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EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

MissionTo provide information, training, education, and other services that engage and

empower families and communities to become self sufficient.

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Governing Board

of Directors

Randy Berger – Chairperson

Doug Ahrens

Robert Boyd

Tanya Carter

Jacquilyn Collins

Ivadale Foster

Michael Goodyear

Gayle Lewis

Ana Nasser

Leon Parker

Elder Tyson Parks

Dr. Melvia Russell

Maria Sermersheim

Message from the CEO…

East Central Community Action Agency’s mission is to engage and empower individuals

and families to become economically self-sufficient. The Agency’s Head Start Teachers,

Family and Community Development Specialists and many more team members have

humbly served Iroquois, Ford, and Vermilion families for over 50 years. Our goal each day

is to utilize a comprehensive wrap-around approach to support families’ goals of obtaining a

better quality of life. The Agency subscribes to the belief that as each family’s economic

circumstance is improved, our entire community is strengthened.

Community Action’s work is continuously fortified by relationships with community,

business, education, and banking partners. In this edition of VOCA, we hope to highlight

the positive outcomes of people helping people and the power of “Community Action

Partnerships in Action.”

AngéleAngéle Thibodeaux Burns, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

In Fondest Memory of …our Dedicated Board Member

Mrs. Ivadale Foster 1922 – 2015)

Mrs. Foster was a committed, lifelong servant leader and member of Community

Action’s Governing Board of Directors from 1993 until she went on to glory.

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Grandparent’s Month was observed in the Head Start, Early Head Start and MIECHV

programs during the month of September 2015. Throughout the entire month of September

2015, Head Start Centers and Home-Base services hosted special days for students'

grandparents to visit the classrooms or socialization sessions. It seems that grandmothers and

grandfathers, formerly in the business of "spoiling" grandchildren, are taking on additional

responsibilities that involve raising or providing significant contributions to the well-being of

their grandchildren.

Grandparents...God’s Special Gift

A Grandparent’s Luncheon and Training was held at

the David S. Palmer Arena on Wednesday, October 7,

2015, to celebrate the contributions and

accomplishments of grandparents. The following

topics were presented at this special event:

Grandparent’s Physical Fitness, presented by

Roselawn Fitness Center, Mrs. Sharon Runyan,

Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. Life Insurance

& College Savings, presented by State Farm

Insurance, Toni Stone, State Farm

Representative. “How to Save Money”, presented by

First Midwest Bank, Tammy Wilson, Vice President

and Policy Council Community Representative;

“Keeping the Children Safe,” presented by Vermilion

County Rape Crisis Center, Marcie Sheridan,

Executive Director; Housing Education: Gateway to

Homeownership Program, presented by Cicely

Dowell, CSBG Family Advocate and Chantal Savage

Bryant, CSBG and Development Coordinator; and the

Head Start and Early Head Start New Early Childhood

Framework was presented by Odette Hyatt-Watson,

Chief Academic Officer of East Central Illinois

Community Action Agency.

These photos display various ways in which

Grandparents were engaged. The event was enjoyed by

all!

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On Tuesday, September 8, 2015, a total of 139 Head

Start fathers participated in the 2015 Million Father

March and brought their Head Start students to the

first day of school.

A Million Father March - 2015

Community Action’s staff proudly cheered on our

fathers. Each participant was presented with a 2015

Million Father March certificate and wristband. The

celebration continued by the posting of many photos of

our fathers on Facebook and at the Head Start centers.

Once again we congratulate

our Head Start dads and

granddads who made a

difference by bringing their

children to the first day of

school.

For information about Head

Start, please contact Bronwen

Hernandez, Recruitment and

Transition Coordinator, at

217-554-9141 or via email atbhernandez@comaction.org.

In Head Start Home-Base Services, teachers

provide individualized parental and child

school readiness support through a highly

specialized curriculum. Home-Based

teachers work with parents in the homes on

practical parenting skills, family bonding

and school readiness preparation.

A 4 year old Head Start Home-Base child

displays her leaf collage. This project was

completed under the instruction of Mrs.

Gloria Westhoff, Ford County Home-

Base Teacher. Home-base Education is a

rewarding educational service that brings the

academic experience into the homes of

many families.

Education Begins at Home

“I can do all things through Christ who

strengthen me”

– Philippians 4:13

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In addition to working at Community Action, Demetrius is a full-time student at Danville

Area Community College where he has a double major of Agricultural Business and

Accounting. He will receive an Associate Degree in each major in December 2015 and

May 2016, respectively. In the fall of 2016, he will continue his educational goals at the

University of Illinois; pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Business.

Undoubtedly proving he is a dynamic go-getter, Demetrius’ work ethic and unwavering

dedication to higher education has certainly paid off. Over the summer, he was awarded

five scholarships to help with his college expenses. He received the Community Action

CSBG Scholarship, the DACC Trio Student Support Services Scholarship, the Mark

C. Meyer Memorial Scholarship, the Matt and Amy Hoose Scholarship, and the

State Line Farm Ag Scholarship. All scholarships were awarded based upon eitheracademic achievement, major designation or financial need.

Hard Work Pays Off

Demetrius Tyler uses this Bible verse as his mantra;

keeping him focused and motivated to achieve his

ambitious goals. Serving as a college intern through

the CSBG’s See How Community Action Works

program, he has been a member of the Community

Action team since March and is assigned to the Fiscal

Office. Laura Brooks, Chief Finance Officer, says

“Demetrius has been a tremendous asset to our office.

He comes to work everyday with a pleasant

disposition, a bright smile, and a willingness to work

hard, to learn and to grow his current skillsets.”

Has it been mentioned that Demetrius has a 3.8 GPA?!

Upon graduating from the University of Illinois, Demetrius endeavors to become either the

Chief Executive Officer or Chief Finance Officer of a major corporation.

One of his more spiritual goals is to continue to improve foreign mission initiatives through

the Body of Christ.

Demetrius is a devout family man,

who has been married to his wife,

Cindy, for 12 years. Together they are raising their seven sons.

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G Achieving the American Dream

Community Action has launched the Gateway To Homeownership Initiative; a pilot

program offering professional housing counseling and education to families, with

low to moderate income, in Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion counties, who are

interested and motivated to purchase their first home. This initiative will provide a

comprehensive, six-week workshop series as well as one-on-one counseling

sessions, to ready households for the home-buying process.

In-house Homeownership Counselors, certified through NeighborWorks America,

have facilitated these informative, interactive workshops which are held every other

Thursday at the Community Action’s Administration Office from 5:00 PM to 6:30

PM. To date, counselors have covered a range of relevant topics including

Assessing Home Readiness, Budgeting and Credit and Financing a home. Local

community partners, Kelly Cunningham and Tammy Wilson of First Midwest

Bank and Bob Randall of Robert W. Randall, Realty, who are experts in the fields

of financing and real estate, respectively, have made informative, valuable

presentations to participants attending the workshops.

The Gateway to Homeownership workshops series will be offered in Iroquois

County in early 2016 as well as another cohort in Vermilion County. Workshop

dates, times, and locations are still being determined. Our goal is to prepare at least

40 households for homeownership by June 2016.

Funding for this important initiative has been

garnered from the Iroquois Federation

Foundation, Illinois Attorney General Office,

Illinois Association of Community Action

Agencies, and Community Action’s CSBG

Grant.

For information or questions about the

Gateway to Homeownership Initiative, please

contact Chantal Savage Bryant, CSBG and

Development Coordinator at 217-554-9128 orvia email at cbryant@comaction.org.

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Due to the state budget impasse and a timing of the arrival of Federal funds, the start of the

2015/2016 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, better known as LIHEAP,

was delayed at least a month this year. Traditionally, the start date for LIHEAP, for senior

citizens or family members with a disability, were able to apply for services in September.

Applications for this priority population were accepted starting October 1, because there was

not an appropriation for the State funds, and the Federal funds are inadequate to serve

everyone. The application start date for other populations has also been pushed back a

month. Households with children under age 6 or households that have had utilities

disconnected can apply at the beginning of November, instead of October 1st. The general

population will be able to apply December 1st instead of November 1st. LIHEAP provides

qualifying households with a payment that goes toward utility costs. The amount varies

depending on income and number of people in the household. For example, a family of four

that earns $1,989.00 to $2,981.00 per month ($35,772 per year) could receive up to $456.00

in one-time assistance. This benefit not only helps to defray winter heating costs, but allows

the family to reallocate funds in their budget to meet other essential household expenses.

Between September 2014 and April 2015, East Central Illinois Community Action Agency

helped 5,401 of Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion county’s most vulnerable residents stay warm

and secure during the winter months.

Despite the delays in the beginning LIHEAP, Community Action’s Family and Community

Development (FCD) Specialists have been working feverishly to meet the needs of our most

vulnerable customers in our Tri-county service area. In fact, to date, the FCD Specialists

have served more customers since October than they served during the same period last year

when the program began in September. This efficient, quality service, demonstrates the

staunch dedication and commitment Community Action has to the residents of Ford,

Iroquois, and Vermilion Counties.

For questions about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, please contact

Leonard S. Bryant, II – Energy and Customer Services Supervisor, at 217-554-9116 or via

email at lbryant@comaction.org.

Warming Homes…Warming Hearts

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Hunger knows no color, gender, ethnicity, or political affiliation. Those who usually

struggle with hunger are children, senior citizens, and disabled individuals. The team

members of Community Action collectively, and selflessly, worked together to ensure the

success of Senator Scott Bennett’s non-partisan Fall Food Drive. Each food item

donated to this worthy cause aids in combating the food insecurity epidemic in our

community.

Together We Achieve More! Together We Achieve More! Together We Achieve More! Together We Achieve More!

Helping People…Changing Lives

Save the Date…Save the Date…Save the Date…Save the Date…

51st Annual Dinner and Business Meeting Turtle Run Golf Club and Banquet Center

March 11, 2016

Keynote Speaker: Curtis Zimmerman,

World Renowned Motivational Speaker

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East Central Illinois

Community Action Agency

56 N. Vermilion Street

Danville, IL 61832

comaction.org

DON’T FORGET!!!

Visit us, send a “Friend Request” and like us at:

Facebook.com/eastcentralIllinoiscommunityactionagency

Important DatesDecember 1, 2015 Energy Applications Accepted for

All Eligible Households

December 4, 2015 Multicultural Holiday Celebration

Luncheon at David S. Palmer Arena

11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Donation - $5.00

December 21, 2015 – Winter Break for All Head Start

January 4, 2016 Centers and Classrooms

December 23 – 25, 2015 Agency Closed in Observance of

the Christmas Holiday

December 28, 2015 Agency Re-opens at 7:30 AM

December 30, 2015 – Agency Closed in Observance of

January 1, 2016 the New Year’s Holiday

January 4, 2016 Agency Re-opens at 7:30 AM

January 18, 2016 Agency Closed in Observance of

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 19, 2016 CSBG College Scholarship

Applications Available

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDDANVILLE, IL 61832

PERMIT NO. 34