We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. – Herman Melville

Annual Report 2011

Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties450 Syndicate Street North, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104651-645-6445 • www.caprw.org

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2011 Board of Directors

Community Action has a tripartite board of directors, at least one-third representation from the community, one-third representation from the private sector and one-third representing the public sector.

Low-Income Representatives

Deanna Dorsey, Leading Individuals and Families Together to End Poverty

Le’anDra estis, Leading Individuals and Families Together to End Poverty

aLex Hennessy, Head Start Policy Council

sHonagH Jones

JuLie Martignacco, Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority Resident Advisory Board

Private Sector Representatives

Ken giLcHrist, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Secretary

sHar Knutson, Minnesota AFL-CIO

Kevin Myren, CommonBond Communities

JosepH nguyen, Ala Francaise Bakery

Jason WaLKer, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

peggy yusten, Twin Cities RISE!

Public Sector Representatives

toni carter, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, President

Dennis Hegberg, Washington County Board of Commissioners, Treasurer

Lee HeLgen, City of Saint Paul Mayor’s Office, Vice President

JiM McDonougH, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners

Lee MeHrKens, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners

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Dear Friends,In looking back at 2011, we are struck by what a tumultuous and tough year it was. We started the year with the State of the Union address in which the President proposed significant cuts to several of our programs. Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties took proactive measures to reduce budgets to meet this challenge. Ultimately, the majority of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding was restored but Energy Assistance faced a 25% decrease in funding. On the other side of the budget sheet, Head Start funding remained relatively flat and Community Action’s Early Head Start expansion initiative became permanent, enabling our agency to continue serving three times as many families as we did prior to the original expansion in FY2010.

Our efforts to serve the community included our Community Engagement partnership offering wrap-around services to City of Saint Paul Emergency Medical Services Academy students, the unprecedented number of families served by Energy Assistance, the hiring of a new

Head Start/Early Head Start Program senior director, and an award-winning conclusion to our Energy Conservation’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Weatherization program. We were also visited by Senator Al Franken and Representative Betty McCollum, prepared for our Head Start Program audit, received a new grant for Food Support (SNAP), and had four community Kitchen Table conversation events. The one down-side to our programmatic events was that most of our programs were closed for the State shut-down in July, again affecting our staffing.

This year, 2012, has started out with a bang—with Community Action of Ramsey & Washington Counties leading Opportunity St. Paul, an initiative that gathers Saint Paul area individuals and organizations to generate creative community-driven actions to eliminate poverty. We are well-prepared for our upcoming community needs assessment and look forward to developing a new strategic plan for 2012-2015, which will include strategically aligning with our Opportunity St. Paul results.

Your help and support are critical to our success. Thank you for your commitment.

Warm regards,

Clarence Hightower

Executive Director

Toni Carter

President of the Board of Directors

0–5

6–11

12–17

18–23

24–44

45–54

55–69

70+

26,050households served

21languages spoken by staff

90¢of every $1 received is spent on programming

1 in 10 children in Washington county lives in poverty(10.5%)

1 in 4 children in

ramsey county lives in poverty

(25.8%)

ramsey county Washington county

breakdown of people served by race

breakdown of people served by age

77,888 people servedWhite

other

Hawaiian/pacific

asian

american indian/ alaska native

black or african american

in 2011, coMMunity action iDentifieD the Rivertown Commons apartment complex as a multi-family building qualifying for energy conservation improvements. Located north of the State Capitol in St. Paul, Rivertown Commons has 139 one and two bedroom apartments.

Our Energy Conservation Department went to work, installing six new boilers and new ventilation systems. We replaced refrigerators in 40 apartments and 1,600 energy-saving light bulbs. In 2011-2012, these improvements resulted in $15,000 in gas and electric savings for the building. The maintenance department at Rivertown Commons has indicated that they no longer receive as many heat-related calls and the residents have an easier time regulating the temperature in their apartments.

Several residents of Rivertown Commons gathered to tell us about the impact the energy conservation work has on their lives. Venus noted that her apartment is much warmer during the winter months and her children have rarely been sick since we completed the work. Carolyn, a five-year resident says she is—

“grateful to know that Community Action is there to help me and others in my community.”

Kara Met pabLo WHiLe teacHing in Venezuela. She returned to the U.S. to get her master’s degree in family education. After two years, Pablo joined her and they were married. Kara taught in the public school system and Pablo joined the National Guard Reserve while working for Best Buy. They had two wonderful children, settled down in their quiet Roseville neighborhood and continued to progress in their careers.

Then the recession hit. Pablo and Kara were both laid-off. To make ends meet, Kara began teaching yoga and Pablo enrolled in a firefighter training program.

With savings running out, Kara applied for Community Action’s Energy Assistance and Food Support programs. She had seen billboards for energy assistance, but wasn’t sure if they qualified.

“I don’t know what we would have done without the help we received,” Pablo said. They were doing everything they could to stay afloat including borrowing from family.

Pablo and Kara also qualified for home weatherization through our Energy Conservation Program. Kara said “this program is a lifesaver for people in need and we are so thankful for Community Action’s help. Having programs to bridge the gap makes a world of difference.” This year Kara and Pablo won’t need our help; Pablo was hired as a Saint Paul firefighter and continues to serve as a Second Lieutenant in the Guard. They hope the programs will continue to support families in crisis. “Anyone facing a similar situation,” Pablo said, “should go and get the help they need.”

Kitchen Table dialogue on State of

Minnesota budget deficit

State of the Union address mentions cutting

Community Action block grant funding

Representative McCollum and

Senator Franken visits

Kitchen Table dialogue on

restorative justice

Comcast Cares Day volunteers landscape and paint at Bigelow Head Start Center

Unprecedented number of families applied for energy assistance help

Community Engagement begins working with Saint Paul Emergency Medical

Services Academy

Head Start hosts immunization press conference

1,010homes weatherized

3,099 people served Energy Assistance

Energy Conservation

2011 Year in Review

23,726 households served

$5,547,317granted for energy crisis

$9,348,449granted for energy assistance

586 unsafe heating systems repaired or replaced

Hsa anD DoH caMe to tHe uniteD states from Burma in 2008. While settling in St. Paul, Hsa and Doh sought ways to make their transition easier, particularly for their two young boys, Banyan and Wilson. They felt it was critical for their sons to learn to speak English at a young age and prepare for life in America.

Hsa and Doh learned about Community Action’s Head Start Program from their Ramsey County job counselor. Their two boys were enrolled in Early Head Start at our Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center. When they reached pre-school age, they transferred to the Bigelow Center’s full-day Head Start Program. Both parents are now able to work full-time while furthering their own education. Head Start staff also introduced them to the Children’s Museum where they often go as a family.

Hsa and Doh are especially pleased with how Head Start has shaped Banyan and Wilson as they have grown. Now ages four and three, they have developed strong social skills and interact well with peers and teachers. Hsa notes that she is—

“amazed to watch the boys play and speak English so well among other children and teachers” while continuing to speak their native Karen language at home. Hsa and Doh are also grateful for Head Start staff who helped secure winter clothing for the boys and referred the family to Community Action’s Energy Assistance Program.

tHe eMergency MeDicaL services (eMs) acaDeMy is an EMT and firefighter training program, aimed at low-income, young adults living in Ramsey County. Our Community Engagement Program provides services that help these young men and women stay on track and in the program. Le’Ann is one of our students—a 21-year-old single mother from St. Paul with a two-year-old son. She enrolled in the summer 2011 Academy but didn’t pass one of the tests, so she did not graduate.

Determined to succeed, Le’Ann enrolled in the Pre-EMS Academy, a ten-week preparatory class building reading, studying and test-taking skills using common EMS terminology, and providing a foundation to help students be successful.

Hard work is only part of the challenge for Le’Ann and other students. Most students are like Le’Ann, thinking they “could be independent and do it on (their) own”. But Le’Ann realized that she needed help with things like assistance with childcare, transportation, food support, and uniform purchasing.

Our coordinator provided counseling, transportation assistance, and advocated for Le’Ann with her job counselor. She helped Le’Ann create a success plan, focus on time management and study tools, and create a childcare and transportation back-up plan.

“If it wasn’t for the support I got, I wouldn’t have been able to keep trying.” Le’Ann proudly completed the Pre-EMS class in December 2011, and subsequently graduated from the spring 2012 EMS Academy! She is currently interviewing for employment as an emergency room technician or emergency medical technician.

Early Head Start expansion grant

received

Head Start mock review prepares

for federal review

Food Support Outreach grant received

Kitchen Table dialogue on

ranked choice voting

Opportunity St. Paul Otto Bremer

grant received

Energy Assistance Program

wins Laserfiche Run Smarter Award

Energy Conservation wins MinnCAP

Award for Just-in-Time weatherization process

1,496children’s dental checkups

1,150prescreened food support (snap) applications

1,868children with up-to- date physicals

181participants completed financial literacy classes

78people participated incivic leadership program

1,720 families served

75cars purchased (car ownership program)

Community Engagement

Head Start & Early Head Start

Thank YouFundersamerican alliance for Health, physical education, recreation and Dance

city of saint paulcomcast foundationconnexus energygreater twin cities united WayMinnesota Department of commerce – office of energy security

Minnesota Department of educationMinnesota Department of Human servicesotto bremer foundationramsey countyresources for child caringthe saint paul foundationu.s. Department of Health and Human servicesxcel energy

Donations & In-Kind GiftsKevin adamsLinda alcornedwin anderaanonymous (3)Debra berniergloria bogenDorothy brighamcbs outdoorMargaret campbellchildplus.netchildren’s Dental servicesthetthet clayclear channel outdoorcomcast foundationcommunity action volunteer corpsconcordia universityDorothy cottonrobert DanielsDorothy DanleyJeanne DickhausenDiscount school supplypaw DoneMarcia DunaskiJennifer fawkesMargaret fioccafirst Lutheran churchfraser child & family centergarden & associates, inc.terri georgeHead start parent volunteersHealth Dimensions rehabilitation, inc.Lee Helgenphong Herraymond Hess & Mary Maranda beverly & clarence HightowerHoliday inn eastMary KressinLakeshore LearningJayne Lallierchantelle Lee Mary LiepoldLifetrack resourcesLillie suburban newspaperssusan Lindoo & Michael Woleskybrenda Lowepamela MaldonadoLee Mehrkensrenee MeyerMinnesota children’s MuseumMinnesota twinsMinnesota Zoonancy Montpetitcordelia MorganJoanna MorkenMounds view public schools, District 621Kevin Myrennorth st. paul-Maplewood-oakdale school District 622

brent oatisMary orstedMary Jo patnodepayless gives shoes 4 Kidsvictoria reinhardtrestoration professionalssaint paul foundationJulie shappellsight & Hearing associationsandra simarelizabeth sobansoldo consulting, p.c.patty sprengerDenise stahurarebecca stauchst. paul public Housing agencyst. paul saintsrebecca strauehnJo ann tesarthad Wilderson & associates patitantwin city fleet repairudoibok, tupa & Hussey, pLLpuniversity Language centervalspar foundationWalmartKim Wattscynthia WebsterWhite bear Lake area schools, District 624Joel Zak

every attempt has been made to correctly list all our contributors. please accept our sincere apologies if we have made an error or omission. you may contact our communications Department at 651-603-5923 to correct our records. thank you.

photos: courtesy of Kevin p. adams

This document can be made available in alternative formats, such as large print, Braille or audio tape, by calling 651-603-5923 (voice) or via TTY through the Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.

90.0% grant revenue

3.3% other income

1.9% in-Kind contributions

4.8% program income

Consolidated statement of financial positionyear ended september 30, 2011

Assets

cash $1,053,746 11.1%

receivables 1,980,640 20.6%

escrow 401,507 4.2%

inventory & other 79,851 0.8%

prepaid expenses, advances 339,612 3.5%

property & equipment, net 5,743,421 59.8%

Total Assets $9,598,777 100.0%

Liabilities & Net Assets

accounts payable $596,252 6.3%

accrued expenses 1,880,149 19.6%

Deferred revenue & other 243,009 2.5%

Long-term Debt 1,470,000 15.3%

unrestricted net assets 2,691,915 28.0%

temporarily restricted net assets

2,717,452 28.3%

Total Liabilities & Net Assets

$9,598,777 100.0%

Financial summaryyear ended september 30, 2011

Sources of Dollars Used to Finance Operations

grant revenue $23,223,328 90.0%

program income 1,243,678 4.8%

in-Kind contributions 490,092 1.9%

other income 856,602 3.3%

Total Revenue $25,813,700 100.0%

Expenditures by Service Group

Head start/early Head start $13,180,937 51.1%

energy conservation 6,437,028 24.9%

energy assistance 2,439,900 9.5%

property Management 580,828 2.3%

planning 339,101 1.3%

community engagement 1,090,057 4.2%

fundraising 90,075 0.3%

administration 1,643,352 6.4%

Total Expenses $25,801,278 100.0%

Change in Net Assets $12,422

where our funds come from where our funds go

51.1% Head start/early Head start

24.9% energy conservation

9.5% energy assistance

6.4% administration

4.2% community engagement

2.3% property Management

1.3% planning

0.3% fundraising