The Horizons Community Leadership Program to Reduce Poverty helps communities build stronger leaders to address economic issues and find ways to implement change. Horizons is funded by the Northwest Area Foundation and implemented by Iowa State University Extension in partnership with Iowa citizens.
Iowans Worry Their Paychecks Won’t Cover Basic Costs in 2008 4/23/2008
4/23/08
AMES, Iowa -- Nearly one-third of Iowans worry most of the time that their total family income will not be enough to meet expenses and bills in 2008, bringing the struggle to make ends meet to a very personal level, according to a nationwide survey released last week by the Northwest Area Foundation.
Ruth Freeman, Iowa State University Extension specialist, directs the Horizons project in 20 Iowa communities with funding from the Northwest Area Foundation. “Whether due to the depressed housing market, record numbers of home foreclosures, mounting debt or a wavering stock market, the survey shows a majority of Iowa’s residents rated the local economy as only fair or poor. Nearly two-thirds say they are worried the economy will get worse this year,” said Freeman. read more...
Telling Community Stories
Horizon Communities Tell Their Stories Through Blogging
Community blogging is a strategic communication tool that helps local communities tell their stories, connect each other through common goals of poverty reduction, and reflect on their successes.
read the Iowa communities' blogs...
Horizons Project...
- helps communities take charge and build stronger leaders to address poverty, economic decline, and the exodus of young adults.
- is available to communities of 500 to 5,000 residents with a poverty rate of 10 percent or greater.
- is designed for communities ready to commit to gathering citizens together to work for positive change.
Horizons Leaders...
- Become involved in decision making.
- Gain a positive attitude.
- Understand their neighbors.
- Increase knowledge about poverty in their community.
- Come together with others and take action against poverty.
Horizons Communities...
- Gain training and resources—about leadership, poverty reduction, community development, visioning, and strategic planning—to make a difference.
- Develop ways to take action—with your own considerable resources—instead of looking and waiting for outside help.
- Become part of a larger
community of citizen leaders—working together to grow Iowa.