2007 - 2008 Class Projects

Education First
Team Members:  Kelli Stein, Mike Pilger, Theresa Stammers, Mark Graceffa, Karla Fitch, Hannah Davis, Bonnie Bishop

Mission:  Provide educational tools today to improve the Racine community for better tomorrows.

Vision:  Promote independence, responsibility, and greater opportunity for success through teaching life skills.

Challenge:  Challenge our targeted youth by keeping them engaged in learning life skills needed for success in adulthood.


Well City Starters
Team Members:  Kim Polzin, Denise Rangel, Walter Davis, Tarey Bernhard, Stacy Feest, Joey Legath

Mission:  The Well City Starters project will encourage and assist Racine employers to develop and deliver results-oriented employee wellness programs as a key business strategy to enhance the health and well-being of their workforce, manage health care expenditures and raise community awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Vision:  To see the Racine County east of I-94 target area apply and begin the journey towards a Well-City Racine designation, creating the momentum to not only achieve that goal, but also to act as a catalyst for Well Region and Well State initiatives in the years to come.

Challenge:   Employers are constantly faced with rising health care costs, with premiums rising for employees.  Management of these expenses is critical both for the employers’ bottom line as well as individual employee disposable income.  Wellness programs are one solution to maintain these costs, as well as attract and retain a talented and productive workforce.

Our challenges are to establish a program to promote and encourage workplace wellness with a large enough number of employers to apply for Well City Designation, as well as to identify a committed group to assume coordination of this objective into the future.


Racine Youth Serving Everyone
Team Members:  Dona King, Jackie Jones, Debra Johnson, Ginger Heigl, Willie Mae Gill, Raudel Resendez

Mission:  Empowering youth to make a difference in Racine.

Vision:  All Racine schools participating in giving back to their community.

Challenge:  Challenge Racine's youth to participate in and give back to their community.


Pathfinders
Team Members:  Steve Van Dis, Ken Gould, Keri Hanstedt, Rick Chiapete, Marvin Campbell, Marcia Werner

Mission:  Bring the Roots back to the Root River.

Vision:  Enhance and promote the recreational use of the Root River north of the dam.

Challenge:  Bring an increased awareness to the Root River emphasizing on it historical significance and opportunities for recreational use. 

 
Sustainables
Team Members:  John Siegert, Andy Reitz, Adam Martin, Debra Karp, Andrea Carrao, Scott Stralka

Mission:  Increase environmental educational opportunities for urban youth.

Vision:  Because of our project, the Root River Environmental Education Community Center (REC) will become a valued and sustained resource in Racine, creating an appreciation and value for the environment among urban residents, more specifically 12-18 year old youths.

Challenge:  Living and/or going to school in areas of high crime and poverty, most urban youth in Racine have little connection to the natural environment.  Through the launch of the new REC, young people will now have an opportunity to learn about the environment through direct experience in the outdoors within walking distance of their homes and schools.  These experiences have the potential to enhance overall educational achievement and deter kids from engaging in gang activity and other destructive behaviors.

Our challenge is to catch the attention of these kids and motivate them to participate in the launch of the REC.  With many factors competing for their time, we have to find a way to make them aware of the REC and create a series of activities with a sufficient level of “coolness factor” to inspire them to come to the launch, participate in the activities and return in the future.