For The Common Good:
What's Working in the World

The purpose of “What's Working in the World” is to honor model community projects to inspire others to take action for the common good. To implement “What’s Working in the World”, community leaders select outstanding projects of cooperation which have most effectively solved local challenges.

Both the local projects and the community benefit. The local projects receive the community’s acknowledgement and the honor that it brings. The community benefits as these successful projects become stronger and better able to serve the people in their area. These model projects also offer inspiration to other groups within the community to take on local challenges.

Step by Step Guide

  1. Identify an organization(s) and individual to be chairperson for the project.
  2. This person recruits a media chairperson to spread the word about the program through the media. Let the media know the:
    • purpose of the project
    • guidelines for entry
    • deadline for entry
  3. WWW chairperson recruits a selection committee to review the projects which apply.
    • As the entries come in, this committee reviews applications to be sure each project fulfills all the guidelines for entry.
    • They select the three most outstanding projects. As criteria for selection, consider which projects have most clearly and effectively demonstrated and exemplified the guidelines, in solving a neighborhood or community-wide challenge.
  4. WWW Chairperson recruits a ceremony chairperson to organize the event honoring the best projects.
    • Ceremony Chairperson selects a venue, plans out the ceremony, creates a written program describing the honored projects and invites guests.
    • If a public event, the easiest way to organize is to tie to an annual existing event.

Suggested Guidelines for Entry

  1. The project is initiated at the community or neighborhood level.
  2. It engenders public participation in meeting a community or neighborhood challenge.
  3. The project is successful with at least one year of continuous effort with evidence it is meeting its goals.
  4. Individuals participating in the project are gaining new and practical skills that are useful to themselves and the community.

The project is relevant to neighborhoods or communities facing similar challenges.

Please Note: These guidelines are a starting point, you may wish to enhance them according to the goals of your organization, group or community.

Application

The purpose of this application is to help the selection committee choose the three most outstanding community projects.

    1. Name of Project:____________________________________

    How many people are involved? ____________

    Contact Person: Name _________________________________

    Address_____________________________________________

    Phone_______________________________________

    E-mail_______________________________________

    2. Describe how your project started (history, duration).

    3. Project purpose

      a) What is the over-all purpose of the project?

      b) What are the short and long-term goals of the project?

      c) To what extent are you achieving these goals?

    4. What worked especially well in your project and why?

    5. What specific challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them?

    6. How did you gain the support of the community power structures?

    7. How do you fund your project or gain the needed resources?

    8. As a result of this project, what new practical skills have been learned? (Elaborate What skills? Who learned? How many people benefited?)

    9. How did you:

      a) Demonstrate community participation in your project?

      b) What organizations or individuals is your project working/cooperating with?

      c) What did you learn from this?

    10. Do you think a project like this could work in other communities? Why?

    11. Is there any additional information you would like to add?

Timeline

6 Months Before

  • “What’s Working in the World” Chairperson and committee established.
  • “What’s Working in the World” Chairperson works closely with Media Chairperson to spread the word through radio, newspapers, and television about "What's Working in the World" program.
  • Get information guidelines for entry, application forms, and final deadline for entry to as many projects and individuals as possible.

4 Months Before

  • The “What’s Working in the World” Chairperson identifies a selection committee to begin to review projects which apply.
  • Continue to get the word out about the program.
  • Selection committee continues to meet and review applications.

2 Months Before

  • The committee selects the three most outstanding projects in their community.
  • “What’s Working in the World” Chairperson notifies one representative from each of the three outstanding projects of their selection and the time and location of the ceremony.
  • Brief write up on each of the three projects is prepared for the event.
  • Media is informed of the selection of projects and media interviews set up.
  • Representatives from the three projects receive awards at the ceremony.

Much success to you! Please let us know your results so we can share them with others. You can e-mail them to us .

© 2004 Empowerment Institute


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