SJCF Impact Meeting Draws 50 Residents Ready To Help Set Priorities

 

About 50 residents with affiliations to more than 40 local organizations helped St. John Community Foundation officials begin to establish priority goals at the group’s annual Impact Meeting on Tuesday, March 18, at Bethany Moravian Church Hall.

Taking information gathered at last year’s Impact Meeting, SJCF Executive Director Celia Kalousek compiled an online Angel Network which put the dizzying number of St. John non-profit groups and agencies on one-easy-to-navigate site.

At this year’s Impact Meeting, Kalousek shared the new site and showed agency representatives how to edit their listings and join in online community discussions. The group also began the task of setting priorities in four main areas: youth development; environment and animal welfare; community enrichment; and health and human services.

“What I originally planned to have was a panel discussion about the top five items that came up at last year’s meeting,” said Kalousek. “But the list included dozens of items in each of the impact areas. It wasn’t my place to narrow them down.”

“I read them all and had blank voting ballots so people wrote down their top priorities,” Kalousek said.

Even people who didn’t make last week’s meeting will have a chance to share their opinions. This week SJCF officials will put the questionnaire on Survey Monkey with a link on the group’s website, www.thestjohnfoundation.org, so all residents can share their ideas, Kalousek added.

“We’re going to list the top five priorities based on the meeting for people to vote and allow a write in spot so if what is important to you is not written down, you can add it,” she said. “It will be the voice of the community driving our priorities moving forward.”

As of press time Kalousek was still tallying the top priorities offered at last week’s SJCF Impact Meeting attendees. Ideas included building the new public school on St. John, improving the current recreation center and opening a youth recreation center in Coral Bay, launching a Cruz Bay shuttle, creating a food co-op, establishing a bicycle and walking path on North Shore Road and more.

“Amazing stuff came out of the meeting,” said Kalousek.

In addition to weighing in on SJCF priorities, residents can also engage on topics important them, find organizations in need of their skill sets or even find agencies offering the help they need through the SJCF website.

“Individuals in need can go to one place and link to potential service organizations that can help them,” said Kalousek. “Potential volunteers and philanthropists who want to offer support can find out what the priority needs are in the community, who is doing what to address those needs, and connect with any service organization from one easy access point.”

“The network will facilitate collaborations between service providers, donors and community members for more effective and efficient fulfillment of community needs,” said the SJCF Executive Director.

The Angel Network allows the agencies themselves to announce their needs by being able to edit their information as needed, Kalousek added.

“Within this directory, these agencies are able to post their volunteer needs, wish list items and funding needs, activities and events that further support their cause,” she said. “They can also add valuable content to discussions about developing solutions to address current societal challenges.”

The whole point of the network is about creating positive change for the community and engaging residents which has been SJCF’s mission since its inception, explained Kalousek.

“In preparation to celebrate our 25th anniversary in October of this year, SJCF urges residents and visitors alike to find your passion and help us build a stronger community,” Kalousek said. “Give, get involved, speak up, show up. Together we can make St. John a true paradise for everyone.”

For more information about the Angel Network and to take SJCF’s survey, go to www.thestjohnfoundation.org.