Turning the Tide on Poverty Training Workshop:
The Application Process
Overview
Turning the Tide on Poverty: A Citizen-Centered Approach
It was during the course of 2009-2010 that the Southern Rural Development Center – in
partnership with the Farm Foundation, the Kettering Foundation, and Everyday Democracy
-- launched a pilot effort involving a handful of pilot states across the region. This new
educational initiative -- Turning the Tide on Poverty -- was designed to help reawaken the
civic spirit in communities in the South by engaging local people in a careful study of
poverty within their midst, helping them identify and initiate community-driven solutions
to this seemingly intractable problem. Now, many months later, we have come to discover
just how much good work can be accomplished when local people and groups take time to
study poverty-related issues, dialogue on possible solutions, and implement strategies that
align with the unique assets and priorities of their communities.
Tide was launched in early 2009 with eight communities in five pilot states, involving more
than 250 local residents. Working through a series of five community study circle sessions,
participants were involved in small groups of 5-12 people, exploring the variety of ways in
which poverty was touching the lives of local youth, adults, families, neighborhoods and
communities. Next, they worked together at an Action Forum to share ideas and to arrive
at consensus on the key strategies they should pursue to turn the tide on poverty in their
communities. The fruits of their labors are now taking hold and real progress in being
made in these eight pilot sites.
Extension Educators and Research Faculty: Key Contributors to this Project
The progress being made in the pilot sites has been made possible as a result of the active
engagement of a strong core of state, regional, and county-based Extension educators in the
pilot states. These educators served as key cogs in guiding, facilitating, and promoting the
delivery of the Turning the Tide on Poverty community study circles program in the pilot
sites. Furthermore, they helped local residents realize that by working together, positive
changes could occur in their communities.
In addition to the Extension team, a talented group of community researchers worked
hand-in-hand with the SRDC to build a strong research plan. That plan resulted in the
development and application of data collection tools that are currently being used to track
the impacts of the Tide program on local participants, on the target communities, and on
the outreach work of the local and state Cooperative Extension Service program. While still
early in the process, information collected to date is making clear the value of investing in
this type of civic work as a component of Extension’s educational activities.
Extension: The Community Study Circles Process
The Community Study Circles Process fosters inclusive, productive conversation in
communities, following a well-developed model created by Everyday Democracy and the
National Issues Forum. The process follows a series of stages that leads to a communitydriven plan of action. The stages along the way include: (1) organization by a diverse
group of people from the community, (2) a community-wide recruitment and kick-off
phase to encourage involvement of a large number of people from all walks of life, (3) a five
week community circle process guided by an easy-to-use, fair-minded discussion guide,
and (4) a community action phase in which ideas from the discussion phase lead to
community action.
The anticipated outcomes include (1) expanding civic involvement of a wide range of
community members, (2) generating a community-designed plan of action, (3) establishing
at least one specific Action Team to implement recommendations from the Community
Circle process, and (4) increasing local capacity to facilitate productive community
dialogue on future issues.
Research: An Important Component of Your Team’s Tide Activities
In order to effectively measure the community change indicated, a comprehensive research
protocol has been developed and piloted in the original sites. Teams will be expected to
incorporate the research plan as part of their Tide project. What this entails is a the
completion of a pre/post survey by community members participating in the community
study circles, face-to-face interviews with key informants (8-10 in all) located in the target
community, and one focus group with a small group of community members. The key
informant interviews and focus groups are conducted prior to and after the completion of
the Community Study Circles process. Take it from us, the multiple methods being used as
part of the Tide project can generate some valuable insights on impacts associated with the
Tide project.
Moving Tide Out to New Communities, New States in the South
Given the positive work occurring in the eight pilot sites, the SRDC is now seeking to
expand the Turning the Tide on Poverty community study circles initiative to more states
and local sites in the coming months. Thanks to the continued support of the Farm
Foundation, the Kettering Foundation, and Everyday Democracy, the Center is planning to
host a Turning the Tide on Poverty training workshop on December 6-8, 2010 in Atlanta,
GA. The workshop is targeted to 1890 and 1862 land-grant universities in the South having
an interest in launching the Tide program in their states. Interested states are required to
complete an application form in order to be considered for possible participation in the
training workshop. Funds will be made available to support the travel and lodging needs
of successful applicants.
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An Opportunity & Invitation
During the 2010-2011 year, the SRDC is pleased to announce an opportunity to expand the
Turning the Tide on Poverty Initiative in other states across the South. Up to five state
teams will be invited to participate in a three day train-the-trainer event in which
participants will learn how to implement the community circles process and how to
administer the research protocol. The training will be held on December 6-8 in Atlanta,
Georgia. Teams from each selected state must include:
 At least one Extension specialist that will oversee the “on-the-ground” initiative
 At least one Researcher that will guide the research protocol
 A county/area agent that will be working in the selected area, if possible
What Selected Teams Will Receive:
 Step-by-step guidance on how to initiate and lead the community circles process
 Hands–on experience walking through the community circles process
 Training materials for preparing community volunteers
 Practical steps on how to facilitate and launch Action Teams
 Monthly peer-to-peer learning opportunities (Extension and Research teams)
linking participating states through conference calls and on-going distance
education opportunities to expand skills.
 Guidance in administering all research instruments
 Copies of all research instruments
 Sample IRB applications that can be modified to fit local university processes.
 Assistance in data analysis through the SRDC’s existing database
What Your Team Commits in Return:
 Facilitate the entire Extension/research process in at least one community within a
12-18 month timeline.
 Participate in monthly peer learning calls and distance education training
 Share data with SRDC to strengthen multi-state learning
 Submit community update reports to gauge community progress
Program Expenses:
 SRDC Commitment:
o Training stipends: Each training team will receive travel reimbursement to
cover travel expenses for the training.
o Program Guide (planning, training, and research materials) - one copy per state
team and Community Circle Guides (one copy per facilitator)
o Research protocol – including a master copy of surveys and interview
instrumentation. A copy of the master IRB application for the project will also be
provided.
 State Team Commitment:
o Each state team agrees to implement the program in at least one program site
that meets the criteria as a pilot (see below). Costs of program implementation
can vary, but includes marketing to the public (newspaper, flyers, etc.), handouts
during meetings (no more than a few copies per session), copies of surveys,
other meeting supplies (flipcharts, markers, post-it notes, etc.), and travel
expenses of Extension staff to program site as needed.
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How to Apply to be Part of this Initiative
Applicants may submit a proposal of no more than 5 pages. Proposals must include:
 Training Seminar Application Cover Page (attached below)
 An application narrative that covers the following:
o A description of the community you wish to target, including the racial, ethnic,
and socioeconomic composition of that area, and other key characteristics that
you wish to highlight. Pilot site must meet the following criteria:



20% or greater poverty rate*
Rural area (non-metro or micropolitan)*
A county and/or area Extension agent willing to invest 12-18 months
to the project.
*SRDC will provide a map of eligible areas within your state upon request.
o A description of the poverty challenges your community is facing and how those
challenges impact your community.
o A description of any recent efforts, successful or otherwise, to build communitypartnerships or initiatives in the target area.
o A description of how you see this type of initiative to address poverty and
engage community voices fitting into your current priorities/plan of
work/mission.
o A description of your proposed team, including current work and/or interests
related to the initiative. Please indicate who will take lead responsibilities for
Extension (implementation) and for Research. Please attach a one-page
abbreviated vita/resume on each team member.
o A statement of commitment to:
 Follow the recommended research and pilot project protocol
 Participate in monthly peer-to-peer conference calls.
 Participate in training opportunities throughout the project.
 Submit progress and impact reports throughout the project.
Applications are due on October 8, 2010
Hard copies must be postmarked by due
date and mailed to:
Southern Rural Development Center
Attn.: Rachel Welborn
P.O. Box 9656
MS State, MS 39762
OR
You may email your proposal
and attachments by close of business
(5:00 p.m. Central) on due date to
rachelw@srdc.msstate.edu
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Community Circles
Training Seminar Application Cover Page
University: ________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Person: _____________________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: ___________________________________ Fax: _______________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Training Seminar Participants:
Name: _________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________ Position: ________________________________
Name: _________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________ Position: ________________________________
Name: _________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________ Position: ________________________________
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Suggested Timeline:
December – February
March – April
April
April - forward
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