TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Adam Svolto, Deputy Director, NC Justice Center
FROM: Jay Reinstein, Assistant City Manager
DATE: May 7, 2018
RE:
Title
Pathways for Prosperity Comprehensive Action Plan Update
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
Alll
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal IV: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Executive Summary:
Building on the November 2017 Pathways for Prosperity Summit, workgroups empaneled around the five key focus areas--Pre-Kindergarten Education, Quality K-12 Education, Life Skills, Affordable Housing, and Workforce-Industry Alignment--worked with agency leaders and community members to develop a set of objectives and strategies to support measureable improvements in each area. These are captured in the Comprehensive Action Plan dated April 30, 2018. While additional work will be needed to set measures and identify/secure funding to support programming, the plan represents a strong framework for coordinating assets that already exist in the community.
Background:
In May 2015, Harvard University released a study ranking Fayetteville last among the country’s 100 largest economic centers in earnings potential for children growing up in poverty. Convened by the City of Fayetteville, Pathways for Prosperity endeavors to improve economic prospects for all residents and to break the cycle of generational poverty by bringing together local government leaders, community based organizations and community members in a coordinated effort.
The Fayetteville City Council resolved to become a “community of practice” in fighting poverty and named improving economic mobility as a target for action in early 2017. The City set aside $10,000 for a poverty summit event and committed significant staff time (nine individuals) for program development and project management support.
The Pathways for Prosperity initiative is based on the Harvard Family Research Project’s Results Based Accountabilities Model and seeks to facilitate an open, community-led process focused on the vital few barriers that, if addressed, will make the greatest impact on generational poverty.
Issues/Analysis:
The Comprehensive Action Plan offers ten objectives to move the community forward on its goal to improve economic mobility in the region. The objectives support local systems that impact workforce readiness, build on assets already present in the community, and represent an opportunity to bolster the local economy for the benefit of all residents.
Budget Impact:
Budget impacts to this point have included the $10,000 allocated to support the summit event and the staff time dedicated to supporting planning, logistics, coordination, and content development associated with the initiative.
Three areas addressed in the Comprehensive Action Plan will require significant funding-Pre-Kindergarten Education (addressing childcare “deserts;” increasing Pre-K slots), Life Skills (replicating the Walker-Spivey model for parent engagement and education through Communities in Schools), and Affordable Housing (establishing a dedicated source of revenue/housing trust fund). The amount of funding needed is still to be determined for each of these areas. With so many organizations working together for collective impact, the initiative should be able to produce compelling applications for federal and foundation grants to support programming. The City can support by participating in the grant seeking process, offering, where appropriate, matching funds, and engaging with the Pathways for Prosperity initiative during FY20 budget planning to explore local financing options to ensure sustainability.
Options:
1. Endorse the Comprehensive Action Plan; continue supporting Pathways for Prosperity with assistance from the NC Justice Center, Cumberland County, community partners and residents; continue serving as convener for the initiative through the first accountability session (December 2018); engage in the next phase of planning.
2. Do not continue supporting the Pathways for Prosperity initiative and provide direction to the City Manager.
Recommended Action:
Endorse the Comprehensive Action Plan; continue supporting Pathways for Prosperity with assistance from the NC Justice Center, Cumberland County, community partners and residents; serve as convener through the first accountability session (December 2018); engage in the next phase of planning.
Attachments:
P4P CAP Presentation pwpt
P4P Comprehensive Action Plan 4-30-18