Published in "The Pasco County News"  July 6, 2006 

The evolving American Dream Model
by JANET WATSON, Staff Writer 

 SAINT LEO–What happened in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina last year was a catastrophe, and Bob Loring couldn’t help envisioning what could happen to the “precious children of east Pasco living in bitter poverty” if a similar disaster struck here.
 Loring has long believed that “The American Dream” is the birthright of every child, including those who are needy, and he has been working hard to make that possible in east Pasco.  He began with Toys for Tots, and through a partnership with other individuals and organizations who shared the dream, the program has expanded to include Food for Tots and STEPS, a program to help lower-income children get ready for school
 It was inevitable that his plans for the Fifth Congress of the American Dream Practitioners (TAD), held at Saint Leo University on June 21, would include a focus on “Disaster Planning for Our Poverty Families,” and he lined up a group of speakers who have given that subject plenty of thought themselves.  Delegates represented the East and Central Pasco communities of Dade City, Land O’Lakes, the tri-communities of Lacoochee, Trilby, and Trilacoochee, Wesley Chapel, and Zephyrhills and were welcomed by Jessica Hawkins White, Assistant Coordinator of Student Activities at Pasco Hernando Community College, who has worked closely with Bob Loring to organize the TAD movement.
 Keynote speaker was Pasco School Superintendent Heather Fiorentino, who informed the Congress on how the school system responds to a disaster scenario. Schools are used for shelters, of course, and there is a plan to utilize all Pasco school buses for transportation.
 From the Pasco County Office of Emergency Management, James D. Johnston, Emergency Operations Coordinator, presented an overview of the county’s current plans to meet and address any potential countywide community disaster and made it known that Emergency Management will be needing community support in identifying both poverty and disability cases.  Depending on the scope of the emergency, assistance centers will be authorized.  Volunteers willing to take disaster training are needed.
 Ron Miller of Food for Tots talked about his experiences with food operations and distribution on the Gulf Coast last year, and Susan Hutson, of Premier Community HealthCare Group, Inc., updated the group on that organization’s expanding efforts on behalf of needy citizens in the county.
 The Congress featured reports from area captains that summarized the past year’s community efforts and set forth plans for the coming year.
 “As is our stated policy and custom,” said Loring, “we provided ample opportunity for our delegates to interact, network, and form partnerships.  It is our conviction that only through constant communication will we be able to improve our services.”
 The idea, he emphasized, is to work “smarter” rather than “harder,” so the community’s limited resources can be utilized while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services.
 “On the plus side, our various communities are truly blessed with a fine assemblage of committed service providers and volunteers,” Loring pointed out. “Together we stand, always eager to face the complex challenges ahead.”
 Some time was also given to reviewing “The TAD Model,” as Loring calls the evolving program that he believes can be replicated anywhere. The model mobilizes each community to address its own local poverty situation by evaluating it and formulating a comprehensive plan to address the conditions.  All elements– schools, businesses, residents, faith communities and government– would be expected to respond to the needs by coordinating, networking, and sharing information, and then proceeding to correct the problems.
 “People eagerly respond to a well-constructed idea with a clear plan of action,” Loring stated in his Model outline.
 This year, he also had something new to present to TAD practitioners.  In cooperation with Pasco Hernando Community College, a credit course titled “Community Organization and Development–Theory and Practice” will be offered.
 “We will seek to train a new group of community leaders in the art and science of community organization,” Loring said.  He invites all current Toys for Tots/Steps volunteers as well as high school and college age students– the community leaders of the future, to sign up for the course..  He encourages each local civic organization to sponsor a student by paying his or her $100 tuition, and it looks as though East Pasco Habitat for Humanity will be the first by sponsoring a student from one of its Habitat families.  Loring has the names of four people interested in the course and needs someone or some organization to help them financially.
 “Can you tell I’m excited?” Loring asks.  His excitement is catchy, as those on his “dream team” can attest.  He’s crossing all his fingers and toes, hoping that the number of TAD practitioners continues to grow, reaching out to less-fortunate neighbors in productive and creative ways.
 This year’s TAD Congress was actively supported by the following organizations and partners: Saint Leo University, Pasco Hernando Community College, the San Antonio and Dade City “Morning” Rotary Clubs, and the HMO Coalition.