WINTER NEWSLETTER 2003

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Changemaker: Victor Capellán
Former Chairman of CHisPA/Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy

Victor Capellán (right) guides CHisPA staff member Nelson Mejia. PHOTO: DAVID O'CONNOR

Thanks to The Bridge School, Martin, a Providence sophomore suspended for misbehavior, gets a second chance to finish high school.

"Before The Bridge, kids who were suspended or expelled were just sent home," says Victor Capellán, former chairman of the Board at the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy, or CHisPA, "How were they supposed to catch up?" In most cases they didn't. That's been a key factor in Providence's high school drop out rate.

For Victor, Providence's public schools opened the doors of opportunity in a new country. Victor's mother worked in a Providence jewelry factory for two years to save enough to bring Victor, then age 12, and his brother to the city. Most recently, Victor was an executive in the Providence School Department and a respected young leader of Providence's emerging Latino community.

"It was difficult for me, but I was very well served by Roger Williams Middle School and Central High School. I got an excellent education." He earned his degree from the University of Rhode Island and worked at both URI and at Brown University. He earned his master's degree from URI in 1996. In 1995, Victor was among those recruited for CHisPA's first Leadership Development class. He joined the CHisPA Board soon after.

Students at The Bridge School located at CHisPA. PHOTO: DAVID O'CONNOR

"Latinos have the same needs as everyone else," Victor explains, "The big problem is in the delivery of those services to new Americans who face barriers of language, culture and poverty. CHisPA lobbies for people who don't have lobbyists. The organization drives the agenda for our Latino community."

CHisPA's busy office in a converted Victorian house on Elmwood Avenue is often the first place Spanish-speaking immigrants come after arriving in Providence. CHisPA helps ensure that government agencies and community institutions such as schools and health care providers serve Hispanic residents fairly.

From 1998 to 2000, Victor served CHisPA as its executive director. He expanded CHisPA services and led the drive to make sure every Hispanic resident was counted in the 2000 Census.

CHisPA's Bridge School also dates from Victor's tenure as executive director. The Bridge at CHisPA, like a sister program at the Urban League, admits students barred from regular high schools for behavior problems. The Bridge at CHisPA enrolls up to 14 students at a time for stays from two weeks to several months, depending on the terms of their suspensions.

Each Bridge student gets intensive individualized attention. Parents sign a contract to be involved and supportive. The kids are held accountable with very structured rewards and punishments for their behavior.

"These kids arrive with problems, but we identify and build on their strengths. We challenge the kids to disprove what the people who sent them here think of them," says Victor, who used to teach social studies and leadership at The Bridge. "About 75 percent show a dramatic change."

"A lot of people helped me along my road and that's what CHisPA does for others," says Victor. As a school official, Victor is in a position to lend a hand to the kids coming out of the Bridge by seeking out smaller school settings for them.

It's the kind of change the Bridge has prepared Martin to take advantage of. At his old school, "the teachers just gave me the work without telling me how to do it," he recalls. He's doing better here at The Bridge. He actually enjoys English and math. "The geometry we do here makes me feel smarter," he says.

Martin intends to take advantage of the second chance he got at The Bridge. He's got a new goal now. He wants to be a lawyer.  JWH

In January, Victor left Providence to take a new job building parent engagement in New York City public schools. "CHisPA is a strong organization that always has the support of the community," says Victor, "I will keep supporting it through whichever channels I can."

Henry Shelton addresses the audience after receiving the 2003 Good Citizens Award at the Citizens Bank/Providence College Veritas Forum.

Good Citizen Shelton
A passionate lifetime of service honored

Henry Shelton, coordinator of the George A. Wiley Center, received the Good Citizen Award at the Citizens Bank/Providence College Veritas Forum, held on November 22. The annual luncheon event honors undergraduate Citizen Bank Scholars attending Providence College and celebrates outstanding community service with Good Citizen awards. In his introduction, Senator Jack Reed called Henry Shelton "the conscience of this state."

Henry lost no time in playing that role as he rose to speak. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice," Henry told the gathering. He reminded his audience that inequality is growing and that Rhode Island has the highest rate of adult illiteracy in the nation and the highest incidence of childhood poverty in New England. And, as always, Henry held out hope-and a challenge.

Citing the passion for equality of his good friend, the late activist and advocate George Wiley, Henry called on all of us to cultivate one passion for justice, whether addressed toward hunger, homelessness or another need. He urged his audience of well-connected Providence College alumni and friends to reject the war on Iraq and instead renew the War on Poverty.

Henry's passion for justice and his lifetime of service and activism has left a legacy of organizations we count on today to remind us of what our Rhode Island community must do for its least powerful members and to goad the powerful, when necessary, to do the right thing. These advocacy organizations include WAGE, the Coalition for Consumer Justice, Gray Panthers of R.I., the George A. Wiley Center and its R.I. Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty among many others. And, of course, The Fund for Community Progress which Henry founded 20 years ago.
The Fund congratulates Henry Shelton on this well-deserved reward.  JWH

First-class Campaign 2002

Thea Cerjanec of Amica paints the face of a frequent visitor to CHisPA fairs.

Campaign 2002 brought positive additions to The Fund's annual workplace giving repertoire: first experience with a corporate website campaign, first effort at giving on line, first drive at Amica Mutual Insurance Company, and first series of promotional posters. It's still too early to state the exact amount raised in the fall campaign, but it's not too far off to predict that The Fund is on target with its expectations for success.

Our first corporate website campaign coincided with our entrance into Amica. After a visit with the company's decision-makers last summer, Amica designed their payroll deduction campaign with employees designating their gifts via computers. Amica also hosted an agency fair and picnic to acquaint employees with many nonprofit organizations across the state.

The company enlisted volunteers who spent a Saturday in September at CHisPA helping with their annual Financial Literacy Fair. Amica volunteers registered participants, provided outreach on insurance and other financial matters, helped with children's activities, and served foods generously donated by the company. Special appreciation is expressed to Thea J. Cerjanec who coordinated Amica's excellent workplace campaign.

Now donors who are not in a workplace or whose workplace is not open to The Fund can give on line. By visiting our website, www.fundcp.org, individuals can learn about our agencies and make a contribution via credit card. This should expedite giving for more and more people who no longer work in large companies which sponsor employee giving campaigns.

Jhomphy R. Ventura, chair, Board of Directors of CHisPA, joins his Amica colleagues as they volunteer at CHisPA's Financial Literacy Fair.

To promote the campaign, the staff produced a series of four posters highlighting some of the "Changemakers" among our 28 agencies. The subjects included Roberta Hazen Aaronson, community organizer and founding executive director of Childhood Lead Action Project; Brenda Clement, housing activist, founder and executive director of The Housing Network of R.I.; and Victor Capellán, former chairman of the Board of CHisPA. The latter poster was printed in English and Spanish. Each poster described the work of a particular leader while noting that each typified the changemakers within The Fund, stating, "Together, these everyday heroes work to alleviate poverty, hunger, illiteracy, violence, discrimination, and lack of affordable housing and health care." Several hundred of the posters were distributed to the workplaces.

Campaign 2002 owes its success to Peter Walsh, senior vice president, Bank Rhode Island, who chaired this year's efforts. Peter was instrumental in opening Amica to The Fund, in raising nearly $20,000 at our kick-off dinner roast, and in donating services to package and deliver campaign materials to the worksites. Also leading the campaign was Robert L. Stout, Ph.D, head of Decision Sciences, Inc. who has served as the long-time volunteer coordinator of the Campaign Management Committee. In the past, Peter and Bob have won The Fund's "Long-term Support Award" for their enthusiastic dedication to, as Peter has described them: "Agencies that touch real people and provide assistance, and a voice, to those Rhode Islanders who need it the most." NHV

Save the Date: Thursday, February 6

The economic boom of the 1990s sparked a rush of jobs throughout the United States, which pushed millions into the workforce seemingly overnight. Journalist Barbara Ehrenreich went undercover into the world of minimum wage, a world where nearly 30 percent of Americans live, on a mission to find out if things were as good as the economy promised. In her best-selling book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America she forces her readers to confront social criticism that shows the harsh realities of survival in minimum wage jobs, stemming from her own experiences in occupations throughout the country, such as waitressing, cleaning, and clerking at the local Wal-Mart. From this book Joan Holden crafted a play that opens up this world with both social commentary as well as comedy.

On Thursday evening, February 6, The Fund will host a benefit for its 28 grassroots agencies to celebrate Trinity Repertory Theater's production of Nickel and Dimed. Co-chairs for this event are Providence Journal Columnist Bob Kerr and Professor at the URI Labor Research Center D. Scott Molloy, two figures in the community who themselves highlight those everyday heroes who work to make better lives for others. On February 6th there will be a reception and cash bar at 5:30pm, with the performance of Nickel and Dimed to follow at 7pm.

Tickets are $50 and are available by calling The Fund at 941-7100. Kevin Moriarty, the renowned director of Nickel and Dimed, describes this play as "the point of view of the outsider that goes in." This is a work that provides humor and entertainment, all the while confronting what are some of the most prevalent (yet oftentimes, overlooked) social problems that exist in this country today; problems that include housing and living wage. What better way to support The Fund for Community Progress than in support of a play that brings the dark side of American prosperity into the light, opening it up to understanding, betterment and change?  CMR

NOTES
Member Agencies

West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation celebrated its 30th anniversary last October 8 at Roger Williams Park Casino. Honored at the event were Nicholas Retsinas for his contributions to the housing industry, Rev. Naomi Craig for her contributions to the community, Ann D. Hill for her contributions to the neighborhood, and David Dillon for his contributions to the agency.

Youngster peers out between peeling porch railings. PHOTO: DAVID O'CONNOR

Childhood Lead Action Project received a $25,000 grant to continue its efforts in reducing lead poisoning. The grant will particularly support the R.I. Lead Collaborative, a network of organizations involved in lead poisoning prevention, as well as outreach and education. The Project also rallied in front of Superior Court to support the State's case against the lead paint companies, and this past October the Project celebrated its 10th anniversary with a an event entitled "Paint the Town Red."

R.I. Coalition for Minority Investment received a $50,000 economic opportunity grant from The Rhode Island Foundation to provide people with mentoring and technical support in terms of entrepreneurship and small business.

Institute for Poverty Awareness and Education was awarded $34,750 by The Rhode Island Foundation. This program helps to provide low-income women residing in Woonsocket with economic education, such as budgeting and savings incentives.

Coalition for Consumer Justice received $27,000 in financing for their environmental efforts from The Rhode Island Foundation. The Coalition works to keep the environment accessible and affordable to all, as well as protected through their program People's Power and Light. This is an emerging nonprofit utility company providing energy powered by wind and light.

Hope Center for Cancer Support held their 19th annual 10K Run For Hope, and 3-5 mile Walk for Hope in Newport. All funding raised went directly to the HOPE Center, whose community based support center relies solely on the generosity of others.

Gray Panthers of R.I. received a grant for $40,000 from The Rhode Island Foundation to fund their advocacy and policy efforts. Their main goal focuses on a statewide community effort for low and middle-income elders, stressing the importance of the elderly vote.

R.I. Parents for Progress received a $20,000 grant from The Rhode Island Foundation for a bilingual organizer to work extensively with the Latino community on issues of basic human needs. This program supports the development of the Latino communities, helping them to find better jobs and to be better educated.

George A. Wiley Center received $30,000 from The Rhode Island Foundation to continue their advocacy program that will turn their community organizing efforts towards Washington and Newport counties. The Center takes on a variety of issues, which include childcare, hunger, utilities and housing. The center works with low income and working families to better their communities.

Sharon Conard-Wells, executive director, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation receives flowers on the organization's 30th anniversary. Wil Fleming, deputy director of Pro-CAP, joins her in celebration.

Connecting for Children and Families was awarded $35,000 for their support of the Children's Initiative of Woonsocket. This program ensures that children are well prepared to start school, and are given the ability and opportunity to meet elementary school standards with success.

R.I. Parent Information Network has been providing home libraries of six to twelve books to children in need through its project, First Book RI. Since the program began nearly three years ago, more than 30,000 books have been distributed to children around the state.

SWAP was honored by Rhode Island Housing for hiring businesses owned by women and minorities for their construction projects. The ratio was 19.9 percent of a $3 million budget for SWAP's Friendship-Pine Revitalization project in Providence.

CHisPA collaborated on the design and data collection for The Rhode Island Foundation's research report, Rhode Island Latinos, A Scan of Issues Affecting the Latino Population of Rhode Island. The publication stresses the fact that because the Latino population is young and has a high level of poverty, Rhode Island is faced with a more complex problem in helping Latinos develop their own place in society. CHisPA's research project has drawn up facts and figures, allowing support groups to be organized in the appropriate ways, to ensure that the Latino population will be integrated into the culture of Rhode Island, while preserving their own.

ACORN Institute celebrated a successful year of community organizing and advocacy with its first annual awards banquet on December 11. Honored by the organization were Myrth York, a long-time advocate, community leader and former gubernatorial candidate; Juan Pichardo, the state's first Latino State Senator; Miguel Luna, newly elected Providence City Councilman; and David Cicilline, now the Mayor of Providence. Rhode Island ACORN, an affiliate of the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, has more than 900 local members who work on issues such as housing rights, fair utility rates, improved schools and resources for low-income communities.

Community Mediation Center of R.I.'s volunteers were honored at a reception by Rhode Island State Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams. Applauding the mediators who volunteer at Providence, Kent and Newport District Small Claims Courts, Judge Williams announced a commitment of $50,000 to support their work. CMCRI's volunteers mediate court, community and school cases. Last year 125 student peer mediators resolved more than 300 disputes resulting in a more peaceful school environment. For information on upcoming training opportunities to become a mediator, phone 273-9999.

PROGRESS is published to inform friends of The Fund for Community Progress about the activities and concerns of its member agencies. Gifts to The Fund have a definite impact on solving problems of poverty, hunger, homelessness, mental illness, housing, discrimination and other issues of injustice. PROGRESS stresses the importance of your continued support as together we "build a better community."