New Town, ND

After hard work by many community participants New Town has completed a program sponsored by Northwest Area Foundation to enhance leadership, community and reduce poverty. After being chosen to participate in the program, it started with the Study Circles which discussed poverty, it’s many causes and visions for their town.   After that they conducted the Leadership Plenty training for volunteer community leaders.  Then……..they involved over 200 persons of all income levels, ages, and ethnic backgrounds to develop a comprehensive vision for New Town.   The NDSU Group Decision Center assisted as did the State Horizens program with compiling the serveys.   Then the Horizens participants helped chose goals and strategies.   Cheyanne Erickson, Ft Berthold Extension Agent typed up the final decisions.   All the stages had rigorous time and participation deadlines,  but now the $10,000.00 is on the way and we can use it towards meeting our visions.   Our vision is on our blog site if you with to read it.

Last week community leaders had a chance to hear from USDA Community Development, ND Dept of Transportation, ND Dept of Commerce-community planning, and ND Housing and Finance.   The agencies were interesting and helpful, warned us of the time it takes to go through red tape and encouraged us to work together to access the many programs available.  

Ask any adult from here and they will tell you of the fun of summer rodeos and the dances that went with them.    The Horizens Board , the City and the Blue Buttes Saddle Club have a chance to clean-up and fix-up the neglected area to make it safe and insurable .   If the Saddle Club will help the City with the insurance bill, the Horizens group can help with materials and labor.This is a chance to make a place where local families who have horses can use them in family and neighborly activities.    It can be used for activities like bicycle rodeos, and other youth activities that work best out of doors.     If you get a chance, support us, better yet join us.

 After repeated  discussion in Horizens Talking Circles and Visioning sessions,  as well as from just over 200 New Town persons who filled out questionnaires about their vision for New Town’s future, be on the look out!  Anyone wishing to particiate in the Neighborhood Watch can help protect their neighborhood and their own belongings by reading the Neighborhood Watch materials and following the advice there.    It is a great way to improve your neighborhood….Keep your eye out for the introductory news and get togethers. Representatives from the city of New Town, Fort Berthold Housing Authority, and the Horizens program are taking the first steps to get it going.     Chuck Gilstad from the city,  Dennis Fox and Scott Eagle from FBHA and Anita Rohde from Horizens  have met several times, have visited with law enforcement and are planning for the famous blue and white Neighborhood Watch signs to go up soon.   Stay tuned for how you can participate.   You can even comment if you click on the tiny blue “no comment” or “comment” below this post.