WEBVTT 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:58.000 (Live captioner standing by) 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:28.000 Strategies For Rural Outreach and Networking 00:02:31.000 --> 00:03:01.000 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.000 >> Good Thursday afternoon, everyone 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:04.000 . It is right at 2:00 central time. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.000 My name is Don 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.000 Dew. I am monitoring this session. I just need to go 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:20.000 over a couple of housekeeping tips that I'm sure you haven't heard 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:24.000 before. I want to make sure that since 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:29.000 this is a very interactive session 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:34.000 , since this is a very interactive session, that you know how to chat and 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:38.000 say hello. There's been a lot of people already 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:44.000 . Depending on what device you have 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:48.000 , scroll to the menu. It will either been on the top or bottom 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:54.000 . You can find the menu bar, and you can find where it says 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:59.000 chat. Say hello and join in throughout 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:01.000 the session. It will be very interactive, like I said. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:06.000 There's also closed captioning and 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:10.000 CART on that same menu bar. There's a button 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:16.000 that says CC. It says 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:20.000 closed captioning underneath. We have ASL sign language 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:24.000 . The interpreter will be one of the panelist 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:30.000 s. If you can't see them, have yourself in gallery 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:35.000 view, and you can adjust the size of the PowerPoint presentation 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:38.000 . Then you will be able to have them right side by side 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:41.000 with you so it makes it a lot easier for yourself 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:46.000 . Questions, we would like to have 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:49.000 you put them in the Q-and-A box. It makes them easier for me to read to 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:53.000 the presenters. Then, if you want to add to the 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:58.000 conversation by phone or microphone, you can raise your hand by selecting 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.000 the hand raise option. If you're using a phone, you can 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:04.000 press star nine on the 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:09.000 phone. I want to go ahead and welcome you 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:13.000 to this session. It's Strategies For Rural Outreach and Networking 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:19.000 . 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:25.000 I'm going to have the presenters introduce themselves. Thank you again 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:30.000 . >> LILLIE GREIMAN: Thank you 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.000 , Don. Thank you, everyone where, for 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:40.000 joining us. As Don said, this session is called Strategies For Rural 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.000 Outreach and Networking. I think we'll start off with some introductions of 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.000 who all is going to be presenting with you today 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:53.000 . I will do my best to speak slowly, 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:58.000 and we will also do our best to try to turn our cameras 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:03.000 off when we're not speaking so folks can see the interpreter. If we 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:07.000 don't, someone just holler in the chat or Mary 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:12.000 will, I think, reign 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:16.000 , rein us in. Rayna, can we 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:20.000 both have our cameras on? I don't know how many we can have on. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:26.000 I will go first. Hi, my name is Lillie Greiman. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:30.000 This is such a bizarre way to do a presentation. We were 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:34.000 talking about it earlier. I know there are other 100 people watching 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:39.000 right now, but I can't see any of you, and it's interesting 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:43.000 . Again, my name is Lillie Greiman. 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:48.000 I'm a Project Director at the Research and Training Center 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.000 on disabilities in rural communities. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.000 I use she/her proannounced. I'm a white woman 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:01.000 with dark hair. I'm wearing earrings that 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:05.000 have the continents etched into them, and I'm at my home 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:09.000 in my home office in miss 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:14.000 in Mizzou 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:18.000 la, Montana. I'm excited to be here. I will 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:24.000 turn it over to Rayna 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:32.000 . 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.000 >> RAYNA SAGE: I'm Rayna Sage. I'm 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.000 I'm also happy to be here in this bizarre situation, but I'm really 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:45.000 enjoying the conference a lot more than I thought I would. So I'm 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:49.000 So I'm really happy. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:53.000 I'm also with RTC:Rural 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:57.000 with Lillie. I'm in my home office in immunity 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:07.000 in Montana. I'm a socioole 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:11.000 I'm a sociologist. I'm also a white woman. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:15.000 I'm wearing my RBG earrings 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:20.000 and a yellow jacket. In the back of the my office is 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.000 a rainbow tree, and I'm drinking tea out of my Mr. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:34.000 Rogers mug 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:37.000 . Celeste 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:42.000 . 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:46.000 Ashlei, do you want to go next? >> ASHLEI SHAW: Hello, 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:50.000 everyone. I am Ashlei Shaw. I'm the program 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:54.000 manager for disAbility Resource Center out of Wilmington 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:59.000 , North Carolina. I live in a very rural community, 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:04.000 in a city called Taber (phonetic) city, North Carolina. We're in a rural 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:09.000 County called Columbus 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:13.000 , North Carolina. This is how I was introduced to the roikt 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:18.000 the RTC 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:22.000 role. I'm an African-American 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:26.000 . I have earrings with the flags of every country 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:30.000 . I have braids in my hair right now. I'm wearing lipstick 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:34.000 for the first time in six months since we've been working from home. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:39.000 I look forward to talking with everyone as well as 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:41.000 sharing all of my experiences. Christina 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:45.000 ? >> CHRISTINA HOLTZCLAW: Good 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:50.000 afternoon. My name is Christina Holtzclaw, and I am the assistant 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:55.000 director at northwest Georgia center for independent living 00:11:55.000 --> 00:12:00.000 Center For Independent Living in Georgia. We've been serving 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:04.000 northwest Georgia for 16 years. We opened on January 4th 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:09.000 of 2004. I know because I was there.P we serve 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:13.000 . We serve 15 counties in northwest 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:17.000 Georgia. I started as an independent living coordinate 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:21.000 Independent Living Coordinator. I've been 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:33.000 . 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:37.000 We serve multiple location 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:42.000 s. (Reading 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:46.000 locations) >> CHRISTINA HOLTZCLAW: 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:50.000 I use she/her pronounces. I'm a white 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:54.000 woman. I'm wearing a dress that I would be wearing in Orlando. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:58.000 I've never gotten dressed up to go to my basement before 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:03.000 , but here I am. I'm wearing earrings shaped as diamond 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:08.000 s. I have a diamond-shaped 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:13.000 shaped pendant necklace 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:17.000 . I'm happy to support 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:22.000 CIL staff. Thank you for having 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:26.000 me today. >> LILLIE GREIMAN: That's perfect, 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:31.000 Christina, leading us 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:36.000 into a description of the projects that have brought 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.000 us together on this call and all of us together on this workshop. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:42.000 I'm going to turn it over to Rayna 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:47.000 to talk first about some of the research methodology 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:52.000 ies 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:56.000 that underpin the projects. I'm going to turn it over to her 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:59.000 and turn my camera off. >> RAYNA SAGE: Thank you, Lillie 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:03.000 . This is Rayna. I'm just going to 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:08.000 talk a little bit about community-based participatory 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:18.000 research. So the RTC 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:22.000 the RTC:Rural has a history of doing this work. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:27.000 It partners with diverse community members and organizations 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:32.000 in rural places to build on existing 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.000 community strengths and resources and to promote 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:40.000 co-learning and equal 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.000 participation among everyone that's involved in partnering 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:49.000 in the projects. The inequality 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:54.000 to be addressed in these kinds of projects 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:58.000 is often defined by the community partners as well as the solution 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:04.000 s that we then 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:08.000 implement. As you've been hearing -- or 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:18.000 there's I have -- in many other sessions, this kind of work RTC RTC 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:22.000 work that's on the ground and 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:27.000 is community-based, it takes 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:31.000 time. You have to build relationships, but that's what makes it so rewarding 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:35.000 and how we got to this place where we are here with our community partner 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:39.000 s presenting today. That's my little 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:46.000 little intro 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:54.000 for community-based participatory research. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:57.000 Is Lillie next? 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:01.000 (Laughter) >> LILLIE GREIMAN: I will pop in. I 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:06.000 think, Ashlei, if you want to join in, please 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:10.000 do. I can give a little bit of a description of our rural 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:15.000 Rural Community Resource 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:18.000 mapping project that we're currently engaged in with Ashlei and RTC 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:23.000 in North Carolina. We're also a working with a county in Michigan an 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:27.000 in Michigan and will hopefully be working with 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:30.000 more countries over the next years. Part of this is if you're interested 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:35.000 in participating in a project like this, this is an opportunity to learn 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:39.000 about it and hear from us about what it might be like to get engaged. 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:43.000 Essentially, Rural Community 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:48.000 Resource Mapping is a strategy that Centers For Independent Living 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:53.000 can use. It's a 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:57.000 It's a strategy that can help support outreach activities. In mapping 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:01.000 resources that are available and in connecting with 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:06.000 local partners and then mapping the resources that are available 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:11.000 within the communities, the rural community that you are 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:15.000 trying to expand into. Ashlei, 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:19.000 do you want to share a little bit? We'll 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:24.000 get into it a little bit more. Do you have anything to add? 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:29.000 >> ASHLEI SHAW: I would actually encourage everybody that's listening, 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:34.000 if you have a rural community that's had issues doing outreach, this 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:38.000 project has been such an enormous help for us to get out and get 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.000 involved. I will save the details for a little bit later, though 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:43.000 . >> LILLIE GREIMAN: And there is some 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:48.000 actual mapping that happens, and we will be sharing that with you towards 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:52.000 the end of this presentation 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:57.000 . So now I think Christina and 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:00.000 Rayna, I will let you talk about 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.000 RCLD. >> RAYNA SAGE: Great. Thank you. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:08.000 Yeah, so 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:13.000 RCLD because in disability world, we all need 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:18.000 there's a couple more acronyms in our lives. To 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:22.000 Rural Community Living Development is a project we started last year where 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:28.000 we planned on actually being in community and in a number of 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:47.000 communities to use 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:51.000 . We shifted gear 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:56.000 s and the end goal is to have a peer-to-peer mentoring program that 00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:00.000 that APRIL will facilitate. I heard other people talk about 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:03.000 the peer-to-peer mentoring programs and how 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:07.000 great they are. We're really excited to add to this. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:11.000 So we shift gears to bring together a team, 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:16.000 a development team 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:20.000 from cross the U.S. to build this peer-to-peer mentoring curriculum 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.000 . Christina is on this team. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:28.000 We meet weekly. Christina, 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.000 do you want to share about that experience so far? 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:35.000 >> CHRISTINA HOLTZCLAW: Yes. Thank you. 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:39.000 I sat down this morning and really reflected 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:43.000 on why I wanted to be on this awesome project. There was so 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:47.000 many reasons that come back. You know, 16 years that our center has been 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:52.000 reaching out to the 15 counties that we work with. If 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:57.000 our Executive Director maia 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:01.000 Maia 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:06.000 Santamaria has taught 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:10.000 me is to look at the big picture. Every week, I always listen 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.000 to all of these ideas. I'm watching this come together. You know, 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:19.000 I've learned that if you've been in one 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:22.000 rural county, that's exactly what you've been in. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:26.000 You've been in one rural county. They're all so different. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:30.000 We serve 15 very unique counties that are 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:35.000 on different levels. They have certain roadblocks. They have different 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:39.000 resources. Some have no resources. What we do is we have 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:43.000 to get to know these counties, each and every one of 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:46.000 these counties, on a different level. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:50.000 What we have in our 16 years, the 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:54.000 tales I could tell. We have learned from experience in a lot of 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:58.000 things that we've worked with. You know, our director was just 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:03.000 mentioning yesterday that our center did an awesome workshop 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:08.000 yesterday. One thing she reminded me about was that our northwest Georgia 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:14.000 regional hospital had closed 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:18.000 here several years ago. The needs of our counties overnight -- 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:23.000 literally overnight -- changed. We had to adjust to that. There were resource 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:29.000 s that were not in place. The hospital, you know, while that is a good idea to 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:33.000 close that, at the time, the resources weren't there 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:38.000 . It really sent shockwaves throats 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:43.000 s throughout northwest Georgia and beyond. We had 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:47.000 to look at the people with disability 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:51.000 ies and those who ended up in jail 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:56.000 . We have the Georgia school for the deaf 00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:00.000 School For the Deaf that is in our community. That 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.000 's in Floyd County, where our office is housed. That's a community of 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:08.000 its own where we have three staff members, two who work 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:13.000 with consumers who are hearing impaired themselves, and you have to 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:17.000 have that personal -- where they can get in there and 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:21.000 work hands-on with consumers and know the culture 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:25.000 . That is part of some of the things 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:30.000 we've learned. While it sounds wonderful to 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.000 get out there and you want to roll out a lunch 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:38.000 and learn, you have to know those communities before you get out there. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:42.000 We've learned some of those 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:46.000 by -- we had a money management class, you know. It's very 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:51.000 popular class. We started that course. We had this one county 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:55.000 that nobody signed up, and we were just in the staff meeting 00:22:55.000 --> 00:23:00.000 like, Nobody is signing up. We don't understand why 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:05.000 . For whatever reason. About a month later, I met with 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:09.000 a person with the Council For the Blind. He lived 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:13.000 there for years. He said the location you chose is often where 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:17.000 people go and they have their benefits taken away. So we didn't know that at 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:21.000 the time. We found out that, yes, you can have food 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:25.000 . If you feed them, they will come, but 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:29.000 if you don't know the background of that community when you roll that out, 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:33.000 you're going to go home with a lot of food because nobody came 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.000 , if you don't know the background of that community when you roll that out, 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:37.000 you're going to go home with a lot of food because nobody came. Those are 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:42.000 some of the things I'm learning. I would have given anything for this 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:46.000 tool 15 years ago. So there's something to be said about experience 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:50.000 experience. So 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.000 there's attitudal barriers you 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:59.000 come across. I know I speak for my 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:03.000 team who is out there supporting me today. Thank you. 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:08.000 Our dream is to address and promote and nurture 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:13.000 independent living for each county, whatever that means to that 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:17.000 county. It's going to be unique, as independent living is 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:22.000 . So I think with some of the things 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:26.000 -- we call it planting seeds. That's what I call 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:30.000 it. Planting seeds, I learned that from our director. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:35.000 We don't always know where our seeds are going to go. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:39.000 We've had them go ways that we weren't expecting. If one thing I've learned 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:43.000 is those connections, they reach far and wide. 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:46.000 It just sometimes takes longer 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:50.000 . Thank you. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:55.000 >> RAYNA SAGE: Thank you, Christina. >> LILLIE GREIMAN: 00:24:55.000 --> 00:25:01.000 Now I think Lillie is 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:06.000 going to continue. >> LILLIE GREIMAN: 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:10.000 I think that set us up 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.000 for what we're going to try. We're going to try a little 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:20.000 interactive experiment now and ask you 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.000 all a question. The slide says: What 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:28.000 is rural outreach and networking? I think what we're really trying 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:33.000 to get at is what does rural outreach and 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:36.000 and networking look like in your center? 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:40.000 Christina had a great -- I love 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:43.000 that, planting seeds and scattering seeds. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:48.000 What are the actives that you all 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:51.000 you all, in your centers, try to do to reach 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:55.000 communities, and what are the challenges you have? 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:59.000 We're hoping that folks can just go ahead and type some thought 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:06.000 s into the chat, and we'll kind of read them out to get a little bit of 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:10.000 engagement. If folks want to speak, too, I think they 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:15.000 can, like, raise their hand. I think Don will help us if that happens 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:19.000 . >> MARY: If you would like to speak, 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:23.000 you can go ahead and raise your hand, 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:27.000 and we can unmute you. You can also 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:32.000 type it into the Q&A or the chat. >> LILLIE GREIMAN: We have someone who 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:37.000 says robo calls on events. I wonder if we can get 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:42.000 a little bit more on that. Is that doing dial-outs to remind 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:54.000 people? That's Carmen 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:58.000 . Anyone else? 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:02.000 What does rural outreach and networking look 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:06.000 like for you? >> MARY: Carmen, 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:11.000 you can unmute and ask now. >> 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:15.000 CARMEN 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:21.000 : When we create events in the rural areas -- because we have 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:25.000 hill towns that don't have much Internet connection, so 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:30.000 we either send 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:35.000 mail or a lot of flyers through the 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:42.000 mail. Also, we do robo calls 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:50.000 to those areas for the events we're having 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:55.000 . The events could be cleaning some 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:59.000 housing or training, how 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:04.000 to stay safe in the 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:08.000 community or to keep their homes or anything like that. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:13.000 >> LILLIE GREIMAN: That's great. That is not something that I've heard 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:17.000 of, and I think what a cool idea. We have a lot of 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:22.000 stuff coming into the chat. >> MARY 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:26.000 : Just a moment. Before we continue. Carmen, 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:31.000 do you mind answering: How much are the robo calls 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:36.000 ? >> CARMEN 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:41.000 : The consumers we have in those areas, we 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:45.000 do -- if an event is happening in maybe 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:49.000 two or three weeks, 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:53.000 it takes a lot of planning. We have to develop the flyers. We need to make 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:57.000 sure we have the people ready for the events and the speakers and 00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:02.000 things like that. So it takes around like 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:06.000 two months. I do some of the robo call 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:13.000 s because I can translate 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:18.000 in Spanish, and then someone else does the robo calling 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:22.000 in English. We send that out 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:26.000 on a particular day. Also, when the flyers, I can 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:32.000 translate the flyers as well 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:38.000 . When an event happens, if there is someone who needs 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:42.000 Spanish speaking and 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:47.000 a translation as well, we do it in a venue that's nearby 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:51.000 where they live or we can 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:56.000 actually accommodate transportation for them if they 00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:00.000 need to 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:05.000 . >> LILLIE GREIMAN: Great. Thank you so 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:10.000 much, Carmen. That's something I see coming up in the chat as 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:14.000 a significant barrier and we hear across rural communities, is 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:19.000 transportation. So being able to provide transportation, if possible, 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:23.000 in these rural communities that often have dement 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:28.000 have limited access. It's interesting. I'm thinking 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:32.000 about the true statement that Christina said of every 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:36.000 rural community is unique, and I want to 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:40.000 say except that they probably need transportation. (Laughter). 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:44.000 There's so much, you guys, going on in the chat. This is 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:49.000 so amazing. People are talk about posting in grocery stores, connecting 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:53.000 with case managers at partner agencies, holding 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:58.000 regular office hours at partner agencies in those rural communities 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:03.000 , being in the community, which is important 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:11.000 and something we'll talk about next. 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:15.000 Trying to connect up with local 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:20.000 service providers. Some 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:24.000 of the challenges COVID has presented 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:28.000 to communities and lots of things are now on Zoom calls. Zoom 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:33.000 can be challenging in rural. I saw it even before I started in the 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:37.000 chat because there was some 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:42.000 back and forth with challenges with Internet 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:52.000 connectivity. We have that in Missoulia 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:56.000 in Missoula. The entire town lost Internet last week. That shows 00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:07.000 how dependent we all are now. 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:11.000 >> I hope you can hear me. I'm from 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:13.000 the same (indiscernible) center as 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:18.000 Carmen. (Audio very low) 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:22.000 >> We serve Massachusetts. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:27.000 There's a mix of suburban and somewhat rural and 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:32.000 urban areas 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:37.000 . What I wanted to bring up, we have 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:41.000 a network of community action 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:46.000 in our area, Franklin and Sumter (phonetic) County 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:50.000 ies. It's a weekly meeting with about 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:55.000 50 service prevoid 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:58.000 50 service providers 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:03.000 . It's a networking group that gets 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:08.000 together with virtual meetings every other week. It's been very helpful 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:17.000 , especially now with COVID 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:30.000 . 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:34.000 for disadvantaged people, disabled or not. There's resources 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:38.000 for them in the community. It's just 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:43.000 a wonderful resource for us in the community involved. 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:48.000 Thank you. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:52.000 >> GROUP: Thank you, Jim. >> LILLIE GREIMAN: I'm going to kind 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:57.000 of move forward because there's so much great participation 00:33:57.000 --> 00:34:05.000 , and I want to make sure we also have some time 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:09.000 at the end as well. I want to get into a couple of 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:13.000 things we've been learning also as we've been engaging in both 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:17.000 the community resource mapping as well as 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:22.000 the peer mentoring development 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:26.000 . I think anyone 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:32.000 , Christina, Rayna, Ashlei 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:36.000 , if you want to jump in, please do if anything comes up 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:40.000 . Sorry. I'm looking now at my own outline 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:44.000 . I think one thing that has really 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:49.000 become apparent when we're talking about rural, in terms of getting 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:53.000 started and getting out into those communities, is 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:56.000 while it's important to know those communities -- and we'll talk about 00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:00.000 that next -- it's also incredibly important to know yourself and 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:05.000 to know your 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:09.000 organization and think about who is 00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:13.000 is represented in this organization. This issue has come up 00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:17.000 a lot in some other presentations around serving all sort 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:22.000 s of marginalized groups that have 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:26.000 intersecting 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:35.000 ing identify 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:39.000 identifying with disabilities. Do you have 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:44.000 a person at the CIL? Do you have 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:45.000 biases or assumptions about the rural communities that you serve? 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:49.000 I think we tend to think about 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:54.000 there's a national kind of idea that I'm sure not everyone on this call 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:59.000 feels -- identifies with 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:03.000 . When people think about rural, they often think about rural as being 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:08.000 white. Farmers, right? Farmland? While we know 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:12.000 there are plenty of white rural communities, there are 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:16.000 there are a lot of rural communities of color 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:20.000 . Carmen was great to offer a share 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:24.000 about offering translation for those robo calls services like that, 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:28.000 really 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:33.000 thinking does our organization 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:35.000 reflect all of those other communities that we serve? 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:39.000 Rayna, do you want to talk about 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:46.000 rural cultural 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:48.000 humility? >> RAYNA SAGE: Maybe. There we go. 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:53.000 We have had some sessions, and 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:57.000 we've been talking about cultural competency. 00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:05.000 I like cultural humility because not coming from 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:09.000 a culture, we're never going to be experts in someone else's culture 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:15.000 . With rural culture, just coming 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:21.000 from a place where we 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:25.000 understand that many rural place 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:30.000 s have a history, especially 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:34.000 in rural places where there are Black and 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:41.000 Indigenous People of Color there historic 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:46.000 ally. There's a lot of oppression 00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:51.000 in other communities as well, in terms of communities that are extraction 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:55.000 based and where companies came in and built communities and brought 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:59.000 in workers in order 00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:04.000 to extract the minerals or trees or whatever they were 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:08.000 extracting 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:12.000 . And so these deep, historical piece 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:17.000 s can make it hard to build relationships. And, 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:21.000 as outsiders, many people in rural places are not trusting of 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:25.000 outsider 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:29.000 s, and the way our systems are set up is to privilege the urban 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:36.000 centers where the most people live 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:41.000 . So just having that knowledge and being aware of that 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:46.000 piece when you are approaching a community, knowing 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:51.000 that their perspectives on things may be very 00:38:51.000 --> 00:39:02.000 different. Their perspectives on disability, 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:06.000 on community living, they just may have never even thought 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:12.000 of it. I know we experience that in urban settings as well 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:17.000 , but it may be more pervasive 00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:21.000 . Also, just coming into these settings with some curiosity 00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:26.000 and openness as well as -- I attend 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:31.000 ed Mell's talk 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:36.000 yesterday, and this 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:40.000 idea of just knowing you're going make mistake 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:45.000 s and knowing this is part of building relationships and 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:58.000 having humility 00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:09.000 . 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:14.000 >> LILLIE GREIMAN: Thank you, Rayna 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:18.000 . I've put up a slide regarding what 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:24.000 we've mentioned earlier in the presentation. Christina spoke about 00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:28.000 it. The slide her is 00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:33.000 Quick Tips: Your rural service 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:37.000 Rural Service Area. Know before you go, doing a community scan 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:50.000 , how are people connecting, joining existing network 00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:54.000 s, these are things like barrier 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:58.000 s and challenges and solutions that we've talk 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:02.000 ed about. I will get Ashlei to 00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:07.000 talk about this. Really getting involved in the 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:11.000 community, we've talked about having boots on the ground, but having 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:15.000 a staff member that lives in the community, lives and potentially works 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:18.000 there. We know plenty of people have satellite offices, and 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:22.000 this is one strategy in building a reputation in order to get those 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:25.000 offices there, but I want to let Ashlei talk a little bit more about the value 00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:30.000 that that has, especially in her community. 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:34.000 . >> ASHLEI SHAW: So, as I said earlier, 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:38.000 I work for disability your 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:43.000 for disAbility Resource Center locket 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:49.000 located in Wilmington, but I live 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:53.000 in the county that's the furthest away. I located here 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:57.000 from Savannah, Georgia, a CIL there 00:41:57.000 --> 00:42:01.000 . I was thinking that I was going to have that commute every day, and I 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:06.000 have to say that COVID has definitely been 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:10.000 an eye-opener for my center. 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:16.000 It has allowed me to actually probably do more 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:21.000 work boots on the ground, as Lil' 00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:25.000 as Lillie said earlier, and I was able to 00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:28.000 partner on this project with someone who is very involved in the community 00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:32.000 but not able to do as much as they would like. It's an organization 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:37.000 called Community CPR. We've been able to reach 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:41.000 and connect with so many other organizations and cob su 00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:45.000 and consumers. It started with 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:49.000 assisting with a food need that was not being 00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:53.000 met, as far as volunteer-wise. The food was there, but they needed 00:42:53.000 --> 00:42:59.000 people to assist with passing out the food to individuals with disability 00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:03.000 ies. I said that I would help, and it just kind 00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:07.000 of rolled on, but I think the biggest thing 00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:12.000 was letting that other organization know that we were here, 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000 not just saying that we were here is what they told me that a lot 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:20.000 of organizations have done. They've kind of done like 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:24.000 a drive- 00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:27.000 by and said, If you need us 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:32.000 , call us. But they haven't really been there. 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:38.000 So we've partnered with companies that 00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:42.000 offered us space. We're not the richest CIL. We're now starting a 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:46.000 computer lab for people to come and fill out job applications and submit 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:50.000 disability claims and just be able to access the technology that's really 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:54.000 not there in a rural community. We're also being able to provide 00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:58.000 our consumers with their resources. So it's been 00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:02.000 wonderful to know that rural outreaches 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:07.000 in our county is very hard. You're seen as 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:11.000 an outsider. I have family here, so I have a 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:15.000 little bit of insight, a little bit of credibility -- a little bit of street 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:19.000 cred -- but it's definitely been a learning experience for my 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:23.000 center, but we have grown so much because of the 00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:28.000 willingness from my center and the Board to allow me to focus 00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:33.000 on this county totally. I would say it's beneficial 00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:36.000 to have someone who lives in the county because the constant 00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:40.000 in and out is what the rural communities are used to. They're used 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:45.000 to, Hey, we have resources, but you have to go to this other town that's 00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:49.000 two hours away. As everybody noticed, transportation is not always available 00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:54.000 in rural communities. It is awesome if you can set some constant 00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:58.000 hours or a constant day that everyone can know when they can reach you in 00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:01.000 that community. It's been a tremendous help for us 00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:03.000 . >> LILLIE GREIMAN: Thank you so much, 00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:08.000 Ashlei. I think we have someone who has a 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:11.000 question or a comment. So I want to let Matt speak here 00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:15.000 in a second. But I think what I want to really 00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:20.000 emphasize and what we've learned from both projects -- oh, I'm not on my 00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:24.000 video -- is that importance of 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:29.000 time in that this work takes time and commitment. 00:45:29.000 --> 00:45:33.000 It can take a long time, and that commitment can be hard when resources 00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:36.000 are scarce 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:40.000 . Matt, go right ahead, please. 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:46.000 >> MATT: Yes. I live 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:50.000 in eastern Iowa, a very rural county 00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:54.000 . I had a spinal cord injury 00:45:54.000 --> 00:46:00.000 in '83, long before the ADA and Internet was conceived 00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:09.000 . At the time -- 00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:13.000 one point hasn't been touched 00:46:13.000 --> 00:46:17.000 upon, people with new injuries don't know what questions to ask. Staff 00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:22.000 at hospitals, whether it be social workers, doctors 00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:27.000 , physical therapists, OTs, aren't 00:46:27.000 --> 00:46:32.000 aren't always very good about making referrals to community resources 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:36.000 . So you go through your initial rehab, and 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:41.000 when you go home, you're pretty much on your 00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:46.000 own. Hopefully, you've got support of family or friends. If you 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:52.000 don't, you're doubly screwed, 00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:56.000 to be blunt. So my 00:46:56.000 --> 00:47:01.000 local Centers For Independent Living is 00:47:01.000 --> 00:47:05.000 probably about (indiscernible) away. In the state of Iowa, 00:47:05.000 --> 00:47:09.000 which has 99 counties, we have six CILs, and two of 00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:13.000 them are bistate. One in Illinois 00:47:13.000 --> 00:47:18.000 and one 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:23.000 in Iowa-Nebraska. I don't know 00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:27.000 how it is in other states, but in Iowa, we don't even have very 00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:34.000 many CILs to get to 00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:37.000 . >> LILLIE GREIMAN: Thanks so much. 00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:41.000 This is Lillie again. I think that's a really good 00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:46.000 point. It can be especially challenging when centers are spread so thin across 00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:50.000 vast areas. That is where I think some 00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:54.000 of that identifying local, to the best that 00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:58.000 you can, is definitely one of those strategies. 00:47:58.000 --> 00:48:02.000 And you set us up really well for the next slide, which we've really 00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:06.000 heard is the extent to which a lot of organizations use disability 00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:11.000 education and awareness as an outreach strategy 00:48:11.000 --> 00:48:16.000 . This is where I think you can see that identifying local partners and 00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:21.000 then building disability awareness 00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:25.000 within those local partnerships 00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:30.000 and community-based resource mapping is a way 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:34.000 to do this and spreading the word on getting those connections made 00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:39.000 . Really, the speaking and training 00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:43.000 opportunities, as Christina mentioned earlier, these 00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:48.000 these luncheons that are hosted and centers 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:50.000 often do a lot of similar things 00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:54.000 . I don't know. Christina, if you 00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:58.000 want to briefly speak about those learning lunches? I know we only 00:48:58.000 --> 00:49:02.000 have 15 minutes. Somehow, this has flown by. I know 00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:06.000 we want to save a little bit of time for engagement at the end, as well as 00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:10.000 sharing how you will get involved in these 00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:14.000 programs. Christina, 00:49:14.000 --> 00:49:19.000 I will let you talk and then maybe skip a couple of slides. 00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:23.000 >> CHRISTINA HOLTZCLAW: Pre-COVID, we did many lunch-and- 00:49:23.000 --> 00:49:27.000 learns. We also worked with the prison re 00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:32.000 entry program. So our lunch-and-learn classes, 00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:36.000 we actually went to one county where we did a presentation. It was called 00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:40.000 the Job Circle. It was at vocational 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:44.000 rehabilitation. We brought that back to our county 00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:48.000 in Floyd. It seems like it didn't take off so well. I had almost forgotten 00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:53.000 the idea, and we revamped that into a class 00:49:53.000 --> 00:50:03.000 . We've done classes and lunch-and-learns 00:50:03.000 --> 00:50:04.000 seems like it didn't take off so well. I had almost forgotten the idea, and Vocational Rehabilitation. We brought that back to our county in Floyd. It 00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:08.000 we revamped that into a class. We've done classes and lunch-and-learns. 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:12.000 We've had so many. We've had disaster 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:16.000 preparedness. We had a CPR class that everyone 00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:21.000 loved. The mannequin 00:50:21.000 --> 00:50:25.000 s were on the table, and people could get their wheelchair 00:50:25.000 --> 00:50:29.000 s up to the table where they were and learn C 00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:33.000 CPR. Zoom has had its place. It's 00:50:33.000 --> 00:50:37.000 leveled the playing field for people with disabilities, especially the 00:50:37.000 --> 00:50:41.000 blind that cannot drive. So, yeah, our lunch-and 00:50:41.000 --> 00:50:48.000 -learns and our classes have really taken off on Zoom as well 00:50:48.000 --> 00:50:52.000 . It's been 00:50:52.000 --> 00:50:56.000 an adventure. >> LILLIE GREIMAN: Transitioning to 00:50:56.000 --> 00:51:00.000 rural virtual engagement, I'm so aware of the time, 00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:04.000 and we've had a ton of great engagement on the cha 00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:09.000 t, which is great. I don't know if we have any looming question 00:51:09.000 --> 00:51:11.000 s. I think we're okay right now 00:51:11.000 --> 00:51:16.000 . This almost honestly feels like a 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:20.000 topic all its own that 00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:25.000 we're still in the midst of learning how to engage rural virtually 00:51:25.000 --> 00:51:29.000 ly, if it can be done when 00:51:29.000 --> 00:51:33.000 Internet is such a barrier, as we know, and how this actually looks when 00:51:33.000 --> 00:51:38.000 you start doing this. Maybe we just give 00:51:38.000 --> 00:51:43.000 some five minutes for -- Ashlei, I know you've had some struggles with 00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:47.000 this in Columbus County, and, Rayna, 00:51:47.000 --> 00:51:51.000 I'm talking this whole time, and I feel like I should not. 00:51:51.000 --> 00:51:55.000 Just give a little bit of time to think about this because this is 00:51:55.000 --> 00:52:00.000 a real challenge. >> ASHLEI SHAW: Virtual 00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:04.000 is definitely something that seems really 00:52:04.000 --> 00:52:09.000 easy whenever you live somewhere that Internet is reliable, but, as 00:52:09.000 --> 00:52:13.000 we have discovered, dealing with the 00:52:13.000 --> 00:52:18.000 school systems here and in dealing with trying to conduct our 00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:23.000 agency meetings, it's not always accessible for rural communities. 00:52:23.000 --> 00:52:28.000 Telephone has been about the most reliable. That has been one of the 00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:32.000 easiest ways to reach 00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:36.000 people. The majority of the people here 00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:40.000 prefer to do face-to-face. So it has been a challenge, but meeting 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:44.000 people where they are has been, I think, the biggest thing 00:52:44.000 --> 00:52:49.000 that people appreciate the most from this whole situation 00:52:49.000 --> 00:52:53.000 . Yes, there's COVID. Yes, we 00:52:53.000 --> 00:52:58.000 use protective masks, social distancing 00:52:58.000 --> 00:53:02.000 . 00:53:02.000 --> 00:53:08.000 Yes. But being 00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:13.000 . But it's changed a lot of lives for us and has 00:53:13.000 --> 00:53:17.000 really shown people that we are here to truly help, and we 00:53:17.000 --> 00:53:21.000 will go that extra distance. Don't be afraid to just ask 00:53:21.000 --> 00:53:25.000 people what is most comfortable for them 00:53:25.000 --> 00:53:29.000 for them, and if it's possible to do it for them 00:53:29.000 --> 00:53:36.000 , do it. 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:41.000 >> LILLIE GREIMAN: I said such a great 00:53:41.000 --> 00:53:45.000 thing. I said meeting people where they're at, that's IL. 00:53:45.000 --> 00:53:49.000 Right? I see some great comments in the 00:53:49.000 --> 00:53:53.000 Slack -- the Slack -- oh my goodness -- the chat about 00:53:53.000 --> 00:53:59.000 using CARES Act 00:53:59.000 --> 00:54:03.000 funding to get phones for people. 00:54:03.000 --> 00:54:07.000 Using the CARES Act funding to connect people, that's so exciting 00:54:07.000 --> 00:54:11.000 . Also, it's eye- 00:54:11.000 --> 00:54:16.000 opening around advocacy, getting the infrastructure built out, petition 00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:19.000 ing and working towards getting that access for everyone 00:54:19.000 --> 00:54:23.000 . So we only have 10 minutes left, 00:54:23.000 --> 00:54:27.000 and so I wanted to move on just to talk really quick about how people can get 00:54:27.000 --> 00:54:32.000 involved. I really wanted to share our Community Resource Map 00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:38.000 for Columbus County with everyone really quickly. 00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:42.000 I'm going to do that right now for the next three minutes. Then we'll 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:46.000 open it up. I see we have a question waiting. There's been 00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:49.000 such great interaction in the chat. Thank you so much for doing that 00:54:49.000 --> 00:54:54.000 . So we are looking for other 00:54:54.000 --> 00:54:59.000 communities. We're going to be doing community resource mapping 00:54:59.000 --> 00:55:02.000 for the next three or four 00:55:02.000 --> 00:55:07.000 years. We're looking for other communities who are interested in 00:55:07.000 --> 00:55:12.000 participating. I have just changed and shared my 00:55:12.000 --> 00:55:17.000 screen now. This is a Google map. The imagine is 00:55:17.000 --> 00:55:21.000 The image is a map of Columbus 00:55:21.000 --> 00:55:25.000 County. There are a bunch of icons indicating a variety of different 00:55:25.000 --> 00:55:29.000 resources that have been identified through this project, and they're 00:55:29.000 --> 00:55:33.000 sorted out into categories such as health and food, employment, financial 00:55:33.000 --> 00:55:37.000 , legal, child care, education, training 00:55:37.000 --> 00:55:41.000 , disability services/supports, housing, utility 00:55:41.000 --> 00:55:46.000 ies, transportation. These are all resources 00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:50.000 we've identified as being critical to support people with disabilities 00:55:50.000 --> 00:55:54.000 living within the community. There's a red line 00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:59.000 outlining Columbus County in the southeastern part of the state. A good 00:55:59.000 --> 00:56:03.000 number of resources are located outside of the county, but 00:56:03.000 --> 00:56:07.000 I can zoom in and you can start seeing and clicking on icons. It will bring 00:56:07.000 --> 00:56:11.000 up information about the resource, 00:56:11.000 --> 00:56:15.000 where they're located, phone number, and how they're classified 00:56:15.000 --> 00:56:21.000 . Something we've used so far to 00:56:21.000 --> 00:56:25.000 highlight is, A, to recognize that resources are available 00:56:25.000 --> 00:56:29.000 and then ask the question of, 00:56:29.000 --> 00:56:34.000 Well, why are people not accessing them and why are they 00:56:34.000 --> 00:56:38.000 not accessible to everyone and who are they accessible to? This comes 00:56:38.000 --> 00:56:43.000 down to physical accessibility but also other folks who are 00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:47.000 multiply marginalized and racial inequity and people feeling 00:56:47.000 --> 00:56:51.000 comfortable or uncomfortable accessing resources, 00:56:51.000 --> 00:56:54.000 and it provides a strategy to start those conversations with your 00:56:54.000 --> 00:56:59.000 community partners. Also, it's a way to notice that 00:56:59.000 --> 00:57:03.000 while there are resources in the county, they are primary 00:57:03.000 --> 00:57:07.000 ily clustered in a few of the larger towns. 00:57:07.000 --> 00:57:12.000 And there are people with disabilities living throughout the county and may 00:57:12.000 --> 00:57:17.000 have even struggled to get into the largest community, which is 00:57:17.000 --> 00:57:22.000 Whiteville from Bug Hill, for example 00:57:22.000 --> 00:57:27.000 . We're trying to create a tool so 00:57:27.000 --> 00:57:31.000 folks can create something like this and use it as 00:57:31.000 --> 00:57:35.000 a strategy for outreach. Rayna, 00:57:35.000 --> 00:57:39.000 do you want to talk about people -- folks getting involved 00:57:39.000 --> 00:57:45.000 in RCLD? 00:57:45.000 --> 00:57:49.000 >> RAYNA SAGE: Sure. I want to add 00:57:49.000 --> 00:57:56.000 that Lillie and I work on both of these projects together along with some of 00:57:56.000 --> 00:58:01.000 our other 00:58:01.000 --> 00:58:05.000 research collaborators. What 00:58:05.000 --> 00:58:10.000 I've loved so much about working with our mapping 00:58:10.000 --> 00:58:15.000 project with our teams is that this map 00:58:15.000 --> 00:58:19.000 really highlights that 00:58:19.000 --> 00:58:23.000 that geographic distribution, 00:58:23.000 --> 00:58:27.000 and, also, people love the maps. Great work. 00:58:27.000 --> 00:58:32.000 So the peer-to-peer 00:58:32.000 --> 00:58:41.000 mentoring program that we talked about in RCLD 00:58:41.000 --> 00:58:46.000 in RCLD is going to be available -- the curriculum been done 00:58:46.000 --> 00:58:50.000 in early spring. So what we're going to be looking 00:58:50.000 --> 00:58:56.000 for in the spring is two types of 00:58:56.000 --> 00:59:04.000 people. One is folks who might want to mentor other 00:59:04.000 --> 00:59:08.000 people in this process and using the curriculum that we're 00:59:08.000 --> 00:59:12.000 developing, we have people on our team that are currently developing it that 00:59:12.000 --> 00:59:17.000 will hopefully stay on and be mentors as well 00:59:17.000 --> 00:59:22.000 . Then we're looking for folks who are interest 00:59:22.000 --> 00:59:26.000 ed in being able to -- who are interested in being 00:59:26.000 --> 00:59:31.000 mentored in this process. So mob 00:59:31.000 --> 00:59:36.000 So maybe you're thinking like, man, these are great ideas 00:59:36.000 --> 00:59:43.000 . I would love to implement them. It would be fantastic to have 00:59:43.000 --> 00:59:47.000 somebody to talk to about it and get ideas and problem solve through these 00:59:47.000 --> 00:59:52.000 processes 00:59:52.000 --> 00:59:56.000 . So be looking for some 00:59:56.000 --> 01:00:00.000 announcements for the mentors and the mentees coming in the 01:00:00.000 --> 01:00:06.000 spring for this peer-to-peer mentoring program to get off the 01:00:06.000 --> 01:00:10.000 ground. Also 01:00:10.000 --> 01:00:15.000 , we wanted to highlight 01:00:15.000 --> 01:00:19.000 that RTC Rural, we have 01:00:19.000 --> 01:00:24.000 a lot of things going on. Some of you are 01:00:24.000 --> 01:00:28.000 familiar with our health promotion and healthy community living as well as 01:00:28.000 --> 01:00:32.000 other things, and we're going to be having our virtual 01:00:32.000 --> 01:00:36.000 tabling -- perfect timing -- right now. I think it started 10 minutes 01:00:36.000 --> 01:00:41.000 10 minutes ago, and it goes until -- well, it would 01:00:41.000 --> 01:00:45.000 be 3:00 Mountain Standard 01:00:45.000 --> 01:00:50.000 time. And we would 01:00:50.000 --> 01:00:55.000 love to have any of you come and join us and talk more about that 01:00:55.000 --> 01:01:03.000 . 01:01:03.000 --> 01:01:07.000 >> MARY: I was going to say -- first 01:01:07.000 --> 01:01:11.000 of all -- I can't help myself -- APRIL is also partnering 01:01:11.000 --> 01:01:15.000 ing on this project. And the mentoring 01:01:15.000 --> 01:01:19.000 program, a lot of you know about the mentoring programs through APRIL. 01:01:19.000 --> 01:01:25.000 I wanted to just mention quick in the Q&A that Beth mentioned: 01:01:25.000 --> 01:01:28.000 Always remember to ask new people seeking services how they heard about 01:01:28.000 --> 01:01:32.000 your organization to measure your outreach activity. 01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:36.000 Secondly, be prepared to provide good, timely services when 01:01:36.000 --> 01:01:40.000 you have an increase in people seeking services. 01:01:40.000 --> 01:01:44.000 So, again, 01:01:44.000 --> 01:01:48.000 if you want to join the vendor tables, you can click that 01:01:48.000 --> 01:01:53.000 from the third tab over on the APRIL conference website. If you would 01:01:53.000 --> 01:01:59.000 require ASL for that, you can email 01:01:59.000 --> 01:02:03.000 me at (indiscernible) and if you give me one-hour notice 01:02:03.000 --> 01:02:08.000 , at least, we can set an appointment for you 01:02:08.000 --> 01:02:12.000 . Otherwise, they're there. Sorry, Rayna, I had to jump in. 01:02:12.000 --> 01:02:17.000 Mainly to say we're doing peer mentoring, too, with you. 01:02:17.000 --> 01:02:21.000 >> DON: I do want to remind people to fill up the evaluations 01:02:21.000 --> 01:02:25.000 for this workshop. That should be popping 01:02:25.000 --> 01:02:29.000 up anytime now, I would imagine 01:02:29.000 --> 01:02:34.000 . We have like three minutes left. I 01:02:34.000 --> 01:02:39.000 want to thank everybody who presented today. I think it was 01:02:39.000 --> 01:02:43.000 a great presentation. If there's 01:02:43.000 --> 01:02:47.000 there's any last comments you want to give? 01:02:47.000 --> 01:02:51.000 >> LILLIE GREIMAN: Come to our vendor table, and we can talk about mapping 01:02:51.000 --> 01:02:55.000 and the program, and, yeah, you can learn more. And thank you so 01:02:55.000 --> 01:02:58.000 much to Ashlei and Christina. You guys have been such great 01:02:58.000 --> 01:03:02.000 partners through this. It's been so exciting this last year working with 01:03:02.000 --> 01:03:11.000 you guys on this project. 01:03:11.000 --> 01:03:15.000 >> ASHLEI SHAW: Thank you, Lillie and 01:03:15.000 --> 01:03:17.000 Rayna. I look forward to making this project even bigger and better 01:03:17.000 --> 01:03:22.000 . >> CHRISTINA HOLTZCLAW: Thank you so 01:03:22.000 --> 01:03:26.000 much. I appreciate being part of this. Thank you to APRIL and the rural team 01:03:26.000 --> 01:03:31.000 Rural Team. Special thank you to Northwest Georgia 01:03:31.000 --> 01:03:35.000 CIL. I would like to end with I think this project is 01:03:35.000 --> 01:03:40.000 a dream written down with a date is 01:03:40.000 --> 01:03:44.000 a goal. A plan backed by action is reality 01:03:44.000 --> 01:03:49.000 . I think that's what we're working on, going from dream to reality 01:03:49.000 --> 01:03:53.000 . That's why I'm so proud to be part of this. Thank you for including 01:03:53.000 --> 01:04:03.000 me. 01:04:03.000 --> 01:04:08.000 >> LILLIE GREIMAN: I'm doing a heart 01:04:08.000 --> 01:04:12.000 . >> RAYNA SAGE: That's awesome. 01:04:12.000 --> 01:04:17.000 Thank you, everybody, APRIL, for being 01:04:17.000 --> 01:04:21.000 such great partners to make our research possible. It's great. 01:04:21.000 --> 01:04:28.000 >> LILLIE GREIMAN: We're going to go get on our vendor 01:04:28.000 --> 01:04:32.000 table. Do we stay on, Mary? What do you 01:04:32.000 --> 01:04:38.000 need us to do? 01:04:38.000 --> 01:04:39.000 >> RAYNA SAGE: Thanks, everybody. See