Seymour, IA

11 individuals have organized a working group to monitor and encourage the community to continue to make progress in the reduction of poverty.  The group has developed an application for community groups and organizations to use to request financial support for projects.  The key questions they will use to determine which projects to support are:

·         Is it helping those in poverty?

·         How many individuals will be helped by this project?

·         Is the project sustainable?

·         Is this a reputable organization associated with the community?

·         Are low income individuals involved in the project?

·         Is this truly a need?

The group plans to hold regular meetings and will notify the community through the Seymour Herald when an application period is open.  The working group represents many different economic backgrounds and leadership experiences.  They are responsible for seeking new partnerships and funding to support the Seymour Horizons project.

Seymour Mayor, Sheryl Dotts and her husband, and Councilman Larry McCann have joined in with the County Trust Fund, the towns within the county teaming together for Rehabilitation of Less than Desirable Homes in all the Communities in Wayne County. The Wayne County group is joining forces to become a non-profit organization and become certified by the Iowa Finance Authority, enabling the group to request state funds.
This project will help with improvement of older homes, and rental homes, new construction of affordable housing , providing funds for down payments, and cleaning up and removing older homes. This is a very positive project for all of the communities in the county.

Volunteers are orgainizing a publicity campaign that includes meeting with city organizations, citizens, and major employers in the county to explain the role of the Trust Fund, gather opinions about the greatest needs, and generate financial pledges of support.

Two Young Men in our Community took the iniative and interest in our Community and ran for seats available on the City Council, and both were elected.
One of the new officials had been one of the Leadership Plenty Facilitators last Spring for the Horizon Project.
The other young man has taken a particular interest in our Community Pride, sending a Letter to the Editor to the local newspaper, asking for others to join him in Cleaning up our town. He asked for help in cleaning up yards, and taking care of elderly citizens and those who are unable to do their own work.
He organized and the crew and followed through with the project.
They seem to both be very aware of needs in our community and willing to have enough to interest to pursue their ideas.

A committee formed through our Horizon Project,Youth Enrichment, took necessary steps needed to put in place a Tudoring Program
at the School. Working with the school administration, they found funding through grants and local businesses and individuals making up the difference, found 2 teachers willing to
run the program to bring students that needed the extra help to bring their grades up to speed, giving all students the opportunity to achieve.
A second phase of this project is searching for the funds to start an Elementary After School Program, to benefit the needs of the families in our community.

March 15th, the Seymour Horizon Committee hosted a Community Share Day at the local Legion Building. It was advertised as a Share What You Wear, seeking donations from the community of clothing, baby items, small appliances and
household items. Anyone could bring goods to the legion, we
had set times and days during that week, and had volunteers there to collect and sort the goods. This event served to the good of every economic level, all ages, with no money being exchanged for the entire event.
The Horizon group sponsored a Community Breakfast, which we served as free, and a way for those in the community to come together and socialize.
Local and County agencies set up tables for Community Awareness of services available in our area, including Public Health, the local Care Center, Family Resource Centers and related agencies through their center, and Safe Coalition.
They also passed our free gifts, and information.
The Horizon Committee also had a set-up encouraging the local residents to sign up for programs and committees that we are promoting, such as Adopt a Street program to pick up trash,
Park Clean-up, Community Garden for a resource for local garden produce, clean up old houses and buildings on vacated properties, and clean up of old junk vehicles at local properties.
We had lots of donations of clothes and had a great attendance, and lots of local residents were able to shop for free, and found items that would work for their families.
In some ways , it also served in a small way as a community clean-up, as some people may have brought items that they would not have had a place to dispose of it, or would not have taken the iniative to gather items to donate.
And the left over items were taken by a local area resident who is connected with places and organizations who could use them, such as group homes and mission groups, so everything that was donated was put into use by people that could use them,
and it all remained as being donated with no money involved even with the left overs.
We feel the day was a huge success, and plan to make it an
event planned for both late summer or early fall for school clothes, and then early spring for summer wear.
It was a great community effort to bring people together, in working together as well as socializing.

In April of 2007 a group from Study Circles spent two evenings cleaning up the park located at the Seymour Square.  Sod was pushed away from the sidewalks, bushes were trimmed, leaves were raked, low spots were filled, and the lawn mowed.  Flowers were added in planters and a regular plan of maintenance was developed. 

Two local residents who were involved in the Study Circle groups, died following that phase of the project, and both requested that Memorial Money be donated to a Community Betterment Project.  They were interested in ideas that had been shared to clean and improve the appearance of the community.   Two more families donated to the cause and through that we established a fund. So from a small portion of that money we have planned a Memorial Tree on the Large Evergreen that sits on the City Property in front of the City Library, and lights were purchased to decorate that tree for Christmas, as a Memorial to those people each year, and then we plan for an annual event, adding more ideas to the project for next year. Since that fund was opened, an Alumni Class donated to the fund, and any money received will be used for projects in the community. Through the local newspaper, we keep people informed of the project, and encourage others to participate in donating to the fund for future endeavors. 

Jim Sandy, a member of the Seymour Horizon project, a local businessman, has been very involved in our group, attending every phase of the program. Jim ran for the local School Board in the Fall Election, and has taken a leadership role as a New School Board Member.

One of the Seymour Horizon groups, Youth Enrichment, has spoke with the local school board, received the permission to pursue, and sent out survey forms to the parents and families regarding an After School Program, and are already looking into grant money available for the program.  The group would like to establish a program to help families and at-risk youth in the community

Anthony Boggs was a Facilitator for our Leadership Training Course with the Seymour Horizon group, taking the necessary training in Des Moines. Anthony then ran on the ballot in the City Election, and won himself a seat on the City Council. It is great to have young people living in our small community, and also having someone take a leadership role, taking interest in  the future of our town, as well, as having new ideas.