Methodology
Cultivating Peace in Salinas is the result of a 4-month process during the period from February through May 1999. The process was comprised of eight main components:

• Workplan Creation—Prevention Institute worked with the City to determine the appropriate structure for the planning process.
  

• Literature and Data Review—Prevention Institute researched existing information captured by Salinas-based projects. The goal of this review was to identify local trends, and to compare these trends to state and national data.

• Core Group Meetings—The Core Group, comprised of 20 representatives from business, community, education, justice, funders, City of Salinas, County of Monterey, faith, and non-profit agencies, met six times for four to five hours to guide the overall direction of the framework.
  

• Extended Network Meetings—Approximately 100 community leaders including local business owners, superintendents of schools, teachers, school counselors, school board members, media representatives, funders, city council members, county supervisors, non-profit agencies, judges, probation officers, and other community representatives came to three meetings to provide input on the development of the framework. This group was also instrumental in sharing the planning process with others in the community.
  
• Questionnaires, Individual and Group Interviews—Over 50 people were interviewed and 75 questionnaires were analyzed. These questionnaires and interviews sought to determine “what is and isn’t working in Salinas” and were used to identify underlying risk factors in the community. Most importantly, the process ensured the inclusion of a broader community voice.
  
• Synthesis and Review—Proceedings from meetings and findings from interviews and questionnaires were reviewed and synthesized to inform the final framework.
  
• Feedback on Draft Framework—Through working sessions, feedback from both the Core Group and Extended Network was solicited and incorporated into the final iteration of the framework.
  
• Final Framework—The final product represents the synthesis of data, community input, and the concerns of committed stakeholders. The document seeks to reflect the issues that have been identified by a broad cross-section of Salinas, delineates the elements of a strategic approach, and outlines specific key recommendations for Salinas.2
  
  Developing the framework required a committed Core Group, representing diverse sectors of Salinas, which worked intensively throughout the framework development process. These Core Group members possessed the knowledge and wisdom to identify and analyze the underlying issues, and prioritize the solutions that have the best chance for success in the community. It is also important to note the leadership and participation of the Mayor and the Assistant City Manager, both formally and on a hands-on basis. The Extended Network also provided critical information and insight which has contributed significantly to the development of this report.
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