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Winter/Spring 2010

3V103’s Ramonski Luv helps spread the word about CEDA Head Start

As a new campaign for CEDA Head Start, V103 radio host Ramonski Luv has been spreading the word and getting children and parents through-out Cook County excited about the program.

Ramonski began working on the 2011 Fatherhood Conference with on-air promotions, as well as serving as the MC for the event.

As a father of four, Ramonski shares his passion for parenting with his listeners as well as his support for the CEDA Head Start program.

Ramonski also helped CEDA Head Start run a major book giveaway in which he called for parents to commit to reading aloud to their children.

In return, Ramonski vowed to send each parent six books, free of charge.

Parents sent their request letters to ineedbooks@cedaorg.net and told vivid stories about their childrens’ love for reading and how reading aloud to them strengthened their bond.

This leg of the campaign was a huge success, receiving more than 150 responses from parents, aunts, uncles, grandmothers and guardians.

As part of the book giveaway, Ra-monski further stressed the importance of reading by visiting three CEDA

Head Start locations and reading aloud to the children there.

Children and staff at Joseph Free-lon Head Start, St. James Head Start and Robbins Head Start and Early Head, were actively engaged in the sto-rytime and activities.

In the fi nal portion of the cam-paign, Ramonski is assisting in the

most important function of open en-rollment.

Knowing all the benefi ts of the Head Start and Early Head Start pro-grams, Ramonski stresses the impor-tance of parents enrolling their children to guarantee them a quality education.

2011 Fatherhood Conference: The Many Faces of Fatherhood

Ramonski Luv, V103 Radio show host, reads to children at CEDA Robbins Head Start and Early Head Start as a part of his campaign with CEDA Head Start to promote the benefi ts of early learning.

CEDA’s Fatherhood Demonstra-tion Project hosted its annual Father-hood and Healthy Marriage conference on March 19, 2011 at the Oak Lawn Hil-ton.

The conference focused on cel-ebrating fathers and reinforcing the importance of their roles in the family.

Fathers and attendees participated in workshops including, “Faces of Fa-therhood: Present, Partner, Parent, Pro-vider & Protector”, “Understanding & Repairing Credit” and “Protecting our Children From the Dangers of Technol-ogy.”

The afternoon portion of the con-ference was hosted by V103 radio host and CEDA Head Start spokesperson, Ramonski Luv.

During the awards ceremony, all fathers who participated in the Father-hood Demonstration Project during the year were honored and Alberto Simen-tal was named Father of the Year.

The conference was open to fa-thers, over the age of 18, interested in joining the Fatherhood Demonstration Project.

Throughout the year, the Father-hood Demonstration Project offers Healthy Marriage initiatives by provid-ing skilled-based marriage education.

These include curriculum-based workshops or meetings, counseling, mentoring and information dissemina-tion about the benefi ts of marriage and two-parent involvement for children.

The program encourages the ben-

efi cial impact of male/father involve-ment on the development and well-being of the children.

2011 Father of the Year, Alberto Simental and his wife at the 2011 Fatherhood Conference, March 19.

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Winter/Spring 2010

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Save Community Acti on: 2011 NCAF ConferenceThe assignment and the messages

were clear. The CEDA Board of Direc-tors went to the National Community Action Foundation Legislative Confer-ence with one goal: Save Community Action.

According to Community Action Partnerships’ statistics, Community Action Agencies helped to create and retain 18,432 jobs over the past two years. Yet, the proposed fi scal year 2012 budget will cut in half the CAA’s main funding source—Community Services Block Grant.

These cuts will have far reaching economic impacts that will affect the most vulnerable populations in addi-tion to the private and public business

sectors.Community Action advocates

agree that the President’s budget threatens to end community action and will severely impair local businesses, particularly non-profi ts that depend on this unique revenue stream to retain jobs and keep critical programs oper-able.

CEDA Board members who at-tended the conference in March, also made hill visits to Cook County legisla-tors to ensure that our representatives to Congress understood the impact proposed cuts to CSBG, LIHEAP and Weatherization will have on their dis-trict’s constituents and businesses.

Community Action Partnerships is

the nonprofi t, national membership or-ganization representing the interests of the 1,100 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across the country.

Robert L. Wharton, President/ CEO and Congressman Danny K. Davis, 7th District in Davis’ in Washington D.C.

“Protect our Families and Communiti es, Save Community Acti on” IACAA hosts Statewide bus tour to save funding for criti cal resources for those in need

In response to the recent proposed 2012 budget cuts for LIHEAP and CSBG, the Illinois Association of Com-munity Action Agencies (IACAA) or-ganized a statewide bus tour to get the word out and fi ght to save community action.

The tour began on April 18 in Springfi eld, at D’s Auto World, where owner, D Wood’s spoke about the im-pact that his local community action agency had on his business. D received a loan as a small business owner and has watched his business fl ourish as a result.

The next stop was PCCEO in Peoria

where local media came out to hear tes-timonies from residents who had been helped through LIHEAP and CSBG.

On April 19, the tour continued in Rockford at City Hall and in Wauke-gan at CAP of Lake County. Elected of-fi cials and former CSBG and LIHEAP clients pled the case of the respective programs through stories of their suc-cess and those of the great impact in the community.

The tour rounded out on April 20 in Mt. Prospect at the CEDA Self-Help Center and in Joliet at the Will County Center for Community Concerns.

IACAA continues to work diligent-ly to fi ght for those who cannot fi ght for themselves through spreading the mission of helping people, changing lives.

Dalitso Sulomayo, President/ CEO, IACAA, addresses the crowd at CEDA Self-Help as part of the statewide bus tour.

IACAA Bus Tour participants rally outside the Will County Center for Community Concerns in Joliet, Il on April 20, 2011.

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Helping People. Changing Lives.

6CEDA Goes Green on Facebook

CEDA recognized that Facebook’s massive network, which has more than 350 million members worldwide, com-bined with its savvy marketing tools and cutting edge technology, is the per-fect medium to raise public awareness, forge new partnerships, fundraise, and

mobilize targeted groups that are in-terested in improving the environment through energy conservation and ur-ban agriculture campaigns.

Amidst the wave of health-con-scious advocates promoting the ben-efi ts of locally-grown produce and

homeowners seeking out ways to con-serve energy consumption and cost, CEDA took to Facebook to galvanize this growing network of “Green” en-thusiasts that reaches far beyond the borders of Cook County.

CEDA Green, the name of the orga-nization’s Facebook page, is dedicated to publicizing everything from com-munity garden projects to grants that fund energy conservation and energy effi ciency programs. On the CEDA Green page, information is shared pub-licly to bring awareness to the ongoing efforts of individuals and organiza-tions that are working to help fuel a green economy.

There is an ambitious goal to reach 500 “Likes” for CEDA Green. The term “Likes” refers to a way for Facebook us-ers to give positive feedback or to con-nect with things individuals care about on Facebook. Currently, CEDA Green has more than 116 Likes. CEDA Green is available to anyone who wants to post comments, upload pictures and/or videos to inform the Facebook com-munity about their green initiatives.

Visit CEDA Green at www.face-book.com/cedagogreen.

Our partners at the Bronzeville Community Garden had a vision that community members, friends, and chil-dren could play chess in a very unique way. They wanted oversized chess pieces to add to this experience. The residents of Bronzeville have worked extremely hard to build their commu-nity garden, which has transformed the community at large and brought people together in the most unlikely of ways.

CEDA was compelled to act. We surprised our partners at the Bronzeville Community Garden when we presented the oversized chess pieces to them as an in-kind donation. Need-less to say, they were truly grateful and the pieces became an immediate draw. However, we need to raise the remain-ing $439 to cover the cost of the chess pieces. Please donate to this wonderful cause and know that your kindness is warming the hearts of many.

Community Chess

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Winter/Spring 2010

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Over the past few years, CEDA has supported a variety of urban ag-riculture projects as part of its “Grow Local. Eat Healthy.” initiative to in-crease access to locally-grown produce in underserved communities and raise awareness about the health and eco-nomic benefi ts it provides.

Such support has included col-laborative campaigns with the Gary Comer Youth Center, in Chicago, and Family Focus Our Place, in Evanston, to encourage teens to get involved in community gardens; cash donation to the Roseland Community Collab-orative for the creation of The Obama Garden, located at 10638 S. Michigan; co-sponsor of Growing in Austin Plant Day, a celebration of the new commu-nity garden unveiled at the Third Uni-tarian Church, located at 301 N. May-fi eld Avenue, in Austin; co-sponsor of the Smart Farm’s series of Spring Workshops, in Lake Barrington, that provided guidance and basic know-how on how to plan, prepare and plant a vegetable garden; and cash and in-kind donations of gardening supplies to the Bronzeville Community Garden, located at 51st and Calumet.

CEDA has taken to Facebook to raise $10,000 to continue supporting these and other projects that educate, train and help Cook County residents develop the horticulture skills neces-sary to build self-sustaining farmland

in urban communities. These efforts also lead to the creation of local jobs and much-needed access to fresh fruits and vegetables in communities known as “food deserts.”

To support “Grow Local. Eat Healthy.” visit us on Facebook at www.causes.com/causes/600395.

We Need Your Help! Donate to Support “Grow Local. Eat Healthy.”

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Winter/Spring 2010

9CSBG Self-Employment Training Program

The objective of the Self-Employ-ment Training Program is to provide comprehensive training on business start-up skills and assist students who complete fi nalized business plans to become entrepreneurs, thereby creat-ing jobs for CSBG eligible customers in the service area.

The 2011 Self Employment Train-ing Program will be a three phase pro-gram administered in three locations; Evanston, Robbins, and Cicero, Illinois.

The goal is to recruit, screen and enroll 60 students into Phase 1 of the Self-Employment Training Program to receive training on business start-up skills and have at least 45 students move on to Phase II with a completed feasibility plan.

By the end of Phase II, at least 30 students should develop viable start-

up business plans and proceed to Phase III. During Phase III, at least 15 students should receive one on one mentoring and advanced business plan research training.

The Phase III component will pro-vide ongoing assistance and mentoring to Phase II graduates. Phase III will be a 4 week component consisting of one-on-one and group consultation ses-sions with students.

The sessions will include intense business coaching and mentoring by the instructor and outside profession-als. This phase will critically evaluate and critique student business plans so that the plans are moved closer to funding eligibility and business start-up preparedness.

Students will be required to utilize more intense and advanced research techniques to improve business plans.

(left to right) 2010 Self Employment Training Program Graduates in Evanston and Robbins, IL

State Representati ve Barbara Flynn Currie, 25th District, hosts CEDA Weatherizati on Demonstrati on

Saturday, March 5, at 10:00 a.m., Illinois State Representative Barbara Flynn Currie hosted a weatherization demonstration at the Merrill Court Apartments, 7201 S. Merrill Avenue in Chicago.

Building residents and “green” enthusiasts were invited to attend the demonstration and see fi rst-hand what upgrade measures were applied within the multi-family units.

Upgraded measures featured at Merrill Court included:

• Installation of state-of-the-art attic insulation • Reduced air leakage• Upgraded thermostats • Replacement of ineffi cient f ur- naces inside tenants’ apartmentsResidents living in the 40-unit

South Shore apartment building will experience warmer winters and cooler summers due to energy conservation upgrades proved by CEDA.

For more information on CEDA’s Home Weatherization program visit www.cedaorg.net.

(above) CEDA Weatherization staff guide Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie and other attendees through demonstrations of energy effi ciency measures performed on the multi-family unit at 7201 S. Merill. During the building upgrade, contractors installed new state-of the art attic insulation, reduced air leakage, upgraded ther-mostats and replaced ineffi cient furnaces. (left) Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, 25th District and Robert L. Wharton, President/CEO, CEDA outside the weatherization demonstra-tion held March 5, 2011.

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Helping People. Changing Lives.

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CEDA’s Community Services Block Grant housing programs in the west suburban Chicago area will be

managed and administered by our newest partner, Lutheran Child and Family Services. LCFS specializes in services and programs that reduce poverty by providing safe homes for children, fostering self-reliance in fami-lies, strengthening connectivity in com-munities and promoting the dignity of all people.

LCFS has several service sites in the western Cook County suburbs each specializing in its own service for chil-dren and families’ unique needs. For more information about LCFS, visit www.lcfs.org.

Angelita Smiley, CSBG Program Manager, CEDA; Yvette Williams, Program Supervisor, LCFS; Deborah Al-Waraqi, Director,LCFS; Alicia Baylor, Case worker, LCFS

Lutheran Child and Family Services to administer CEDA CSBG Housing program

Street and fi ght these wars that are costing us $700 million a day, is ridicu-lous.”

“We can’t be scared to tell them [elected offi cials] what we think,” said 17th Ward Alderwoman LaTasha Thomas. “As an elected offi cial we have to do our jobs. You must stand on our backs to make sure we do.”

Emotions ran high as speakers discussed the devastating cuts to com-munity action and other social service organizations.

Patty Zuniga of Claretian Associ-ates, a non-profi t organization in South Chicago, said child care programs of-fered through community action en-abled her to return to work. She now helps others in need of assistance and said it’s heartbreaking to see seniors regularly come in to her offi ce wonder-ing how they’re going to pay for basic necessities.

“I get tired of seeing seniors come in and say ‘Do I pay my medication or do I pay my heat bill?’ That is not a de-cision they should be forced to make,” said Zuniga.

Without Community Services Block Grants (CSBG), Community Ac-tion Agencies will not have the one funding resource that allows them to solve community problems through innovative locally controlled projects. Funding essential emergency services which support quality of life for all Americans will be disrupted.

22nd Ward Alderman, Ricardo Munoz, ad-dresses a crowd of hundreds at the Illinois Action Day Rally.

LIHEAP cont. from page 1Comcast Cares Day

On Saturday, April 30, more than 4,600 local Comcast employees and their families and friends volunteered throughout Chicagoland as part of Comcast Cares Day.

At the same time across the coun-try, more than 62,000 Comcast volun-teers participated in this annual day of service, which is one of the largest single days of corporate volunteer ef-forts in the country. This is Comcast’s 10th Comcast Cares Day.

Since its inception in 2001, Com-cast employees, their families and friends have dedicated over 2 million hours of service.

Two CEDA locations were selected to participate with Comcast volunteers

for this year’s Comcast Cares Day. At CEDA Near West in Cicero, ap-

proximately one hundred volunteers turned out to pack Care Packages for deployed service men and women in Afghanistan.

Frank Amaro of the Combined Veterans of Berwyn assisted with the logistics of getting the packages to the soldiers in Afghanistan.

He was joined by the Armed Forc-es Club from Loyola University for the post packing shipping work.

Town offi cials delivered the proc-lamation: April 30, 2011 as “Comcast Cares Day” in Cicero from Town Presi-dent Larry Dominick.

Throughout April, Comcast loca-tions held a donation drive to collect approved non-perishable items for the troops.

At CEDA Calumet Park, a parking lot full of volunteers distributed thou-sands of pounds of free produce from the Greater Chicago Food Depository Producemobile as part of an additional Comcast Cares Day volunteer project.

“It was heartwarming to see so many people lifting and unloading hundreds of boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables for the neighbors”, said CEDA Executive Vice President Pat Doherty-Wildner. “It was back-break-ing work that we all loved.”

Volunteers pack care packages for the troops at CEDA Near West for Comcast Cares Day

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