About

In 2008, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast and other partners held a Community Conversation entitled, "Our Community and Our Children - What We Want From Afterschool Programs & Activities in Biloxi." At this event, about 100 Biloxi residents, including parents, young people/students, school teachers and administrators, community leaders and others met to talk about what kinds of after school programs and opportunities they thought were most important for young people.

One of the suggestions that came out of the Community Conversation was that Biloxi residents should have the chance to go through an “Asset Mapping” process in order to take stock of what kinds of things are already in place to serve youth. Asset mapping is a way for identify and map all the positive, helpful and important individuals, organizations and institutions throughout the community. This is a different, more positive approach because instead of looking at all the needs and problems in a community, it allows people to recognize and celebrate all the assets that are already in existence. The goal is that by identifying all of Biloxi’s youth development assets, we can find ways of bringing people and organizations together in new or stronger ways to benefit all young people.

On Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 Public Agenda conducted two-hour "Asset Mapping" workshops with youth and civic leaders to begin collecting the resources and assets available to Biloxi youth. At the workshop, participants identified, categorized, and mapped existing activities, programs and other resources for youth.
These assets are already listed on this web site and now we are asking you to add anything that has been overlooked so far. During a two-week period from July 1st -22nd, you are invited to contribute your ideas to this web site, as well as to update and comment on the assets you see listed here.

A second meeting is planned for July 24 with representatives from each of the identified assets, local officials, and anyone else who would like to attend to discuss opportunities to collaborate and coordinate efforts to strengthen youth development programs and activities in Biloxi.

We need your participation to help take action on the recommendations from the Community Conversation - and if you haven't had a chance to participate in one of the workshops, we hope you will be able to participate online over the course of the next weeks.

If you have any questions about the workshop or would like to attend the follow up meeting on July 24, please contact Gwen Wright, at Public Agenda, gwright@publicagenda.org.

For questions about the web site and online participation, please contact Chris Haller at Public Agenda, challer@publicagenda.org.