2002 - 2003 Class Projects

Pay It Forward Dream Team
Team Members: Karian Lim, Treva Small, Dan Garcia, Ron Tatum, Rick Jones, Donna Maldonado, Rachel Olsonawski

Challenge: The Women’s Resource Center is currently expanding to provide services for children who are victims or witnesses of domestic violence. The location has limited resources to provide these children with a positive learning environment. It is important that these children receive positive educational and social enhancement in the light of the negative situations in their lives. By equipping them with these skills it will build positive self-esteem and encouragement to strive for excellence.

Mission: To provide a positive learning environment to build self-esteem for children who are victims of domestic violence.

Vision: To develop a learning environment that will not only sustain itself after its implementation, but will also encourage and help the youth that benefit from the project to end negative behaviors in their lives and “pay forward” the positive things that they have learned.
 

RecreAction

Team Members: Dorothy Sack, Julie Thompson, Doug Miller, Michele Miller, Linda Hoover, Steve Smiley

Challenge: The lakefront is under-utilized. Other than peak dates (Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc.) the North beach area has only a few dozen people using it at any time. Few facilities exist in this location to attract families there. Community sponsorship of activities in this area is very low with most activities being sponsored directly by the city and have very little local community assistance.

Mission: Recreate Racine’s lakefront as a gathering place for families.

Vision: Racine will have better facilities for families with children to take advantage of the lakefront.

Imagine Racine

Team Members: Therese VanRyne, Barbara DeMatthew, Mary Spector, John Griffith, Dan Taivalkoski, Diane Ingalsbe, Cynthia Crowe

Challenge: An image study conducted by the Racine County Economic Development Corporation and Prophet, Inc. uncovered a significant problem that is tarnishing Racine County’s image: attracting and retaining young professionals in Racine County.

Mission: Identify middle-school youth who are the community’s potential young leaders and engage them in positive activities that will impact their mindset about Racine County and what it has to offer young professionals.

Vision: A sustainable program that would introduce youth to the Racine community and engage participation in its many offerings with the goal of retaining or attracting young talent for the future. We will do so by introducing local students to the positive aspects of Racine including government leaders, social service organizations, economic development, cultural arts, higher education options and networking opportunities with Racine’s young professionals.
 

That’s Entertainment

Team Members: Heather Dickert, Jay Nixon, Kristy O’Brien-Geary, Dennis Reichelt, Lydia Vela

Challenge: Getting the Racine community to visit downtown. Downtown Racine Corporation is currently underway with their revitalization project. There is still a strong community perception of, “Why go downtown?”

Mission: To provide weekly musical entertainment for the Downtown Racine business community beginning on Memorial Day running through Labor Day from 11:30a.m. – 1:30p.m. on Fridays. Along with music, work with downtown businesses to advertise their business as “Note of the Week” with a discount card to help steer consumers to their doors. Downtown Racine Corporation will be a major partner in the implementation and funding aspect of this event. The goal is for our Leadership Racine group to implement the plan for this year and DRC to carry on the management of this event and be the organization to sustain this event in years to come.

Vision: To provide a musically enhanced backdrop for people to take a break during the workday. We will allow local restaurants and retailers to sell food during this time period along with giving retail outlets an opportunity to get their name out to the audience by passing out “Just a Note” advertisements. This will provide a venue for local musicians and students within the education system to perform for family, friends and the general public.
 

Project Read

Team Members: Jean Goers, Roberto Garza, Janet Days, Scott LaPlante, Andrew Kindsvater

Challenge: One out of five adults in Racine are unable to read the newspaper, read street signs, balance a checkbook, order from a menu at a restaurant or communicate in English. There are over 100 adults on a waiting list at the Racine Literacy Council who want to improve basic literacy skills or learn the English language. Unfortunately, there are an insufficient number of tutors to help those adults who want to learn.

Mission: Create a sustainable program to engage the Racine Community for the improvement of adult literacy by involving members of the business community and service organizations as volunteer tutors.

Vision: To ensure that the Racine Literacy Council has a renewable pool of volunteer tutors to draw from so that people who want to improve their basic English literacy skills can take advantage of program services.