COM 0042.044 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND: In April of 1998, a "cluster' of ten (10) "teams" from the Island of Hawaii received a Managing Information in Rural America (MIRA) grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The Hawai' i Island cluster was one of 5 selected from across the nation for this innovative grant; including clusters from Nebraska, Colorado, Virginia and Texas. As the Kellogg Foundation described it, "Managing Information with Rural America (MIRA) is a grantmaking initiative of [our] Food Systems/Rural Development program area. It seeks to draw upon the reservoirs of strength, tenacity, and civic commitment in rural communities and to help rural people use technology (electronic communications and information systems) as a tool to meet current and future challenges." The Hawai' i Island MIRA Cluster formed under the fiscal management of the Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Program (BIRC&D), a non-profit organization based in Hilo, Hawai' i, with teams representing the communities of: ❑ Rural South Hilo ❑ Laupahoehoe ❑ Honomu ❑ Ho'okena ❑ North & South Kona ❑ Honaunau ❑ Ocean View ❑ Na'alehu/Pahala ❑ Volcano ❑ Lower Puna The grant functioned in reverse of typical grants in that the Kellogg Foundation required a series of 6 daylong workshops, one -per month, to be completed before they accepted grant proposals from the individual teams. The Kellogg Foundation, with help from the Heartland Institute established a listing of workshop themes and potential presenters for the various themes. Each workshop was to have two presentations, and a demonstration of current technology. Topics for workshops included: (* denotes a required workshop) ❑ Living with Change* ❑ Asset Mapping* ❑ Asset Mapping Applied* ❑ Human and Electronic Networks* ❑ Policy Education* Li Participatory Decision -Making* ❑ Project Planning and Implementation* ❑ Evaluation* ❑ Building Coalitions ❑ Managing Conflict ❑ Funding Community Projects & Organizations ❑ Helping People Work Together ❑ Maintaining momentum ❑ Managing Technology ❑ Technology as a Tool for Development The cluster could determine the workshops and the presenters from the provided listing. The demonstration on current technology and its presenter was determined by the steering committee, which was comprised of one member from each of the teams. This committee also coordinated the workshops. The Kellogg Foundation funded the entire cost of the workshops including, the presenter's stipend, rent for the venue, and a luncheon. Team members time and travel cost were not reimbursed. The teams were required to meet several criteria before becoming eligible to submit a grant for consideration. These criteria included: ❑ Teams of 10 members with 5 alternates ❑ Attendance of at least 10 members to each of the workshops. Eight of the teams met these criteria, applied for and received a grant to fund their project. The Kona MIRA Team focused on the County General Plan, which was up for its mandated 10 -year review without funding allocated to carry -out review process.