Welcome to the second installation of the Research Tidbits series!

In our reports for the DHS Waiver Review project, we include the most up-to-date population estimates available from the U.S. Census Bureau website. The American FactFinder's Population Finder tool allows you to view estimated population trends nationwide, by state or by county. This data can be downloaded in a variety of formats, including text files, comma or tab delimited files or Microsoft Excel worksheet formats.

We use this data at the Improve Group at least monthly, so I download Minnesota-specific data in an Excel worksheet to my hard drive. Now, I don’t have to visit the Census Bureau website every time I report on a county’s population; I simply pull up my saved document. I include a link to the original source in the Excel worksheet so I know where to go to get updated information and can refer others to this source.

Another great resource for information on counties, cities and townships is ePodunk. When viewing a county profile on this website, you can learn about everything from historical sites to current job openings in the community; from air pollution levels to the county’s economic profile. There is also information about communities on this website on the city and township level.

To view current DHS reports by the Improve Group, click here.

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I love finding sources of data that I can draw on later when doing research or helping a client understand their communities. As I find interesting sources of data, I'll post them under this new heading.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress is a national test given to a nationally selected sample of students periodically (recent tests were given in 2003, 2005 and 2007). Its goals are to compare student achievement in states and other jurisdictions and to track changes in achievement of fourth-, eighth-, and twelfth-graders over time in mathematics, reading, writing, science and other subjects.

In Minnesota, the percentages of students showing proficiency or advanced achievement in math have steadily increased in the last 15 years, while those in reading have stayed more steady.

Raw data you can use to perform your own analysis can be found here, with one data set dating back to 1970.

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One of the reasons I live in the Twin Cities area is because I like what it offers my family. No place is perfect, but we seem to have a good blend of so many of the things people need to live a healthy and productive life. I’ll bet I am not alone in admiring my community. If you feel you live in a special place you can take advantage of this next funder’s offer to help your home town to become even better.

This week’s pick: America's Promise Alliance and Capital One have announced the launch of the 2008 100 Best Communities for Young People Competition. The Alliance looks for communities that provide developmental resources which support success in life for young people. They call these resources the Five Promises; they are:

• Caring Adults
• Safe Places
• A Healthy Start
• Effective Education
• Opportunities to Help Others

Large urban cities and small rural towns can submit applications explaining how their town has discovered ways to solve problems that improve the lives of youth in the community. You can go to the America’s Promise Alliance website to see which 100 communities received the money in 2007 and get an idea of the type of environments the competition rewards.

Winning communities receive $300,000 in grant money, along with extensive media coverage and other resources. Click here to go directly to the 2008 application.

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At the Improve Group we do a lot of work for the inspiring Girl Scouts of the USA. In our evaluations of their programs we learn a great deal about how amazing changes can come about when someone who cares connects with a young person in need. GSUSA seems to give girls the confidence to explore their own dreams. My next funder also provides an avenue for girls and young women to follow their dreams.

This week’s pick: The Ann Bancroft Foundation realizes that the potential for individual achievement in girls and young women is very great. They support girl-centered programs and form beneficial partnerships to promote growth and encourage imaginative endeavors. As part of fulfilling this mission, they are currently accepting applications for the fall 2007 Dare to Dream mini-grants. Minnesota girls age ten through grade 10 are eligible.

Girls can apply for a wide range of activities but will need an adult mentor to help them through the application process. Grants range from $100 to $500. Applications are due by November 1, 2007. To learn more about this grant click here or to learn more about the impressive journeys of Ann Bancroft click here.

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What a survey is
Most people have many opportunities to experience the joys of filling out a survey. They come in your mail, pop up in your email, and are asked by phone (especially in the months leading up to an election!). Lots of people want to know your opinion, and surveys are a great way of gathering the perspectives of a number of people. If you gather enough surveys in a scientific way, you may be able to make generalizations about the opinions and perspectives of a larger population. A smaller sample will still yield an overview of the opinions and perspectives of those who returned the survey. If you want to know the basics of how people stand on an issue, how they feel or act, a survey can be an efficient and effective way of gathering data. As respondents provide data to describe themselves, analysis can also reveal if there are differences in perspectives, impact, actions, etc. between different groups of respondents.

What a survey isn't
Surveys are often not so good at capturing much depth in people's perspectives or thoughts. While they may offer an opportunity for respondents to write in "long answers", the bulk of a survey usually asks for a short answer or a response selected from a list of options. Surveys also rarely offer much opportunity for respondents to shape the content; you are responding to what a researcher and the client organization has determined is important to study.

As with other kinds of research you may be asked to participate in, surveys should also be transparent. You should always know who is doing the survey and how the results will be used.

What is the value of a survey to the participant?
A survey can be a great opportunity to get your opinion heard. If you do take the time to RETURN YOUR SURVEY to your caring and interested researcher (who only wants the best for you, by the way!), your opinion will be used to shape the research findings. The greater the percent of those who respond, the more valid the picture formed by the survey findings. Survey findings can be used to change programs, continue them as is, or stop them entirely. Surveys require an investment by the organization, so you can usually trust that the results will really be used.

While you are completing the survey, you can reflect on your opinions and experiences. Perhaps you will see new themes in your answers that you had not noticed before. Perhaps you will clarify your thoughts or have a happy reminder of a good experience. Or, perhaps you will see that what you found important about a program or experience was actually not its intended purpose. That's kind of interesting, don't you think?? You should also be able to see the final report of the survey results, so you can see how others felt and how the results were used. Researchers usually welcome requests for more information or the chance to share how the information will be used.

The census (http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html) is the most familiar survey to many people. But, if you are interested in seeing other examples of how surveys have been used to help understand public opinion about a variety of issues, check out these links (copy and paste into your browser):
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/crlnews/backissues2006/october06/opinionpoll.cfm
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/n/nalderk/Public%20Opinion%20Websites.htm
http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/pollres.html#online.

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As I look at the date of this Grant Gazing I just want to send my personal wishes out to everyone touched by the 9-11 attacks. My wishes are for healing and safety and sanity in our world.

My feelings about today lead me to provide the following links to find groups working toward global and local peace. All of the following have their own grant or fellowship programs. This is in no way a comprehensive listing, just a place to start. Every movement towards peace needs a place to start.

The United States Institute of Peace has a mission of preventing, managing, and resolving threats to international peace.

http://www.usip.org/aboutus/index.html

The Peace Development Fund encourages the development of diverse communities essential to promoting peace.

http://www.peacefund.org/grant/-grnntrn.htm

The Ploughshares Fund helps people to implement good ideas to build a safer, more peaceful world.

http://www.ploughshares.org/grants.php?a=2&b=0&c

Rotary International has a Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies program for professionals around the world to train in conflict resolution and mediation strategies.

http://www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/rpcsp/index.html

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The Minnesota Council on Foundations is presenting an Advanced Grantseeking Seminar in Duluth, MN on October 3rd and 4th at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. The seminar is sponsored by the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation and Northland Foundation. For more information go to the MCF web site at www.mcf.org.

If you already have that grant and are facing a reporting deadline come to the Improve Group Evaluation Workshops also on October 3rd and 4th held here at our offices in Bloomington, MN. Bring your challenges and concerns and these workshops can help you learn how to collect and analyze the data needed for your reporting requirements. For more information see our workshop page on our web site or call Susan Murphy toll-free at 1-877-467-7847.

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One of our former staff, Brooke Ahlquist, has been involved with the UMore Park development as the student representative on the Health Task Force. The University of Minnesota is in the process of a 25-30 year master plan for its 5,000 acre site near Rosemount (in the Twin Cities southeast suburbs). The U has a very interesting strategic vision for the area, summarized quite concisely in a PowerPoint presentation. The University is considering sustainability, health, economic value and livability in its planning. Brooke previously wrote about health issues in planning on our blog (health amenities)

The public is invited to the listening sessions held between Sept. 17 and Sept. 27 (more detail below and here).

- Mon., Sept. 17 – Education – including early childhood development, daycare, K-12, post-secondary and adult education, lifelong learning;

- Wed., Sept. 19 – Environment – including “green” buildings and infrastructure, the landscape and natural resources, air and water quality;

- Thurs., Sept. 20 – Energy – including renewable energy (biomass, geothermal, solar, wind), energy production and efficiency, reduction of greenhouse gases, conservation practices;

- Tues., Sept. 25 – Health – for individuals and families, including nutrition, prevention, recreation, safety, health care, health services;

- Wed., Sept. 26 – Interdisciplinary Opportunities – including housing, diversity, arts and culture, technology, international linkages;

- Thurs., Sept. 27 – Transportation – including increased access and mobility through multiple transit options, innovative transit services, transportation infrastructure, safety.

Each listening session will be held from 5:00 to 7:15 p.m. A light meal will be served and registration is free but required (612-626-3976).

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This grant opportunity involves two of my favorite things - the Arts and Organizational Development. I love the arts because I have a history as both an actress and an arts fundraiser and program manager. I respect organizational development because the work of the Improve Group is so immersed in assessment and improvement of businesses and their programs. So you can see why I am happy to tell you what this next funder has to offer.

This week’s pick: The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) is interested in strengthening the management and resources of nonprofit arts groups who have annualized operating expenses of less than $300,000. To achieve this goal, MRAC is accepting applicantions for both Organizaitonal Development and Capital grants.

A partial list of what the grants will fund includes:

• Board governance
• Strategic issues
• Resource development (fundraising)
• Information systems
• Financial planning or management
• Volunteer management
• Communications/public relations
• Audience development/marketing
• Access for people with disabilities
• Community needs assessment
• Purchase of equipment such as musical instruments, lighting board or sound equipment
• Purchase of computer hardware and software
• Purchase and installation of telephone system
• Facility improvements to increase accessibility
• Facility improvements to performance or office space

Arts groups must be located within the seven county metro area to be eligible. For the best results, MRAC urges potential applicants to discuss the nature of their proposals with them before submitting a proposal. As an additional assistance, MRAC is hosting two workshops with information on their guidelines along with help on effective grant writing. The sessions will be held on:

1. Saturday, Oct. 6: 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
2. Wednesday, Oct. 10: 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

To get started on your application process, visit the MRAC website. Deadline for submittal is Monday, November 5, 2007.

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On the lighter side...

Today was the third day of school in my school district (mandated by law to start after Labor Day in Minnesota). I knew several people with kindergarteners this year, both socially and professionally, so we exchanged a lot of phone calls and emails about how things went. Tuesday morning was accompanied by photos, nervousness (both parent and child), excitement (ditto) and what felt after a while like an interrogation "How did it go?" "Who did you meet?" "Was your teacher nice?" "Did you read anything? Do art? Go to the library?"

This morning, as we were getting everybody out of the door (shoes on, backpack packed, etc.) a haiku popped into my head:

3rd day of kindergarten

Amazingly, quickly
this momentous occasion
becomes a routine

I can't claim to be much of a poet!

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Last week I traveled to Chicago to visit a friend and research possible graduate school opportunities. This was my first time in Chicago in five years. As an evaluator, I wanted to learn what makes Chicago so unique. As I “re-familiarized” with the city, the whole experience left me with a lasting impression. A whole list of things I observed, including The Loop, the major cultural institutions, the food, the traffic and the vast expanse of the city are things that a guy from Duluth is simply not used to.

What really impressed me is how the Chinatown area is quite well developed with restaurants, bakeries and shop all stuffed in the area between Cermak Road and Wentworth Street. I learned over 30,000 Asian residents live in that relatively small area. My parents frequently recruit in the area for cooks for their restaurant, The Golden Inn, in Superior, WI.

I was also impressed just traveling through downtown along the Magnificent Mile down to Navy Pier. The architecture of buildings, ranging from Gothic to modern, is quite amazing. On a nice summer day, a walk through Navy Pier is a memorable one.

From my trip, I learned that I should travel to new places more often. Additionally, it was interesting to me how useful evaluation can be in all types of situations. Have you also done similar evaluations traveling to new places?

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