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COMPASS II
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A Message From United Way
In September of 2003, a major report on the COMPASS II assessment and community building process was released by United Way of Tompkins County. This study effectively documented a range of community challenges and assets as identified by local residents. COMPASS II was a broad-based community effort sponsored by United Way, coordinated by the Human Services Coalition, and produced by Lisa Horn, project consultant, with oversight from a committee of local volunteers.
During the sixteen month process, United Way volunteers and staff maintained an unwavering commitment that COMPASS II would be a vehicle for building healthier lives and strengthening the overall quality of life in Tompkins County. Since the report's release, we have tracked its use as a tool in local planning, community and resource development, and fund distribution. A summary report that captures the positive impact COMPASS II has had in Tompkins County is currently being produced and will be distributed shortly.
Phase II of our COMPASS II process drills down and begins to grasp the real local problems of hunger and food insecurity. Beyond further defining the problems and barriers local residents face when trying to secure safe, sufficient, and nutritional levels of food, recommendations that can move our community toward a place of greater food security have been developed. As with the initial project, this needed and important effort would have been impossible without the direct and indirect assistance of many caring individuals and organizations. On behalf of United Way, I thank everyone that contributed to making this project a reality.
Although it is impossible to include all of our contributors, please note the acknowledgements page at the end of this document. While I have this opportunity, I must thank current and past members of United Way's Board of Directors. Among their many contributions have been the gifts of trust and vision. Without their willingness to step outside the lines, neither COMPASS II process would have been undertaken.
I thank the Triad Foundation for overall funding support and assistance throughout this effort. My final thank you goes to Lisa Horn, our project consultant. On this project, Lisa expanded the scope of her outstanding work on the initial COMPASS II study and report. Lisa's ability, generosity, and caring have been critical to the completion and success of both projects.
In closing, I will restate our Board's commitment that this project will contribute to building a stronger community. I encourage you to use the report, and most important, to join us in making a meaningful and sustainable difference.
James A. Brown
President
United Way of Tompkins County
Phase II Available Documents (Microsoft Word):
Compass II Project - Phase I, Fall 2003
Compass II is a community-building process that has been underway in Tompkins County since June 2002. Developed by the United Way of America, Compass II uses an asset-based analysis of the community to build on the strengths of local individuals, associations, and organizations to promote broad participation in the continuous improvement of community life. The ultimate goal of the process is to form plans to combine our assets with our needs, making Tompkins County a stronger community. Through various surveys, focus groups and analyses of other available data, Compass II worked to identify:
1) the needs and resources available in the county
2) the gaps between those needs and resources
3) potential solutions to filling the gaps
Phase I Available Documents (Microsoft Word):
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