes.
• Advisory Services - Community Engagement offers advisory services to County Coalitions who provide services to those in need. Recent services have resulted in two Coalitions changing their meeting location and structure to position themselves to providing either improved, and/or more services.
• All Counties Regional Assessment - We are engaged in an assessment of all twelve counties in SEK-CAP’s service area. The assessment provides current data about how best to prioritize and allocate resources to opportunities to help those in poverty.
Project 17 Regional Planning Initiative - The Communtiy Engagement Coordinator sits on the core team of a group called Project 17. This group was formed in 2013 by state senators whose vision was to identify and find resources to affect positive change.
Educational Presentations - The Community Engagement Coordinator is a certified community planner by the American Planning Association (APA) with a designation of AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners). This background lends itself to presentations, as needed or requested, on planning matters that will serve our agency’s goals of helping individuals and families in poverty.
Special Projects - As the need and/or opportunity arises, Community Engagement will selectively become involved with others to accomplish its purpose of combating poverty and improving the communities in Southeast Kansas.
