Category Archives: Citizen Advocacy

Why Build Social Capital? 

Citizen Advocacy

Why Build Social Capital?                                       by Al Condeluci, Ph.D.
                                                                                                acondeluci@classcommunity.org

The notion of friendship is a critical one to the human condition.  In fact, friendship is often a concept that is thought to be so simple that it hardly merits any deep study or discussion.  All of us know that friendships are important, but rarely do we ever think we must work at the concept.  However, the notion of friendship is a critical one to ponder, and in a way, we should not be pushed by sentiment to become more conscious of our need for friendship.

Sociologists refer to friendship as “Social Capital.”  To the academics, the term “capital” is one that speaks to resources that can advance or promote a profit.  They talk about physical capital which refers to things like land or machinery.  Economic capital might refer to goods, or services that drive an economy.  “Human capital” is often thought to be the people needed to do the work to create the goods or services.

Continue reading Why Build Social Capital?  →

Our Story

Citizen Advocacy

Citizen Advocacy initiates and supports one-to-one matches involving vulnerable people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with valued citizens who are unpaid and independent of the human service system. The matches are independent of the human service system and the Citizen Advocacy office. Once the match is made, the role of the office is to provide support.

The following vignette illustrates the process and impact of our work.
Wayne and Ken: Ken, disabled at birth was in the Beatrice home until the age for 42. He had limited speech and physical abilities and was eventually moved to a Group Home in North Platte. Wayne was recruited by the Citizen Advocacy office to advocate for Ken. Wayne began to form a personal connection with Ken and to become an important part of his life. As a Citizen Advocate, Wayne made a freely given, long-term commitment to protect Ken’s rights and interests as if they were his own. He has been a faithful and dedicated presence in Ken’s life for over twelve years and Ken is safer as a result. Wayne, eventually, was appointed Ken’s Guardian and has played a key role in making decisions on his behalf ever since. One of those important decisions involved moving Ken to a better place to live. Although it has taken some time, Ken has learned to trust and to rely on Wayne. As Wayne puts it, ‘the door has been opened.’ The relationship has also evolved and strengthened and continues today.

Board Member’s Story

Citizen Advocacy

Holly Andrews is a member of the North Platte Citizen Advocacy’s Board. She has served on the board since September of 2014. Holly, who is on the staff at Mid-Plains Community College, is the owner of Nestle Andrews who was recently honored with the Spirit Award from the college for her contribution to campus life. Nestle Andrews is a source of comfort for those in need at Mid-Plains Community College. Nestle’s story was recently featured on NTV.

Why Invest Common Sense, Passion, and Persistence in Citizen Advocacy?

Citizen Advocacy, Resources
Why Invest Common Sense, Passion, and Persistence in Citizen Advocacy?

·         The images created about people with disabilities by the media, human service efforts, and in literature often create and support negative, stereotypical attitudes.  From these attitudes comes our conscious or unconscious action or our choice not to act.  Personal relationships between people allow us to reassess our stereotypes.

·         Many people who are seen and treated as negatively different will need to be protected from conscious and unconscious prejudice and discrimination.

·         Abuse and neglect exist in all human services effort.  The involvement of ordinary citizens in relationships with people who have disabilities is one way to monitor and decrease this reality.

·         The most predictable outcome of current human services spending and practice is organized segregation, which has kept people apart and unknown to one another.  Personal relationships between people help to overcome fear, myth, and discomfort that comes from people not knowing one another. Continue reading Why Invest Common Sense, Passion, and Persistence in Citizen Advocacy? →

North Platte Giving Day — May 3rd, 2016

Citizen Advocacy

Givingday-logoNorth Platte Giving Day is a 24-hour online fundraising event on May 3 during which people can help their favorite community causes in North Platte and Lincoln County, Nebraska. It is a day for charitable people to help provide needed funding for local nonprofits.

Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation is partnering with nonprofits to give donors from the North Platte area and all across America and the world a chance to give funds for local needs.

Advocates lend a helping hand, caring heart

Citizen Advocacy, North Platte Citizen Advocacy Office

By Ralph Chapoco ralph.chapoco@nptelegraph.com | Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2015 3:00 am

Everyone needs an advocate — people who will provide support in the challenging moments and celebrate during the joyful ones. This is especially true for the most vulnerable in society — those with special needs.

Fortunately, North Platte Citizen Advocacy has been providing advocates for people with developmental disabilities for 20 years. Volunteers assist with conflicts in their lives or simply spend time with them when they need a companion.

“The person who began this organization realized people with developmental disabilities are devalued in our culture, and we needed to find ways to bring them into the main flow of life,” coordinator Don Kurre said.

The process begins with a referral. Anyone, be it the individual, loved one or concerned citizen, can contact the office to discuss the issue. Kurre will interview the individual to determine if he or she is a good match for the program.

He creates a profile of the person and begins recruiting potential advocates to pair with the protégé, oftentimes using mutual interests as a guide to find the best match.

“For example, if someone is interested in writing, then I would also find someone who likes to write so they have something in common,” Kurre said.
After a match is found, Kurre becomes a bystander and allows the advocate and the protégé to establish the guidelines in the relationship.

The advocate represents the protégé when dealing with potential conflicts. Suppose that a furnace breaks and needs to be fixed. The advocate will accompany the person to the store and be there as store employees explain the process to repair the appliance. The advocate may ask questions for clarification and ensure the individual is understanding the process.

There is a range of possible scenarios. For some, an advocate could be present to play a game for a few hours, while others may have the medical power of attorney and make decisions for a person. It depends on the relationship.

Anyone can be an advocate, so long as someone displays a genuine interest in the other person’s well-being.

People interested in the service can call 532-0670.

Volunteers provide companionship and support for those with special needs or developmental disabilities

North Platte Telegraph.

 

What is Citizen Advocacy?

Citizen Advocacy

The mission of Citizen Advocacy is to promote the protection of and advocacy for, people who are devalued, usually due to a mental and or physical disability.

Citizen Advocacy programs bring the needs and interests of an individual who is at risk of social isolation to the attention of a citizen who, with support of the Citizen Advocacy office, will respond to those needs through a freely given, usually long-lasting advocacy relationship.

 “Citizen Advocacy occurs when an ordinary citizen voluntarily represents the interests and concerns of another person who has a developmental disability as if they were his or her own.”

Why Citizen Advocacy?

We know that all people benefit physically, spiritually and emotionally from meaningful, personal relationships.

 Citizen Advocacy is important because people with disabilities sometimes experience abuse, neglect and are excluded from the circles of everyday life.