CODES Capstone Website
The audience for our CODES Capstone Project is for anyone who is looking to build upon what we did or to use CODES as inspiration to implement their own program similar to it.
How:
The capstone will be distributed to LifeWise STL, Alton Connections Page, the Edwardsville Connections Page, and SIUC. The capstone will be sent via email with a brief description of what the project is and our purpose for sending it, as stated previously.
Why:
We chose LifeWise STL because it is a non-profit organization that has lots of different resources for helping the community. We wanted to branch out and reach beyond just Alton so we decided that this would be an amazing organization to send our work to. We chose the Alton Connections Page because locals from the community can be able to see the work we did in their community. The Edwardsville Connections Page was chosen so that people in our community can see the work we as students did in the Alton community. Lastly, SIUC was chosen because they could potentially take what we did and try to integrate their own CODES program for their school.
Potential Impact:
Distributing the CODES Capstone Project to LifeWise STL, the Alton and Edwardsville Connections Pages, and SIUC will have a significant impact on both local and broader communities. LifeWise STL can integrate aspects of the project into its existing programs, expanding its reach and resources. Sharing it with the Alton Connections Page raises local awareness, empowers residents to take action, and strengthens community identity. The Edwardsville Connections Page fosters cross-community collaboration and showcases student contributions, inspiring further local initiatives. Sending it to SIUC encourages the adoption of similar programs at the university, creating potential for expansion and collaboration with local organizations. Overall, this distribution promotes innovation, community engagement, and the growth of impactful programs.
Building Confidence in Youth
The primary audience for the “Building Confidence in Youth” presentation includes youth instructors, teachers, counselors, and mentors affiliated with a St.Louis Youth based youth organization funded by St.Louis County, called Youth on the Rise, as well as community stakeholders invested in positive youth development. This audience consists of individuals working directly with teenagers aged 12-19 and older youth ages 17-23 receiving onsite services.
How: A PDF summary of the presentation and a link allowing viewer’s access will be distributed via Youth on the Rise’s email list and shared to them via their social media platforms direct messaging portal which will include Facebook and Instagram.
Why: Email ensures the material reaches all current staff, while social media extends the reach to volunteers, instructors, and interested community members who may be directly running their socials.
Potential Impact: Metrics such as email open rates, link clicks, and social media engagement such as “seen” within messages will be analyzed to determine the reach and interest generated by the materials.
Upon implementing this dissemination plan, we will evaluate its effectiveness by tracking the number of participants reached in workshops and gathering qualitative feedback from instructors and community members. Early indications suggest strong interest from instructors in applying the strategies outlined in the presentation, as several have already incorporated goal-setting activities and peer-based confidence exercises into their sessions with youth.
Crime Map
How:
The crime map will be distributed through the Alton Community Facebook Page, an online platform where Alton residents discuss local events and issues. A detailed post will be created, including the map and an explanation of its purpose, encouraging viewers to use it as a tool for understanding crime patterns and enhancing safety in their neighborhoods.
Why:
The Alton Community Facebook Page is widely used by residents, making it the most effective way to reach a large and engaged local audience. This method allows for interactive features such as comments, likes, and shares, fostering dialogue and promoting further dissemination among community members. The platform’s accessibility and user-friendliness ensure that the map can be easily shared and understood by a diverse audience.
Potential Impact:
The crime map has the potential to foster greater awareness of crime trends within the Alton community, empowering residents to make informed decisions about their safety. By identifying high-crime areas, the map can serve as a resource for neighborhood watch groups and encourage collaboration among residents to address local concerns.
Digital Storytelling Guide
How:
The digital storytelling guide will be shared through targeted posts in Facebook groups for Alton, St. Louis (STL), and Edwardsville. These groups include community forums and creative spaces where residents, educators, and storytellers discuss local issues, art, and community-building initiatives. Posts will include a brief description of the guide’s purpose, a preview of its contents, and a link to access it for free.
Why:
Facebook groups for Alton, STL, and Edwardsville represent a diverse audience of individuals who are likely to find value in a resource focused on digital storytelling. These groups allow for direct engagement with local creatives, educators, and community leaders, fostering an organic reach through likes, shares, and discussions. By distributing the guide in these groups, it connects directly with those who can implement storytelling techniques in their work or share them within their own networks.
Potential Impact:
The guide has the potential to inspire creative projects and foster community connections across Alton, STL, and Edwardsville. Educators may use the guide to teach storytelling in classrooms, while local organizations can apply it to amplify voices in community campaigns. By reaching a network of engaged individuals in these areas, the guide can contribute to the development of compelling narratives that strengthen communal bonds and highlight important local stories. Additionally, feedback and engagement within these Facebook groups could shape future iterations or applications of the guide.
Finding Your Place
How:
The presentation will be delivered to high school leaders at The Crossings Church, specifically targeting Olamide and Emily Animashaun, as well as RJ and Ashlee Catizon. These leaders will be sent the presentation with instructions of how this could be used and beneficial for a high school retreat or youth group meeting.
Why:
Targeting these high school leaders ensures that the presentation reaches youth directly and comes from people who have already had positive influences on them. These leaders can serve as catalysts, spreading the message about healthy community characteristics through their own discussions and activities. They could use it during high school retreats or during youth group meetings.
Potential Impact:
The presentation has the potential to inspire both the high school leaders and the youth to think critically about the role of community in their lives and to share these insights with their peers. By equipping them with practical tools and ideas, the presentation could spark initiatives within their groups to foster healthier, more inclusive communities. Over time, this ripple effect could strengthen connections among the youth at The Crossings Church and beyond, encouraging them to actively seek and build supportive environments around them.
Roots of Purpose
How:
The narrative will be submitted to The Crossings Church for publication as a post on their webpage. This submission will include a brief introduction explaining how the piece aligns with the church’s mission to build a supportive and purpose-driven community. The church’s online platform will allow for easy access and sharing among its members and broader audience.
Why:
The Crossings Church webpage is an ideal platform because it is frequently visited by members of the congregation and others seeking faith-based inspiration. By posting the narrative here, it reaches a targeted audience already invested in exploring how community and faith intersect. The church’s online presence also enables the narrative to reach beyond the local congregation, inspiring individuals in other areas through its message.
Potential Impact:
The narrative has the potential to resonate deeply with readers, encouraging them to reflect on the importance of their own communities in fostering a sense of purpose. It could spark discussions within the congregation, be referenced in sermons or group studies, and even motivate readers to take action in building or strengthening their communities. If shared on social media or through church newsletters, the narrative could reach an even broader audience, amplifying its impact.
Successful Afterschool Programs
How:
The information on successful afterschool programs will be shared through partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and parent-teacher associations (PTAs). It will be presented in the form of printed brochures, emailed summaries, and a digital presentation shared on platforms like Google Slides. Additionally, social media posts targeting local parent groups and community pages will be used to disseminate the content widely.
Why:
Reaching out through schools and PTAs ensures the information is delivered directly to parents, educators, and stakeholders who are most invested in afterschool programs. Using social media expands the reach, making the content accessible to a broader audience, including families exploring educational resources for their children. This multi-channel approach ensures accessibility and encourages engagement from different parts of the community.
Potential Impact:
Sharing this information has the potential to increase awareness about the benefits of afterschool programs and inspire parents and community leaders to advocate for or establish similar initiatives. By highlighting success stories and practical strategies, the content could motivate schools and organizations to adopt evidence-based practices that improve academic, social, and emotional outcomes for students. Over time, this could lead to stronger community support for afterschool programming and improved opportunities for youth development.
Student Engagement Paper
How:
The paper will be shared with educators and school administrators via email and professional networks, including local school districts and teacher groups. Additionally, it will be posted on educational forums, such as Edutopia or LinkedIn, and shared as a downloadable resource on relevant social media groups focused on teaching strategies and student engagement.
Why:
Targeting educators and administrators ensures that the insights from the paper reach those directly responsible for designing and implementing classroom strategies. Sharing through professional networks and forums maximizes the paper’s visibility among individuals actively seeking research-based methods to improve student engagement. Social media platforms further amplify reach, allowing for discussions and peer recommendations that could spread the paper to a wider audience.
Potential Impact:
The paper has the potential to influence teaching practices by providing actionable strategies that educators can adopt to foster engagement in their classrooms. If widely disseminated, it could spark professional development initiatives, encourage collaboration among teachers, and contribute to a broader conversation about innovative approaches to education. Over time, the implementation of these strategies could lead to improved student outcomes, including higher participation, better academic performance, and stronger connections between students and their learning environments.
Connections in Afterschool Programs Presentation
How:
The presentation will be shared digitally through the Alton Connections and Edwardsville Connections Facebook pages. A post will include a brief summary of the presentation’s key points, a link to view the full slide deck or video, and a call to action encouraging community members to discuss or share the content.
Why:
These Facebook pages serve as central hubs for community members in Alton and Edwardsville, making them ideal platforms to reach a wide and engaged audience. Sharing on these pages ensures the presentation reaches parents, educators, and local leaders interested in youth development and afterschool programs. The interactive nature of these pages also allows for feedback and community-driven discussions, further amplifying the presentation’s reach and impact.
Potential Impact:
The presentation could inspire community members to advocate for stronger connections within afterschool programs or take action by volunteering, donating, or supporting existing initiatives. As a result, after school programs in these areas may gain more resources and attention, ultimately improving their ability to foster meaningful relationships among participants. Additionally, increased awareness could lead to collaboration between schools, parents, and local organizations, creating a more cohesive support network for youth.