2021 was another difficult year. With the ups and downs of feeling like life was getting closer to pre-pandemic times and then going back into lockdowns and separation, CEF offered stability and companionship to Members. We stayed committed to remaining open, enforcing a vaccination or testing mandate for all staff and volunteers and continuing with COVID safety protocols to ensure that Members, staff, and Advocates could continue to meet safely.
In this report you will learn more about CEF’s activities throughout 2021 — including information about our support of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the creation of the House Us Now coalition, and the joy experienced through the Share the Love: Art Show. In addition, you will hear stories from Members and Advocates–uplifting the hope they experienced as they worked alongside CEF to ensure that everyone in our community has access to safe, affordable housing and the opportunity for financial freedom.
As you read through this report I hope you will feel that hope too, that you can see the potential hiding just below the surface. Thank you for being a part of this incredible community and for continuing to offer support as we learn to adapt to a new reality. We are so grateful for each and every contribution. Thank you for supporting this work!
House Us NOW! March for affordable housing 30% AMI and below
House Us NOW!
Join us Saturday, April 9, 1:00-5:00 pm
CEF, alongside IFC, MCJC, CHC-NAACP, and EmPOWERment Inc., is hosting the second biannual House Us NOW! march on April 9. The march will raise awareness and raise voices of people needing to find affordable housing at 30% AMI and below.
We will meet at the Peace and Justice Plaza, 179 E Franklin Street, in Chapel Hill at 1:00 PM and march to the Jackson Center at 512 W Rosemary Street. There will be food, dancing, a live DJ taking requests, and a chance for people to speak out!
A recent WRAL Tech Wire article focused on the current housing market in the Triangle. Demand is at an all-time high while affordability is at an all-time low. The article shared data from the Triangle Multiple Listing Service (TMLS) showing that median sales prices are up by 23.9% from just last year!
This data shows that it is more important than ever to show up and advocate for safe, affordable housing for folks at 30% AMI and below. Join us April 9! Get there early and march at 1:00 PM.
CEF Durham Spring Celebration!
April 16, 1-3 PM
CEF Durham’s Spring Celebration will be on April 16 from 1:00-3:00 PM at Hillside Park, 1301 S Roxboro Street! All CEF Members, Advocates, and staff are welcome! Come celebrate Durham’s graduating Advocates and enjoy food, music, activities, and the spring weather!
Women’s Voices: We Are Speaking
Women’s Voices: We Are Speaking
Affordable Housing: A Local Response to a National Challenge
This Saturday from 10:00-12:00 PM be sure to join in on this discussion with local affordable housing professionals focused on issues related to affordable housing and advocacy. Register for the event here.
CEF is looking for new Board Members!
Join the CEF Board!
CEF is actively recruiting Board Members
Are you interested in an active role in guiding CEF’s future? Join the Board to participate with CEF in a deeper way. Learn more and fill out the interest form here.
In early March, a federal judge signed off on a court settlement requiring the NCDMV to send a special notice to tens of thousands of drivers about how they can request a court hearing if their license was revoked because of an inability to pay fines and fees. During the hearing petitioners can request an adjustment to the fines and fees and reinstatement of their license. In addition to the special notice, the DMV will be required:
To include in future notices specific information about how a driver can petition and show to the court an inability to pay a traffic-related fine before receiving a revocation notice.
To fund an informational website with videos, written explanations, and other materials on how to prevent loss of license because of non-payment.
To reference this website in the special and newly revised notices for 18 months and to include this information on the DMV’s website and in its various offices across the state.
A toolkit which includes the form is available at the website here.
Durham County Resource of the Month:
This month, Leah would like to highlight the Kramden Institute. The Kramden Institute provides affordable computers for low-income adults. Recently they have reduced prices starting at $70 for laptops and have started offering desktops at $30! If you are a CEF Member and interested in purchasing a computer through Kramden, let us know! CEF is a partner agency and can help you apply for a computer.
If you are interested in donating old computer equipment check here to see if Kramden could use it.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment after April 22 please call 919.797.9233
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CEF Chapel Hill’s Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thurs: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Friday: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Can I still make a virtual appointment?
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.
CEF would like to formally introduce Joe Katusich, CEF’s new Member Services and Programs Manager!
Joe comes to CEF with a deep background in program management and experience in the nonprofit sector. We are very excited to have Joe on the team and excited for you to get to know him a bit better.
Read the interview below to learn more about Joe’s role and philosophy.
Joe Katusich, Member Services and Programs Manger
Describe the work you hope to accomplish in your role at CEF.
As the Member Services and Programs Manager, I hope to help foster a work environment that promotes our guiding principles and that reaches above and beyond in an effort to elevate the impact of the services the incredible CEF team provides for its members. I hope to contribute to maintaining trauma-informed, healing-centered, relationship-based, and racially equitable practices in all of CEF’s programs, and I hope to facilitate the growth of our reach to Members and Advocates in the Durham and Chapel Hill communities. I will aim to accomplish all of these things with a strong sense of purpose and pride as we usher in the next chapter for CEF.
What experiences, strengths, and skills do you bring to this work at CEF?
I have a deep-rooted passion for serving my community. It all started when I joined the Key Club in high school where we raised money to put together events designed to support families and individuals within our community that were experiencing homelessness, financial insecurity, food insecurity, etc. I have held jobs in just about every industry you can imagine: education, sales, software development, customer service, and the food industry. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Psychology, I served 2 years in AmeriCorps as a Tutor, Mentor, and Role Model in Boston Public Schools with City Year Boston. That experience solidified my passion for social justice and civic engagement work, carrying me to a career working with nonprofits. In Boston, I spent time developing programming and building a volunteer network for the Martin Richard Foundation and continued my work in education as a Program Manager with Playworks New England. My life experiences have lent themselves to a successful and fulfilling career thus far, and I’m just getting started.
What led you to work with CEF generally, and also to this particular role?
I have found great purpose and pride in the contributions I’ve been a part of during my nonprofit career. When I lost my jobs in Boston due to COVID, I felt a little lost and decided to pack up my car and find a new community to serve that I had never been to before. After driving around the country for the better part of a year, I landed in Durham with the intention to find a way to continue working within my passion of building beloved communities where all can prosper. The Member Services and Programs Manager role felt like a perfect fit where I would be able to apply my talents for project management and relationship building to an opportunity where my knowledge for community assistance programs can grow and thrive.
Where do you find energy and renewal?
I have always found that as long as I am passionate about the work I am doing and can continue to find purpose while doing it, my energy to continue the work is endless. I am and will remain passionate about contributing to real, positive change in my community, and that will allow me to find energy in this role. Outside of my work, spending time exploring the great outdoors or with good people and good food always grounds me and renews my energy.
What challenges do you anticipate in your role at CEF and how will you seek your best path forward to overcome those challenges?
I anticipate there will be many challenges that I have not faced thus far in my career. However, I will attend to them as I have attended to all other challenges I’ve had to navigate. I will approach each challenge with an open heart and an open mind. I will meet others where they are at and seek to understand to the best of my ability. I will make intentional, informed decisions, and consistently seek opportunities to grow both professionally and with my level of content knowledge. I will trust the members of my team and ask for help when appropriate, and do everything in my power to find the best possible solution.
Last chance to register for the 2021 Piggy Bank Bash!
The Piggy Bank Bash is Monday November 8 at 6PM
Can you believe November is almost here?? The 2021 Piggy Bank Bash is coming up fast! This year CEF’s annual fundraiser will be virtual, but we are encouraging house parties as a way to be social, safe, and spread the word about CEF! Tickets are free, registration is required. Parties with 10 or more people are eligible to register for free food courtesy of our food sponsors! Join us November 8 at 6pm! All donations will support CEF’s work to end the racial wealth gap and sustain transitions out of homelessness and poverty. Registration and the food form are available here.
CEF is engaged with A Visual Approach to conduct a 5-year Strategic Plan. As part of this process, CEF is requesting feedback from Advocates, Members, Staff, Board Members, and Community Partners. This anonymous survey will take approximately 15-25 minutes to complete and will be used to help guide the Strategic Planning process. Thank you for participating. Survey collection will be open October 1-31, 2021. Take the survey here!
The Center for Intentional Leadership Presents: The Piggy Bank Bash
Thank You to the 2021 Piggy Bank Bash Premier Sponsors!
The Center for Intentional Leadership
Intentional Leadership
This year’s presenting sponsor, The Center for Intentional Leadership, is a consulting firm committed to the development of leaders, teams, and organizational cultures. The firm’s approach is centered in the assertion that high performing organizations are the product of a compelling purpose, effective leader, engaged and committed employees, and a clear, aligned focus on results. Clients of the firm range from Fortune 500 corporations to small businesses, as well as non-profit, municipal, and civic organizations.
Premier Sponsors
Carol Woods
Situated on 120 wooded acres in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Carol Woods is an accredited not-for-profit continuing care retirement community. Carol Woods is an inclusive community that promotes an active lifestyle supported by the area’s educational, cultural and medical resources. A commitment to well-being enables residents to pursue activities that support a sense of individual fulfillment and purpose.
Strata Clean Energy
Strata’s mission is to deliver value to their customers, communities, and future generations by creating new opportunities for clean energy. The success of Strata comes completely from its people, who share a passion for bringing more solar to more communities and reducing our reliance on less sustainable energy sources.
Food Sponsors
Carrboro Pizza Oven
GRUB Durham
Mediterranean Deli Bakery and Catering
Our wonderful food sponsors are providing you with free food for house parties that register 10 or more people! Fill out the form and a CEF staff person will be in contact! Carrboro Pizza Oven, GRUB, and Mediterranean Deli are three of our local favorites and we’re excited to share them with you.
LocoPops Give Back Week 11/8-11/14
LocoPops Give Back Week!
November 8 through 14
Sundries@LocoPops is giving 10% to the Community Empowerment Fund for all online and in person purchases* 11/8 – 11/14. Here’s some great ideas for supporting CEF through this special opportunity:
Grab an after school treat
Snag a few specialty ingredients to kick your at-home dinner scene up a notch
Stock up on essentials from your favorite local producers
Get a gift for an exciting new crush or old friend
Pick up a 6 pack or bottle of something tasty to go with dinner
Bring home a new puzzle – winter is coming!
Be and Early Elf – get some holiday shopping done with their Shop Local gift packs
Resource Alert Get Covered Carolina & Durham Child Care Services
Resources of the Month
Orange County Resource of the Month:
This month, Diiv would like to highlight Get Covered Carolina (GCC)! Get Covered Carolina works with underserved and vulnerable patients in the area in order to help them navigate the online insurance marketplace and their options for insurance coverage. GCC will be offering in person Healthcare Enrollment help at the OC Hub (as well as their other community based and virtual offerings) starting when Open Enrollment opens on November 1st! They have been a strong partner at the Hub for 5 years now! Learn more here!
Technical Assistance including record keeping, completion of attendance sheets, and workshops on best business practices for child care providers
Information and referral on other services for families and children.
Priority is given to Low income families with children between ages 0-12 who meet income guidelines, live in Durham County, and are employed or in school. Additionally, the following are considered priority groups and may be eligible:
The child is in Protective services or in Foster care
Work First recipients and need child care in order to pursue employment
The family resides in a homeless shelter
Parent/guardian is in a substance abuse treatment program
To get on the waitlist call 919-560-8300. To find out where you are on the waiting list, email dsschildcarewaitlist@dconc.gov (include your name and children’s name). Learn more here!
Friday November 19 pickup for Thanksgiving meals is 10:00 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Members can sign up here to receive one.
CLOSED November 24, 25, 26
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CEF Chapel Hill’s Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thurs: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Friday: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
CLOSED November 24, 25, 26
Can I still make a virtual appointment?
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.
On June 26 CEF Members, Advocates, staff, friends, and family came together to honor the hard work that CEF Members are putting in to achieve financial stability and independence. Thank you to everyone that joined us in celebration and made Financial Independence Day a success! Thank you to our musical guests, Chapel Hill’s Finest! Book them for your next event by contacting OD Sanders at 919-259-2619. And special thanks to full-time interns – Olivia, Hannah, Jada, Collyn, and Audrey – who planned the event!
We are all excited for future events to build and celebrate our treasured community. “It’s not about the money. It’s about the relationships.” -Thomas Owens, CEF Alumnus
Old Fashioned Quilting Made Fun!
Every Thursday At CEF Chapel Hill
Have you ever had the desire to learn quilting? Do you enjoy crafting in good company? Want to get a head start working on that 2022 holiday gift? Join David every Thursday from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at the CEF office in Chapel Hill, 208 North Columbia St. No quilting experience is needed!
COVID-19 Guidelines: Please wear a mask and abide by social distancing protocols.
Donations of fabric and crafting supplies are welcomed! Please drop off at the CEF Chapel Hill office.
If you have any questions or concerns please call (919) 200-0233 and leave a message for David!
Brandwein’s Bagels SAVE THE DATE!
Fundraiser Friday August 20
Friday, August 20, Brandwein’s Bagels will donate 15% of all sales to the Community Empowerment Fund. This fundraiser will assist CEF in our ongoing work to provide person-centered support with financial services that pursue equity in order to reduce the racial wealth gap. Mark your calendar for August 20 and check out their menu at brandweinsbagels.com!
2021 Piggy Bank Bash
Registration is open! Is your business interested in sponsoring
CEF’s 2021 Piggy Bank Bash will be held virtually this year on Monday, November 8 from 6:00-7:00PM EST. Tickets are free, registration is required. The Piggy Bank Bash is CEF’s annual fundraiser and all donations will support CEF’s work in Durham and Orange Counties. Visit the website to register for the 2021 Piggy Bank Bash presented by The Center for Intentional Leadership.
Sponsorships are still available for businesses at the Premier and Community Sponsor levels. You can check out the sponsorship benefits on the registration page here. For more information about becoming a sponsor, please contact: ari rosenberg, Director of Development and Finance, at arir@communityef.org
Resources of the Month
Orange County Resource of the Month:
This month, Diiv would like to highlight Care to Share a partnership between IFC and OWASA to provide up to $200 in financial assistance for overdue water bills from OWASA. This community water bill assistance program helps to make sure that no one in our community will have to go without water – or scrimp on medications or food to pay their water bill.
Care to Share funds are administered by the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services (IFC) in partnership with OWASA. CEF is partnering with IFC and OWASA to be an application site! Contact the Chapel Hill office at 919-200-0233 for more info.
Folks can also help out by donating to the Care to Share program. If you are an OWASA customer you can add a monthly donation to your water bill or donate a lump sum. Both options available at the link here.
Durham County Resource of the Month:
This month, Debbie would like to highlight LaunchDURHAM for folks seeking small business support. Applications are being accepted until August 8 for the next LaunchDURHAM cohort. In this ten-week training program you will learn how to refine your product, determine core customers, and how best to reach them, create financial tools for your business, and navigate the fundraising process. By the end of these ten two-hour classes, you will have a working business plan, a strategic plan for the next year, and be on your way towards growing your business!
To qualify applicants must be active in their business, working at least 5 hours each week, have access to an internet capable computer that can manage zoom calls, come from a household that earns less than $60,000 (if not, applicants may still be eligible, but will have to pay the $250 fee). The application can be found here and more information here.
Through Aug 19 Monday-Thursday: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
After Aug 19 Monday-Thursday: 10:00 am – 3:00pm
Thurs: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm except Aug 19
No orientations Aug 9-20.
CLOSED: August 9-16
Can I still make a virtual appointment?
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 are almost at the end of our 2021 Spring Appeal and still need your help to meet our goal! New and returning donors will be matched for up to $5,000 thanks to Epworth United Methodist and an anonymous donor! Can you donate now to help us finish strong!
Already donated? There are still ways you can support us in meeting our goal! Please like and share Spring Appeal posts you see pop up on our social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). Share our Facebook fundraiser with your friends (add a little note about why CEF’s work is important to you!), and forward this newsletter to friends who might be interested in supporting CEF’s ongoing work to end the racial wealth gap!
Thanks to everyone who has already donated and supported us during this year’s Spring Appeal!
The Center for Intentional Leadership Presents: The Piggy Bank Bash
2021 Piggy Bank Bash
Registration is open! Is your business interested in sponsoring?
CEF’s 2021 Piggy Bank Bash will be held virtually this year on Monday, November 8 from 6:00-7:00PM EST. Tickets are free, registration is required. The Piggy Bank Bash is CEF’s annual fundraiser and all donations will support CEF’s work in Durham and Orange Counties. Visit the website to register for the 2021 Piggy Bank Bash presented by The Center for Intentional Leadership.
Sponsorships are still available for businesses at the Premier and Community Sponsor levels. You can check out the sponsorship benefits on the registration page here. For more information about becoming a sponsor, please contact: ari rosenberg, Director of Development and Finance, at arir@communityef.org
This year marks 10 years since CEF’s first Financial Independence Day!
The people of CEF declared independence from the oppression and tyranny of the unjust financial system, whose banks are built on the backs of poor people and nations. Join us in celebration of a financial system that upholds justice, equality, and people, June 26 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Hargraves Community Park.
Financial Independence Day is a celebration to honor the hard work that CEF Members are putting in to achieve financial stability and independence. We will honor CEF Members who have reached their Safe Savings Goals since January 2021. The event includes cookout food, activities, and music.
Everyone is welcome! This includes anyone who has ever been a CEF Member or Advocate, community partners, and your family and friends!
Please fill out the RSVP form if you will be in attendance.
We’ll be encouraging people to distance and wear masks to accommodate COVID safety. Unfortunately, we are choosing not to give rides this year because of COVID, but we hope to return to this next year. If you need support figuring out how you will get to FID, please give our Chapel Hill Office a call at 919-200-0233
CEF is hiring!
Advocacy & Community Building Manager
The Community Empowerment Fund is seeking a full-time Advocacy & Community Building Manager that will work with both our Durham and Chapel Hill offices. Are you experienced in community and volunteer organizing? Do you have supervisory skills? Are you excited to join an organization working to end the racial wealth gap by supporting people experiencing homelessness or financial insecurity? Apply now! Priority deadline is June 30 and applications are accepted until the position is filled.
Please come to the Durham office to pick up free and fresh food. Available items include fresh produce, dairy, meat, soup, pasta, beans, bread, and more. The freshest produce is provided by the kindness of local farms, such as Lil’ Farm (you can get their produce every Saturday at the Durham Farmers’ Market or order a CSA share today for weekly delivery). CEF Food Pantry Delivery is available Fridays from 1:00-3:00PM and is first come first served. Click the link below to sign-up.
This month, Diiv would like to highlight Medicaid Ombudsman and Medicaid Enrollment Broker which will help folks with newly privatized Medicaid plans enroll, change their enrollments, and navigate their benefits statewide! New Medicaid plans take effect July 1st and the last day to change health plans without a special reason or until next recertification is September 30.
Durham County Resource of the Month:
This month, Debbie would like to continue highlighting the Durham Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The ERAP is open to all Durham Residents that make 80% Area Median Income or less and are obligated to pay rent for a residential dwelling. Applicants must have experienced a hardship due to COVID-19 and demonstrate a risk of housing instability or homelessness. All applicants will need an email address to register.
The Community Empowerment Fund will support anyone in need of assistance with an application. If you are in need of assistance pleasecontactourDurham office at 919-797-9233. The application can be found at https://durhamerap.dconc.gov/cares
This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award numbers ERA0207, awarded to the City of Durham, and ERA0422, awarded to Durham County, by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
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.
As CEF has grown and blossomed over the years, we have been reminded, time and again, of the importance of being nimble and adaptive as we grow. As you will see in this report, 2020 was no different. In the enclosed stories you will learn how CEF responded to COVID-19 through articles and reflections from CEF’s staff. The report also shares more information about our quantitative impact and our year-end financials. This report is dedicated to the CEF Members who moved on in 2020, we hope you will hold them in your hearts and minds as you read.
We are near the halfway point of our 2021 Spring Appeal! New and returning donors will be matched for up to $5,000 thanks to Epworth United Methodist and an anonymous donor!
Aside from donating, there are several ways you can help contribute to CEF’s 2021 Spring Appeal! You can like and share Spring Appeal posts you see pop up on our social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). Go to our Facebook page and share the fundraiser with your friends (add a little note about why CEF’s work is important to you!). You can forward this newsletter to friends who might be interested in supporting CEF’s ongoing work to end the racial wealth gap!
Thanks to everyone who has already donated and supported us during this year’s Spring Appeal!
May means it is graduation time! The class of 2021 is moving on to the next chapter of their lives and CEF wishes them all the best. CEF is grateful for our relationships with Duke & UNC and the wonderful, committed, kind-hearted people who decide to become Advocates. Congratulations Class of ’21! We hope you continue to stay part of this resilient community.
CEF is Hiring!
Strategic Planning Consultant
The Community Empowerment Fund is seeking an experienced strategic planning consultant to design and facilitate a participatory planning process that will create a 5 year strategic plan for the organization. Submission deadline is June 15. To learn more and apply click the button below.
Supplying CEF Durham with menstrual products for our community!
In early April, the Duke chapters of Progress Period and WISER held a menstrual products drive for CEF’s Durham office. The drive produced over $500 worth of menstrual products to distribute to the CEF community.
WISER works with girls to transcend poverty, HIV/AIDS, and gender-based violence by creating environments that empower young women to drive change in their communities.
Progress Period is a global, youth-powered non-profit that is fighting to end period poverty and period stigma through service, education, and advocacy.
CEF thanks the Duke chapters of these organizations for strengthening our community!
Resources of the Month
Orange County Resource of the Month:
This month, Diiv would like to highlight the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). The EBB is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EBB will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The EBB is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
This month, Debbie would like to highlight the Durham Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The ERAP is open to all Durham Residents that make 80% Area Median Income or less and are obligated to pay rent for a residential dwelling. Applicants must have experienced a hardship due to COVID-19 and demonstrate a risk of housing instability or homelessness. All applicants will need an email address to register.
The Community Empowerment Fund will support anyone in need of assistance with an application. If you are in need of assistance pleasecontactourDurham office at 919-797-9233. The application can be found at https://durhamerap.dconc.gov/cares
This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award numbers ERA0207, awarded to the City of Durham, and ERA0422, awarded to Durham County, by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Office Availability Updates
When are the offices open?
The Durham office has no closures and no changes to hours this month. The Chapel Hill office is closed June 1 and 2. Any new updates regarding hours will be shared via email and social media.
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.
P.S. SAVE the DATE:
2021 Piggy Bank Bash presented by the Center for Intentional Leadership
CEF is once again holding the Piggy Bank Bash, presented by the Center for Intentional Leadership, virtually Monday, November 8, 2021! Tickets are free, though registration is required. We strongly encourage hosting house parties with people you feel safe interacting with. More details to follow.
As CEF has grown and blossomed over the years, we have been reminded, time and again, of the importance of being nimble and adaptive as we grow. As you will see in this report, 2020 was no different. In the enclosed stories you will learn how CEF responded to COVID-19 through articles and reflections from CEF’s staff. The report also shares more information about our quantitative impact and our year-end financials. This report is dedicated to the CEF Members who moved on in 2020, we hope you will hold them in your hearts and minds as you read.
Spring is here and it is time to kick off our 2021 Spring Appeal! We are so appreciative of the love we received during the uncertainty of last year. The generosity and affirmation from our community gave us the strength we needed to support folks on the path to financial independence.
This year, as we move towards a new normal, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact CEF Members. As the housing and labor markets continue to lag behind the needs of our community, we remain hopeful that everyone will find a stable home and meaningful employment.
Donations support CEF’s ongoing work to end the racial wealth gap. Any amount will help ensure CEF remains strong and vibrant as we continue to evolve. Epworth United Methodist Church in Durham and an anonymous donor will be matching donations from new and returning donors for up to $5,000.
Sat, May 1st from 1:00-3:00 PM at Lyon Park Picnic Shelter -1200 W Lakewood Ave
A celebration of Advocates moving on to their next adventure, Members who have reached milestones in their journeys, and all of us who have made it through this roller coaster of a year!
Families welcome. Covered dish optional. Masks required. Music, hot dogs, and beloved community provided! RSVP by calling or texting CEF Durham at 919-797-9233.
We hope to see you there!
Pedestrian Safety Initiative in Chapel Hill – Get Involved!
Town of Chapel Hill relaunches Road to Zero Task Force
Did you know the Town of Chapel Hill has a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan? With this plan, the Town aims to make active transportation (walking, biking, using a wheelchair, rollerblading, etc.) safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone in Chapel Hill. This is part of our “Road To Zero”- zero pedestrian traffic fatalities.
In order to deliver on this goal, the Town has launched a Road to Zero Task Force. This group will focus on equity, public engagement, and safe routes to school, providing advice and recommendations to Town staff. We want this task force to be collaborative and inclusive of all Chapel Hill residents and visitors.
We need strong, inclusive community engagement to ensure the success of this initiative. Volunteer opportunities include serving on the task force, helping with community outreach, providing input on your walking experience, and more.
Are you interested in these topics? Do you want to help ensure Chapel Hill is a safe, walk-able community? Contact Jordan Powell, Complete Streets Specialist, at jpowell2@townofchapelhill.org with your interest!
One-year anniversary of Donna Carrington as Executive Director!
In March, we celebrated the one-year anniversary of Donna Carrington’s leadership as Executive Director! We are so grateful for the gifts and love that Donna brings to her work, which inspires everyone daily. During a year of immense change and challenge, in the midst of the pandemic and a new organizational structure, Donna led CEF with care and perseverance. We appreciate Donna’s willingness to ask critical questions, acknowledge systems that are not working for CEF Members, and work toward a shared, more equitable vision of the future for our community. Donna is recognized as a wonderful collaborator with our external partners and is trusted and respected. These are just a few of the reasons why Donna is the perfect person to be leading CEF. Thank you, Donna, for your leadership!
-Brian Smith and Karen Eldridge, CEF Board Co-Chairs
Resources of the Month
Orange County Resource of the Month:
This month, Diiv would like to highlight transportation to and from Orange County courts. The Orange County Bail Bond Justice Project is generously providing funds for folks with court hearings. The Uber funding and Orange-Chapel Hill Connector bus vouchers are being maintained by the Criminal Justice Resource Department.
Requests for transportation assistance can be made by emailing or calling Ted, Cait, or Allison at the CJRD or coming to the CJRD Courthouse office.
This month, Debbie would like to highlight End Hunger Durham’s directory of local food pantries. End Hunger Durham envisions a unified and just food system where healthy food is available to everyone. Their directory contains locations, hours of operation, contact info, prerequisites, and more!
Durham has no changes to hours this month. The Chapel Hill office has several changes to be aware of listed by date below and will be closed the last week in May. Any new updates regarding hours will be shared via email and social media.
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.
Meeting of the Minds, established in 2016, is one of CEF’s Member-led advocacy groups. The group focuses on the lived experiences of those at 30% AMI and below. Members of the group engage with local government to address the need for housing. Meetings happen on the second Monday of every month at IFC. Changes to the schedule are sent out over the email list. This year, the group is working to amplify the voices of members who feel unheard. Everyone in the Chapel Hill community is invited to attend, especially politicians and leaders who want change for people who feel they don’t have a voice. If you would like to sign up for the Meeting of the Minds email list please contact Yvette directly at 919-200-0233 or email Val at Valerie@communityempowermentfund.org
Throughout spring, the Community Empowerment Fund is working with Consult Your Community, a student-led consulting group at UNC which aims to support local non-profits and socially minded organizations which serve marginalized and minority populations. This survey, intended to gain information about your social media tendencies, will help inform the types of content that CEF shares.
CEF Member surveys are due April 4 and Donor surveys are due April 8. Click the buttons below to start your survey.
For April, Diiv would like to highlight the Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development’s updates on Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA). Now anyone (under 60% AMI) needing help with rent (arrears or upcoming) or utilities can get it! Folks who have gotten EHA help in the past can still get it now! There is no longer a $6500 limit. Folks who are behind on mortgage payments can once again seek assistance.
Click here to learn more about EHA and what the program offers!
Durham County Resource of the Month:
This month, Debbie would like to highlight City of Durham’s Water Hardship Fund. The Fund, part of a program administered by the Durham County Department of Social Services, helps residents pay their past-due water bills. It cannot be used for penalties and fees. Through a simple online process, you can apply for up to $240 in assistance per year if you are having a documented hardship, have past-due bills, and are in danger of having your water cut off. If you think you might qualify, please complete the Water Hardship Fund application form. If contacted, you may be asked to provide identification, proof of income, a copy of your water bill, and other information.
Click here to access the Water Hardship Fund application.
Office Hours
When are the offices open?
There are no changes to CEF’s office hours in April and no upcoming scheduled office closures. Any new updates regarding hours will be shared on CEF’s website and social media.
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.
