We had a really good time with our 2020 Fall in Love with Fresno event! If you were not able to tune in live, don’t worry…we recorded it! You can watch it on YouTube, or if you want to see all the comments, you can view it on Facebook.
andrewfeilMissed our Fall in Love Virtual Event? Watch here!
Fresno Community & Economic Development Partnership Project Specialist
Position Description Under the general supervision of the Fresno CEDP HUB Coordinators, the Project Specialist would be responsible for developing and executing projects that advance the vision of the CEDP and the Missions of the CEDP Partners. The Project Specialist should be an inspiring leader capable of coaching, motivating and equipping our CEDP staff by providing ongoing support for their individual needs.
Status: Part-time Hourly Rate: $25-$30 – per hour
Responsibilities
1. Coordinate work responsibilities with HUB Coordinators on a weekly basis
2. Provide technical support to CEDP Partners in areas such as: (but not limited to)
Bookkeeping & Financial Management
Fundraising – Planning and Execution
Grant Writing
Marketing and Communications
Basic Human Resources
990 Tax Support
3. Provide assistance with data collection, analyzing data and research
4. Coordinate CEDP meetings be they live or virtual. Provide notes for each meeting and assist with any logistics
5. Knowledge on virtual platforms
Requirements
Must be able to work with a diverse cross-section of our community and have a general understanding of our community. Must be comfortable working with varied economic, social, racial and cultural backgrounds. Have a passionate heart for community development work and be committed to excellence. Should be self-motivated, able to work by yourself and in teams. Have the ability to multi-task on a weekly basis.
The Project Specialist should have, at minimum, an AA Degree or higher and at least 2 years working in the nonprofit or community development field.
Must possess a valid California Driver’s License and verified automobile insurance along with use of a reasonably reliable auto for use on the job. Should have the ability to pass a Live Scan background fingerprinting check.
Application Process Fresno CEDP HUB Coordinators are Fresno Metro Ministry and Every Neighborhood Partnership. To apply for this position please jointly email your resume and/or cover letter to the following:
Gulp. Yes, that was the audibly loud sound coming from my throat.
Today marks a new day in my life and the life of Every Neighborhood Partnership. Artie Padilla, our beloved founder and leader for the past 12 years, has officially transitioned out of ENP and into the Central Valley Community Foundation.
Many of you know Artie as the trusted community leader, who has played the role of bridge builder and servant leader across our city. I got to know Artie back in 2007 and served under him as a volunteer running the Saturday Sports, Classroom Volunteering, and summer school programming at Easterby Elementary. Since then, I have seen his steady rise into the leadership of our city (Yes, even receiving the key to the city!). But I haven’t just seen him in the limelight, I have also seen him on his bad days and yet in the midst of those he has been, and continues to be, humble, others-centered, and committed to the hard work of community development. His collaborative way of moving in the world has brought Jesus followers, community members, city officials, health policy advocates and many others together on the journey for the betterment of Fresno.
You can understand why there is a big gulp there! So let’s be real. I am not Artie. I can never be Artie. I can only be me. As a former pastor, current adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific, and now as Executive Director at Every Neighborhood Partnership, my goal is to continue the great work that Artie has paved for our city and our church. The team we have assembled at ENP is fantastic. Our board is supportive. Our community advocates are many.
I have a lot of growing to do. I know that I have a lot to learn and am going to make a lot of mistakes along the way. I am actually terrified of that, but instead of giving into the fear of not getting everything perfect, I am committed to fail fast and join the good work that will happen.
In this new season of ENP’s work in our community, we are as committed as ever to bringing people of faith and people of goodwill to join the transformation of our neighborhoods and city. We are wholly committed to the belief that the Image of God dwells in every member of our community and that they have the gifts and abilities that are needed to shape the future of their neighborhood and our city. We will work hard to fight against the overly simplistic political divide to create flourishing for all.
With trepidation, I and our team look forward to stewarding the work of ENP. We believe that God is not done with us yet.
As we coming into this new season we are also marking this new moment with our Virtual Fall in Love With Fresno banquet. You can watch the livestream or order an at home party box with Ampersand Ice Cream, Lanna Coffee Co, and other fun items!
Thanks for your support of ENP and myself and our family in the past and into this new season!
I invite you to read this passage from the book of Isaiah. In it, God sets the vision that ENP looks to see accomplished. We look forward to supporting our churches, schools, families, businesses, and other community organizations in the continued transformation to be a city that lives into the vision God gave Isaiah:
Isaiah 65:17–25 – NIV 17 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. 20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.
This week marks the start of the 2020-21 school year for most districts in our Valley. With it comes an unprecedented year. Everything has changed! ENP is not immune to this change. This week marks the last couple of weeks for our beloved founder, Artie Padilla. If you missed his remarks from our last newsletter see them here.
As Artie wraps up his time at ENP we need you to help us capture his impact in your life and in our city.
andrewfeilArtie’s Last Week at ENP: Make It Special – Find Out How
This article was written by former ENP intern Alexis Kalugin.
Over the last few decades, institutional community development has taken over the structure of most community functions. Instead of finding ways to engage neighbors to be a voice of change in their community, most cities have put the burden of change on institutions. The problem with this narrative is that workers in schools, law enforcement, and healthcare are responsible for more community problems than they can handle. There is no relationship between the institution and the community to understand each problem. This approach becomes one size fits all and leaves a gap between the institution and the citizens.
Gabrielle PicenoRefunctioning Community Development
It’s amazing when you stop and reflect on the path that the Lord has been taking you down. Sometimes you don’t understand things along the way, sometimes it’s a smooth ride. I’ve been reflecting a lot the last couple of years and I’ve been processing where the Lord has me going in the path ahead. He’s provided a little more clarity for me the last month.
We may be distancing ourselves from each other physically, but we can still be good neighbors! Here are some resources and suggestions for ways you can love your neighbors and neighborhood.
During this COVID-19 time, ENP has had to shift some of the projects our interns are working on. One of the projects we gave our Pink House Intern, Austin Hussain was to read a book and write a short review. We wanted to share his reflections and recommend to you the book Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. This book has influenced the way that ENP thinks through its community development work as well as how we facilitate meetings and trainings.
One of the ways that ENP has shifted its work during the COVID-19 pandemic is to begin working food access in our city. We have helped create food distributions, a food hub, and a food map.
Food Distributions
In partnership with Fresno Unified, Central California Food Bank, ENP, and many partner organizations and individual volunteers ENP is helping organize food distributions at select FUSD Schools.