Perspectives Bi-Monthly Publication of the Urban Development Program Issue 2 Volume 4 2011 is certainly in full swing, despite the wintry weather, as is your Urban Development programming area here at Texas AgriLife Extension in Tarrant County. We certainly have some exciting news about how healthy lifestyles are increasing as we engage the communities in Tarrant County. During the Spring 2011 semester, six FWISD schools were chosen, through a partnership with Extension, to engage in an exercise that brings various stakeholders in their surrounding community to plan, develop, and implement fitness trails on their campuses with the help and guidance of Student Design Teams from the Texas A&M University Department of Rec- reation and Tourism Sciences. Six more FWISD campuses, along with pilot sites in Everman and Crowley ISD’s, will also be implementing Walking School Bus programs with the guidance and support of your Extension UD program area, to engage their students and their families in community wide physical activity! More details and updates in future issues! 1 Many of you may have noticed that our friendly blog has been down and out of service for some time. However, good news is on the horizon! The blog will not only be available and filled with resources during the last week of February and beyond, but it will have a new online location and look for you all to enjoy! Please stay tuned via e- mail for your blog update on February 25, 2011 and don’t forget to add your e-mail to the recipient list by contacting your Urban Develop- ment department at [email protected]to- day! Happy blogging!!! “Access Tarrant’s Urban Scene” Blog Fitness Trails and Walking School Buses UD-Blog Update & Information Growing Your Business in Uncertain Times The PAC Corner How can Social Media Benefit My Business US Unemployment by Education Levels Career Seeker Toolbox Web Sites of Interest A Note from your CEA this issue Fitness Trails and Walking School Buses!!!
Transcript
Perspectives Bi-Monthly Publication of the Urban Development Program
Issue 2 Volume 4
2011 is certainly in full swing, despite the wintry weather, as is your
Urban Development programming area here at Texas AgriLife Extension in
Tarrant County. We certainly have some exciting news about how healthy
lifestyles are increasing as we engage the communities in Tarrant County.
During the Spring 2011 semester, six FWISD schools were chosen,
through a partnership with Extension, to engage in an exercise that brings
various stakeholders in their surrounding community to plan, develop, and
implement fitness trails on their campuses with the help and guidance of
Student Design Teams from the Texas A&M University Department of Rec-
reation and Tourism Sciences. Six more FWISD campuses, along with pilot
sites in Everman and Crowley ISD’s, will also be implementing Walking
School Bus programs with the guidance and support of your Extension UD
program area, to engage their students and their families in community
wide physical activity! More details and updates in future issues!
1
Many of you may have noticed that our friendly blog has been down and out of service for some time. However, good news is on the horizon!
The blog will not only be available and filled with resources during the last week of February and beyond, but it will have a new online location and look for you all to enjoy!
Please stay tuned via e-mail for your blog update on February 25, 2011 and don’t forget to add your e-mail to the re c i p i e nt l i s t by contacting your Urban Develop-m e n t d e p a r t m e n t a t [email protected] to-day!
Happy blogging!!!
“Access Tarrant’s Urban Scene” Blog
Fitness Trails and Walking School Buses UD-Blog Update & Information
Growing Your Business in Uncertain Times The PAC Corner
How can Social Media Benefit My Business US Unemployment by Education Levels
Career Seeker Toolbox Web Sites of Interest
A Note from your CEA
this issue
Fitness Trails and Walking School Buses!!!
Pac Corner
Next PAC Meeting
Monday, April 11, 2011 11:30 – 1:00 PM
Southwest Sub Courthouse 6551 Granbury Road Fort Worth, TX 76133
Member Cathy Young
hosts with chili!
Topics of Discussion: Fee Based Programming in 2011
Walking School Bus 2011 C-LEC Conference Planning
2011 Programming Areas and Ideas Member Roles
Future Meetings
Special Thanks!
To the following volunteers for giving over 60 hours of their time in service to the communities of Tarrant County in the name of
Extension:
Eva Bonilla
David Cudmore
Carley Moore
LaToya Flanigan
Joel McElhany
Jamie Rae Walker
Your time, commitment, profes-sionalism, and dedication to ser-vice are unparalleled and much
appreciated! Thank you for all that you do!
Growing a Business during
these Uncertain Times!
2
Educational Opportunity!!!!
During these uncertain economic
times and unexpected waves of unusual
weather, local businesses are struggling, but
planning for the growth of their business as
they prepare to meet the challenges of the
current reality head on!
Your Urban Development Program
Area wants to help! In meeting your current
needs and addressing your current interests
in educational programming, we are seeking
your input regarding interest and likelihood
of participation in a programming opportu-
nity that would help you in your entrepre-
neurial and overall business strategic needs.
As such, we are offering the follow-
ing educational opportunity during the Spring
of 2011. Our target audience includes own-
ers and managers or representatives facing
growth challenges.
“Growing my Business during
these Uncertain Times”
At the conclusion of this work-
shop, participants will be able to identify
challenges to business growth, develop
business plans to include growth strate-
gies, develop strategies for capitalizing
growth, prepare and analyze cash flows
and other financial statements, and de-
velop contingency plans and harvest/exit
strategies.
Participants will use actual busi-
ness situations as well as their own busi-
nesses to develop their skills and confi-
dence to better prepare them to manage
change and growth in their personal busi-
ness ventures.
To express interest, please contact Sonia Benavides, UD Admin Asst, at 817-884-1946 or [email protected] today!
Fitness Trails and Walking School Buses Six FWISD schools will be partnering with Texas AgriLife Extension Service – Tarrant County to involve their communities in collaborations for the
installation and use of a fitness trail at their individual sites. The sites involved
are:
Burton Hill Elementary School
DeZavala Elementary School
East Handley Elementary School
Luella Merrett Elementary School
Mary Louise Phillips Elementary School
Oakhurst Elementary School
If one of these schools is within your immediate community, feel free to be-
come involved and contact them directly to learn how you can support and help during
the process.
After last year’s successful implementation of the Walking School Bus pilot program at South Hi Mount Elementary School, five more FWISD schools
have asked to partner with Texas AgriLife Extension Service – Tarrant County in
duplicating the program at their respective sites. We welcome the opportunity to
work with East Handley ES, Hubbard Heights ES, Washington Heights ES, Mary Louise Phillips ES, and Harlean Beal ES. Let’s welcome them to the Walking
School Bus family. In addition, two more pilot programs (in Everman and Crow-
ley ISDs) will be implemented this spring. To learn how you can also help these sites in the implementation of their programs, please feel free to contact them or
our Texas AgriLife Extension Service Tarrant County Office.
Statistical FYI – Unemployment in the United States According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a great difference
in unemployment rates as of January 2011 according to educational attain-ment. The statistics show the following:
Educational Attainment Unemployment Rate No HS Diploma/GED 14.2 % HS Diploma/GED/No College 9.4% Some College or Associate’s Degree 8.0% Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 4.0%
As you can see, educational attainment plays an integral role in the likelihood of success in securing and maintaining gainful employment. How-ever, many of us need some assistance in the various tools needed to be “Job Ready”. Therefore, your Urban Development Program Area is happy to offer the “Career Seeker Toolbox” series of job readiness trainings to help you on your way.
To learn more about this educational program, express interest in at-tending or referring clientele, or would like to host a series at your location for your clients, please contact Sonia Benavides, UD Admin Asst, at 817-884-1946 or [email protected] today!
Educational Opportunity!!!
How can Social Media
truly Benefit My
Business?
Have you asked yourself this question a million times as you seek to not be “left behind” in the technology driven pre-sent? You are not alone!
Like you, many profes-sionals also wonder the same thing, but seek an opportunity to learn more and experience the various facets of social me-dia in a non-threatening and relaxed atmosphere.
As always, your Urban Development Program Area wants to help in meeting this often communicated need.
If you are seeking to learn more about how social media can be effectively integrated into your overall business plan (marketing, ser-vice delivery, talent recruit-ment, etc.), contact Sonia Benavides, UD Admin Asst, at 8 1 7 - 8 8 4 - 1 9 4 6 o r [email protected] to express interest in the following educational program:
“Social Media and My Business”
Topics covered will be tailored to your interests and needs.
Urban Development Program Area 200 Taylor Street, Suite 500
Fort Worth, TX 76196
Mail: P.O. Box 1540 Fort Worth, TX 76101-1540
Ph: 817 . 884 . 1946
Fax: 817 . 884 . 1941
A Note
from your
Agent
I hope everyone has
survived the many surprises
that the beginning of 2011
has provided; from a Super
Week filled with sub zero
wind chills to multiple
days of school and business
closures coupled with a
Packer Super Bowl win…
2011 is certainly greeting
us with attitude!
This issue of Perspec-
tives is filled with informa-
tion on learning opportu-
nities for you, your busi-
nesses and agencies, and
your clientele! I welcome
all of you to take advan-
tage of these wonderful op-
portunities!
My contact information
appears below.
Web Sites of Interest
http://agrilife.org/accesstarrant
Access the friendly and informational blog updated weekly by your Urban Development
County Extension Agent. Find up to date information on events, resources, networking op-
portunities, workforce opportunities, and more.
http://tarrant.tamu.edu
Access your Tarrant County Extension web site and learn about all of our available program
areas – Urban Development, Home and Commercial Horticulture, Agriculture & Natural Re-
sources, 4H & Youth Development, Family & Consumer Sciences, Health & Nutrition.
http://communityeconomics.tamu.edu
Educational information regarding our local agricultural economy brought to you through
the Department of Agricultural Economics of the Texas A&M University System.
http://buildingconnections.tamu.edu
Find downloadable material related to the Building Connections educational program as well
as supplementary aids and resources.
To join our mailing list, receive more informa-tion, make an appointment to meet with your
CEA, request an event to be placed on our community calendar, or express interest in our
programs, contact:
Sonia Benavides
Admin. Asst. – Urban Development
817-884-1946
4 Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability religion, age, or national origin.
The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
