Connecting Caring Communities

News

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City Council Candidate Forum Slated for April 12

All six candidates for Abilene City Council have agreed to attend this year’s City Council Candidate Forum on Monday evening, April 12, 2010. The forum is free to the public and will take place in the Elks Arts Center Ballroom at the corner of North 1^st Street and Cedar Street from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m.

The Candidate Forum allows each candidate to introduce themselves to Abilene voters. They are also asked questions prepared beforehand and submitted by attendees of the Forum. The Forum lasts two hours and is moderated.

Ron Konstantin is challenging Councilman Stormy Higgins for the Place 5 seat. Four new candidates are vying for the Place 6 seat to replace Laura Moore. These candidates include Jennifer Grothaus, Kellie Miller, Dennis Regan and Stacey Scaief.

The City Council Candidate Forum is sponsored by Connecting Caring Communities, Abilene Preservation League, African-American Leadership Council, National Association of Social Workers- West Texas Branch, and Abilene’s Council of Neighborhood Associations. Some of these sponsors have been working together since 2006 to host the candidate forums each year.

 

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CCC raises $110,000 at Good Neighbor Breakfast

Connecting Caring Communities raised over $110,000 in gifts and pledges at its first annual Good Neighbor Breakfast this morning. Around 300 attendees from throughout the Abilene community attended the event in the Hunter Welcome Center on the ACU campus.

“We are very pleased at the turnout and generosity of our guests,” said Brad Carter, executive director for CCC, “especially considering this is our first breakfast and, really, our first foray into raising donations from individuals in our community.”

The event included presentations by Carter, and Robert Lilly, CCC community coordinator along with Abilene Police Chief Stan Standridge.

“We are thankful to our presenters, but also to the CCC supporters who invited guests to this morning’s event and to those who gave generously to our work,” Carter said.

Connecting Caring Communities launched as an independent social impact organization in Abilene in 2005. It exists to build meaningful relationships that foster safe, caring, whole communities. CCC has an effective model for community renewal and transformation and its strategies include Friendship Houses in vulnerable neighborhoods in our city; Haven House leaders who volunteer to rebuild community and safety on their blocks; and Abilene’s Caring Team which unites businesses, individuals, organizations and churches around increasing the quality of life for all Abilene citizens.

 

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Connecting Caring Communities constructs new home

Connecting Caring Communities is having its grand opening and open house today for its newly constructed Friendship House at 2701 Hickory St. from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Friendship Houses are homes located in target areas and lived in by CCC staff-families, who are strategically placed in lower income areas that could benefit from a stronger, safer neighborhood. The 3,000-square-foot home has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a community room and kitchen, along with a front and backyard.

The Rogers family lives in the Friendship House, a home constructed through a grant from the Shelton Family Foundation.

Danyel and Brandon Rogers have one child, and within the next few months will add another to their family.

Danyel Rogers is the community coordinator for Connecting Caring Communities, a community initiative that strives to create safer neighborhoods to benefit both the residents and the surrounding community by providing structured programs for children, adults and families.

The Rogers moved into their new home two weeks ago, and even though they are still attempting to settle into their new surroundings, they have already begun several community activities.

Friday night the couple hosted a census awareness dinner party and have already begun after-school programs with 15 of the elementary schoolchildren in the neighborhood.

Danyel Rogers said the after-school programs are free and provide a fun and positive atmosphere. At the house, children can receive tutoring and indulge in other activities, such as gardening and cooking. The family will be at the open house and is also preparing to throw a spring block party in April.

“The basics of my job is to help build relationships within the neighborhood, build a stronger sense of community, and to just be a good neighbor,” Danyel Rogers said. “Caring neighborhoods have been somewhat lost in many areas, and we’re just trying to bring that back.”

The grand opening today will unveil a mural composed of several independent works of art from children in the area, a giving tree to help raise funds for the center’s plans for neighborhood activities, and enough snacks to feed 100-150 people expected for the open house.

At the open house, neighbors can ask questions about upcoming plans and projects, which the house will be used for, and mingle with fellow neighbors.

READ ORIGINAL STORY AT REPORTER-NEWS.COM

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Census Party Encourages Participations

On Friday night the Abilene North Park Friendship house was filled with all the trimmings for a party: cakes, brownies, cookies, balloons ... and census forms.

Hosting the Census Party were Danyel and Brandon Rogers, who live and work with the Friendship House on Hickory Street.

“Connecting Caring Communities asked us about hosting a party here,” Danyel said. “We thought it would be a good time for people to get together, have a little fun, and be able to ask questions about their forms.”

Snacks for the party were provided by one of the clubs at nearby Hardin-Simmons University, and the local census office sent two workers to hand out free Census 2010-themed pens and stickers — and help answer any questions party-goers may have had regarding the completion of their forms.

In the 2000 Census, the North Park neighborhood was one of the lowest-reporting areas, Brandon Rogers said.

The Friendship house is the site of many neighborhood gatherings, from after-school activities for children to block parties, and was a natural fit for the Census Party.

“I was surprised at how hesitant people around here were about filling out their census forms,” Brandon said. “We were one of the lowest-count areas during the last census, and they tell me that taking part can benefit our neighborhood, so I will support the effort to get this year’s count up.”

The demographic information gathered during the census can be of benefit to the local community. The population numbers reported for the census are used in determining funding for roads, schools, hospitals and other public services.

Abilene North Park neighborhood association president Patri Bailey said she is a big supporter of the census.

She heard about the Census Party through the Friendship House and was on hand Friday night to enjoy the festivities.

“I got my form in the mail a while back, and I deliberately held on to it so I could fill it out at the party,” she said. “I think the census is very important. I would like to see Abilene get its fair share of federal funding.”

READ ORIGINAL STORY

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Grand Opening & Open House at new Friendship House

Public Open House

North Park Friendship House

2701 Hickory Street

Abilene, Texas 79601

 

Connecting Caring Communities invites the local community to the grand opening of its new North Park Friendship House. The Friendship House sits as the cornerstone of CCC’s North Park Development Project that also includes a neighborhood park and the construction of ten sustainable, energy-efficient homes.

 

Friendship Houses are homes in target areas and lived in by CCC staff—families who help turn vulnerable neighborhoods into havens of hope. These community coordinators build relationships with the neighbors and serve the children, youth, adults and families by providing structured, year-round programs. These houses build the foundation for economic growth by increasing the capacity of residents in the neighborhood and serve as a platform to bring resources for health, education, and housing to residents.

The North Park Friendship House first opened in February 2004 and continues to operate through a partnership with Hardin-Simmons University. The new home was recently constructed and is home to Danyel and Brandon Rogers, who serve as the community coordinators for CCC in North Park. The previous Friendship House was located one block south on Hickory Street.

The new North Park Friendship House was constructed through a generous grant from the Shelton Family Foundation by local builder Mitzi Mills, Your Home, Inc. CCC is also grateful to the many generous donors who helped make the home possible: Lone Star Electric, Aarons, Abilene Blinds, AEP, Acme Brick Company, Benjamin Moore Paints, Bontke Brothers Construction Company, Concepts in Stone, Garrett Construction, Knight Carpet & Flooring, The Paint Center, Relics, Sherwin-Williams, and T&T Plumbing.

 

 

About Connecting Caring Communities

Connecting Caring Communities is a social impact organization building meaningful relationships—the foundation for safe, caring, whole communities. CCC began under the umbrella of the Neighborhood Enhancement Center of Hardin-Simmons University and officially chartered to serve the community in December 2005. Our work of community renewal has been underway since 2002 and includes Friendship Houses, Haven Houses, and Abilene’s Caring Team.

 

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Abilene Dinner Table 2010 this weekend

Abilene Dinner Table returns for its sixth year of making friends over supper. The event intends to connect diverse groups of people and be a place for conversation. Attendance is free and tables are held in places all over Abilene—homes, restaurants, churches—on Saturday, March 27, 2010. About 100 local residents are registered for this year’s event.

The goal of each Abilene Dinner Table is to enrich our community by bringing together people from diverse racial, cultural and religious backgrounds to dinner tables where communication begins and understanding grows as we come to know one another better.

“Abilene Dinner Table provides a way for us all to meet people in our city we might not meet otherwise,” says Brad Carter, CCC executive director. “And it’s a great place to talk about Abilene and ways each of us can make a difference.” Past dinner table attendees have gone on to volunteer, deepen the new friendships and help the city with a new awareness of the community from the perspectives of others.

About Abilene Dinner Table

Abilene Dinner Table began in 2005 under the initiative of the Reporter-News editorial board. It has since been organized by Connecting Caring Communities. Over 1,000 residents have participated over the past five years.

 

About Connecting Caring Communities

Connecting Caring Communities is a social impact organization seeking to build meaningful relationships as the foundation for safe, caring, whole communities. Abilene Dinner Table is a core event in its Caring Team strategy of bringing caring people together. Other strategies include neighborhood development through volunteers in Haven Houses and Friendship Houses.

 

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Volunteers make MARCH MADNESS at CCC a success!

If you haven't heard, MARCH MADNESS is more than a basketball bracket for all of us at CCC this year.  On Friday, we met with 12 generous folks around town who will host fellow Abilene residents on March 27th for our sixth annual Abilene Dinner Table. This free dinner brings together diverse groups of residents from all over the city for casual conversations that remake our city by generating understanding. Registration is closed, but we hope you will join us next year!

The Tent Sowers Ministry, started by a group of young women to connect non-profits with local artists, made our March Madness mailing a marketing success! Maybe you too were dazzled by the stunning envelopes and invitations?! A big thank-you also goes out to Donna, Ronnie, and the ladies of RSVP, who stuffed the envelopes and got them ready for the post office. Even now, Becca Watts, another talented graphic designer, of Watts Designs is volunteering her skills to complete an invitation for an upcoming Haven House event.

Racheal, Kay and Margarett of the Women of CCC pulled together to cut out save the date cards, label postcards, sort mail, and make preparations for the Good Neighbor Breakfast, our first annual fund raiser on March 31st from 7:45am to 8:45am. Middle School girls from Pioneer Drive Baptist Church cut out placemats, and Kyle and Cason gave of themselves by entering data and making portions of the breakfast centerpieces. And of course, the breakfast would not be possible without the support of our Table Captains who are working hard to make sure that we reach our goal of 300 attendees on March 31st! There is still much to be done around the office and on March 30th in preparation for this free breakfast.

We are also building 4 sustainable, energy-efficient design homes for low-to-moderate income families! Many groups around town at HSU, ACU, Beltway Baptist Church and Pioneer Drive Baptist Church have already expressed interest in helping us paint, plaster, landscape, and irrigate on these properties. We will continue scheduling groups after construction starts....very soon!

Maybe you want to get in on the volunteer excitment and help us bring on the full court press in the second half of CCC's March Madness! Give me a call or email me at jordan@wecareabilene.org.

Thanks to all of you who have been caring by helping CCC this month, AND thanks to all of you who are caring in your own corner of Abilene! It takes all of us!

All my appreciation,

Jordan Wesley, Community Engagement Director

P.S. I'm terribly sorry for all of the basketball humor. I don't know what got into me.

 

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New North Park Friendship House Registry

The finishing touches for our new North Park Friendship House are being added now! And once they are complete, we-- along with our neighbors -- are excited about the opportunities this new house brings to our neighborhood.

The new house offers adequate space for the many activities we host with our neighbors as well as space for our family to live. Our final need for the Friendship House includes furnishings and supplies to add the special hospitality and functionality needed for community renewal success. If you would like to donate for the purchase of larger items you may send a donation to CCC or donate now using your credit card.

FURNITURE (estimated cost)

• Sofa sectional (2000)
• Ottoman or coffee table (300)
• 4 "comfy" chairs (600/each)
• 4 side/end tables (250/each)
• Game table and chairs (1500)
• 3 lamps (75/each)
• 2 Area rugs (500/each)
• Dining room table and 10 chairs (4000)
• 4 bar stools (75/each)
• 6 outdoor rocking chairs (100/each)
• Window blinds (1500)

KITCHEN SUPPLIES

• Paper towels
• Plasticware
• Napkins
• Hand towels
• Dish rags
• Reusable plastic cups (dishwasher safe)
• Reusable plastic plates (dishwasher safe)

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Toilet paper
• Construction paper
• Markers
• Glue sticks
• New Children's Games (such as Apples to Apples or board games)

The North Park Friendship House Open House will be 4:00 - 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 29, 2010 at the house, 2701 Hickory Street at Lowden. Everyone is welcome (gifts not necessary).

If you would like to bring a housewarming gift, a money tree will be available, you may bring an item above or donate toward or to cover a large item listed above. You can also make a gift using your credit card now.

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Good Neighbor Breakfast Postponed

Connecting Caring Communities first Good Neighbor Breakfast was scheduled for Wednesday morning, February 24, 2010. But the peaceful snow the day before has lead to a delay in this important event for CCC. Concerned about the weather's impact on safety for guests early Wednesday morning, CCC has decided to move to its plan B.

The Good Neighbor Breakfast will now be held on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 7:45-8:45 a.m. in the McCaleb Conference Room of the Hunter Welcome Center at Abilene Christian University. The event is free.

If you wanted to attend but weren't able to in February, now is your chance to attend after all. To save a spot at the Good Neighbor Breakfast, call 232-8241 or email Jordan at jordan@wecareabilene.org.

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Sustainable Energy Efficient LEED Platinum Home 1 of 4 :: Press Release

The homes offer a wide array of sustainable amenities. This standard ranch style three bedroom, two bath, two car garage home offers a total living space of 1,300 square feet. The home is designed by Universal Design Consortium Inc., a Lubbock based sustainable architectural firm and is projected to set the stage for additional Energy Efficient homes to be constructed for low income citizens of Abilene by the Connecting Caring Communities (CCC) throughout the year. Design of this home began in January of 2010 with the following in mind: Reduced Energy Consumption, Maximized energy retention, Reduced operational maintenance, Low and fixed income affordability, Handicap Accessible adaptability, Increased resale value, Xeriscaped landscaping, Drip irrigation system, Renewable energy production system, Passive solar configuration, and Reduced construction difficulty, to name a few.

The home will achieve a Platinum LEED rating with analysis provided by GWS out of Oklahoma.
Its capabilities include handicap adaptability. Although not fully ADA configured, the home is designed with accessibility in mind. All doors are configured for handicap accessibility and bathrooms, kitchen, and closets are constructed to be adapted if the need arises. The home is designed for universal occupancy and directly addresses the growing need for elderly friendly single family residences.

Second the home is designed with passive solar in mind. Although the site has limited the maximum passive solar design flexibility, areas of concern such as wall thermal radiation absorption rates, window locations/ sizes and protective roof overhangs have been considered and installed to provide protection from solar thermal gain. Additional non-visible solar strategies have been designed into the home to maximize passive effectiveness.

The homes Cooling system, is also specifically designed for advanced sustainability and offers the highest percentage efficiency possible. The cooling system is designed for the cubic volume of the homes interior space and consists of round ductwork for increased efficiency and ease of cleaning. In all; the cooling system will operate way above an average HVAC system. This system will reduce the yearly electrical costs up to 63% by utilizing a direct flow ground source heat exchanger.

The home boosts a superior insulation package that is second to none; with Compressed Earth Block (CEB) exterior wall assemblies, an exterior wall insulation envelope of R-50+ is possible at very little cost.

In addition to the homes already impressive strategies, UDC has also equipped the home with a 5 kilowatt solar array, static mounted on the roof. The solar array is specifically designed and sized to allow the home the best chance of achieving a net zero energy performance per year. This is where the homes renewable energy production system produces enough electrical energy that the home can operate without utilizing electricity from the power grid. A collection of 24 evergreen 200 watt panels will allow the home owners to enjoy a very small to no electrical bill at all.

The home is also designed to achieve a 90% reduction in water usage and utilizes a gray water return system that collects non-bio hazardous water from inside the house, as well as, 100% of rain water run-off from the roof system and stores it in a 2,000 gallon underground concrete tank. A pedestal pump attached to an automatic irrigation system placed on top of the grey water tank provides irrigation for the surrounding landscape on a daily basis. A gray water return system and drip irrigation systems compliments the xeriscaped lawn. All plants, trees and grasses are drought resistant and low maintenance. Water not used by the home is further recycled and collected in a large Gray water tank that allows for the irrigation of the parks behind the home.

Overall, this homes design ushers in a new chapter in efficient design by UDC. It is hoped that the lessons learned with this home can be repeated in future homes for a greater effect in reducing excessive energy consumption and enhancing human habitation within homes. For additional information, please contact UDC or CCC directly or for more information concerning this project and others like it visit UDCINC.ORG, the leader in sustainable energy efficient design in Texas.