Portal:Status Reports
From WikiCODOPN
acc4tze This page will be used to document accomplishments of the project during the two year period of performance of this project.
Contents |
STARTUP PHASE (Nov 06 - April 07)
STATUS REPORT - 16 Feb 07
This is "midterm" status report of the project during the "Startup Phase."
Although the Project Team has made some signifcant progress, the task ahead still appears overwhelming for a small group of part-time volunteers (all of whom have "real jobs" and families and personal matters that require attention as well).
Nevertheless, the Team will continue to work on this Regional DoPN Model project, and hopefully any accomplishments our Team makes can be of use to others who are also envisioning how the Department of Peace will operate.
Past Accomplishments
- Identified a need to generate additional detail about the proposed U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence (DoPN) to assist the Colorado Campaign
- Additional detail about the DoPN will dispel misconceptions about the new Department (e.g. The DoPN will just replicate the efforts of existing Departments,The DoPN will cost too much,...)
- Additional understanding of the how a Regional Office of the DoPN will operate illustrates how the DoPN adds value to the local community
- Presented the idea of initiating a Regional Model Project to the State Leadership of the Colorado Campaign to establish a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence as described in the pending legislation (see H.R. 808.)
- Formed a small team of like-minded volunteers (see Project Team)
- Compiled a Project Introduction presentation that outlines the Goals and Objectives of the project
- Initiated a web site for the Regional Model Project (see http://www.dopmodel.info)
- Initiated this Wiki web site you are currently visiting, WikiCODOPN, to assist the Team with communication and collaboration (see http://www.dopmodel.info/wiki)
- Selected three candidate "key issues" of the Department of Peace that are of general concern within the Congressional Districts of our region of the country:
- School violence - a form of interpersonal violence
- Gang-related violence - a form of group violence
- Lack of access to basic health care - a form of collective / structural violence
- Identified a subject matter expert for each of these three key issues
- Drafted a proposal for funding to construct a Regional resource database. (Contact Julieann Murphy Cross for details)
Current Activities
- 1) Continue to explore the use of the UML (Ref: Joseph Schmuller, Sams Teach Yourself UML in 24 Heurs, Third Edition, Sams Publishing, 2004.)
- "In the area of 'System Development,' a tool is evolving called the Unified Modeling Language. The UML is a visual modeling language that enables system builders to create blueprints that capture their visions in a standard, easy-to-understand way, and provides a mechanism to effectively share and communicate these visions with others."
- "System development involves complex communication among people, the potential for error lurked at every stage of the process... The key is to organize the design process in a way that analysts, clients, programmers, and others involved in system development can understand and agree on. The UML provides the organization."
- Just as you wouldn't build a complex structure like an office building without first creating a detailed blueprint, you wouldn't build a complex system to inhabit that office building without first creating a detailed design plan. The plan should be one that you could show a client just as surely as an architect shows a blueprint to the person who's paying for a building. That design plan should result from a careful analysis of the client's needs."
- 2) Continue to evaluate the modeling tool, Cradle. The demo license for Cradle expires the end of February. The software appears to be very versatile - provides numerous options for generating diagrams that will document how the Department of Peace is designed to operate.
- 3) Continue to document a list of all the potential stakeholders in the new DoPN.
- 4) Continue to document the "requirements" of each class of stakeholder to assure the design of the new Department will meet the expectations of all key stakeholders.
Planned Activities
- Summarize and document the benefits of using the UML methodology / process in this modeling effort - include the following:
- The mission of the proposed Department of Peace and Nonviolence is too complex for any one person to retain current knowledge of all the working details. A traditional layered system of management / supervision / coordination is envisioned.
- Visualization is a powerful aid to understanding how the system will function. Diagrams are important to convey who is involved, how they interact and communicate with each, the flow of information between individuals and technology aids (e.g. databases), the function of individuals and groups, the timing and sequencing of events, the conditions or "states" an individual can be in,
- System Development processes and methodology combined with today's visualization tools can assist in creating and effective and responsive Department of Peace and Nonviolence that is fully accountable to U.S. Taxpayers, Congress, the President, and the citizens it serves.
- Prepare to document the results of the "Startup Phase" and transition into the "Development Phase" of this Model Project.
DEVELOPMENT PHASE (May 07 - May 08)
STATUS REPORT - 22 Jul 07
This status report of the project documents progress to date.
The efforts of the Metro Denver Gang Coalition (MDGC) are being observed as a typical example of a community-based program. Several hundred people are included on the Email distribution list. Perhaps several dozen people are actively involved in "projects." The MDGC recently sponsored a guest speaker, Aqeela Sherrills, Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323-228-7622) [aqeelasherrills@yahoo.com], see: www.wattsarts.com. Aqeela is a dynamic, thoughtful person who experienced gang life first-hand while in high school. He was instrumental in creating a dialog between opposing gang members in Los Angeles and launching the âCease Fireâ agreement signed by rival gang members in Watts in 1992 that changed the quality of life in this community. His story deserves more attention and will be further documented over the coming months.
Another positive example is the Harlem Children's Zone project. Over 10 years ago, Geoffrey Canada wrote the book, "FirstStickKnifeGun" as he documented violence in America. He is currently the President/CEO of Harlem Children's Zone, Inc. dedicated to improving "Outcomes for Children and Youth Through a Place-Based Strategy." This project will also be featured in subsequent months because of its comprehensive scope for youth development.
Another organization that deserves additional attention is the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. We will be highlighting a paper "State Youth Development Strategies to Improve Outcomes for At-Risk Youth" in the near future.
