The MACC Alliance of Connected Communities

WHO WE ARE 

We are a strategic partnership of community organizations that have joined together to leverage their collective resources and voice. Our unique alliance honors the individual identities and histories of its member agencies and forges innovative partnerships among members and with nonmember agencies, businesses and leaders. MACC members share the goals of serving individuals, families and various communities that are defining the future.

                 ANNOUNCEMENTS 

              Two New Affinity Groups to be Launched in Early 2013

                  We are excited to announce that following a survey of MACC members, we were able to indentify a strong interest in the   

                  formation of two new groups:  Social Media and Civic Engagement.  Once we have completed the planning stages,

                  information about upcoming meetings will be posted on our website and shared with our member organizations. 

              February Newsletter

                  Download a PDF copy of our February 2013 newsletter here.  Read recent past editions: (December 2012 newsletter here)                    (October 2012 edition can be found here.)

              MACC Data Team Wrap-Up

Bina Nikrin, a researcher from Hennepin County, has worked with the MACC Alliance since 2006 as a vital member of the MACC Data Team. Working with both the food shelf and youth evaluation teams, Bina has written a final report as her part of the project has come to an end.  A copy of the report can be downloaded here. 

The MACC Alliance, alongside UNCA and the Alliance for Children and Families, recently hosted a discussion centered around civic engagement.  Using the Civic Engagement Steering Committees document "Civic Engagement: The Next Chapter" as an instigator for the discussion.  Some of the key points that were voiced include:

• Organizations need to integrate human needs with advocacy and civic engagement.
• Civic engagement goes beyond election years, response to policy, and funders' goals.
• Short-term vs. long-term civic engagement planning: Short-term provides feedback.  However, shared, long-term planning is required for true engagement.
• Create an intentional, implicit culture in your organization that breeds and encourages civic engagement discussions.
• Citizen engagement and local leadership are vital for neighborhood revitalization efforts!
• The MACC Alliance will look to re-balance its efforts to include civic engagement and public policy efforts as core initiatives in the coming years. 

              Youth Evaluation Team

The Youth Evaluation Team has completed the second stage of the 6 Cs survey.  During the summer, the MACC Alliance contracted a summer data analyst intern, Scott Dallman, to assist in providing descriptive statistics and analyze the results from the pre- and post-surveys.  Afterward, the Youth Evaluation Team organizations will use the data to further inform one another about best practices in our youth programs to further improve program quality. 

We are excited that over 283 youth across six organizations participated in our pre-program surveys for the 2012-2013 academic school year!