E a s t C e n t r a l I l l i n o i s

C o m m u n i t y A c t i o n A g e n c y

N e w s Y o u C a n U s e

A Message from the Chief Executive Officer

April Chris Bey 4/6

Jennifer Nitshe 4/6

Alisha Mason 4/7

Treva Moore 4/10

Ilda Ontiveros 4/10

Alyssa Trujillo 4/11

Samantha Fowler 4/12

Heaven Copass 4/16

Mittie Hale 4/22

Kayla Duffy 4/23

Brandy Jones 4/29

Issue: July 2019

March Beth Badger 3/2

Ashley Classen 3/14

Tara Shields 3/21

Linda Goff 3/22

Linda Gregar 3/23

Sharon Shipman 3/25

Stephanie Morgan 3/28

George Chiaremello 3/29

Frederick Whitman III 3/29

May April Estes 5/1

Kayla Thomas 5/2

Emily Klein 5/5

Teresa Patton 5/7

Mary Elliot 5/11

Tori Brigham 5/18

Sarah Brown 5/23

Connie Strawser 5/26

Catherine Ewing 5/27

Happy Birthday!!!

BE THE REASON SOMEONE SMILES TODAY!!!

Dear ECICAA Team,

I hope you are enjoying a restful and enjoyable summer. Whether you

are a 10 or 12 month staff member, take time to rest, have fun, get away, read,

garden, exercise and or do whatever brings you joy! Take care of yourself so

that you can take care of others, at home or at work. Be kind to yourself!

Fondly,

Angéle Thibodeaux Burns, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

June Barbara Evans 6/1

Cheri Cambridge 6/3

Dezaree McGee 6/20

Joni Morgeson 6/24

Maria Valdez 6/30

July Rebecca Shell 7/2

Tre Anna Whitfield 7/3

Elizabeth Holycross 7/17

Teoscia Love 7/20

Savanna Brown-Gebauer 7/20

Glenda Withers 7/21

Dr. Angéle Burns 7/25

Odette Hyatt-Watson 7/29

Mindy Nichols 7/29

54

Ye

ar

s o

f H

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Pe

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Ch

an

gin

g L

ive

s!

Retirement Celebration – Mrs. Consuelo Shelato

Angéle Angéle Thibodeaux Burns, Ph.D.

ECICAA Chief Executive Officer

On Friday, June 28, 2019, a retirement celebration

was held to honor Ms. Consuelo Shelato' s 43 years

of service to children and families in Ford, Iroquois

and Vermilion county. Mrs. Consuelo Shelato was

introduced to ECICAA in 1974 when her two little

girls were registered for the Head Start program.

Ms. Consuelo gained interest in assisting and

serving families in the Head Start Program after two

years of volunteering in the Head Start classroom.

Ms. Consuelo entered employment with the Agency

in 1976 as a Social Worker Aide and for the past 43

years, she has supported the Agency's mission and

vision of reaching thousands of families to introduce

them to community resources and educational

opportunities that can eradicate poverty one family

at a time. “Helping People, Changing Lives”

Courtny Gaston, now Mrs. Courtny Adedayo is a former Head Start

parent, Policy Council Chairperson and Governing Board member.

Courtny left Danville due to relationship crisis on July 2018. She

recognized that she was involved in a toxic relationship, and she knew

that the route to bettering the lives of her two young sons and herself had

to begin with the drastic relocation to another city. Courtny temporarily

relocated to Chicago, Illinois where she and her children lodged with her

sister.

Ms. Gaston worked temporary jobs, saved money and began to research

places that were a safe environment for she and her boys. Someone told

her about opportunities in North Dakota. So, with only one week’s worth

of summer clothing in her car and some savings, Courtny moved to

Mandan, North Dakota in October 2018. Courtny stated, “As I drove to

North Dakota, the temperature began to drop. The boys and I began to

feel the cold temperatures; we were all dressed in summer clothing.

“When I made it to a rest stop in North Dakota, I had sandals on and it

was snowing.”

Courtny now skilled with how to advocate for herself and her children,

sought out and connected with another Community Action Agency in

Mandan, North Dakota. The Community Action Agency in Mandan,

North Dakota provided temporary assistance with food and winter

clothing as Courtny focused on finding safe housing and resources for

she and her two sons.

“Reestablishing stability and housing for the boys were my main focus.

Within the month of October 2018, I had met that goal. The boys and I

were in our home.” While meeting and getting to know people in her

new community, Courtny met a tall and handsome African prince

charming. This gentleman notified Courtny and they began a courtship.

Kingsley Adedayo, an employed industrial welder, swept her off her feet.

They were married on June 14, 2019. Courtny travelled to Lagos, Nigeria

to meet his family.

Courtny and Kingsley are a blended family. She is now finally able to

register for school to continue in her educational goal of obtaining her

bachelor’s degree. Courtny is married to a man who believes in her

dream of obtaining education, employment and equitable housing. We

will continue to follow Courtny on her journey.

ECICAA thanks Mrs. Consuelo for

her dedication and service to the

families of Ford, Vermilion and

Iroquois county!!!

Helping People,

Changing Lives!

Community Services Block Grant

CSBG Summer youth programs are off to a great start!

Approximately 50 children are attending the Boys and

Girls Club, YMCA and benefit from the Science Camp

led by Ms. Beth Chamberlain. Pictured below are

children receiving instruction and participating in various

learning opportunities from last year’s program. For more

information concerning any of the department’s

programs, please contact Cicely M. Dowell, CSBG and

Development Coordinator at 217 554-9128 or

cdowell@comaction.org.

Gateway to Homeownership has

expanded its program to Hoopeston and Watseka with a

brand new format. Please visit our social media platforms

for exciting updates. For more information please call

Chris Huffman at 217 554-9135 or

chuffman@comation.org.

Educational Talent Search ETS All 112 ETS Seniors graduated from High School

and have completed the FAFSA. The graduates are

scheduled to attend college in the fall. The students

were encouraged to apply for CSBG applications. The

following students have been recognized for

outstanding achievement:

Elena Bartiz – Awarded a full ride to Ball State

University and was one of the 16 valedictorians in

Vermilion County.

Djameia Hoskins- Awarded a full ride to Knox College

and was also a valedictorian.

Anthony Turner – Awarded a full ride to the

University of Dubuque and placed 2nd in the state

wrestling competition.

Quemarii Williams- Awarded a full ride to Manhattan

College and placed 3rd in the state track competition.

Cedrick Wilson Jr- Awarded a full ride to McKendree

University and also recognized as the Big 12

Conference Scholarship athlete, Dr. Martin Luther King

Jr Scholarship recipient, McDonalds HACER National

Scholarship, and the Georgetown Fair Excellent Citizen

Scholarship.

Weatherization

The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program

is in full swing at East Central Illinois Community

Action! The Agency currently has seven homes in

progress and more to come. For more information

about the IHWAP program, please contact Kerri Kyle

217-274-4583 or kkyle@comaction.

Head Start

Busy Kids are happy Kids! The Watseka Head Start

welcomed Ms. Ellen to discuss the 5 important food

groups with the students. The children then participated

in a horse race; each cone was color coordinated with the

5 food groups! As they wrapped up their bus day, Ms.

Miller from the Watseka Library invited the Head Start

students and families to join the summer reading

program!

For more information concerning any of the department’s programs, please contact Monica Beasley, Director of Talent Search at 217 554-9144 or mbeasley@comaction.org.

Don’t forget to “like” and

“follow” us on:

Facebook.com/eastcentralillinoiscommunutyactionagency

ecicommunityaction

Mission: “To provide information, training, education, and other services

that engage and empower families and communities to become self-sufficient.”

East Central Illinois Community Action Agency

56 North Vermilion Street, Danville, IL 61832

217 554-9110-telephone

217-431-0725-facsimilie

www.comaction.org-website

comaction@comaction.org- email

HUMAN RESOURCES

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

“Due to the high volume of applications received for positions with the Agency, human resources is unable to provide

status updates regarding individual applications via in-person, telephone, email, or postal mail. The Office of

Administration and Human Resources will reach out to candidates that best meet the needs of the Agency to schedule

interviews or follow-ups.”

JULY 4TH 5TH AGENCY CLOSED

INDEPENDENCE DAY

5th $Pay Day

11th B-3 Socialization

@ Danville, Paxton and Watseka

19TH $Pay Day

25th B-3 Socialization

@ Danville, Paxton and Watseka

Don’t forget to Sign-In

and Track Agency

happenings in

Basecamp!!!

#new #exciting #effective

#teamwork #innovative

o Head Start Teachers/Substitute Teachers

o Head Start Assistants

If you are interested in applying, please download an employment application, submit the application in its

entirety, a letter of interest (cover letter, and resume to Alex Berg in person or as an attachment via email to

Hrspecialist@comaction.org.

“Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to

work a day in your life.” – Confucius