Strengthening Community Connections: Partnering to Promote Effective Programming

1. Strengthening Community Connections: Partnering to Promote Effective Programming 2018 Adult Services Symposium: Power of Partnerships California Library Association Spring Fling Sacramento, California Thursday, March 17, 2018

2. Presenters Michelle Gordon Supervising Librarian for the WoW! (Without Walls) Department Fresno County Public Library Felicia Kelley Project and Evaluation Director California Humanities

3. http://www.calhum.org/funding-opportunities/library-innovation-labhttp://www.calhum.org/funding-opportunities/library-innovation-lab

4. LIL 2017 -- Participants

5. LIL 2017 – Program Outputs The California Documentary Project (CDP) is a competitive grants program of California Humanities that supports documentary film, radio and new media productions that enhance our understanding of California and its cultures, peoples

6. Community Partnerships : For what? When? • Research and Program Planning • Marketing and Outreach • Programming • Arts providers (drama, dance, music, visual, literary) • Immigrant community civic, fraternal, advocacy organizations • Museums and historical societies • Schools and academic institutions • Media organizations • Food, translation, and other tangible services

7. Community Partnership: Results? • Reached new and underserved constituencies -- marketing • Increased visibility and awareness of library as safe and welcoming space for immigrants and all community members – institutional advancement and positive public relations • Hands-on “learning” experience working with external vendors, contractors, and partners – staff/organizational capacity building • Leveraged library resources (staff, volunteers, material resources) – resource/fund development • Established or strengthened connections with a wide variety of community partners – social capital building

8. Fresno County Public Library California the Journey Michelle Gordon Supervising Librarian Michelle.Gordon@fresnolibrary.org

10. California the Journey – 4-part story telling program • Stories told through different formats: • Taste the World – Community Potluck • Tell Us Your Story – written stories • The Art of the Journey – art exhibit • Story Jam: Until You Walk a Mile – live story telling

11. California the Journey – Taste the World • Partners: • Reading & Beyond • Friends of the Library Board • California Center for the Book

12. The Food

16. The People

19. The Numbers • Food • 22 total dishes • Over a dozen different cultures • were on display. Attendance • 42 total attendees • 37 adults • 2 teens • 3 children Made 2 new library cards Had a handful of checkouts from our PopUp Library

20. The Response I learned more about my fellow community members: “Talking to those who made the different kinds of food was really interesting.” “Learn different cultures and backgrounds.” “Do more events like this.” “Such diversity of people.” “When’s the next one? This was great!” The Library is valuable to me/my community. “A safe place to do this kind of thing.” “It is community and opportunity for free education in any area.” “Knowledge and support.” “It is very important for our kids to learn.” “Learn about cultures and countries.” “More better resources.” “That’s the place where we get to know the past.” “Great source of knowledge and community” “So many people may not have the resources or abilities.”

21. www.californiathejourney.blogspot.com

23. California the Journey – The Art of the Journey • Partners: • The Friends of the Betty Rodriguez Library • The Fresno Art Council • Art professor from Fresno Pacific University • California Center for the Book • California Humanities

24. www.CaliforniatheJourney.blogspot.com

26. The Numbers Attendance 68 people came through on the night of the exhibit. Several more saw it throughout the month, too. • Art • 13 total pieces of art • Nearly a dozen different cultures • were on display.

27. The Response I learned more about my fellow community members: “The artwork gave me insight on the contributors’ lives. “Leaned about different cultures. “Everyone deserves to have their voices heard.” “Everyone is looking to fulfill their dreams.” “Learned about different cultures here by looking at their art that symbolizes their history.” The Library is valuable to me/my community. “It gives me a sense of safety.” “Invaluable resource, brings community together…” “love the community connection.” “gathering place, creativity outlet, learning…”

28. www.californiathejourney.blogspot.com

29. California the Journey – Story Jam: Until You Walk a Mile • Partners: • Bitwise Industries • Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC) • United Farm Workers Foundation • Education Leadership Foundation • California Center for the Book • California Humanities

30. The Story Tellers

32. The Numbers • Stories • 14 story tellers • Stories from all over the world (Laos, Turkey, Mexico…) • Stories about illegal crossings. • Stories about refugees escaping war or genocide. • Love stories. Family stories. Brave stories. DACA stories. Attendance 60 people attended the live Story Jam event. Over 50 surveys were returned. ~500 views of Facebook Livestream videos. To view the videos: http://californiathejourney.blogspot.com/p/california-journey-story-jam-until-you.html

33. The Response I learned more about my fellow community members: “I learned that when you look at people in the community you don’t know what they’ve been through.” “There are many people with similar struggles as mine.” “I learned more about the process and feelings of coming across the border.”“I didn’t know all the potential issues.” “Through all these stories, we know and understand each other better. The Library is valuable to me/my community. “The library is a valuable resource that I sometimes take for granted.” “It makes programs like this available.” “It’s a place that welcomes everyone.”

34. The most important thing – the big idea – you’re taking from this program? “The library is working to promote different cultures represented in the Valley.” “We might all have slightly different details about our past, but in the end we all have life experiences which unite us.” “Stories are important; they help connect us to each other.” “Power of stories…to inform, change thinking, soften hearts…” “Everyone is going through something – I am not alone.” Other comments about your experience at this program? “It gave me perspective of my privilege.” “I appreciate this more than words can say.” “Every time I share my story, I become less afraid!” “It was a moving experience.” “Wonderful project – hope it continues.”