Central SABES supports the ABE Community Planning Coordinators and Partnership members in our region with both regional and statewide opportunities. The goal of our work is to increase the capacity of ABE Community Planning Partnerships to work effectively within these partnerships, to identify and respond to local needs and assets related to Adult Basic Education, and to engage in collaborative strategic planning.

Community Planning Workshop, July 2004 at Garden in the Woods, Framingham
Anne Holbrook, ACLS Community Planning Developer presenting

• SABES Staffing - Statewide coordination of Community Planning support to partnerships is coordinated by the SABES Community Planning Specialists at Central Region SABES (Cathy Gannon ). Cathy Gannon also coordinates community-planning activities for our region.
  
• Trainings - Trainings are offered both statewide and locally in each of the SABES regions. A yearly survey of Community Planning Coordinators, local community planning coordinator input, and the DOE Five Year Community Planning Plan influence the selection of training topics. Topics have included Building and Maintaining Partnerships, Facilitating Meetings, Conducting Focus Groups, and Planning an Assessment of Assets and Needs.An Orientation for new Community Planning Coordinators is also offered. A "Statewide Summer Institute" provides the opportunity for in depth learning on a Community Planning related topic.

Chris Hebert, Director of the Quinsigamond Community College ABE Program, navigates her way through the "Community Change" Activity.

• Central Region Sharing/Work Group: This group gives Community Planning Coordinators and Partnership members the opportunity to share information and experiences. New members can join at any time.
  
• Community Planning Resource Guide - The Resource Guide contains book reviews, listings of print, videotape and online resources, and summaries of annual "lessons learned" projects. The guide is available on line.
  
• Listserv - The SABES Community Planning Specialist manages a statewide listserv. Membership on the listserv is open to anyone who has an interest in ABE Community Planning. To join the listserv go to www.literacytent.org, click on mailing lists, next screen click on public lists, and finally on the list name partnerships. You will find directions to join the list.

• Community Planning in Action - Community Planning in Action is a publication that reports on Partnership Members' Community Planning experiences. Input is gathered statewide and this report is distributed to all programs, available on the web or from the Central SABES office.
  
• Technical Assistance - The SABES Community Planning Specialist and the regional SABES Community Planning Coordinators support Community Planning Coordinators and Partnership Members through program visits, resource referrals, and by coordinating and encouraging linkages between Community Planning Partnerships. Contact Cathy Gannon for technical assistance in the Central Region.
  

Participants at the July 2004 Community Planning Workshop held at Garden in the woods