AACSA Board of Directors' Message

2006

AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCY

304 North Sixth Street San Jose, California 95112 (408) 292-3157

www.sjaacsa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2006

Contact:
Shawneequa Badger
African American Community Service Agency
(408) 292-3157
sjaacsa@yahoo.com

RESULTS OF AACSA 2006-2007 TUNING FORUM RELEASED
African American Community Service Agency Releases Forum Outcomes
That Define African Americans in the Silicon Valley

San Jose, CA - The African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) released the results of the 2006-2007 Tuning Forum. The purpose of the Forum was to get the community involved to help the Agency create better programs and services that will benefit the community.

The outcomes of the Tuning Forum were based on the response of the nearly 50 participants composed of community members representing various organizations, churches, and businesses.

During the Forum, Silicon Valley African Americans defined key strengths, needs and weaknesses that are affecting today's community. Participants were broken up into four groups to discuss:

What is the African American Community's Greatest Need?

What is the Community's greatest Strengths/Resource?

What is the Community's Greatest Weakness?

Pick one target area above and present a solution.

"The results from the Tuning Forum are the most reliable and accurate compilation of information regarding the African American community in the Silicon Valley", said Shawneequa Badger of AACSA's Board of Directors. "The feedback that we got from the participants of the Tuning Forum exceeded my expectation of what the outcomes were going to be."

"These findings show there are three key areas that were identified by the participants: 1) a leadership gap, 2) lack of communication, and 3) individual characteristics amongst members of the African American community", Shawneequa added. "It is also evident that the needs of the community have changed since the African American Community Service Agency was founded in 1978. In 1978, the Agency was established to provide social services and a common meeting place for African Americans in Santa Clara County. Now, our current needs are programs that address these areas and help us grow as a community."

The data shows that African Americans in the Silicon Valley had very similar views of their community. Out of the 121 responses captured from all four questions, these are the areas that summarized the outcomes of the forum:

10% of responses indicated community building as a key need.
12% of responses identified individual characteristics as a weakness in the community. Alternatively, 11% of the participants identified individual characteristics as a strength/resource in the community.
For target areas and solutions 9% noted communication as a means to improve community building and awareness.
Also, 5% identified the need to build stronger community development through effective leadership.

As a result of the Tuning Forum, the Board of Directors were able to define key objectives that are designed to change the impact the Agency has on the community.

Improve Agency Infrastructure
Raise an Additional $20,000 in Annual Operating Budget
Build Partnerships and Communication Network
Maintain Relationship with City

"We plan to share the findings of this input with community members and use what we've learned to encourage a sustained commitment to involvement at the Agency," explained Shawneequa. "Based on the considerable interest we've received from the participants in this Forum, we expect the Agency and fellow community members will use these results for years to come. In an environment such as the AACSA, relationship building and collaborations are the key to the success of our community. Participating in our Standing Committees will be the first step in creating a relationship with the community."

About the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA)
The African American Community Agency Service Agency is a non-profit organization located in San Jose, California providing a variety of programs for the community with focus on the African American community.

The needs of the African American Community are to be met by acting as an advocate for the community, promoting effective community relations, maximizing and focusing community resources and services and building a network that represents its voice on issues to the African American Community in the Silicon Valley.