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Group starts to tackle future of region’s social services

Christine Stanley

There is a lot on the minds of Truckee and North Tahoe residents these days, with a shortage of affordable housing options, sky rocketing insurance costs, and explosive growth in the area.But for all the concern, there is also a tremendous amount of optimism and action, both of which were voiced at the first Community Report Card meeting on Wednesday night.The Community Report Card, a project spearheaded by the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee, will serve to coordinate and realign regional resources in the areas of health, social service, and education.”We cannot create safe and healthy communities in isolation,” said Community Collaborative Director Kim Bradley. “This is about going beyond service providers and their clients, and reaching out to the larger community.”Wednesday’s meeting, which was attended by service providers, community leaders, and concerned citizens from Truckee, Kings Beach, and Tahoe City served to delineate the bigger picture, which includes a five-year plan for the region’s services.Small groups were formed to discuss and brainstorm the region’s future. The responses were complex and varied, but all boiled down to a few broad topic areas that address issues such as multi-culturalism, community health, respect for environment and space, and personal choice. In the weeks to come groups will be created to assess the needs of those four topic areas, which were labeled “Creating a Welcoming, Inclusive, and Connected Community,” “Personal and Environmental Health,” “Functional and Sustainable Community Plan and Design,” “Exceptional Education and Resources for All.”Over the next six months, those umbrella areas and the issues they encompass will be researched in order to conclude where there is overlap and where there are gaps in the services available to citizens of the region. “I think we have this top-down view of leadership, but there is no one particular leader in this type of action” said discussion facilitator Deborah Loesch-Griffin, who has been hired as a consultant for the report card process. “I am hoping that you will all be a part of this effort because it is our actions that are the true form of leadership.”To voice your opinion, get involved, or find out more contact Kim Bradley at 587-8322.


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