Organizations Filed Purposes:
We exist to empower neighborhoods to thrive by using Asset Based Community Development Principles and Practices. We strengthen communities by listening to their stories, learning about their dreams, coach, and train them to work towards the fulfillment of their personal and communal dreams. We believe that change comes from within the neighborhoods, but that people also need knowledge, social capital and access to the larger system of society to move towards wholeness.
We exist to empower neighborhoods to thrive by using a strength-based approach (Asset-Based Community Development). We help socio-economically under-resourced communities work together to increase their resilience and have tools and resources to flourish. We coach and equip in Asset Based Community Development.
The Winton LL Community Center provides opportunities for community members to come together and share their resources. Winton is a small unincorporated town, but despite the lack of resources, people are coming together to "Put Winton on the map for something good". Our "Community Connectors" are staff that has come through the "Welfare to Work" program and now engage with the community to share their gifts and knowledge. Our partnerships with local government agencies provide a good platform for people to learn and grow and have access to 'next steps' on their journey. Our Center provides a number of different programs that are based on what the community desires to move forward: access to healthy food through a community garden, a food pantry and health education; mental health classes to deal with the stress of poverty; and many community-driven initiatives: ESL/SSL classes, Kid's Time, civic engagement opportunities, graffiti abatement, access to computers, training etc. Neighbors are using their gifts and abilities to make Winton a better place and create greater resilience. Every person uses their voice and has the opportunity to contribute back through various volunteer-based programs. People move from isolation and despair to helping create a town that has good things to offer. Over 700 community members have received help and over 150 volunteers have invested in their community.
The Loughborough Community Center (in an area known as 'ground zero' for drugs, crime, and high-density housing) started as a small after-school program in an apartment complex that flourished into engagement with many of the 3,000 households. The Center is led by Community Connectors (former "Welfare to Work" people needing the services themselves), who engage with neighbors to see what they can contribute to the wellbeing of the community and what resources they need to move forward and thrive. The center is the hub in the community where after school programs help kids with homework, social skills, and dreams. The computers are available to search for jobs and get the help needed to take steps forward. Partnerships with government agencies, non-profits, and the faith community provide opportunities for people to learn and grow. The community garden helps educate and feed people, the various gatherings help to be civically engaged and work together to the betterment of the community.
Coaching/Training and Equipping - Using Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) principles and practices require a major shift in understanding, from 'needs-based' programs to 'strength-based' empowering relationships. We train individuals, non-profits, and other groups in first considering the assets already present in a neighborhood: the people, the skills, the resources, and dreams. This is in contrast to needs-based approaches commonly used to render services to the needy. The direction at the beginning of the journey determines the destiny at the end. We focus on the local resources and build community and capacity whereas a needs-based approach can foster dependency and disincentivize initiative. The ABCD approach is well respected in community work, but when it comes to working out practices in the neighborhood, often workers fall back into the familiar community work, but when it comes to working out practices in the neighborhood, often workers fall back into the familiar like us to provide for you?" We are changing the language and the outcomes by engaging neighbors from the beginning in self-determining their preferred future. Over 2,000 volunteer hours have been invested in this effort.
Executives Listed on Filing
Total Salary includes financial earnings, benefits, and all related organization earnings listed on tax filing
| Name | Title | Hours Per Week | Total Salary |
|---|
| Renuka Nandkishore | Financial Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Billie Razzari | Board Chair | 2 | $0 |
| Monika Grasley | Executive Director | 40 | $0 |
| Cindy Latronica | Board Member | 2 | $0 |
| James Kanabay | Board Member | 2 | $0 |
| Steve Roussos | Board member | 1 | $0 |
| Armando Diaz | Board Member | 1 | $0 |
| Adolphus Speights | Board Member | 2 | $0 |
Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (
public 990 form dataset) from:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202031769349301378_public.xml