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Thank You for Powering Our Mission: 2024 Annual Report Release Celebration

By on 4/14/25 in About, Annual Reports, Chapel Hill, Durham, Events, General, Highlight, Newsletters

We’re incredibly grateful for your continued commitment to CEF and our mission to end the racial wealth gap. Each year, we have the privilege of supporting hundreds of Members in reaching their employment, housing, and finance goals. Your dedication fuels our work, which is built on person-centered support, advocacy, and financial services that promote equity.

Join us as we celebrate another year of progress and look forward to a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We’re excited to share the highlights from the CEF 2024 Annual Report and reflect on the collective impact we’ve made together.

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CEF Durham Summer Internship Application

By on 2/12/25 in About, Advocate Story, CEF Advocacy, Durham, General, Highlight, In the News, Student Research Papers

The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) is an organization working to combat the racial wealth gap by equipping Members of our community with the tools they may need to achieve financial independence. At the heart of our work is a commitment to supporting Members long-term in their goals.

As an intern in the Durham office, you will be working closely with Members to accomplish their goals through meetings and supporting projects relating to community resources, advocacy efforts, and recruitment of future volunteers and interns!

Our internship program application will be due on March 10th at 11:59pm. It will run from June 2nd to August 7th, with trainings beginning on May 27th.

If you have any questions, please email the Advocate Program Coordinator at shuhudm@communityempowermentfund.org.

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A Celebration of Black Queens in our Community

By on 1/28/25 in About, CEF Advocacy, CEF Advocacy Choir, Chapel Hill, Durham, Events, General, Highlight, Housing, In the News, Newsletters, OC Hub, Savings

Join CEF in honoring six incredible Black women leaders from our communities!
February 8, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N Greensboro St. Parking is available across N. Greensboro St. Registration is encouraged.

This year, the annual Celebration of Black Queens will celebrate the leadership of six remarkable Black women who are CEF Members. Please join us for an evening of recognition, performances, and joy, as we highlight their amazing contributions to our communities.

To ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees, we kindly ask that everyone wear an N95 or KN95 mask (which will be provided for those who need one).

Join Us for the Black Queens Event!

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CEF Freedom Liberation Ensemble: Join the Social Justice Movement Through Song

By on 1/7/25 in About, CEF Advocacy, CEF Advocacy Choir, Chapel Hill, Durham, Events, General, Highlight, Housing, In the News

Everyone’s voices are uniting for one cause: freedom and liberation. The CEF Freedom Liberation Ensemble is returning stronger than ever, ready to advocate for fixed-income, low-income, and no-income populations.

By bringing the community together to sing justice-oriented versions of popular songs, we are demanding that people in power hear the voice of the community.


Register Here to join the CEF Freedom Liberation Ensemble: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMcoH50onsP6zpGPj03Vxg4f5plWMVy84TbWQj0_9c40WQuA/viewform

Join us for the first rehearsal—open to all:

Durham: January 16th & 23rd at 6PM
Chapel Hill: January 14th & 21st at 5PM
Joint Rehearsal: February 6th at 5PM

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2024 Annual Report: Closing The Gap

By on 11/5/24 in About, Advocate Story, Annual Report Story, Annual Reports, CEF Advocacy, Chapel Hill, Durham, Employment, General, Highlight, Housing, LOC, Member Advocate Story, Member Story, Partner Story, Program Story, Research + Publications, Savings, Story

I want to be honest about 2024. It was a hard year; a lot of uncertainty as we started to see resources dry up, and we went through an election with unfavorable outcomes for our community. As hard as it was, our community was resilient. Our Advocates deepened their learning about the issues our Members faced, while our Members invested in themselves by participating in the voter education meetings and first-time homebuyer education sessions.

We established the Durham Hub to connect members in Durham with more individualized partnership offerings, and we connected people to Housing Choice Vouchers in Orange County. We also implemented the 20% savings match to help Members accomplish their goals. At the same time, we were recognized for the House Us Now March as Best Grassroots Mobilization. We packed 2024 with care, commitment, and community.

As we go into 2025, CEF will be here fighting for our community, sharing resources, and being deeply entrenched in the community.

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CEF Safe Savings Accounts: New 20% Savings Match

By on 9/23/24 in About, CEF Advocacy, Chapel Hill, Durham, Employment, General, Highlight, Housing, In the News, Savings

The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) is excited to announce that, as part of our organization’s 5-year strategic plan, we now offer 20% matches on savings goals for Members enrolled in our Safe Savings Account Program! CEF’s Safe Savings Account Program helps Members save for personal goals, such as school fees, security deposits, or emergencies.

Poor and working-class individuals who lack access to traditional banks often face exploitation by predatory lenders and unfair banking practices, like payday/pawn shop loans, check cashing services and high-interest credit cards. These alternative banking institutions frequently trap vulnerable community members in a cycle of debt and poverty.

When Members engage with CEF’s Safe Saving Program, they open Individual Development Accounts (IDA), which require no minimum balance, have no fees, and do not impact debt or credit history. No ID or proof of citizenship is necessary to open an account; however, a state-issued ID is required to cash checks. CEF can also write checks directly to vendors if needed.

To receive their 20% match, Members participate in eight 2:1 financial coaching sessions with CEF Advocates. We tailor these coaching classes to Members needs, aiming to boost their confidence in managing finances and ultimately empowering them to achieve financial freedom. Coupling savings goals and financial education with the IDA has proven effective in increasing short-term savings and long-term economic stability for working-class people across the country since the 1990s.

Don’t miss out on this chance to transform your financial future. Sign up today for CEF’s Safe Savings Account Program and start on the path to financial freedom with the support you deserve!

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Voices for Change: Donna Carrington Highlights the Impact of Quality-of-Life Laws on Homelessness

By on 9/18/24 in About, CEF Advocacy, Chapel Hill, General, Highlight, Housing, In the News, Newsletters, Staff Story, Videos

CEF Executive Director Donna Carrington commented on the petition regarding the Enforcement of Quality-of-Life Laws in the Community during the Town of Chapel Hill Town Council meeting on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. In reflection, she shared, “It was crucial for me to speak because I understand the implications such petitions have on our community. Our unhoused individuals are often arrested for ‘quality of life violations,’ and it feels like our community is a place wanting to get rid of people instead of being solution-minded.”

Donna expressed concern over the increasing criminalization of homelessness. “I think it’s essential to address this issue openly,” she noted, acknowledging that her discomfort with public speaking only underscores the importance of the topic. “When I speak, I hope people understand the significance of what we’re facing. I knew that if I spoke, people would recognize its importance because I don’t like public speaking, and for me to do it, it has to be an important issue.”

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CEF Chapel Hill Volunteer Advocate Deadline Extended!

By on 8/29/24 in CEF Advocacy

Exciting news! The deadline to submit the Chapel Hill volunteer Advocate application has been extended to September 5th, 2024 at 5:00 PM. 

As a reminder, CEF is seeking volunteer Advocates who can commit to working with Members and developing lasting relationships – before, during and well beyond their transitions out of housing insecurity. Volunteer Advocates can be anyone: undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff and even community members!

Responsibilities include committing to at least 2 office hours per week and utilizing anti-racism tools to advocate for Black and Brown Members in a larger context. A great Advocate is someone who is committed to lifelong learning.Within the application you can find a detailed description of the Advocate role and responsibilities. We are so excited to begin the Fall semester with wonderful new faces joining our community! Apply Today! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdi_pzOyaFi5HQL2ziEYvOkLiRvUMTjghmF2m9PVLi7wXKhHg/viewform

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CEF Durham Advocate Application: Now Open!

By on 8/12/24 in CEF Advocacy, Durham, General
CEF Durham Advocate Application

The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) is an organization with offices in Chapel Hill and Durham that works to combat the racial wealth gap in these areas. With various programs, including the Safe Savings program (offers Members* the chance to save money in an account at CEF with the opportunity to earn a 15% match) and the Laptop Savings program (allows Members to purchase an affordable desktop or laptop from the Kramden Institute), along with online financial coaching sessions and resources related to housing, CEF strives to equip Members of our community with the tools they may need to achieve financial independence. At the heart of CEF’s work is a housing-first approach*, a commitment to community building, and supporting, not helping, those who seek out our services.

As an Advocate*, you will be working with Members to accomplish their goals in hour-long meetings on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Meetings can range from discussing housing options locally and applying to jobs, to creating flyers for Members and their business and helping them find childcare for their kids. Advocates are expected to volunteer for 2 hours a week (meaning they will be scheduled for 2 meetings per week) and attend community calls and trainings meant to advance their understanding of issues pertaining to racial equity and the specific needs of Members.

Interested? Fill out our application here: https://forms.gle/euaj6hked59GKUwr9. As always, if you have any questions/concerns, please email the Advocate Program Coordinator at the Durham office, Shuhud Mustafa, at shuhudm@communityempowermentfund.org.

*Member – an individual who becomes a part of CEF through a one-time orientation.
*Advocate – an individual who volunteers at CEF and meets with Members alongside another Advocate.
*Housing-first – an approach that prioritizes finding permanent housing for people experiencing or on the verge of experiencing homelessness.

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CEF: Community Empowerment Fund
Chapel Hill: 919-200-0233 Durham: 919-797-9233

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