Meet Ishaan! Member Resource Specialist in Chapel Hill
Ishaan Kumar, Member Resource Specialist CEF’s Chapel Hill Office
Your Role: In your own words, how would you describe the work you do at CEF and why is it important?
I am the Member Resource Specialist for the Chapel Hill Office. The bulk of my work is focused on identifying and building out resources for the community to expand the way that CEF can support Members. My long-term project is focused on a Homebuyers Program, where we are trying to work with other local housing organizations to expand access to home ownership!
Your Background: What experiences, strengths, and skills do you bring to this work at CEF?
I worked as an Advocate for multiple years in the Durham office, so that introduced me to CEF’s work. I think in particular, I learnt to slow down and hold space for Members, peers, and myself. This is a skill I hope to continue to develop through the next few years. In addition, I think that I can be extremely reliable, and hope to bring this constancy to my work at CEF.
Connecting to CEF: What led you to working with CEF generally, and also to this particular role?
In particular, CEF’s model of Member-centered advocacy really spoke to me. In some other spaces, it was unclear to me if what we were doing was really in the interest of the people we were working for. I believe wholeheartedly in the power and necessity of social work to reflect the needs of Members and for everyone to be engaged in collaborative decision-making.
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?
Primarily, I find energy in people; my partner, my family, and my roommate are all places to go to recharge. When I’m alone, I often find myself tinkering in the kitchen, trying to remake childhood memories into new creations.
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?
Many challenges are unknown right now, as this is a new position to CEF! In addition, being a recent college grad means that I’m looking forward to challenges I can’t even begin to imagine. I hope to approach all these future challenges with an empathetic and critical eye. I hope to approach these problems through creative collaborations and new solutions. Everyone has creativity and capacity – I hope to tap into our collective power!
The Piggy Bank Bash; Celebrate! A chance to learn, connect, and support the work of CEF. Sustaining transitions out of homelessness and poverty by building relationships. Monday, November 14, 6:00-8:00 pm at Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe. Tickets available at https://communityef.org/piggy-bank-bash-2022/
2022 Piggy Bank Bash
CEF’s Annual Event
Join us on November 14, for the first in-person Piggy Bank Bash since 2019. We will be at Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe, sharing updates about our work and building deeper connections with our wider community. Invite your friends for a fun evening of delicious food and drink, a performance by the CEF Advocacy Choir, and opportunities to hear directly from people impacted by our work. All proceeds from the Piggy Bank Bash support CEF’s work reducing homelessness and poverty in Orange and Durham Counties. Purchase your tickets at the link below.
Looking to join the CEF team? We’re hiring! Durham Office and Community Organizer. Join our team now! Apply at www.communityef.org/hiring
CEF is hiring!
Durham Office and Community Organizer
We are seeking kind, compassionate candidates to apply for the Durham Office and Community Organizer position at CEF! This position is responsible for both bottom-lining office operations in the Durham office and leading CEF’s organizing and advocacy efforts with Members in our Durham office. The Office and Community Organizer creates a welcoming, healing-centered office environment that emphasizes each person as creative, resourceful, and whole. Applications are due by Friday, September 30.
Please help us by sharing this opportunity with your networks and anyone you think would be a good fit for CEF!
Join CEF this Sunday! Meet on the Weaver Street lawn, September 25 at 2pm, to join the House Us Now coalition (Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP, CEF, Empowerment Inc., Inter-Faith Council for Social Services, and the Marian Cheek Jackson Center for Saving and Making History) in a rally and march to advocate for affordable housing. Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and elsewhere, regardless of their income. The march will end at the Lincoln Center where there will be food, a live DJ, speeches, and free hair cuts until 5pm!
Resource Alert OCPEH & Bull E-Bike Pilot
Resources of the Month
Orange County Resource of the Month:
This month, Imanie would like to highlight the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) at UNC. SHAC is a student-run organization that provides free health services to underserved individuals. The clinic sees people by appointment only. To make an appointment, call (984) 538-1031 and leave a message clearly stating your name, phone number, and reason for an appointment. You can request free STI and HIV testing in your message. Someone will call you back to let you know your appointment time. Alternatively, you can request an appointment using this online form. For a full list of services check out the resource here.
Durham County Resource of the Month:
This month, Leah would like to highlight Open Table Ministry’s Street Outreach program. The Street Outreach program works to build relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness and increase their awareness of available services. They provide the following services:
Free store, every Tuesday from 9:30-11:30 am, clothing, personal items, and showers are available at Open Table Ministry, 215 North Church Street, Durham, NC.
Assistance with obtaining identify documents (state IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards).
Ongoing case management to help clients transitions into housing.
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.
Join Our Team! We’re Looking for: Member Resource Specialist (Chapel Hill), Member Assistance Funds Manager (Chapel Hill & Durham), Advocate Applications Open! Apply NOW
CEF is hiring!
Two new positions + volunteer Advocate applications
We are seeking kind, compassionate candidates to fill two full-time positions at CEF! The Member Assistance Funds Manager will be responsible for managing processes and use related to CEF’s direct Member assistance funds including the Housing Assistance Fund, Debt Assistance Fund, Eviction Debt Assistance Fund, First-time Homebuyers Fund, and support requests for assistance from community partners.
The Member Resource Specialist is focused on cultivating resources that supplement our Member Services in targeted content areas. In addition to providing in-office support for CEF Members and Advocates as a member of the Chapel Hill team, the MRS will be responsible for leading our efforts to grow targeted program services focused on housing and employment.
We are also looking for volunteer Advocates! Advocates are trained to walk with Member in achieving their goals, often related to housing, employment, or financial independence. Advocates are not experts, but are curious, empathetic, and highly dedicated team players who commit to holding two Advocate hours per week for a minimum of two years. CEF Advocates work 1-1 or 2-1 with CEF Members to provide long-term, relationship-based support through challenges and barriers, and celebrate achievements.
Please help us out by sharing these opportunities with your networks and anyone you think would be a good fit for CEF!
On August 20, CEF Durham held the 30 for 30 rally to advocate that 30% of future Durham housing projects be reserved for tenants earning 30% Area Median Income or below. We have to continue amplifying voices of folks experiencing housing insecurity and raising public awareness of the need for additional affordable housing options in both Chapel Hill and Durham. Stay tuned for future ways to get involved!
CEF Alumni Advocate Reunion
Virtual Alumni Advocate Reunion
In Community
The first ever virtual CEF Alumni Advocate Reunion was such a joy! Former Advocates from all over the US joined us to discuss what they (and we) are up to now and connect with each other. We are so excited to cultivate the Alumni Advocate community and continue building relationships that will last a lifetime. If you are a former or senior Advocate and would like to connect with the CEF Alumni Advocate network you can find a group on Facebook or LinkedIn. There are opportunities for increased involvement if you would like to be part of the Alumni Advocate steering committee or represent Alumni Advocates through Board service.
Band Together Mighty Giveback
Band Together
Mighty Giveback 2022
Band Together and the United Way of the Greater Triangle are teaming up for the Mighty Giveback benefit concerts. Profits from this benefit event go toward a $1 million goal to help ensure that Triangle residents and families have a safe place to live and thrive. CEF has been selected as one of eleven nonprofit organizations that will share the proceeds from these concerts!
Black Pumas have canceled the rest of their shows for 2022, but you should definitely listen to their tunes! For October 2 ticket holders Band Together will reach out about refunds. Turnpike Troubadours will headline a sold out show on October 28 at the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh. For more information click the link below!
This month, Imanie would like to highlight the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness. OCPEH is a coalition of service providers, local governments, and community members who work together to coordinate funding and bring best practices to the work of ending homelessness in Orange County. OCPEH stepped up this past month by paying arrears for fifteen families of University Gardens facing eviction as the property is in the process of being sold. OCPEH also provided funding for those families to stay an additional 60 days so they have more time to determine where they are going to live.
Durham County Resource of the Month:
This month, Leah would like to highlight the Bull E-Bike Pilot. The City of Durham’s Transportation Department is conducting the Bull E-Bike Pilot to learn more about how electric bikes can be deployed to improve the transportation experience in the Bull City. They’re seeking participants to use a pedal-assist e-bike for 4+ weeks in exchange for sharing information about their experience, including tracking their travel via a smartphone app.
They are looking for participants who
work in downtown Durham
would use an e-bike to replace driving alone
would benefit from the use of an e-bike, especially folks from groups that are transportation-disadvantaged
are flexible, communicative, and excited about this opportunity!
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.
Meet Jada! Advocate Program Coordinator at CEF’s Durham Office
Jada McLeod, Advocate Program Coordinator CEF’s Durham Office
Your Role: In your own words, how would you describe the work you do at the CEF and why is it important?
I am the Advocate Program Coordinator for the Durham Office. My role revolves around Advocate recruitment, selection, training, and support. Advocates are essential to the work we do at CEF given that they handle much of the day-to-day work of supporting members in reaching their goals. Our cohort of Advocates must be committed to learning and growth and well equipped to work with members in order to serve the community well.
Your Background: What experiences, strengths, and skills do you bring to this work at CEF?
I was an Advocate at the Chapel Hill office for a few years before joining the Durham office staff, so I know what it’s like to be in their shoes. I can easily empathize with Advocates’ experiences which makes me well suited to support people in navigating this role. Another major strength of mine is my curiosity. I am eager to learn about other people’s experiences, identities, and approaches to how they show up in this space. I’m committed to breaking down my own biases and harmful ways of thinking. I’m always looking for ways to expand my understanding of the world around me.
Connecting to CEF: What led you to working with CEF generally, and also to this particular role?
CEF’s focus on relationship-building is what initially attracted me to the organization. I’ve worked with several nonprofits and CEF is so unique in its emphasis on authentically building supportive communities. It was important to me to continue being a part of that. Being an Advocate at CEF was such a transformative experience for me. As an Advocate, I went through so much learning and growth that significantly shaped my worldview, especially concerning racial equity and other social justice issues. I am excited to help guide other people through that process in my new role.
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?
I find energy by remembering to make room for joy and excitement in my work. Doing direct service with people who are experiencing the violence of systemic oppression can quickly become a heavy burden to bear. My passion for this work is renewed when I expand my perspective and hold space to celebrate everyday victories. Whether it’s a member finding housing, getting a new job, or just feeling extra supported by Advocates and staff, those moments keep me grounded and give me a renewed sense of purpose. I love all the light-hearted moments that happen in the office where we get to laugh and joke with one another. These moments remind me that although our work can be challenging, it doesn’t always have to be oriented around struggle and suffering.
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?
I think the biggest challenge is coming to terms with the realization that regardless of how supportive of a space we try to create for Members, once they walk out the door they’re still dealing with systemic racism and other forms of trauma, oppression, and violence. It’s tough knowing that there are some barriers that we just can’t solve. I think this challenge is further escalated when you consider the sense of urgency that we experience as many Members come to us in crises. To move forward, I’ve had to learn that the work we do is about so much more than the tangible steps we take toward supporting Members in reaching their goals. There is real power in making someone feel heard and validated in their experience. We can’t solve every problem, but at the very least, we can show people that they have a community that loves and supports them in their corner. Having a supportive community that sticks with you long-term makes all the difference in someone feeling empowered to move forward and keep fighting for their needs despite the barriers they face.
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.
