CEF is saddened by the passing of one of our 2023 Black Queens, Carolyn Suitt. She was a joy and light to her family and community. Rest in power, Black Queen with your beautiful crown.
CEF Chapel Hill is offering both full and part time internship positions for our 10 week summer program. Interns will complete a training “boot camp” and therefore no prior experience with our organization is required to apply. A great applicant for this position would be someone who is committed to anti-racism and housing first efforts, dedicated to direct service work, and passionate about the prosperity of all folks who are part of our community.
This application will be open until March 8th, 2024 at 11:59 PM. More information regarding the internship can be found within the application via a linked job description. Any further questions or concerns can be directed to chloew@communityef.org.
Sophia Thayer, Member Services Coordinator (Durham)
Your Role: In your own words, how would you describe the work you do at the CEF and why is it important?
As the Member Services Coordinator for the Durham office, I work alongside Members and external community partners and service providers, as well as Advocates and staff, to research, develop, and implement relevant resources for Members. Most of the resources center on access to housing, and other crucial elements folks need to thrive. I also help lead New Member Orientation and our food pantry.
Your Background: What experiences, strengths, and skills do you bring to this work at CEF?
My background is in case management, resource navigation, youth development, and food justice. Beyond this background, I try to be as authentic as possible and meet people where they’re coming from. I strive to always be learning and challenge myself to consistently check how my biases affect my perception of experiences and events. Overall, I believe I am an approachable and personable individual hoping to form long term relationships.
Connecting to CEF: What led you to working with CEF generally, and also to this particular role?
CEF’s commitment to justice and equity is what initially drew me to the organization. CEF’s belief that everyone is creative, resourceful, and whole resonates with me and is the basis of the Member-driven work we all do together. In my role as MSC, I attempt to provide a starting point for Members and Advocates to connect. Witnessing and taking part in human connection is a joy that CEF provides and values.
Energy: When you think about your work in this role at CEF (and/or in general at CEF) where do you find energy and renewal?
At CEF, I find energy in relationships – deep conversations about experiences and stressors, celebrations when someone reaches their goal, and connections over a shared favorite. Outside of CEF, I find energy in very similar ways by spending time with loved ones.
Challenge: When you think about your work in this role at CEF (and/or in general at CEF) where do you find challenges and how do you seek to find the best way forward?
CEF and our Members, Advocates, and staff still live and function within systems that are set up for some people to fail and some to thrive. Systemic racism and capitalism are massive opponents. Sometimes, no matter how much work we put in, we cannot solve a problem. I think the way we move forward is first recognizing that the CEF model of long-term community is radical in itself. Secondly, we can utilize this community power to break down systemic barriers as best we can.
2022 was a tremendous year for CEF! Our work was recognized both locally and nationally as we received the highest score on the City of Durham’s American Rescue Plan request for proposals and were honored with GSK’s IMPACT Award and Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders Award. We were also selected as one of ten organizations to participate in Common Future’s 2023 Accelerator program, which will support our work to expand the first-time homebuyer program (see pg. 4). These recognitions demonstrate the importance of CEF’s work, especially as Members continue to recover from financial hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to recognition for our work, we also invested time and resources into creating a guide for the next five years. CEF’s new Strategic Plan was created with input from more than 65 community partners, Members, staff, board, and volunteer Advocates. We are so excited to share the plan with you.
As we reflect on 2022, we will share stories using our new strategic framework (see pg. 5) as a guide. You will hear from Members about the importance of CEF being a strong & adaptable organization and how impactful organizing and advocacy affects their lives. You will also learn about some emerging programs that respond to Member needs and requests, and how CEF is investing in building a joyful community.
CEF continues to focus on relationship-based care, with Member/Advocate meetings as the primary way for CEF Members to receive support. The Strategic Plan did not change CEF’s commitment to cultivating opportunities, assets, and communities that support the alleviation of homelessness and poverty–but, rather, it helped us hone in on what is important for CEF to be doing vs. what community partners and other service organizations can do to best support CEF Members. Thank you for being part of this journey with us and trusting us to do the work necessary to best support Members in our quest to end the racial wealth gap and empower the community.
We’re excited to invite you to a spring celebration and annual report release party on Wednesday, May 24 at the Gene Strowd Rose Garden in Chapel Hill. The event will include short speeches from Donna Carrington, CEF’s Executive Director, a representative of CEF’s Board, and CEF Members. Please join us and invite anyone you know who may be interested in learning more about CEF and how they can support our work!
Join us in our mission to cultivate opportunities, assets, and communities that support the alleviation of homelessness and poverty!
Finance & Operations Manager:
Oversee financial management and oversight, manage CEF’s financial coaching & Safe Savings programs, and ensure compliance with all audit and legal recommendations. This role includes leading budgeting processes, financial statements and projections, financial record-keeping, payroll, and more.
Advocacy Manager:
Manage our advocacy initiatives and ensure our mission, guiding principles, and values are represented in targeted campaigns. Responsibilities include setting advocacy goals, providing guidance to frontline staff, and inspiring others to advocate for safe and affordable living conditions.
Our team is dedicated to building a joyful community focused on ending the racial wealth gap and empowering community! If you share our passion, apply now for one of our open positions.
Are you looking for a meaningful paid internship or volunteer opportunity this summer in Durham?
CEF offers paid full and part-time Summer Internships for community members interested in deepening their skills, expanding their knowledge of community resources, and working directly with CEF Members on their goals.
CEF’s Durham office is also seeking additional volunteer Advocates this summer! Advocates volunteer at-least 2 hours/week, working directly with Members as they move forward with their goals.
Both Interns and Advocates will receive in-person training and have staff available to support them throughout their time at CEF.
Learn more and find the applications at the link below. Apply by this Sunday at midnight!
Sydney is the Durham Office & Community Organizer. She started at CEF as an Advocate in fall 2021. Hannah is new to CEF, and the Triangle, and provides Staff Support for both the Durham and Chapel Hill Offices.
Learn more about their backgrounds, how they connected with CEF, and challenges they face in their roles at the links below!
The Community Empowerment Fund received funding to support Durham residents in settling housing related debts related to COVID-19. This includes past-due utilities, past-due rent, mortgage delinquency, and eviction costs. There is no limit to the requested amount; however, all debts must have been accumulated AFTER February 2020 and the Housing Debt Assistance Fund can only be accessed once. Currently, funds are only available to people who did not receive assistance from the Durham Emergency Rental Assistance Program or another rent relief program. In July, funds will be open to anyone who qualifies, even if they have received previous assistance from other funding sources.
This month, Imanie would like to highlight the Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid NC. The Fair Housing Project works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through education, outreach, public policy initiatives, advocacy and enforcement. Informational materials are available on their website.
If you believe you are a victim of discrimination in housing, contact the Fair Housing Project for assistance at (855)-797-3247 or by email at info@fairhousingnc.org. They can assist you in filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or other appropriate administrative or judicial bodies. They can provide free and confidential legal consultation about specific situations.
Durham County Resource of the Month:
This month, the Durham office would like to highlight StepUp Durham. StepUp Durham offers a variety of employment readiness workshops that teach the skills needed to find and sustain employment. The classes are designed specifically for individuals facing barriers to finding employment, such as a criminal background or gaps in employment history. StepUp connects job seekers with StepUp partner employers while participants execute the skills they have learned to further their own job search.
If you are interested in their next job skills workshop register here or call their office at 919-973-0890.
Yes! CEF Members with the capacity to meet through online video chat software (like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet) or over the phone will be encouraged to continue with this option. You can specify this option when you call the office to make an appointment.
We recognize that we work and CEF’s offices are located on the unceded territories of the Eno, Lumbee, Occaneechi, Saponi, Shakori, and Skaruhreh/Tuscarora tribes. We acknowledge and respect the ancestral & present land stewardship and place-based knowledge of the peoples of these territories. Please support them directly.
In partnership with consultants Jaclyn Gilstrap and Hope Tyson from A Visual Approach, CEF’s strategic plan is presented using an adaptation of an “Objectives and Key Results (OKR) Framework.”
At the highest level of the strategic plan, the Big Goal and Key Contribution articulates CEF’s vision of community and its mission. These components are the guiding light of the strategic plan and connect the various areas of CEF’s work to the organization’s mission and its greater purpose in the community. In addition to the Big Goal (CEF’s Vision Statement), the survey data showed that Staff, Members, Volunteers, Board, and Community Leaders across the board saw an essential part of CEF’s efforts to be centered around Building Joyful Community. It was mentioned so often that it has risen to the level of the Big Goal. It is a complement to and expansion of the Big Goal, a doubling down and a re-commitment to this essential component of the organization’s character and culture.
Big Goal:Ending the Racial Wealth Gap, Empowering Community
Key Contribution (CEF’s Mission):Cultivate opportunities, assets, and communities that support the alleviation of homelessness and poverty
In order to achieve the Key Contribution, CEF believes that it must work towards all of the Objectives outlined in the strategic plan. The Objectives are significant and concrete, and there is a word attached to each that explains not only what the goal is but how it should be achieved (responsive, strong, adaptable, impactful, growth). As a whole, the Objectives make up the key areas of CEF’s work. The relationship between them is illustrated by the visual framework (FIG 1).
As we move forward in the direction of 2025, our organization is sure to experience many shifts and changes. This document is meant to help us navigate those changes, assisting us during times when decision-making feels hard and priorities are overwhelming. We thank each and every voice that contributed to this collective vision for CEF.
Sydney Pender, Durham Office & Community Organizer
Your Role: In your own words, how would you describe the work you do at CEF and why is it important?
As Office & Community Organizer in Durham, my role is largely providing stability to the office to ensure everything runs smoothly on a day-to-day basis. Another large responsibility is the community advocacy portion, which provides CEF Members with opportunities to lead initiatives surrounding the issues most important to them such as affordable housing, fair consideration for employment, and building multigenerational wealth.
Your Background: What experiences, strengths, and skills do you bring to work at CEF?
I am a young, Black woman trying to make it in this world and I have a testimony in some ways very similar to the Members we serve at CEF. Being in my position, serving folks that look like me and have some of my same struggles, is a very humbling experience that brings both joy and sorrow. There is power in representation and relatability, that strengthens my ability to reach more than a person’s individual mind, but more importantly their hearts. The work I strive to do is done very personally and with great intention.
Connecting to CEF: What led you to work with CEF generally, and also in this particular role?
More generally, I began volunteering with CEF in search of a community. I moved to Chapel Hill mid-pandemic at the beginning of adulthood as a college student and knew absolutely nobody. I wanted to be in community with other changemakers like myself and CEF allowed me to build a home away from home. In the last two years, I have held the positions of Advocate, full-time summer intern, part-time staff support, and now full-time office & community organizer. The various positions I have held at CEF give me the ability to view our functions and operations from many viewpoints, and deepen my understanding of who we are and what we do.
Energy: Where do you find energy and renewal?
I find energy and renewal by having meaningful conversations with other people about the work I do. I like to talk to people and have heart-to-heart conversations about larger systematic issues that show up every day in the world around us. I find joy in “stirring the pot” and talking about the things that matter but are sometimes considered taboo. I would probably describe my personality as an armchair philosopher.
Challenge: What are the biggest challenges in your work and how do you seek to find the best way forward?
One of the biggest challenges I face in the work I do is seeing the influx of people in need and the lack of resources in the community to support them. There is an overwhelming amount of folks that are not having their basic needs met. It is not easy to ignore or justify because it exists right in front of us, every day. My commitment to the work I do is to at least make a dent in the pool of injustice and continue to advocate for change that will impact those who need it most. Housing is a human right.
Anything Else You Would Like To Add:
Never give up on yourself and pay close attention to the world around you. People may have their doubts and opinions, but the truth can not be silenced… YOU MATTER!
Your Role: In your own words, how would you describe the work you do at CEF and why is it important?
As full time Staff Support at CEF, I work with Members, Advocates, and other CEF staff to respond to Member’s needs in real time. During Member meetings, I am in the office and available to answer any questions or provide additional support that may be needed. Being a flexible member of staff who works in both the Durham and Chapel Hill offices is important in order to ensure that Members and Advocates are getting the support they need in order to achieve the goals that Members have identified for themselves.
Your Background: What experiences, strengths, and skills do you bring to work at CEF?
I have been a part of and worked in the substance use and recovery community for over five years. My background working with individuals experiencing situations that are complex and mutli-faceted has given me skills that allow me to engage with CEF in similar ways. My passion for this work stems from my personal life experiences as well as my background working with communities who are systematically denied access to knowledge and resources that can help them achieve their goals.
Connecting to CEF: What led you to work with CEF generally, and also in this particular role?
I have a passion for people. One of my greatest joys in life is connecting with others. I believe that, at the core of each of us, we are seeking connection with ourselves, others, and the world around us. CEF is a place where folks can find connection in many different ways. What I love seeing is so many individuals from different backgrounds, each with their own unique lived experiences, finding ways to connect and support each other. While a lot of the work CEF does is challenging and can be heavy to carry, witnessing true human connection on a consistent basis is, I think, what makes CEF so successful in their work.
Energy: Where do you find energy and renewal?
Within CEF, I find energy and renewal by witnessing the connections that are made between Members, Advocates, and staff. CEF’s work is based on relationships and seeing those relationships develop and grow brings me a lot of joy. Witnessing injustice and oppression in such an intimate way on a daily basis can be trying, but knowing that folks who engage with CEF have a place where they can feel heard and their experiences are validated helps to renew my passion for this work.
Challenge: What are the biggest challenges in your work and how do you seek to find the best way forward?
I think one of the biggest challenges for me at CEF is witnessing the injustice and oppression that Members are experiencing. At CEF, we trust that Members are fully capable of making their own decisions about what is best for themselves and their own lives. When thinking about the situations that Members face, I believe that the best way forward is to listen to Members, hear what their needs are, and work alongside them to find solutions that feel like the right way for them.
Anything Else You Would Like To Add:
I am very grateful for the opportunity to work at CEF and to be a part of an organization that is intentional about the services they provide and the relationships they build in the community. I am looking forward to my journey with CEF and seeing how my skills and my personal experiences can inform that.
Share the Love Art Show and Celebration of Black Queens in our Community
Thank you for helping us celebrate!
Last month, CEF hosted the 2023 Share the Love Art Show & Celebration of Black Queens in our Community. Congratulations to Lorie Clark, Betty Curry, Dorothy Hardin, Dawna Jones, Carolyn Suit, and Katina Welsh! We are so inspired by your work in our community.
And, a big thank you to Julius Alston, Cameron George, David Lyle, Heather Nash, Isabella Ochoa, Sandra Heard, Tonya Whitfield, and Bruce Westbrook for sharing your amazing art and talents with us.
This month you can follow along on CEF’s social media as we celebrate Women’s History Month by hearing from the Queens about the women in their lives who inspire them. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @communityef or on Linked In.
Join our team
CEF is Hiring!
Four Full-Time Positions!
Are you passionate about building relationships and making a positive impact in your community? CEF is seeking kind, collaborative individuals with the curiosity to drive their professional growth. We are currently hiring for four full-time positions!
The Development & Communications Manager will lead development and communication efforts as CEF continues to grow its reach in the community.
The Finance & Operations Manager will oversee financial management and oversight, manage CEF’s financial coaching & Safe Savings programs, and ensure the organization is complying with all audit and legal recommendations.
The Advocacy Manager will manage CEF’s advocacy efforts, in alignment with CEF’s Strategic Plan, to ensure that the organization is working towards systemic change, increasing access to affordable housing in our communities.
The Member Services Coordinator stewards all services provided to CEF Members in the Durham office and works collaboratively with the leadership of CEF’s Chapel Hill office to ensure consistent and equitable services across our two geographies.
To learn more and apply to these positions visit our website. Please share with your networks!
Band Together & United Way present the 2023 Mighty Giveback
2023 Mighty Giveback
CEF has been selected as an Impact Partner!
Band Together and United Way of the Greater Triangle have once again teamed up to present the Mighty Giveback on October 7, 2023 at the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh. CEF is proud to be amongst the 20 local nonprofit organizations selected as an Impact Partner. These 20 nonprofits are providing housing solutions and ensuring Triangle residents and families have a safe place to live and thrive. This year’s headliner is four-time Grammy Award Winner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit! You can purchase presale tickets with the presale code: Weathervanes
Jessica Cannady – Member Services & Programs Manager
Meet Jess
CEF Member Services & Programs Manager
In your own words, how would you describe the work you do at CEF and why is it important?
I am the Member Services and Programs Manager for both the Chapel Hill and Durham Offices. In my role, I support program staff, guide program strategy, and manage reporting for Member services and Advocate programs. I support and work collaboratively with staff, Advocates, and Members to promote learning and growth.
What led you to work with CEF generally, and also in this particular role?
CEF’s leadership, commitment to community, racial equity, and economic justice foci were all driving forces that led me to work with CEF. CEF’s focus on relationship building and providing services no matter where Members are on their financial or life journey was also appealing. While crisis services are important, we also have to work collaboratively as a community to think about services that foster long-term sustainability.
Tema Okun on Her Mythical Paper on White Supremacy
Last month, on the Deconstructed podcast, Tema Okun revisited her 1999 paper on White Supremacy Culture. Tema discusses the impact of the original article, its misuse, and her 2021 website that works to bring clarity on her intentions for the article and provide tools for each of us working to dismantle white supremacy.
We encourage you to have a listen and explore the tools on Okun’s website.
This month, Imanie would like to highlight the NC Diaper Bank. The NC Diaper Bank distributes hygiene products through established agencies that work directly with families. Partner agencies in Orange County include the Compass Center, El Centro Hispano, Orange County Health Department, and Orange County DSS. Diapers, feminine hygiene products, and/or adult incontinence supplies are available to clients enrolled in programs at these agencies. At the Compass Center, families may pick up diapers Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM.
Durham County Resource of the Month:
This month, the Durham office would like to highlight the Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Team (HEART). Durham has four new crisis response pilots operating under the name “HEART.” The intention of these pilots is to “connect people experiencing non-violent mental health crises or quality of life concerns with the right care by sending new responses that better match residents’ needs.” The program consists of the following teams:
Crisis Call Diversion: embeds mental health clinicians in Durham’s 911 call center
Community Response Team: dispatches unarmed 3-person teams as first responders to non-violent behavioral health and quality of life calls for service
Care Navigation: follow-up after initial contact with first responders to connect folks with community-based care
Co-Response: pairs clinicians with Durham police officers to respond to certain calls that pose a greater potential safety risk
Yes! CEF Members with the capacity to meet through online video chat software (like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet) or over the phone will be encouraged to continue with this option. You can specify this option when you call the office to make an appointment.
We recognize that we work and CEF’s offices are located on the unceded territories of the Eno, Lumbee, Occaneechi, Saponi, Shakori, and Skaruhreh/Tuscarora tribes. We acknowledge and respect the ancestral & present land stewardship and place-based knowledge of the peoples of these territories. Please support them directly.
