News
"Sweet" evening enjoyment
CCC welcomed Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller and local Abilene affiliate to its annual event
MIllard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity International and the Fuller Center for Housing, challenged and encouraged the people who attended CCC's annual event on Tuesday, September 30. Fuller spoke of his partnerships with Community Renewal International in Shreveport, Louisiana, and about the great need around the globe to eliminate poverty housing.
The evening also highlighted accomplishments and upcoming plans of Connecting Caring Communities as well as Abilene Habitat for Humanity. This included information about CCC's North Park Development Project and Habitat's current Minda Street Project. Dr. Bill Tillman, Habitat board member, and Brad Carter, CCC executive director, made the presentations.
Tammy Kister, Abilene Habitat board chair and Haven House leader with CCC, ended the evening with encouragement for attendees to volunteer, donate and get involved. "You won't be disappointed," she challenged.
Fuller also spent time with a community roundtable on October 1 with Councilman Anthony Williams and other city, Habitat and CCC staff. He was a guest of Abilene Christian University.
CCC also thanks ARAMARK food service from all three universities-- ACU, HSU and McMurry-- for the generous donations of food and drink for the "Sweet Evening with Millard Fuller."
Read the Reporter-News article about the event: "Habitat for Humanity founder visits Abilene" (10.01.08)
Community Resiliency in Abilene assessed
CCC and other local orgs partner with national center to assess Abilene's resiliency
The Terrorism and Disaster Center (TDC) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center presented preliminary findings of the Community Assessment of Resiliency Tool (CART©) used to begin the CART process in Abilene, Texas. The presentation was made to partners on Tuesday, September 30 in Abilene.
This is the first time the TDC has used the tool for a city-wide assessment. Local Abilene organizations, led by Connecting Caring Communities, partnered with TDC to find baseline measures and begin identifying assets and needs for continued improvement of our community.
CART© was developed by the TDC and is used to measure community resilience. Community resiliency can be built around any issue, not only disasters, and is important for any community's future. The four factors of community resiliency measured in CART© are (1) connection and caring, (2) resources, (3) transformative potential and (4) disaster preparedness.
The most significant finding is the very high agreement across the community about Abilene being a place of high connection and caring. Resilient communities promote member well-being, instill hope and empower individuals and groups. That is why this factor is an important finding for our city.
Over the past several years, Abilene has been building the infrastructure of its neighborhoods. CART© findings suggest that more work should be done in this area to help develop neighborhood leadership and resources. Utilizing the rich asset of connection and caring is a great place to start in moving toward this area of improvement.
The CART© process will continue in Abilene with further assessment, focus groups and partnering together to build resiliency, community and safe neighborhoods. Using the information learned from this first time assessment, the tool will be enhanced and updated for another city-wide assessment in January 2009.
CART partners have included the TDC, Connecting Caring Communities, the City of Abilene, Community Foundation of Abilene, United Way of Abilene, ACU, HSU, Nonprofit Management Center, Dyess Air Force Base, and Hendrick Medical Center.
The Abilene Reporter-News reports: "Surveying Abilene's ability to rebound from disaster" (9.30.08)
Community Showcase Success!
Over $30,000 raised in first annual event
Over 500 attendees enjoyed a great evening of local entertainment at the Paramount Theater on Saturday, September 6. CCC's first annual Community Showcase featured performances by Revolution, Abilene Pipers, Chameleon Performing Arts Company, Monique Trinidad, APAC, Charlene Koef, HSU's Spurs, State Representative Susan King, Ballet Folklorico and hosted by "The Culps" and Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald and more!
Much thanks to our underwriter Susan Stroud of Morgan Stanley, our gold sponsor the Greathouse Foundation; silver sponsors Hardin-Simmons University, Buddy & Julie Napier, Carol Windham and bronze sponsors Abilene Christian University, Aarons Sales and Lease, AEP, Enrich Oil Corporation, Minuteman Press, and Mike Dunnahoo's Star Dodge.
Read coverage in the Abilene Reporter-News
City Council Grants CCC Request
$120,000 contributed to North Park Development Project
On Thursday evening, August 28, the Abilene City Council unanimously approved a $120,000 developer agreement with Connecting Caring Communities. The money is from funds designated for in-fill development and may only be used for capital improvement projects.
CCC will use the money for infrastructure (sidewalks, sewer, etc) at its North Park Development Project in north Abilene. "We are grateful to the many partners--including the City of Abilene-- who are making this project a success," says executive director Brad Carter. Over half of the budgeted amounts have been committed from the Shelton Family Foundation, Dodge Jones Foundation, DodgCo Inc, CDBG/HOME funds, and the City of Abilene. The project includes the construction of a new, model Friendship House for North Park, 12 mixed income homes and a neighborhood park.
Work is set to begin in the next month.
CCC Days at Buffalo Wild Wings
Enjoy a meal at Buffalo Wild Wings and support CCC
Connecting Caring Communities is happy to announce a special promotion in partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings! On Monday, September 8, and again on Monday, September 15, when you eat lunch, dinner or a late snack at Buffalo Wild Wings with the attached certificate, CCC will receive 20% of the value of the meal, excluding alcohol. Just print out a copy of the attached PDF page, and then enjoy any of BWW's tasty menu selections.
Remember, this special promotion is good ONLY on Monday, Sept. 8 or 15, and ONLY with the attached certificate, so be sure to print out a copy. Then head to Buffalo Wild Wings, 4401 Ridgemont Drive in Abilene!
We appreciate Buffalo Wild Wings' partnership with us, and their commitment to improving Abilene neighborhoods.
Click HERE to download your copy of the certificate.
Friendship House Temporary Move
North Park Friendship House moves to 2601 Hickory St
Until the completion of our upcoming new Friendship House on Lowden Street in North Park, the North Park Friendship House will be temporarily housed at 2601 Hickory Street.
For the past four years, Danyel & Brandon Rogers have lived in the North Park Friendship House, sponsored by Hardin-Simmons University. Due to property changes at the current location, operations for the Friendship House have temporarily moved across the street to another location.
The same activities and relationship-building ventures will still occur through the new location as we anticipate the opening of the new North Park Friendship House this winter. The Friendship House will be located at 2601 Hickory Street until the new house opens.
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Lighting up the Neighborhood
CCC receives Rockwell Collins Green Communities Grant to put energy efficient light bulbs into the Friendship House Neighborhoods.
Connecting Caring Communities received a grant from Rockwell Collins, an international aviation and aeronautics company with a local Abilene office at Dyess Air force Base, which provided energy efficient light bulbs for families in both the Northpark and College Heights neighborhoods. With the money received 1400 lightbulbs were distributed to 130 homes throughout the neighborhoods. To help with the distribution 35 students from ACU Impulse Camp came and helped sign up neighbors and pass out and install light bulbs, as well as 8 adults and 4 Rockwell Collins Employees. One of our neighbors who was already using the light bulbs in her home told the students how much she loved them and how they were saving her $10 a month on her electricity bill. This grant allows people in our neighborhood to have light bulbs that will last longer, be more efficient and save them money on their electric bill, and are more environmentally friendly-a definite plus for everyone. Thank you Rockwell Collins, and to all those who helped deliver and install light bulbs for our neighbors. It truly is amazing how something as simple as a light bulb can truly make a difference in someones life.
Community Showcase event nears
CCC's first annual event sure to be entertaining for all
CCC requests City in-fill funds
As part of our new North Park Development Project, CCC has requested in-fill development funds from Abilene City Council
Doug Myers of the Abilene Reporter-News reports on CCC's request for in-fill development funds in the Wednesday, August 13 paper:
Building Friendship: Community project organizers want to move, expand with city's help
Again on Sunday, August 17, Doug Myers reports on in-fill development within our city in the Abilene Reporter-News:
The foes of infill development: time, money
CCC's request for $120,000 of the in-fill development funds goes to public hearing and possible vote before Abilene City Council on Thursday, August 28 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the upper level of City Hall. Your help advocating for CCC's request in this project is greatly appreciated!