Creating Non-profit Sustainability during a Pandemic
It would be easy to maintain a reactive stance in today’s crisis climate. Needs are higher, rates of trauma and mental health challenges are on the rise, and resources are tight. Amidst this conundrum, non-profits must quickly pivot and develop compelling arguments to access vital Cares Act and American Rescue Act funds, which have become a lifeline for those we serve. We are tired at Central, and feeling the strain in our day-to-day work; but, I could not be prouder of how our departments have come together to maintain forward thinking, with a focus on building capacity and a strong future for the youth, families, and seniors we serve.
Programming has returned on site – we had a stagger schedule in May, and moved onsite full-time in June. Staff vaccination rates are over 80%. We continue to stay updated on spread, strains and best-practices for navigating life during a pandemic. We are thankful that partners, such as the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, Bricker and Eckler, and UPRYS have supported this process.
There are always good things happening at Central! Here’s what we have going on across our five primary program areas:
YOUTH
Youth Are Central – we had a seamless transition from our onsite Learning Enrichment Center (LEC) to summer camp, and are thankful for the laughter and activity at our facilities. Camp has bridged learning with fun, and this year we made an intentional decision to improve our staff to youth ratio from 1:10 to 1:5. This allows us to provide the individualized attention youth need to catch up with schoolwork and heal.
Thanks to a $33,488 grant award from the Columbus Youth Foundation and Columbus Foundation, Central is also hosting seven Saturday Adventures (and other recreational activities) for the whole family this summer/autumn – including the Zoo, Marmon Valley, 5.Life Bloc Garten/Vertical Adventures, the Kirkmont Center, and Hocking Hills. Families have enjoyed horseback riding, rock climbing, boating, and have received annual memberships to the Zoo. Transportation and meals are provided, all free of charge thanks to our generous funders. Dozens of families have enjoyed these excursions, and it’s not too late to join the fun.
TRANSIT ARTS is back on site, with weekly workshops covering all art forms, and continued engagement with both our senior and summer camp programs.
Open Mics are back onsite (outdoors), with one recently held at Franklin Park Conservatory, and including over 200 participants throughout the evening. TRANSIT ARTS also partnered with the City of Bexley for their Juneteenth event, which included both performances and community engagement.
AND, we have exciting news to share! Thanks to a $700,000 award from the City of Columbus, and specifically the unwavering support and advocacy of Michael Stevens, Director of Development for the City of Columbus and City Councilmember Priscilla Tyson, we are launching the TRANSIT ARTS Residency Program (TARP). Beginning in August, TARP will employ artists and youth within their communities to establish a series of large and small public arts projects. Projects may be temporary, longer term or, performance based. They will encompass the broadest possible spectrum of the arts, including murals and other creative visual arts projects, restoration of existing murals by African-American artists, sculptures, garden space enhancements, literary arts, theater/performance arts, music production, dance arts, and technology arts. Artists who have seen their job opportunities disappear because of the pandemic will be hired to work with youth on the development, implementation, and completion of these projects, deeply engaging community members and community serving organizations. Weekly mental health check-ins will support youth impacted by trauma.
TRANSIT ARTS/Central Community House will form the hub of the TARP employment program, providing training, administrative support, and managing the provision of resources in the Eastside and Southside. Central will also coordinate with satellite centers in Franklinton/Westside in 2021, with hopes to expand to Linden/Northside, and downtown in 2022. At least 58 individuals will be hired – 11 mentoring artists, 44 youth artists, 3 site coordinators, and 1 project manager – making wages that range from $15 (for youth) to $35 per hour (for mentoring artists).
The Investment from the City also includes funding for infrastructure that will result in the sustainability of youth employment through corporate and community contracts in future years, and a space where youth will be trained in all aspects of performance art for years to come. This will include a performance stage and gazebo for public arts performances at the English Center for Art and Community on Bryden Road. We are incredibly grateful for this investment, and the recognition that creative engagement combined with professional development and mentorship, which includes place-making guided by our youth, is a way to ensure inclusion and prosperity for all.
FAMILIES
Central’s Strong Families Program has grown to meet the increased needs in our community, particularly as it relates to homeless and eviction prevention. In partnership with three other Settlement Houses, Central Community House received an $1 million grant to support rental and utility assistance, and moving costs, for TANF eligible families (total award for all four agencies was $4 million). Central disbursed $189,023 in primarily rental assistance from 5/11-6/30/2021 (there is now a brief pause on this contract, but we look forward to starting back up again soon). This project has included a fruitful contract with Renter Mentor who just received an award through the City (in partnership with the Affordable Housing Alliance and CoHear) to implement the Housing Knowledge for All (HK4A) plan for landlord and tenant outreach, marketing, and education pertaining to the Housing for All legislation. This is truly a win-win-win as we work not only to support families in crisis, but educate both tenants and landlords about their rights, and creating sustainable housing solutions.
The Strong Families Program continues to offer workshops in the form of parenting classes and resource management workshops (e.g., to access financial, health, education, workforce, and housing resources), while also helping ensure parents get a break. As an example of this, staff recently took the children of families supported through case management to a local roller skating rink.
SENIORS
Village Central continues to offer onsite programming for vaccinated seniors, including Village Central Arts workshops, a crafting group, cooking classes, and weekly chats. Coinciding virtual offerings are available, as well as other opportunities (e.g., Bingocize, Sharing Our Stories), to support those unable to join onsite.
Summer Cooking, Nutrition, and Gardening Class with our Summer VISTA, Stefan Pontius
Following a successful Pilot, Village Central is expanded their Technology Access Project (TAP). Resulting from an investment of $68,509 from Franklin County Office on Aging, not only will we be serving 40 additional seniors in the Near East, but also 50 seniors in the Hilltop with Chromebooks, Hotpots, and training. Our hope is that we can support existing organizations on the Westside through a train-the-trainer model so that they can adopt and sustain the programming in the future. These investments will help seniors stay connected to friends, loved ones, and community supports in the event of a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and teach skills to seniors to use technology for everyday life purposes, such as online banking, purchasing goods, and managing health benefits.
ENTREPRENEURS
The Academy for Community Entrepreneurs (ACE) has had strong virtual engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and much of our programming will remain virtual for the rest of this year. We have begun onsite Monthly Business Thank Tanks, and have added some onsite workshops, including Food Safety and Food Pricing hosted in our commercial kitchen on Main Street. Like ACE on Facebook, and learn more about how you can grow or expand your business through our offerings.
Check out these delicious entrees made by the amazing chef Chacon Carter Jefferson. Chacon has taken ACE's Business Planning Course, and excelled. She is an amazing business woman and an even better chef.
Here are some words from Chacon herself:
"I am Chacon Carter-Jefferson the owner of Chacon's Sweet Treat Eats and Good Eats. I’ve been in business since 2016 and I specialize in catering southern cuisines and delicious baked cakes, cookies, and pies. Our company strives to make sure our customers always have a sweet treat kind of day with us!"
If you would like to request her services or learn more about her business, you can reach her here:
Web: www.Chaconssweettreatsandgoodeats.com
Email: info@chaconssweettreatsandgoodeats.com
Phone: 740-777-3177
Beyond programming, Central also has these exciting events and initiatives happening!
THE VILLAGE MAKER FESTIVAL
This year marks 85 years of Central Community House serving as a safe haven for community members. This fall, on September 18th, 2021 from 12-4PM, we are hosting the first-ever Village Maker Festival to publicly honor and thank community heroes who have stepped up and supported Central Community House throughout the past year, and who share in our success. This event will raise funds in support of Central’s mission, and take place outdoors on the greenspace at the English Center for Art & Community (1251 Bryden Road. Columbus, OH 43205). The festival will feature an afternoon of live music, performances, art showcases from nationally and locally renowned artists and CCH youth, and tasty food and beverages! Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Please contact Alex Barkley at abarkley@cchouse.org if you or your organization would like to support the event. Tickets for general admission will go on sale on August 1, 2021. We hope to see you there!
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH
Also coming up -- On Tuesday, August 17, 2021 from 3-7pm, Central will be hosting our Back to School Bash. At this event, youth will receive backpacks, school supplies; have access to resource tables; and will be able to celebrate to the backdrop of DJ BHB, and enjoy a meal with others in the community. We anticipate more than 100 stuffed backpacks, given out on a first come, first served basis.
INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
Lastly, within our organization, we’ve been focused on making one-time investments that will build Central’s capacity to serve the community for the foreseeable future. We’re investing in our staff, increasing pay bands to provide a living wage, improving our recruitment strategies for open positions to reach a more diverse pool of candidates; and providing ongoing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training, both for staff and our Board members. We’re also improving technology to help ensure staff spend more time with youth, families, and seniors, and less time in front of a computer. While we are busier now on some of these efforts, we are confident that these investments will simplify processes in the future and result in sustainability.
Central is also in its final stages of the renovation of our Main Street facility, including a $933,000 investment (City CDBG award) in our HVAC, security systems, roof, among other improvements. We are thankful this partnership; and that we could do so much work during the period when staff had been working from home. This will keep our facility running smoothly for many years ahead.
Capacity building projects exist for one key purpose – to better meet the needs, and embrace the assets, of our neighbors; and to support community development for all residents.
As you can see, there is no shortage of great work happening at Central. We would not be able to make such a big impact without the support of so many people like you. If you have not had a chance to review our recently released Impact Report, you can find it HERE. We know this past year has been difficult for many people. But if you are in a position to give, we hope that you will make a donation so we can continue to meet the needs of youth, seniors, and families.
Until next time,
Tammy Forrest
Executive Director, Central Community House