Memorandum 13-093 Green Dot Update

Memorandum ID: 
13-093
Memorandum Status: 
Information Only

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Memorandum 13-093
TO:  Mayor Wythe and Homer City Council
THROUGH: Walt Wrede
FROM:  Katie  Koester, Community and Economic Development Coordinator
DATE:  June 13, 2013
SUBJECT: Green Dot Update
The purpose of this memo is to update the Council on the Green Dot initiative in Homer.

Background: Green Dot is a violence prevention program that teaches bystander intervention. The State of Alaska chose Homer as a pilot community for Green Dot. This is a “train the trainers” program where Green Dot trainers travel to Homer and train a group of people who will then be responsible for training representatives of different groups in bystander intervention. The City Council supported Green Dot with $3,500 in Resolution 13-016.

Update: On June 7, 2013 Green Dot trainers gave an overview of Green Dot and the progress thus far implementing Green Dot in Homer. The 90 minute overview was attended by a diverse group of community leaders and organization representatives.

The State of Alaska chose 6 pilot communities,  (Bethel, Fairbanks, Prince of Wales, Kenai, Homer and Anchorage) for a three year model for implementing Green Dot in Alaska. Year one, which we are currently in, has been about working with communities on what an 'Alaskan Green Dot' looks like. The Green Dot trainers are in the process of modifying the original model (developed for University campuses) to Alaskan communities. Site launch will occur in August when the fundamentals of the program will be in place. Green Dot trainers will come back in January to check on implementation.  The 6 pilot communities will be trained to be able to take the core elements of Green Dot to other Alaskan communities so the program is sustainable.

According to the Green Dot organizers locally, Homer has an impressive number of community members consistently attending each training (3 trainings thus far). Each session attendees are assigned to outreach to individuals and invite them to trainings. The most important thing is for people to see friends and neighbors share their own stories and make it personal. The following organizations have participated to some extent in the Green Dot effort (not an exhaustive list): Haven House, REC Room, The Center, Public Health, Alaska State Troopers, Homer Police Department, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, City of Homer, Head Start, Sprout, Seldovia Village Tribe, Nanwalek, Port Graham, MAPP, and Homer Prevention Project.

The next Green Dot training is August 8 from 8am to 5pm and August 12 from 8am to noon at Council Chambers. Council is invited to attend any part of the training.