PC(USA) - SDOP - United States projects


	United States of America - South


	Alabama

	Choctaw Community Development Center Inc., Butler				$20,000

	Citizens in this very poor county of west Alabama faced with social and economic problems have committed themselves to projects of education, empowerment and mentoring. The project will accomplish this by purchasing educational materials, sponsoring GED and job training and establishing a computer lab. (2004)

	Cahaba Consumer Affairs Inc., Selma				$20,000

	This project aims to teach mentally disabled members basic computer skills, adult education (reading, math, etc.), and arts and crafts. SDOP funds will be used to purchase computers and pay instructors to teach the skills. The Center also provides fellowship, personal support and a network of resources. (2005)

	Bay Area Women Coalition Inc., Trinity Gardens of Mobile/Pritchard				$25,000

	This organization was formed to focus on job development, job training and educational awareness of the citizens in the area. Working with government agencies and community organizations, the group has developed a comprehensive strategy toward accomplishing its goals. (2003)


	Florida

	The Northside Neighborhood Council, Palatka				$17,655

	Residents living in an extremely low-income area of Palatka have organized themselves into a Neighborhood Council that is seeking empowerment and improvement of self-image within their community. They seek to do this by providing training in business skills and mini-grants to individual group members wanting to start up or to upgrade small businesses within the neighborhood. (2004)

	Farm Worker Community Organizing, Fellsmere				$20,000

	This is a farm worker community-organizing project. The workers are organizing to collect information about connecting with services in the community such as healthcare and improved educational opportunities for themselves and their children. (2005)

	F.A.C.T Families Actively Coming Together, Gainesville				$20,000

	This project comprised of a racially-diverse group from a very low-income area of Gainesville is organizing to overcome their own sense of powerlessness and neglect by public officials. The group is learning how to organize around and present issues that negatively impact their community such as high crime, run down rental housing and unreliable garbage collection. (2006)

	Skills for Successful Futures, Homestead				$10,700

	A group of about 60 low-income and at-risk youth came together to develop skills in entrepreneurship. They are involved in learning activities that teach them business skills and how to compile business plans. They developed a work plan that focuses on entrepreneurship skills in managing a lawn service and computer services. (2006)

	Successful Living, Naranja				$20,000

	A group of 16 low-income senior citizens came together to combine their skills in sewing, food preparation and arts and crafts. They plan to sell their goods in a flea market to improve their income and standard of living. (2006)

	Job Training and Literacy for Hispanic Immigrants, Homestead				$20,000

	This is a project initiated by a group of 50 young adults to develop English skills and trades skills. Their inability to speak English has kept them out of the job market and learning English and trades skills will help them overcome social and economic barriers by enabling them to compete in the job market. (2006)

	Kids in Motion, Apopka				$20,000

	Parents of children in Kids in Motion, a child day care facility for low-income children, came together to develop their financial literacy skills. The financial literacy training will help the parents obtain sustainable financial literacy. (2006)

	Alliance Internationale Humainitaire Pour Haiti, Inc., Miami				$14,000

	This group came together to learn English language skills. Being unable to speak and write English fluently is a barrier to securing employment and/or promotions. Improving their English language skills will enable them to return to college, get better jobs and provide for their families. (2006)

	The Organization of Mayan People Inc., Lake Worth				$15,600

	There are 25,000 Mayan People in south Florida representing over 22 language groups. They have not been able to organize and gain attention for their needs because they cannot communicate to organize. This project removes these barriers by creating a communication clearinghouse no matter which language they speak. (2003)

	Asian Senior Center, Immigrant and Refugee Asian Seniors, Miami				$15,000

	A group of poor, senior south Asian Immigrants/Refugees have come together to address the problem of isolation. Now that they have transportation, they can gain English skills and begin a microenterprise helping them gain greater self-sufficiency. (2003)

	Lake Apopka Health Project, Apopka				$10,000

	Very poor farm workers in the rural Apopka area exposed to very high levels of organochlorine pesticides over a long period of time are now experiencing very serious health problems. This project seeks to research health issues, document the relationship between health problems and exposure to the pesticides, and finally, seek access to appropriate health care. (2003)

	Sunrise Drop-In Center Inc., Kissimmee				$45,000

	A group of mentally disabled individuals and volunteer advocates came together to supply post treatment for the mentally disabled to enable them to work, live and integrate into the community. (2002)

	Cross-Disability Transportation Issues Committee, Miami				$90,000

	Individuals with disabilities have come together to address the issues they face with transportation, such as safety, accessibility and accountability, which effect their arriving to work, doctor visits and other appointments in a timely manner. (2002)

	Haitian American Christian Organization, Miami				$5,000

	Technical assistance has been given to this group of Haitian refugees to hire a consultant to develop a business plan for a community cantina, determine needed licenses/permits and determine the legality of using supplies received from a food bank. (2002)


	Georgia

	Georgia Avenue Coming Together Inc., Atlanta				$30,000

	This goal of this project is to start the Tummy & South Cooperative Restaurant in an inner city neighborhood. The jobs produced by this venture will help many of the community members maintain their homes as many are losing them to increased taxes as the neighborhood changes. (2004)

	Phoenix Labor, Augusta				$13,000

	According to a 2003 survey, Augusta, Georgia, has 5,601 homeless individuals. Regular employment services do not understand and are often unwilling to employ the homeless. Temporary employment will lead to full employment, which will lead to a steady income and eventually home ownership. This project comprised of homeless, nearly homeless and previously homeless individuals seeks to establish such a temporary employment agency. (2004)

	Smithville Neighborhood Freedom Center, Smithville				$20,000

	The Freedom Center was organized as a response to police abuse and harassment in a small town of rural Georgia. The Center monitors the courts and city government to ensure fair treatment of defendants and to maintain a voice from the African-American community. (2005)

	Time to Care: Family Flexible Policies for Low Wage, Atlanta				$20,000

	These low-income women have children with disabilities, health and behavioral issues and need flexible work policies to be able to care for their children. The women came together to advocate for flexible work policies to increase their availability to address their children’s health, childcare and school issues. (2006)

	East Baker County Historical Society, Newton				$61,000

	This group in the poorest county in Georgia came together to work on a project focused on the development of a commercial kitchen. The kitchen will facilitate entrepreneurship training and provide an income for group members and their families. (2006)

	M.M.W.M.C. Institute of Second Chance and God Given Talent, Atlanta				$20,000

	This community group of 23 people came together to develop a series of film productions on poverty to educate the general public on issues poor people face. The film also created a source of income for group members. (2006)

	Eastside Concerned Citizens Inc., Savannah				$26,000

	Eastside Concerned Citizens Inc., located in the economically depressed community on the east side of Savannah, is taking the initiative to address several areas of major concern. They are a high rate of health deficiencies, unemployment, lack of medical benefits, dilapidated housing, truancy, crime and low educational achievement levels. (2003)

	Flint River Farmers’ Cooperative, Newton				$11,000

	Several African-American farmers, who operate single family farms, have formed a cooperative effort to create and expand a market for their crops. This project will create a sustainable market where none currently exists. Through the purchase of key equipment they will be able to facilitate long-term change. (2003)

	True Light Transportation, Prayer Warriors of Houston, Warner Robins				$15,000

	There is no public transportation in the Centerville and Warner Robins area. The only form of transportation available is a taxi, which can become quite expensive. This group has come together to put a van in operation that will serve their own needs and those of other low income and poor people in their community. (2003)

	Garden Springs Trailer Park, People of Hope Corporation, Athens				$150,000

	This group of multiethnic people have organized to maintain affordable housing, maintain a sense of community and fight stereotypes that perpetuate racism. (2001)

	Creative Impressions, Augusta				$23,080

	This performance tour group of young actors provides educational expression and explores avenues to higher education and encouragement needed to attain success and positive experiences with life outside Augusta, Georgia. (2001)


	Kentucky

	Livingston Economic Alternatives In Progress Inc. (LEAP), Livingston				$35,000

	This group of Appalachian workers run a fully-equipped kitchen making and selling their homemade goods. Funds received from SDOP will help the group promote and distribute their products to increase sales. (2001)

	Dismantling Classism Project/ Women in Transition Louisville				$20,000

	This project is about seeking economic justice for welfare women in Louisville, Kentucky. The group is seeking economic justice for the women by changing the social view towards welfare recipients. With the changed view both inward and outward, the women can build their individual and collective power to develop the critical skills needed to convert their human capital into capital wealth. (2005)

	Kentucky Care Professional House Cleaning, Lexington				$20,000

	These eight immigrant single mothers came together to form a house-cleaning cooperative. The SDOP partnership will enable the women to develop skills in the house cleaning business and help move them out of the poverty conditions they live under. (2006)


	Mississippi

	Re-thinking Excellence for the Advancement of Development Youth, (R.E.A.D.Y.), Columbia				$20,000

	Competing against adults for employment opportunities has been extremely difficult for the youth in this community. So they have decided to create their own opportunities. They developed a youth-owned and youth-run mobile concession trailer to sell refreshments at local sporting events. (2004)

	Citizens For A Better Greenville, Greenville				$15,000

	Originally organized around educational disparities, Citizens for a Better Greenville is now the voice of a significant segment of the local population. It is a grassroots organizing effort that provides the opportunity for low-income persons to address issues that affect their lives both politically and economically. (2004)

	Coast Community Drum Line, Pascagoula				$20,000

	There are no jobs available for high school- and college-age youth in this area of Mississippi. These youth created this project in order to have employment and help other youth appreciate the fine art of music The project consists of repairing and selling percussion instruments and expanding the teaching of music lessons. (2004)

	2nd Chance, Lexington				$20,000

	This project provides information to bring about change in education through researching how other school systems are successful. Because Holmes County, Mississippi, is the fourth poorest county in the nation, there is a mind set of, "what you have now is good enough." 2nd Chance believes they can do better. They want to change the face of education. This research will enable students, parents, school officials and county administrators to rethink education. (2005)

	Agricultural Cooperative Winston County Self-Help Association, Louisville				$24,000

	This group joined together to create an agricultural cooperative focused on increasing family income through increases in the profitability of their calf/cow operations. They have acquired cattle and need equipment to assist them with improving the feed production capabilities of each of their operations. They formed the cooperative to lessen the cost of operations and find ways to buy equipment for joint use by members of the cooperative. (2005)

	Generations Family Reunions & Event Planners Moss Point				$20,000

	This is an income-generating project that involves planning and setting up of all aspects of family reunions, special events, conferences, workshops and seminars. The group is composed of members who receive government assistance or work in low paying jobs. (2005)

	Community Recovery Project, Biloxi				20,000

	This group of women organized to educate themselves as residents of East Biloxi, Mississippi, about available resources in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, locate transportation to secure those resources and secure temporary housing. They will also advocate with city officials for the needs of the community. (2006)

	Tropical World Landscaping and Irrigation II, Gulfport				$105,000

	A group of low-income young men have organized to receive training to become certified landscapers to run and operate their own business to secure a better future. (2002)

	LifeSavers Single Parent Crisis Organization, Moss Point				$150,000

	This project consisting of low-to-no-income, single parents came together to learn skills in the areas of personal, educational, financial and social development to raise their self-esteem and increase their ability to support their families. (2002)

	Glendora Economic Community Development Corporation, Technical Assistance, Glendora				$5,000

	Technical assistance has been giving to this agricultural project to assist them in upgrading their office equipment to be more efficient. (2001)

	Small Talk Sweet Shop, Marks				$38,000

	The community of Quitman is one of the poorest in Mississippi. The youth of this community have come together to learn ways to make, manage, and have money work for them. They own and manage the Small Talk Sweet Shop. (2001)

	Indianola Parent Student Group, Indianola				$60,000

	The parent student group of Indianola has organized to create a equitable and quality public education system to have a positive change in their community by making public and school officials aware of the inadequacy. (2001)


	North Carolina

	The Parents of Children’s World, Laurinburg				$9,000

	These multi-cultural groups of rural, low-income parents, who send their children to Children’s World Preschool/Day Care, have organized to correct a health/environmental situation that could close down this 20-year old nonprofit community facility. They will accomplish this by correcting the drainage and sanitation problem of an adjacent to the facility. (2004)

	Smoky Mountain Native Plants Association (SMNPA), Robbinsville				$20,000

	SMNPA, comprised of low-income people, is dedicated to earning extra income through growing, collecting, processing and marketing of Appalachian native plants, to preserving native plants for future generations and to providing education about native species. This is all accomplished through education, community service and economic development. (2004)

	Blue Springs-Hoke County Community Development Corporation, Raeford				$15,000

	This project has helped to prepare this rural community construct a 20-unit subdivision of affordable homes for low-income to moderate-income families that work on hog, chicken, turkey and tobacco farms and to initiate collaboration with six faith-based entities to provide home-grown jobs. (2005)

	CASA DBA Community Property Alternatives, Raleigh				$17,000

	This group of individuals with disabilities, including mental illness, developmental disabilities and HIV/AIDS, came together to earn a living through training in lawn maintenance. (2006)

	Concerned Citizens of Tillery, Tillery				$30,000

	African-American residents of an underdeveloped part of rural northeastern North Carolina, who are largely descendents of participants in a New Deal resettlement program of the 1930s, have organized to focus on racial justice, community-based economic development, political participation and community-based health care. (2003)

	Between Ages Community Organization, Hollister				$33,468

	Residents of the Hollister community between the ages of 55 and 80 began the Between Ages Community Organization as a health focus group with only five participants. They have grown to a lively group of 50, with more than 35 seniors participating regularly in physical fitness and social enrichment activities. (2003)

	Genesis Park Computer Learning Center, Charlotte				$40,000

	The low-income community of Genesis Park has organized a computer training center for all the residents to become computer literate, improve communication capacity, educate their children, and increase marketability for better jobs. (2001)

	Quilt Project, Boone				$75,000

	This group of homeless and formerly homeless people has organized to learn practical and technical skills to secure future employment and improve their current living situations. (2001)


	South Carolina

	The Southside Community Center Inc., Lancaster				14,000

	The Southside Community of Lancaster, is comprised of many single parent heads of household and senior citizens. There is a need for this community to help stamp out the high rate of crime, teen pregnancy and substance abuse. With assistance the group was able to purchase and renovate a building that will be used as a community center where residents will have educational opportunities and participate in recreational and social activities. (2004)

	Farmers Cooperative & Community Development Association, Greeleyville				$20,000

	A group of 25 low-income, African -merican small farmers has started a cooperative greenhouse business. The group will share equipment and will receive training and the general support needed to be successful. (2003)


	Virginia

	Queen of SHEBA, Williamsburg				$20,000

	This group of women have banded together to seek training in job skills and to provide support and training for one another in areas of emotional, educational and career development. (2004)

	Parents in Action, Newport News				$20,000

	These low-income, single parents organized to work on a project that would provide parental development and guidance in academic tutoring and social and cultural improvement. The project will help them learn how to increase their income and to work within the system to improve their children’s academic success as well as social and cultural skills. (2006)

	Hurley Community Development Inc., Hurley				$10,000

	Residents of this rural, low-income coal-mining community were once employed as coal miners, but today there are very few mining jobs. Most of the people in Hurley today are below poverty level. Community members came together to engage in a project that involves providing supplemental food, clothing and home repair to residents. (2006)

	Bandy Community Center, Bandy				$10,000

	The Bandy Community Center is the hub of community activities and essential services. The county and state government either can not or will not provide the services needed by this center, so they have had to do it themselves. To operate, the center needed a new HVAC system, which was made possible by this grant. (2003)

	Improvement of Dickerson County, Committee for the Improvement of Dickerson County, Clintwood				$54,500

	This environmental project addresses the water pollution brought on by illegal practices by mining, timber and natural gas companies in their community. By establishing a laboratory, lobbying governmental agencies and educating residents, this community of low-income people will fight for healthier living conditions. (2001)



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