{"title":"Intergenerational National Service by, With, and for All Ages","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.6","url":null,"abstract":"Deep divisions existed in the United States well before 2020, but the risk they pose to American democracy brings new urgency to bridging them. We have entered a period that President Biden has called an “uncivil war.” In addition, our country’s current economic and social challenges, which also began well before this past year, have been inflamed by a pandemic that has already taken more lives than the two World Wars and the Vietnam War combined, and infected tens of millions more. Americans have witnessed the largest increase in poverty in six decades. School shutdowns are causing learning losses that could hobble an entire generation. Social isolation has exacerbated loneliness—most seriously affecting the mental health of younger and older adults.","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114663907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Income Predicts Federal Poverty Guideline, but Food Security Is the Mediator","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.3","url":null,"abstract":"The research discussed in this article sought to study the Reaching Independence through Support and Education (RISE) pilot program and stability factors of low socioeconomic groups. Self-sufficiency programs like RISE focus on households moving from crisis to empowerment, no longer relying on subsidies; however, gaining employment and securing housing alone do not create socioeconomic stability. It was therefore determined that the RISE program should be evaluated to determine its effectiveness at ending dependency. Thirty-four individuals, representing 30.6% of RISE participants, were included in this evaluation study, which used logistic regression techniques to explore 16 items on the RISE Self-Sufficiency Assessment (RSSA). The study results showed that RISE participants derived significant economic benefits from the program and indicated that food security was the greatest mediator of increases in the federal poverty guideline (FPG). The slope of the overall RSSA revealed that for every one increase in the total RSSA score, there were 24.01 increases in %FPG. Participants who had increased food security saw significant increases in %FPG of 25.25. These findings suggest that participants’ perceptions of improved food security is the best mediator of increased federal poverty guidelines.","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128538700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Introductory Essay: eJournal of Public Affairs, Volume 10, Issue 2","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.2","url":null,"abstract":"This special issue of the eJournal of Public Affairs demonstrates why we should care about “community ownership,” or an internalized feeling of responsibility for the success of one’s community and those living in it. Community “owners” accept responsibility for learning about and improving their community. They talk and listen differently about their community, they see problems, and they want to be part of the solution. Community ownership works to prompt an entire community—not just nonprofit agents—to engage with common purpose.","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130718895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coming Together While Standing Apart: Encouraging Community Ownership During the Isolating Days of the Pandemic","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.11","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.11","url":null,"abstract":"Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future feels difficult and uncertain, and few of us have much control over it, beyond doing our best to keep ourselves informed and those around us safe. The result is a lot of unhappy people. Gallup survey data have shown that pessimism about the future of the pandemic in the United States is rising and is infecting the general outlook of most Americans. This article describes how one local government and health department communicated successfully during the pandemic—and even increased community engagement—by encouraging a sense of community ownership.","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128013083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Engaging the Community in Strategic Visioning","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.12","url":null,"abstract":"Local government leaders seek to engage residents and stakeholders as they plan for the future. However, these leaders often struggle to find ways to elicit positive and helpful information from community members. Oftentimes, they fear that open meetings will become a venue for negative-minded people to voice their unhappy feelings. This article describes a way to engage the community in helping to develop a strategic vision for the future which guards against this kind of negativity. This approach opens the ways for stakeholders to have civil discussions about strategic decisions that a municipality faces. While allowing for large numbers of people to offer input, the process provides a governing body with “ingredients” they can use in crafting a shared vision.","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"31 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131940223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"We Invest in What We Care About","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"28 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126362382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Give 5 Gives Back: Assessment of a New Civic Matchmaking Program for Older Adults","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.4","url":null,"abstract":"The study discussed in this research note assessed participants’ responses to the Give 5 program, a civic matchmaking program in which volunteers learn about and are encouraged to volunteer at local nonprofits. Study participants were also asked general questions about successful aging. Of the 83 respondents, who were overwhelmingly positive about the program, 95% had recommended it to others, 81% were volunteering 4 hours per week on average, and 57% had given money to one or more agencies. Respondents indicated that the most important characteristics of successful aging were having a purpose, positive interactions with others, good health, opportunities for personal growth, and self-acceptance, as well as staying active. Participants reported that they were aging successfully and perceived a clear link between successful aging and volunteerism. The survey results strongly supported continuing the program, which benefits not only the participants, but also the larger community.","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126813347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"For the Love of Cities—2020 and Beyond","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.10","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"51 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121574384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Importance of Missouri State University to Springfield","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131747883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Community-Based Participatory Research in Springfield, Missouri: Lessons Learned","authors":"","doi":"10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21768/ejopa.v10i2.5","url":null,"abstract":"Discussions around community-based partnership and advocacy have focused on how individuals within universities (whether professors or administrators) can work alongside the community and sectors of government and industry to promote community-based solutions to social problems. Community-based participatory strategies center on the collaboration of multiple community members, entities, and organizations working toward solutions to social problems which consider the specific location, language, and culture of a region and the needs and challenges that individuals in these areas may face, with the purpose of making the solutions actionable and attainable.[1] Missouri State University—with its public affairs mission (discussed in further detail below) and the orientation of many of its colleges and departments around that mission—has consistently valued and promoted community-based participatory research (CBPR) as a means of contributing to these efforts. CBPR utilizes methods that allow researchers to build trust with community members, encourage community participation at all stages of the research, foster cross-sector collaboration, and empower communities to create and implement measures for addressing shared challenges. CBPR also allows universities to share resources, including the research and professional expertise of staff and faculty, to support community projects that improve the quality of life of area residents.[2]","PeriodicalId":434223,"journal":{"name":"eJournal of Public Affairs","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125820977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}