ENP News

Asset Based Community Development and How Organizations Implement It for Neighborhood Transformation

Every Neighborhood Partnership is rooted in a framework called Asset Based Community Development or ABCD for short. Any Community Based Organization that believes in Asset Based Community Development starts with a basic premise that local communities can do more together by choosing to focus on what they have — their gifts, talents, and community assets — instead of what they are missing.* Imagine how you view a glass of water that is half-way filled up. Is it empty or full?

ABCD is a way of both strengthening community social capital and organizing community change. While this serves as an initial baseline for how asset-based inspired organizations approach the work of community engagement, not all organizations that adopt the ABCD methodology end with the same goals. 

Germán QuiñonezAsset Based Community Development and How Organizations Implement It for Neighborhood Transformation
read more

ENP is Hiring! Multiple Positions Available

ENP is expanding our School Support Department with 3 new positions:

  • Volunteer Staff Coordinator: Oversee and manage the ENP volunteer and college staff experience from start to finish. Make sure everyone has a smooth onboarding, service experience, and off-boarding. This could include the creation of job descriptions, fingerprinting, connecting to various departments within ENP and the Fresno State Richter Center.
  • Extended Learning Coordinator: Manage and oversee college staff and church/community volunteers at ENP’s Extended Learning programming including Read Fresno After School intervention, Saturday Sports, and other community after school programming as needed.
  • Literacy Mentor Coordinator: Manage and oversee college staff and church/community volunteers in ENP’s Literacy Mentor program.

To Apply: Fill out this Google Form and upload your resume and cover letter

Gabrielle PicenoENP is Hiring! Multiple Positions Available
read more

2021 Annual Report

A Note from the Executive Director

In those brief check-in conversations, I have with people in the hallway, I am often asked, “How is ENP? What have you all been up to?” Honestly, I haven’t gotten better at summarizing our work to a 1 to 2 sentence response. There is so much to say! 

How do you summarize the impact of hundreds of literacy mentors who support kids’ educational and emotional development? How do you summarize residents beginning to know themselves and the power and knowledge they have to change their communities? How do you summarize the numerous church, CBO, and other partners we have worked with around Trauma/Resilience, Digital Equity, Land Use Planning, Church Equipping, and/or Racial Justice? Sometimes all I can say is, “We have an amazing team and great partners and the work is going well.” 

I hope as you scan this report that you get a sense of all that has happened, that you see the work being done and the reason your support and investment in ENP is worth every penny. Thank you for partnering with us to activate our schools and neighborhoods! 

Table of Contents

andrewfeil2021 Annual Report
read more

Meet Our New Resident Engagement Specialist

Christian Gonzalez at ENP as a Resident Engagement Specialist! 

We are pleased to congratulate Christian on her new role as a Resident Engagement Specialist within the Neighborhood Development Team of ENP. Her passion for community engagement and building relationships that cultivate empowerment has led her to pursue continued intention and growth in neighborhood-focused development. 

Within her new role, she will work in six targeted neighborhood elementary schools located in the 93702 and 93706 zip codes, to build a strong network of parent and resident leaders, build community capacity, and identify community priorities that lead to positive outcomes.

“Christian brings an amazing set of skills to the ENP team as our new Resident Engagement Specialist that we can’t wait to unleash her talent on the world”

– German Quinonez, Neighborhood Development Director 

Although we may not see her within the CEDP gatherings as often, this partnership allows us the benefit of staying connected and continuing to engage through other community and city networks. 

Feel free to send her well wishes at her new contact email: christian@everyneighborhood.org

Alexis KaluginMeet Our New Resident Engagement Specialist
read more

Relentless 2022: 21 Days of Praying and Fasting

Join us along with churches from across Fresno/Clovis for a time of fasting and prayer for our city. See the full schedule for below:

.  Monday the 10th First Armenian Presbyterian  430 S 1st St, Fresno, CA 93702

https://www.youtube.com/fapcfresno

2.  Tuesday the 11th Breaking Free Revival Center  3510 N Millbrook Ave, Fresno, CA 93726

https://www.facebook.com/BFreeRC

3.  Wednesday the 12th New Covenant Church  1744 E Nees Ave, Fresno, CA 93720

https://www.newcov.com/

4.  Thursday the 13th New Joy Church  980 Gettysburg Ave, Clovis, CA 93612

https://www.youtube.com/c/NewJoyClovis

5.  Friday the 14th First Presbyterian Church  1540 M St, Fresno, CA 93721

https://www.youtube.com/FirstPresFresno

6.  Saturday the 15th Betel Pastores en Oracion  (At Templo Bethel) 148 W Whitesbridge Ave, Fresno, 93706

7.  Sunday the 16th Northpark Community Church  2297 E Shepherd Ave, Fresno, CA 93720

https://www.youtube.com/c/NorthparkCommunityChurchFresno

8.  Monday the 17th Butler Church  4884 E Butler Ave, Fresno, CA 93727

https://www.youtube.com/ButlerChurch

9.  Tuesday the 18th The Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church  1104 Collins Ave, Fresno, CA 93706

https://www.facebook.com/risingstarfresno

10. Wednesday the 19th Clovis Christian Church  1701 Locan Ave, Clovis, CA 93619

https://www.cloviscc.com/live-stream

11. Thursday the 20th Mountain View Sunnyside  6175 E Kings Canyon Rd, Fresno, CA 93727

12. Friday the 21st Crosspoint Church  2518 N Cedar Ave, Fresno, CA 93703

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFZqiPrlcicr1TZ2uXoQ7rg

13. Saturday the 22nd Family Christian Assembly  535 N Cedar Ave, Fresno, CA 93702

https://www.youtube.com/user/ChristianTemple559

14. Sunday the 23rd Valley Christian Center  4649 E Shields Ave, Fresno, CA 93726

https://www.youtube.com/c/ValleyChristianCenterFresno

15. Monday the 24th New Life Community Church Clovis  2165 Gettysburg Ave, Clovis, CA 93611

https://newlifeclovis.squarespace.com

16. Tuesday the 25th Westside Church of God  1422 W California Ave, Fresno, CA 93706

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87172430432?pwd=V05vUnFwOTgrZW1PR0Z4eklVWm9kUT09

17. Wednesday the 26th Bethany Church   9161 N Maple Ave, Fresno, CA 93720

https://www.youtube.com/bethanychurchfresno

18. Thursday the 27th North Fresno Church  5724 N Fresno St, Fresno, CA 93710

https://www.youtube.com/northfresnochurch

19. Friday the 28th The Church of Tollhouse  27950 Tollhouse Rd, Tollhouse, CA 93667

https://www.churchoftollhouse.org

20. Saturday the 29th Clovis Hills Church  10590 N Willow Ave, Clovis, CA 93619

https://www.clovishills.com

21. Sunday the 30th  **CELEBRATION**  Cornerstone Church  1545 Fulton St, Fresno, CA 93721

https://www.youtube.com/user/cornerstonefresno

If you have any questions comments or concerns please contact Eli 559-288-6279

Alexis KaluginRelentless 2022: 21 Days of Praying and Fasting
read more

DRIVE HUB Highlight: Familias en Acción

This weeks HUB Highlight Familias en Acción in the Winchell Neighborhood led by Lilia Becerril.

  1. In light of DRIVE, what is the vision for Familias en Acción in the Winchell Neighborhood? 
    • The vision of Familias en Acción is to be able to connect with the majority of the residents in the Winchell neighborhood and to build a strong network of local stakeholders (council-member office, elementary school partners, & local churches). The hope is to build resident and neighborhood capacity to achieve great changes in this community.
  1. How is being a DRIVE HUB in the Winchell neighborhood providing an opportunity to engage in your community in a deeper way?
    •  The civic infrastructure initiative has given residents the opportunity to feel part of the process that gives them a voice to share their concerns and suggestions for neighborhood improvements.
  1. How has ENP been of support to you and Familias en Acción? 
    • ENP has supported us in many ways, for example; they provide us with educational work tools for community projects and coaching support to help us grow as leaders.
  1. Up to this point, what is 1 thing that you would like to highlight & share with others? 
    • We have been meeting with families to provide resources and support on how to advocate for their neighborhood. As a new organization this has been an important part of growth. We are actively trying to connect Winchell residents with their city leaders to have a seat at the table of decision making. 
HUB Leader, Lilia Becerril.
Alexis KaluginDRIVE HUB Highlight: Familias en Acción
read more

DRIVE Hub Highlight: Jackson CDC

Jackson CDC is one of our DRIVE Hub organizations led by Heidi White. Learn about what they do and how being a part of DRIVE has impacted their work. 

  1. In light of DRIVE, what is the vision for Jackson CDC in the Jackson Neighborhood? 
    • Alongside our residents, we seek the cohesive well-being of the Jackson Neighborhood and it’s residents through community engagement, advocacy, and asset-based community development. In this season of work we are intently focused on 4 initiatives. First, we continue to build our resident-led neighborhood association as a way to capacitate neighbors in asset based community development best practices. Second, we assist Jackson Elementary in educational attainment initiatives. Third, we collectively implement resident imagined solutions that impact our neighborhood’s greatest needs. Fourth, we engage in resident-led strategic revitalization that partners with the City of Fresno for systemic change. 
  1. How is being a DRIVE HUB in the Jackson neighborhood providing an opportunity to engage in your community in a deeper way? 
    • Being a DRIVE HUB has enabled us to hire additional staff who are also Jackson resident leaders to support the community development work we are doing in Jackson. This is allowing us to reach wider and deeper in our community through already established networks and relationships. DRIVE is also providing us with the encouragement, tools and support we need as we equip and empower residents to engage in being part of the solutions to the challenges facing the Jackson Neighborhood.
  1. How has ENP been of support to you and Jackson CDC? 
    • ENP has been helpful to provide training opportunities for our staff and residents, personalized coaching to help us achieve our goals, and they have created regular opportunities for us to connect with and learn from other DRIVE HUBS. 
  1. Up to this point, what is 1 thing that you would like to highlight & share with others? 
    • In the last few months, Jackson residents have been putting forth their best ideas for how to make the Jackson neighborhood a safer, better, and flourishing community. From a list of the top 16 resident-submitted ideas ranging from starting a community garden, to hosting block parties, to doing alley clean-ups, over 150 neighbors voted to focus their attention on making our neighborhood safer through a Safe Streets Initiative. We are in the preliminary stages of gathering resident concerns and their best solutions to tackle the challenges of cars making donuts in our intersections, speeding, and running stop signs. We are currently hosting community meetings and putting out a resident survey to activate all the gifts, skills, and best ideas of our residents to work towards a safer neighborhood. We are partnering with the Fresno Police Department and City Hall to address not just the safety issues facing our current residents, but to consider systemic changes that could be made to ensure future residents are equally safe. Seeing residents use their voices, passions, and skills to enact change in our neighborhood gives us fuel to continue in the work we are doing in the Jackson Neighborhood.
Heidi White, HUB Leader
Alexis KaluginDRIVE Hub Highlight: Jackson CDC
read more

DRIVE Hub Highlight: Fresno Street Saints

This week’s HUB Highlight is Fresno Street Saints located in the King neighborhood and led by Joby Jones.

  1. In light of DRIVE, what is the vision for Fresno Street Saints in the King Neighborhood? When it comes to the DRIVE initiative, our vision for the King neighborhood is to reestablish that sense of being connected but ownership of their communities. Being the catalyst and spark that an individual needs empowering them to take up the responsibility to see change.
  2. How is being a DRIVE HUB in the King neighborhood providing an opportunity to engage your community in a deeper way? Being a DRIVE HUB enables us to engage in the community from a personal standpoint. it’s not about coming to our meetings or events. It is asking them to participate, be involved and speak up for your community.
  3. How has ENP been of support to you and Fresno Street Saints? ENP has been great, the 1-1 meetings, instructions and suggestions have all been valuable to keeping us on point when it comes to understanding what Drive is and what our role is.
  4. Up to this point, what is a victory that you would like to share with others? A victory that we have had is being able to bring on 3 people who are real community people willing to go out and embrace, engage and empower the community.
  5. Why should a church/organization apply to become a HUB within the DRIVE initiative? A church or organization should apply because of the interaction that it brings with the community.
Joby Jones, HUB Leader
Alexis KaluginDRIVE Hub Highlight: Fresno Street Saints
read more

Hub Highlight: Another Level Training Academy

We wanted to highlight one of our HUB highlights in the Webster Neighborhood led by Nia Hodge-Grier.

1. In light of DRIVE, what is the vision for Another Level Training Academy in the Webster Neighborhood? 

The vision for ALTA is to make lasting relationships in the community, creating spaces for the community to heal by taking ACE’s courses to relate to those who have been marginalized and not heard. ALTA desires to meet the community’s needs by showing members of the community how to leverage the gifts that they possess while allowing them to use their voice and stated needs. ALTA’s goal is to move the community from needing services to creating a vibrant ecosystem within the community they live. We hope that this will become a trend in the community for generations to come.  

2. How is being a DRIVE HUB in the Webster neighborhood providing an opportunity to engage in your community in a more profound way? 

Being a DRIVE HUB in Webster has challenged ALTA to take a more creative approach to reach residents. ALTA is learning new ways to leverage relationships and connect with organizations amid people hesitant because of COVID. ALTA is connecting with youth in the community through educational institutions to draw the seasoned members of the community to the table. ALTA  is learning to lean into this work and allowing the community to lead with what they desire for the community they live.

3. How has ENP been of support to you and Another Level Training Academy? 

ENP has been an enormous support to me by leading with transparency and letting me know that we are all learning as we go. In addition, ENP has been good about referring the information on additional training to help ALTA grow in the capacity it needs to serve the community further. I am very comfortable moving into the DRIVE initiative having the support from ENP to help us thrive internally and externally. I am confident that ALTA will continue to thrive with the support of ENP.

4. Up to this point, what is one thing you would like to highlight & share with others? 

The Highlight of the  DRIVE initiative is the effort being put forth to ensure that this initiative is diverse, inclusive, and practical. 

Hub Leader, Nia Hodge-Grier.
Alexis KaluginHub Highlight: Another Level Training Academy
read more