Warden Development Council

The Warden Development Council (WDC) came together in the summer of 2006 as an informal group of citizens concerned about the lack of growth in the City of Warden and it’s viability as a thriving, growing community. The county and communities around Warden were growing at an unprecedented rate, but Warden remained a community in poverty and on a downslide. At the same time, the community was approached by WSU to be part of the Horizon’s Project. As in most small towns, even though these two organizations came about independently, many of the members of the WDC also were in the Horizon’s Leadership. In 2007, the ideas produced by these two groups merged with the WDC taking the lead in registering with the state as a not-for-profit 501 (c) (6). As the groups became more and more focused on the work of creating a community where families that earn a ‘living wage’ would like raise their children, it was obvious through the strategic planning process of the Horizon Project that the WDC become the vehicle for change.

Gear Up Partnership

The WSU Horizons Program is partnering with the Warden School District Gear-Up Program (funded by Central Washington University) to support low income students in attending various activities throughout the school years. This partnership will allow students who would not otherwise be able to afford to participate in those events that could encourage them to make a higher education a life goal that can move them from poverty.

Horizons Public Relations Training

The Best Western Motel in Moses Lake, Washington was the site of the Horizons Program training in public relations April 10-12.
The Horizons program is about the changes a community can make to move from poverty to hope, from population and economic decline to prosperity. This initiative is for rural communities of fewer than 5,000 and with poverty rates of at least 10 percent.
23 Washington communities were represented at the three day program. Training was provided in two different tracks. One track was Leadership Plenty, designed to equip community members with skills that they will take back home and pass on to others. The other track was public relations. Pictured are people learning the basics of digital photography, media releases, web sites, blogs and more.
The Public Relations track trainees will be the people who publicize the Horizons Program in their towns.
The Horizons Program will continue in Washington for another year helping communities to raise up leaders, identify resources, and bring people together to improve their own community.

Virginia Capetillo - Horizons Training

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