Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
In the 2006 ISUE Families Program of Work, poverty was identified as a universal problem in Iowa and was targeted as an area of work. To help reach that goal, Iowa State University Extension began a partnership with the Northwest Area Foundation and decided to work with identified communities in Iowa with populations between 500 and 5,000 and a poverty level of 10% or more. Morning Sun met the criteria with 872 residents and 12.2% poverty.

Response:
Poverty is a comprehensive and systemic problem that impacts many areas of living including: housing, career, health, childcare, education. In the 2006 program of work, poverty was identified as a priority for the ISUE Families Program of Work and ISUE began a partnership with the Northwest Area Foundation. Communities in Iowa with populations between 500 and 5,000 and a poverty level of 10% or more were identified and invited to participate in the Horizons project. Morning Sun, IA qualified as a Horizon community and became one of the 25 Horizons communities and participated with the beginning stages of the Horizons project. According to the Northwest Area Foundation Horizons Community Guide, “Horizons is a community leadership program aimed at reducing poverty in small rural and reservation communities (population less than 5,000) faced with economic decline and demographic change. Our goals on poverty are for communities to identify it, commit collectively to do something about it and begin to take strategic action to change it.”

Impact:
Morning Sun developed many ideas to address poverty in their study circles that included:

• Welcome Bags that contain a resource directory
• Research and develop assisted living possibilities in Morning Sun
• Assist senior/low income people with their housing upkeep

At the Community Action forum residents stepped forward to take leadership of the projects and many have had considerable success in their efforts:

• The Welcome bag committee coordinated efforts with local schools and businesses to develop bags that new residents could use to access local resources. The Louisa County Extension office created a list of local summer programs for youth and an area resource guide.
• The Paint-a-thon project team coordinated volunteers and business resources to help wash, scrap and paint the home of a low income family. Diamond Vogel paint donated the paint and the Mutual Telephone of Morning Sun donated employee time and lift equipment for the project. This was the first project of this type in Morning Sun and residents hope to expand it to sidewalk repair and home maintenance projects.
• Meetings have been held with the Morning Sun Care facility, Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Association, and County officials about the possibility of an assisted living center in Morning Sun.

Residents who have participated in the project have found a greater sense of community and are meeting people they have not met before. Some of the participants' comments include:

• “I now know how important it is for people to realize they need to volunteer their time. It is needed.”
• “I thought the LeadershipPlenty® training was wonderful. I learned a lot; especially the many different ways to get people involved, how to keep people's interest when doing a project and how to lead productive meetings.”
• “I am now more aware of poverty and how important it is to work together as a community.”

Contact:
Mary Weinand
Jefferson County Extension
Fairfield, Iowa 52556
641-472-4166
mweinand@iastate.edu