Burnsville Community Conversation Forum Results
THEME 1: Develop community capacity to promote and encourage literacy.

What would a family environment look like that supports young learners to become strong members of the community?

• Financial Stability
• Good Jobs
• Vitality
• At least one parent home in the evening – people are more mobile – extended families are not nearby.
• Support families.
• What family environment supports learning readiness?  Two parent families and educated parents (especially mother).
• Pre-school learning will not be successful if adults are not engaged and supported.
• How can we power disadvantaged parents?  Need people resources.

What would it take to achieve this in our community?

• Build on “neighborhood watch” neighborhoods – brings people out to talk – do this city wide.
• Educate parents – provide basic materials to parents (reading materials).
• Provide information to first time parents prior to the birth of children.
• We need to teach basic ideas to parents.
• Offer sessions for parents at day cares, churches, schools, etc.
• Other resources already in place.
• Existing school district programs should be de-centralized.
• Have materials/tapes in doctor’s offices so mothers are reinforced.
• Should be an initiative to reduce mobility for job reasons.
• Establish education programs in developments (buildings) where immigrant families congregate.
• Distribute food to needy families on week-ends.  Schools send in backpacks.
• Are there city or county leaders who know and understand immigrant groups?  Use 360 Communities and county resources to access leaders.
• More focus on risk factors early on:  Hope For Tomorrow, partnership with doctors, nurses, dentists, food shelf, churches.
• THEME – Knowledge, awareness, conversation about what is going on in homes before children come to school (grocery stores, as stations, where families go)
• Model of Rosemount Family Resource Center.
• Role of Public Library – invite library of Dakota County to become involved.
• Partnerships with police departments.
• Move from reactive approach to proactive passion for community with healthy families.
• Strengthen the adult English as a second language.
• Welcome Center opening Spring 2010 in Senior Campus Building.
• Racism – Socio Economic and Racial Prejudice are an issue within Burnsville.
• Potential Kids N Kinship program for children and adults.
• Providing mentors/volunteers to educate parents to assist and read and help educate their children.
• Need improvements within our pre-school and day care environments for structure and learning.
• Need to integrate the good reputation of the school district.
• Learn from how Bloomington worked thru the “older schools” scenarios.
• Need to have more information available on stability and mental health resources.
• Need to have Fairview Health involved.