Common Good Initiative
Allegany Franciscan Ministries
May 2015
May 2015
In early 2014, Allegany Franciscan Ministries announced a new strategic endeavor, the “Common
Good Initiative,” designed to mobilize communities towards better health and wellness through
community engagement, a long-term commitment of resources, and increased collaboration of
residents and stakeholders.
In keeping with the legacy of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and with our mission to serve
together in the spirit of the Gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within
our communities, this initiative will bring hope, inspire residents to embrace opportunities to
improve their health and wellness, and make a transformative and measurable impact for the poor
and underserved.
Allegany Franciscan Ministries has committed a significant amount of capital – human, financial,
social and spiritual - to the initiative. We are working with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to
become a part of improving health and wellness for community residents. We recognize that
success will require that stakeholders in the community take an active role in identifying
opportunities, making recommendations and implementing the plan. Success also depends on
other philanthropic, public, private, non-profit, and faith-based organizations coming together to
leverage funding, take leadership roles, and commit to a sustainable effort over time.
Our three Common Good Communities are: Miami-Dade Region – Overtown; Tampa Bay Region Wimauma, and, Palm Beach Region - Lincoln Park in Fort Pierce. For the past year, we have worked
with residents and stakeholders to identify priorities; over the next few months, we will be getting
additional feedback from community members and developing strategies and investments.
We invite and encourage you to stay connected and to join the communities of Overtown,
Wimauma and Lincoln Park. We value your input and guidance.
Peace and all good,
Bill Tapp
Chair, Board of Directors
Eileen Coogan Boyle
President & CEO
Special thanks to everyone on the staff team, regional commissions and board of directors at Allegany
Franciscan Ministries. The Common Good Initiative Task Force committed countless hours in
developing this initiative. Led by Task Force chairman Carl Lavender, its volunteer members included:
Alma Ayala, Arlease Hall, Emery Ivery, Sr. Jo Streva, John Flanigan, Sr. Lucy Cardet, Sr. Margaret Mary
Kimmins, Margie Walden and Dr. Peter Gorski.
Common Good Initiative May 2015 Report 1 | P a g e Common Good Initiative
A Focused, Community-Driven Approach for the Common Good
In late 2013, the Allegany Franciscan Ministries Board of Directors approved a new strategic
initiative called the “Common Good Initiative.” This initiative will allow Allegany Franciscan
Ministries to more deeply fulfill its mission, be open to new and innovative ways to create healthier
communities, provide for the highest and best use of available funding, promote systemic change,
and energize our community, volunteers and staff.
The term “common good” comes from a central concept in the modern social teaching of the
Catholic Church and is summarized in the 2004 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church,
#164, chapter 4, part II:
The principle of the common good, to which every aspect of social life must
be related if it is to attain its fullest meaning, stems from the dignity, unity
and equality of all people. According to its primary and broadly accepted
sense, the common good indicates “the sum total of social conditions which
allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment
more fully and more easily”.
In keeping with our mission to serve together in the spirit of the Gospel as a compassionate and
transforming healing presence within our communities, Allegany Franciscan Ministries has
identified one community in each of the three regions we serve and will work with its residents
and stakeholders to create opportunities, develop strategies and make investments that lead to
positive health outcomes in each community.
The Common Good Initiative is focused in under-resourced communities, increasing access to
health and related resources necessary to bring about change towards better health and wellness. Broadly speaking, the goal of the Common Good Initiative is to partner with specific
neighborhoods to create healthier, safer, and more prosperous places in which our most vulnerable
residents can live, learn, work and play.
Common Good Initiative May 2015 Report 2 | P a g e A Common Good Community Starts with…
A Community with Health and Wellness Challenges, Ready to Partner with Us
Through a discernment process that included analysis of a host of social, health and economic
indicators, as well as other factors, three Common Good Communities have been identified. Further
work is underway to gather input directly from persons in the community and to assess each
community’s strengths, assets and desires.
Collaboration and Partnerships
While Allegany Franciscan Ministries has committed a significant amount of resources to the
initiative, we recognize that success will require that stakeholders in the community take an active
role in identifying opportunities, making recommendations and implementing the plan, and that
other philanthropic, public, private, non-profit, and faith-based organizations come together to
leverage funding, take leadership roles, and commit to a sustainable effort over time.
Long-Term Commitment and Resources
The time invested in a community will depend on the community and the strategies chosen. While
recognizing that this work takes a long-term commitment, reasonable expectations will be set for
results and benchmarks to ensure that the work is on the path to success.
Allegany Franciscan Ministries has already begun investing in the communities, and plans to
commit approximately $1 million in FY16 in each of the Common Good Communities, with
additional significant investments annually through 2021. The total amount available and flow of
resources needed over time will change depending on the community, strategies chosen, and
availability of funds.
Belief that an Impact can result from the Common Good Initiative
Allegany Franciscan Ministries believes and expects the following outcomes from this initiative:
1. Positive movement in health and wellness indicators.
2. Documented changes in systems that improve a community’s health and wellness. These
will be determined collectively by the community and Allegany Franciscan Ministries and
must address causes and lead to outcomes.
3. Evidence that efforts will be sustained.
4. Evidence of community engagement, collaboration and partnership.
5. Evidence of community mobilization and capacity.
Common Good Initiative May 2015 Report 3 | P a g e Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Common Good Initiative come about?
In late 2011, the Allegany Franciscan Ministries Board of Directors began a process to identify a
new strategic opportunity that would allow Allegany Franciscan Ministries to more deeply fulfill its
mission, be more open to new and innovative ways to create healthier communities, provide for
the highest and best use of available funding, promote systemic change, and continue to energize
our community, volunteers and staff. A variety of strategic opportunities were considered through
this discernment process.
In December 2013, the Board of Trustees approved a new strategic enterprise called the “Common
Good Initiative.” In keeping with our mission to serve together in the spirit of the Gospel as a
compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities, Allegany Franciscan
Ministries will identify one community in each of the three regions we serve and work with
residents and stakeholders to create opportunities, develop strategies and make investments that
lead to positive health outcomes in each community.
The Common Good and Catholic Social Teaching
The “common good” is a central concept of Catholic Social Teaching and is summarized in the
2004 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #164, chapter 4, part II:
The principle of the common good, to which every aspect of social life must
be related if it is to attain its fullest meaning, stems from the dignity, unity
and equality of all people. According to its primary and broadly accepted
sense, the common good indicates “the sum total of social conditions which
allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment
more fully and more easily”.
Why one community or neighborhood, since there are needs throughout
the counties Allegany Franciscan Ministries serves?
Evidence suggests that a focused approach in one geographic area will help us leverage resources
and make a greater, measurable impact. Allegany Franciscan Ministries expects to utilize our
limited resources to build in-depth relationships in each community, involve residents in creating
or developing creative and innovative opportunities, and direct our investments towards the longterm success of those initiatives and programs.
While Allegany Franciscan Ministries will begin dedicating a substantial amount of its available
grant funds to the Common Good Initiative, we will maintain a limited number of our more
traditional grants in each region.
Common Good Initiative May 2015 Report 4 | P a g e How were the three Common Good Communities chosen?
The identification of these three communities – Overtown., Lincoln Park and Wimauma Village was the culmination of a tremendous amount of work and collaboration, and we are so proud of
and grateful for the dedication of the staff team and commissions, as well as the hundreds of
community partners who assisted so far!
Communities were initially identified through analysis of social, health and economic indicators,
with an initial focus on communities represented by the twenty or so census tracts with the highest
poverty rates in each of our regions. This research was conducted using data sources including, but
not limited to, our local Children’s Services Councils, Census Bureau, County Health Departments
and Florida Department of Health. Through this work, a small number of potential communities
were selected, and then conversations and dialogue took place, and additional research was
conducted to develop an initial assessment of each community’s readiness, assets and strengths,
and to gather input directly from persons in the community.
During this initial phase of discovery and discernment, we went to great lengths to ensure that we
engaged people in the most respectful, transparent and thoughtful manner.
A Selection
Framework tool was developed identifying a set of indicators around Community Fit, Readiness,
Impact and Other, to help the staff and commissions think through the potential of each
community and support the selection of a single community. With recommendations from the
regional commissions and staff team, the board of directors made the final decision on one
geographic community per region.
How much money will be committed to the Common Good Initiative?
Allegany Franciscan Ministries has awarded between $5.5 and $6.3 million through its available
grants programs in recent years; based on our current available assets, we anticipate overall
funding levels to be about the same in FY16 and FY17. Of the total $12 million anticipated to be
available in the next two years, approximately half will be committed to the Common Good
Initiative.
Will Allegany Franciscan Ministries still provide grants outside of the
Common Good Initiative?
Allegany Franciscan Ministries offers several competitive and non-competitive grant programs.
With the launch of the Common Good Initiative, there was a significant reduction in the total
amount of funds available for these grant programs, making the selection of recipients more
competitive. In FY16, all three regions will continue to offer both Major Grants and Tau Grants.
Information about priorities and the application processes will be available in May or early June,
2015. Again, the total funds for the Major Grants and Tau Grant programs will be decreased.
Common Good Initiative May 2015 Report 5 | P a g e Each year, the allocation may change based on the needs of the community, available funds, and
partners engaged with the initiative.
What do you expect to achieve through this initiative?
The three communities are different in many ways, while the opportunities for us to partner with
residents to impact lives in the short and long term are significant in each. Allegany Franciscan
Ministries anticipates the following outcomes from this initiative:
1. Positive movement in health and wellness indicators.
2. Documented changes in systems that improve a community’s health and wellness. These
will be determined collectively by the community and Allegany Franciscan Ministries and
address causes and lead to outcomes.
3. Evidence that efforts will be sustained.
4. Evidence of community engagement, collaboration and partnership.
5. Evidence of community mobilization and capacity.
How do I get involved in the Common Good Initiative?
We will be looking to our current and past grant partners, community stakeholders, and residents
to help us understand the community, share best practices, and connect us to others with whom
we can partner and leverage resources. How can you help?
1. Get to know our organization, mission, and staff.
a. Attend information sessions, lunch and learns, or other events
b. Sign Up for Our E-Newsletter (at www.afmfl.org)
c. “Like” us on Facebook
2. Share information and ideas you have about the Common Good Initiative or our Common
Good Communities.
3. Help us get to know you.
a. Tell us what trends you see in your community, programs, and amongst your peers
b. Share a success story
c. Make sure we are “following” you on your social networks
4. Attend community gatherings in Lincoln Park, Overtown and Wimauma.
Common Good Initiative May 2015 Report 6 | P a g e What Investments Have Already Been Made?
In each of the Common Good Communities, we have begun to award grants, and provide financial
support through grant-related activities, while we work with the communities to identify priorities and
strategies. To date, the following investments have been made:
Lincoln Park Investments FY15
Total to date in FY15: $141,970
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$120,000 to Roundtable of St. Lucie County for two Street Outreach Workers in the
Restoring the Village Gang Initiative
$15,000 to Roundtable of St. Lucie County for general operating support of the Lincoln Park
Advisory Committee. Funds will also be used for activities to engage the community, such
as community memorial gardens, surveys, etc.
$500 to Lincoln Park Academy, honorarium for hosting community meeting; funds to be
used to improve the school environment.
$5,000 to Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County for staff of the Infinity Club to attend the
National Boys and Girls Clubs Conference, to enhance their skills and provide better services
for youth at the Club.
$1,470 to Roundtable of St. Lucie County, for the Lincoln Park Advisory Committee to create
and maintain a community mobilization and resource guide for Lincoln Park residents and
youth that can be accessed through an “app” for smart phones and other electronic
devices.
Overtown Investments FY15
Total to date in FY15: $21,245
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$500 for Urgent, Inc. an Overtown youth and community development organization
dedicated to empowering young minds to transform their communities, to attend the
YouthBuild conference in Los Angeles in the fall of 2014. The conference provided
information and resources to help youth lead more productive lives.
$5,000 to support the development of the Overtown Children and Youth Strategic Plan.
$1,050 to Overtown community partners to cover expenses, including honoraria, associated
with an educational tour of Overtown led by Dr. Marvin Dunn, and dialogue with
stakeholders.
$1,560 in scholarships for eight Overtown stakeholders to attend Miami Philanthropy Day
on March 5, a day-long educational and networking opportunity.
$5,000 to sponsor the Camillus Health Fair held for the Overtown community on April 11,
2015. The fair provided residents with the opportunity to be tested for diabetes,
cholesterol, high blood pressure and other health issues and connect them to a medical
home.
Common Good Initiative May 2015 Report 7 | P a g e 
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$3,135 to help the Overtown Children and Youth Coalition obtain expert advice that would
strengthen their 2015-2020 Master Plan, detailing how the coalition will improve outcomes
for children and youth.
$5,000 to sponsor the Overtown Children and Youth Coalition’s community meeting and
reception on May 7th and 8th. 2015 The meeting examined the collective impact model and
discussed how best to achieve neighborhood-based change in Overtown.
Wimauma Investments FY15 Total to date FY15: $355,000
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$50,000 to Suncoast Community Health Center for a part time benefits coordinator in
Wimauma to ensure individuals have an accessible location to connect to benefits for which
they are eligible.
$300,000 to St. Joseph’s Hospital for La Esperanza Clinic. Funds will support the free clinic
over the next three years to provide medical services to the Wimauma community and
increase the time of key staff members (nurse and patient navigator) to meet the health
needs of the community.
$5,000 to Wimauma Citizens Improvement League to ensure a property located in the heart
of Wimauma remains available for future community use.
What Happens Next?
Over the next six months, we’ll be working in and with each community to further identify
priorities, desired impacts, and strategies. We’ll look for opportunities, develop partnerships, and
make investments. Specifically, Community Dialogues/Visioning sessions will be held in each
community between July and September.
Common Good Initiative May 2015 Report 8 | P a g e