Section 1: Strategic Initiatives

Below are the Corporation for National and Community Service’s  Strategic Initiatives.  Please give at least one example of activity that addresses at least one strategic initiative that your program has addressed.  Describe the activity, including the need that was addressed; local collaborations or partners; service activity; and results.

Ensuring a Brighter Future for America’s Youth

Engaging Students in Communities

Mobilizing More Volunteers

Emily had an idea for a project called the Visionary Walk.  She wanted to bring some more professional and vibrant art work in to the Family Preservation Center.  She planned and created this project on her own.  She hand picked the artists that would participate and each had to submit an example of what they were going to paint.   Emily's vision was to have inspirational paintings to encourage and inspire the women residing at the shelter.  She wanted the FPC guests to feel confidence, solace, and motivation from these art works.  All of the artists were volunteers from the community.   Some are local artists that Emily has met through the art shows she has organized, some were from local high schools, and some were artists that sit on the newly created ArtSpace Advisory Board.  Emily has also helped to mobilize a group of powerful volunteers to form the ArtSpace Advisory Board.  Personally she has been working on her public speaking and presentation skills.  She has been working with Ruthann, the Director of the Art Space, and with Terri Scanlon and Sebine Fell who are both volunteers on improving her skills.  Emily has really helped the ArtSpace expand its reach to new volunteers and supporters. 

Harnessing Baby Boomers’ Experience

Section 2: Great Stories

Highlight member activities which are especially reflective of the impact the program has in the community, or which illustrate an innovative or highly successful aspect of program operation.  Please provide at least one story.

Candace got in to Farleigh Dickinson and will be going back to school in the Fall!  Since the beginning of her term, Candace has been assisting our Homelessness Prevention Team.  She has done such a good job and the team would not be able to function as efficiently without her.  With the changing economic climate and the change in clients, HomeFront has taken on a new project called the Hope Project.  Tameka who was the head of the Homelessness Prevention team is now running the Hope Program.  With the changes, Candace now has her ownership of the New Jersey Shares program which assists our clients with their utility bills.  She is helping hundreds of people keep their lights on at night so their children can do their homework and keep their electricity and gas on so they can heat their homes and cook dinner for their families.  Candace is very proud of herself and takes great pride in her work.  HomeFront could not be happier to have her on our team.   

Nicole has told me that one of her favorite parts of her job is simply preparing food bags and handing them to families in need.  She feels so good to know that she is helping provide food for hungry families.  She also very much enjoys working with a group called Community Options.  They are a group of mentally disabled individuals that come twice a week to volunteer in the Food Pantry.  She has realized that people think of them as incapable when really she said they help so much. 

Elliott is still working on creating an ESL program over a the Lawrence Community Center.  He has completed a needs assessment for the ESL program as well as continues to work on a needs assessment for the entire center.  He is trying to find out what types of programs the community needs and then will try and find people to teach those skills or activities.  He also built a popcorn machine for the center's children's after school programs!