Mayor's Office of Strategic Partnerships
History
In the fall of 2009, Mayor John Dickert created the Mayor's Office of Strategic Partnerships through a Strengthening Communities Fund grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services. The "Racine Cares" Initiative created by MOSP Director Debbi Embry served as a catalyst to leverage the best of Racine's public and non-profit sectors to engage in innovative and collaborative work. The goal of the initiative was to advance the City of Racine's strategic priorities and improve the quality of life for residents of our community.
Objectives/Activities
The MOSP forges public-private partnerships, connecting non-profit and city agencies to reach more people and make the city more competitive in accessing federal funds.
One of the key objectives is to provide opportunities for non-profits and city departments to work together. The office strives to move organizations away from the mindset that resources are finite.
The MOSP contracted with Grantstation – a grant information source that would increase organizations' awareness of federal, state and local grants.
The MOSP held a series of grant writing workshops open to all faith based and community organizations.
MOSP has built four collaboratives of like minded agencies to increase their impact in the following key areas: Out of School Time, Small Business Development, Financial Fitness, and Affordable Housing.
Since the office's inception, MOSP Director Debbi Embry has overseen these initiatives, constantly adapting and improving them based on new ideas and best practices from similar offices across the country.
Accomplishments
Provided information, connections and resources to over 300 non-profits, city government agencies and faith based organizations.
Provided over 300 hours of one on one capacity building around grant writing, grant competition, strategic planning, program collaboration and evaluation to over 100 non-profits and faith based organizations.
Held a Public Private Partnership Conference linking local non-profits with government agencies to discuss opportunities and challenges for collaboration.
Established four new issues based initiatives/collaboratives:
The Financial Fitness Coalition has:
- Established financial education workshops prior to tax preparation increasing tax payers' knowledge base;
- Increased banking partners involved in public education;
- Increased VITA services from 35 served in 2010 to over 150 served in 2011;
- Increased volunteer involvement in VITA trainings
The Small Business Enterprise Initiative has:
- Created a vision and mission for small business development in Racine;
- Initiated an in depth study of small business opportunities for Racine;
- Is in the process of creating a one stop shop for small business/entrepreneurial development services;
- Sponsored three related initiatives:
- Minority Contractor's Certification Symposium: Increase the number of minority businesses getting certified. Partners: CEDCO and WWBIC
- Advanced Capacity Building Minority Contractor's Training Program: Increase the number of minority contractors bidding and successfully winning city/county/state construction contracts. Partners: CEDCO and WWBIC
- Green Racine: Outreach and technical assistance to help small businesses become sustainable and also to participate on an on-line marketplace.
The Faith Builds Community Initiative has:
- Created a coalition of churches who will form a CHDO to create housing rehab and new construction in their neighborhoods;
- Built capacity in several faith organizations;
- Surveyed their respective neighborhoods for future program/referral services
The Out of School Time System Initiative has:
- Hired the Collaborative for Building After School Systems (CBASS) to recommend action steps for a system in Racine;
- Held a day-long conference at Wingspread for youth services agencies and organizations;
- Created a Steering Committee and Chaired work groups to start building the system based on the recommendations;