February, 2003

MCNI Update

By Stephanie Jennings, Project Coordinator

Welcome to our first edition of Mid County Neighborhood Initiative News. This monthly e-letter seeks to provide up-to-date information about the initiative, including meetings, programs, funding, as well as opportunities for involvement. If you know of others that should be receiving this publication, please let me know.

By way of quick introduction, I began working with the Mid County Neighborhood Initiative (MCNI) on January 6, 2003. My background includes 13 plus years of private non profit and public sector work developing innovative programs, collaborations, and partnerships as well as skills in mediation, facilitation, and resource development. I bring a lot of energy to the initiative and a commitment to community-based problem solving. I look forward to working with all of you who have a vested interest in successful community building in the Mid County Region.

Currently, my office is at the Montgomery County Collaboration Council, 620 E. Diamond Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; phone: 240-777-4548; email: [obscured to avert SPAM]. In the next few weeks, The Mid County Regional Services Center has generously agreed to provide me office space, so I can be more accessible to the community. I will provide updated contact information as soon as it becomes available.

Program Updates

First, sincere thanks to each of you for the numerous hours that you spent identifying issues and needed resources for the Mid County area. This work culminated into Phase I of the strategic planning process for the Mid County Neighborhood Initiative, and has resulted in $200,000 of funding being secured for the region. These resources are the DIRECT result of your efforts. The communities to be served by each service are identified below. While these communities will receive priority, vacancies may be filled by residents of other communities.

This is an impressive array of services for the first phase of planning. Unfortunately, the state has shortened the length of the grant period to June 30, 2003. Summer programming can not be funded by this particular grant. However, the opportunity that exists is to bring additional programs to the Mid County area in this time period. If you would like to receive information on how to apply for funding for a program in the Mid County region, please contact Stephanie Jennings at [e-mail obscured to avert SPAM], and you will be added to our distribution list.

Success is the sum 
of small efforts, 
repeated day in 
and day out…

-- Robert Collier

Where Do We Go From Here?

Strategic planning is a long-term visioning process. It helps us take stock of where we have been, where we are currently, and where we hope to be in the future. It is a fluid, results-oriented process that guides community decision making. Phase I, and the important foundation you have built over the past year is only one piece of the strategic planning process. There is much work to be done. Many of the concerns you raised in your subcommittees have not been addressed. Many key stakeholders in this diverse community are not yet at the table. Your communities will continue to identify needs that will require careful, thoughtful planning and deliberation. While some areas require additional resources, often, information sharing, collaborative partnerships, and better coordination of existing services can achieve tremendous results. As coordinator of the MCNI, I am committed to working with all of you on coordinating the “Big Picture.” I look forward to being part of the vision for this area.

MCNI Calendar

Community Policing/Community Maintenance Subcommittee
February 20, 2003 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Park Police Substation,
12751 Layhill Rd.


Youth Community Mapping Orientation 
February 26, 2003, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Location TBD


Join the Community Mobilization Subcommittee, community members, 
local agencies, schools, youth and their families to learn about 
the Youth Community Mapping Initiative that will take place in our 
Mid County region March – June 2003.



MCNI Steering Committee
February 2003, date, time and location TBD. 

Committee chairs will be convened to discuss organizational structure and planning for the MCNI.