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 LeanDra 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, Childrens 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 Mayors Office, Vice President JiM McDonougH, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Lee MeHrKens, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners

Annual Report 2011

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

Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties 450 Syndicate Street North, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104 651-645-6445 www.caprw.org

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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 Actions 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 awardwinning conclusion to our Energy Conservations 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 bangwith 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

breakdown of people served by race

black or african american White asian other american indian/ alaska native Hawaiian/pacific

77,888 26,050
households served

people served

90

breakdown of people served by age

05 611 1217 1823 2444 4554 5569 70+

of every $1 received is spent on programming

children in ramsey county lives in poverty (25.8%)

1 in 4 1 in 10

children in Washington county lives in poverty (10.5%)

21

ramsey county

Washington county

languages spoken by staff

Energy Conservation

Kara Met pabLo WHiLe teacHing in Venezuela. She returned to the U.S. to get her masters 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.

3,099 people served 1,010

homes weatherized

Energy Assistance

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 Actions Energy Assistance and Food Support programs. She had seen billboards for energy assistance, but wasnt sure if they qualified.

23,726 households served

in 2011, coMMunity action iDentifieD the Rivertown Commons apartment complex as a multifamily 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

$9,348,449
granted for energy assistance

I dont 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 Actions help. Having programs to bridge the gap makes a world of difference. This year Kara and Pablo wont 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.

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

586
unsafe heating systems repaired or replaced

$5,547,317
granted for energy crisis

2011 Year in Review

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

Head Start & Early Head Start

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. LeAnn is one of our studentsa 21-year-old single mother from St. Paul with a two-year-old son. She enrolled in the summer 2011 Academy but didnt pass one of the tests, so she did not graduate. Determined to succeed, LeAnn 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 LeAnn and other students. Most students are like LeAnn, thinking they could be independent and do it on (their) own. But LeAnn 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 LeAnn with her job counselor. She helped LeAnn create a success plan, focus on time management and study tools, and create a childcare and transportation back-up plan.

1,720 families served 1,496

childrens dental checkups

Community Engagement

1,868
children with up-to-date physicals

75
cars purchased (car ownership program)

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 Actions 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 Centers 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 Childrens 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

1,150
prescreened food support (snap) applications

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 Actions Energy Assistance Program.

181
participants completed financial literacy classes

If it wasnt for the support I got, I wouldnt have been able to keep trying.
LeAnn 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.

78
people participated in civic leadership program

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

Thank You
Funders american alliance for Health, physical education, recreation and Dance city of saint paul comcast foundation connexus energy greater twin cities united Way Minnesota Department of commerce office of energy security Minnesota Department of education Minnesota Department of Human services otto bremer foundation ramsey county resources for child caring the saint paul foundation u.s. Department of Health and Human services xcel energy Donations & In-Kind Gifts Kevin adams Linda alcorn edwin andera anonymous (3) Debra bernier gloria bogen Dorothy brigham cbs outdoor Margaret campbell childplus.net childrens Dental services thetthet clay clear channel outdoor comcast foundation community action volunteer corps concordia university Dorothy cotton robert Daniels Dorothy Danley Jeanne Dickhausen Discount school supply paw Done Marcia Dunaski Jennifer fawkes Margaret fiocca first Lutheran church fraser child & family center garden & associates, inc. terri george Head start parent volunteers Health Dimensions rehabilitation, inc. Lee Helgen phong Her raymond Hess & Mary Maranda beverly & clarence Hightower Holiday inn east Mary Kressin Lakeshore Learning Jayne Lallier chantelle Lee Mary Liepold Lifetrack resources Lillie suburban newspapers susan Lindoo & Michael Wolesky brenda Lowe pamela Maldonado Lee Mehrkens renee Meyer Minnesota childrens Museum Minnesota twins Minnesota Zoo nancy Montpetit cordelia Morgan Joanna Morken Mounds view public schools, District 621 Kevin Myren north st. paul-Maplewood-oakdale school District 622 brent oatis Mary orsted Mary Jo patnode payless gives shoes 4 Kids victoria reinhardt restoration professionals saint paul foundation Julie shappell sight & Hearing association sandra simar elizabeth soban soldo consulting, p.c. patty sprenger Denise stahura rebecca stauch st. paul public Housing agency st. paul saints rebecca strauehn Jo ann tesar thad Wilderson & associates pa titan twin city fleet repair udoibok, tupa & Hussey, pLLp university Language center valspar foundation Walmart Kim Watts cynthia Webster White bear Lake area schools, District 624 Joel 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

Consolidated statement of financial position

year ended september 30, 2011 Assets cash receivables escrow inventory & other prepaid expenses, advances property & equipment, net Total Assets Liabilities & Net Assets accounts payable accrued expenses Deferred revenue & other Long-term Debt unrestricted net assets temporarily restricted net assets Total Liabilities & Net Assets $596,252 1,880,149 243,009 1,470,000 2,691,915 2,717,452 $9,598,777 6.3% 19.6% 2.5% 15.3% 28.0% 28.3% 100.0% $1,053,746 1,980,640 401,507 79,851 339,612 5,743,421 $9,598,777 11.1% 20.6% 4.2% 0.8% 3.5% 59.8% 100.0%

Financial summary
year ended september 30, 2011 Sources of Dollars Used to Finance Operations grant revenue program income in-Kind contributions other income Total Revenue $23,223,328 1,243,678 490,092 856,602 $25,813,700 90.0% 4.8% 1.9% 3.3% 100.0%

where our funds come from

where our funds go 51.1% Head start/early Head start 24.9% energy conservation 90.0% grant revenue 3.3% other income 1.9% in-Kind contributions 4.8% program income 9.5% energy assistance 6.4% administration 4.2% community engagement 2.3% property Management 1.3% planning 0.3% fundraising

Expenditures by Service Group Head start/early Head start energy conservation energy assistance property Management planning community engagement fundraising administration Total Expenses Change in Net Assets $13,180,937 6,437,028 2,439,900 580,828 339,101 1,090,057 90,075 1,643,352 $25,801,278 $12,422 51.1% 24.9% 9.5% 2.3% 1.3% 4.2% 0.3% 6.4% 100.0%

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.