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The Blue Springs CDC is now seeking interested community residents to participate in an upcoming Leadership Development Institute (LDI).

LDI prepares community residents to take an active role in decision making processes and serve on boards and commissions in such arenas in the Hoke County community. It also provides clear information and offers practical skills

surrounding community economic development perspectives and practices.

LDI offers a two day retreat and four day and 1/2 sessions certificate program which focuses on understanding community and community dynamics; understanding civic activism and serving on boards and commissions; targeting issues and mounting tactics for change; and fundraising for social change.

Twenty-five slots are available for the November launch of the 2001 LDI class.

Applications are available by contacting the CDC office at 904-0312.

The Blue Springs-Hoke County CDC received an 18-month $20,000 grant from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation in 1999 to undertake organizational development activities. Activities which are linked to building organizational capacity for the CDC by training Board and staff and developing a three to five year strategic plan for the organization.

Initial steps in the process were undertaken under the guidance of Ulysses Bell and Associates, a Greensboro based consulting firm. Bell led the CDC Board and staff through a retreat process in February, 2000 in Elizabeth City at the offices of River City CDC. The event enabled participants in the process to see community economic development (CED) principles and objectives at work in the accomplishments of a mature CDC which hosts a Youth Build project, has acquired land and a free-standing facility, and has begun housing development for moderate and low income residents. The process with Bell and Associates resulted in the completion of a planning document aimed at guiding CDC activity for the next two years.

Efforts have continued throughout the year for the CDC Board and staff to become more fully educated and invested in CED principles and theory through training. A collaboration with Southerners for Economic Justice (SEJ) has served as a cornerstone of that effort with a focus on Economic Literacy Education. The CDC hosted an event in July as part of that effort which was staffed by Project South.

A renewal grant application has been made to Mary Reynolds Babcock for ongoing work which will focus on constituent development. If you want more information on this program, please

Hoke TAPP Council

Seeking Members

The Hoke Teen and Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Council (TAPP) is up and working in the community in the interest to address the county's elevated levels of teen and adolescent parenting. In 1998, Hoke County ranked number three (# 3) in the state in terms of live births to young women between the ages of 12-19 years of age. With the release of 1999 statistics, Hoke County now leads the state in the number one

(# 1) position.

The TAPP Council was established with the ultimate mission and purpose to facilitate healthy lifestyles in teens and adolescents in Hoke County. It further seeks to develop a diverse network in Hoke County that will educate the community; present a unified voice; share information and resources, and strengthen amd support the efforts of organizations involved in preventing adolescent and teen pregnancy. The Council meets every third Wednesday of the month. Community members are