Minutes of the Board Meeting of Durham Congregations In Action

September 19, 2006

St. Stephens Episcopal Church

 

1.         Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas welcomed the assembly and called the meeting to order.  She introduced Rev. Bob Kaynor, pastor at St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

            Rev. Kaynor advised that St. Stephens Episcopal Church has been in Hope Valley since 1959.  Thanks to Church members Banks Anderson for greeting people, and Ruth Barber and Nancy Anderson for preparing the food.  Rev. Kaynor offered an opening prayer.

 

2.         The DCIA Affirmation was read.

 

3.         Minutes from the Board Meeting of August 15 were approved

 

4.         Treasurer Bill Youngblood reviewed the Finance Report.  Expenses and Income are satisfactory.

            Bill advised that an independent outside accountant, has performed an independent financial review of DCIA   The impetus for this review is a requirement by Triangle United Way in connection with DCIA's recent application for funding for YO:Durham.

            The financial review found no need for material modifications to financial statements.  The accountant suggested for DCIA's consideration that we perform an assessment of fraud risk factors, and shift some oversight duties to the Board.  Bill, David Winer and Priscilla Shepherd will review these suggestions. 

            The Finance Report was approved.

 

5.         Guests were welcomed:

            Rev. VickI Smith, Interim Rector at St.Philip's Episcopal Church.

            Rev. Dr. Carol Jablonski, who is helping out with the children's and youth programs at St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

            Marguerite Dingman of Durham Friends Meeting, who is glad to be active again in DCIA.

            Linda Ozkaynak, a Board member and tutor with Achievement Academy of Durham.

            Sandee Washington, Director of Achievement Academy of Durham.

 

6.         Kaaren Johanson advised that the Executive Committee is seeking to institute a DCIA leadership/volunteer award for presentation at the Annual Meeting in January.  Kaaren is leading a task force to devise criteria, receive nominations and select winner(s).

            Kaaren invited anyone interested to joining this task force and be a part of this process to honor people for their service.  Please contact Kaaren at KJohanson@measinc.com or 451-7203.

 

7.         Announcements.

            Doug Fuller, Director of Communications at The Durham Center advised that the Center is joining with many agencies in several activities in September, which is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month.  About 19,000 residents of Durham County are addicted to alcohol or drugs.  The objective is to help these people and the public recognize that there are effective treatment options for this chronic disease, and remove the stigma.  Fliers were provided.  The Faith Community is an important part of this campaign.  The keynote event is a block party including food, music, entertainment and inspiring stories from 3-7 p.m. on September 28 at Urban Ministries of Durham to celebrate those on the road to recovery.  For more information call 560-7206.

            Rev. Laurie Hayes Coffman spoke of "Coming to the Middle," a series of discussions each Wednesday evening through October 11 at Calvary UMC.  Issues include: How do we as a diverse people of faith acknowledge our differences and also find common ground in the moral values we share?  What does it mean for each of us to come to the middle?  How do we discover our own voices and learn skills needed to have deeper personal dialogues with others who are different?

            Laurie also advised of a program at Calvary UMC the next three Thursday evenings to recognize the sacred in ourselves and deal with violence in the community.

 

8.         Committee Reports:

            David advised that the deadline for the next round of Seed Money applications is October 15.  Applications were provided, and are available on the DCIA web site.

            Rev. Pebbles Lindsay Lucas advised that Teen Teams Building Bridges is actively planning service to senior citizens around Thanksgiving, and gifts to those in need at Christmas.

 

9.         Maryann Crea updated progress of YO:Durham.  There is much activity by many people.

            A Hiring Team has been interviewing many people for Program Director, but despite best efforts could not find the right person to fit this role.  However, when one door closes another one opens.  One opportunity is to collaborate with other agencies serving teens in Durham.  We have also decided that it is wise to shore up our fundraising base before hiring the Program Director. 

            We are glad to be retaining Lucy Haagen as a Program Development Consultant who will be very helpful in several areas:

a.         Fundraising.

b.         Drafting an expanded Program description. 

c.         Identifying a facility for the Summer session.

d.         Engaging employers – Congregations are asked to please identify members with whom we could talk with about providing internships.  DCIA has done a very good job in building community allies and broad-based support, and we want to emulate this in the employer sector.

e.         Assembling the Advisory Board – we have many good people interested.

f.          Revising the Job Description for Program Director.

            We also will form a mentoring planning group – this is an area in which Congregations can be especially important.  We are considering having a team of mentors for each participant, based on the Faith Team concept that has worked well in helping (a) families transition from welfare to work and (b) people released from prison successfully assimilate back into the local community.

            BlueCross BlueShield of NC is in agreement with these activities. 

            Lucy has good ideas for a fundraiser in November.  Bob Newlin is glad to provide bulletin inserts for Congregations to encourage donations from individuals to YO:Durham.

 

10.       David thanked Bill Youngblood for his leadership as Treasurer.     

            David asked that the Board approve Policies for DCIA for Whistle-blowers and for Records Retention.  The Board approved these Policies.

            DCIA has a new office on the 2nd floor of Duke Memorial UMC.  It is 50% larger, and provides much daylight.  To get there, facing the back of the church go in the door to the right of the kids' playground and go up two floors..

 

11.       Sandee Washington spoke about Achievement Academy of Durham (AAD), and provided handouts.

            Sandy is very thankful for the Seed Money provided by DCIA.

            Sandee has a Masters of Divinity and at one time was a preacher.  Now whenever she speaks for her agency, she is still preaching.

            High school dropouts are a big problem in Durham, with a four-year graduation rate of 47%.  This contrasts unfavorably with a rate of 63% in North Carolina – and North Carolina is 42nd in the nation.

            Sandee has been working with youth in Durham since 1996.  She has enjoyed much success, helping hundreds of at risk youth to obtain their GED.  However, she saw her GED graduates go from one low income job to another, working in places like McDonald's drive through window.  Their jobs often had few benefits, and they remained in poverty.

            Sandee perceived the need for them to obtain and go beyond the GED, to include post-secondary school.  There was no one agency to do both, so in June 2005 she started AAD as an experiment.  It has worked gloriously.

            Since July 2005, 21 AAD participants have obtained their GED and 15 of them are in post-secondary school, most full time.  They enroll in AAD at no cost.  The cost to AAD is about $2500 per student.  Students are expected to be highly committed, demonstrated by homework and attendance, and eventually achieving their GED.

            Sandee is the only instructor in AAD; volunteers also help tutor.  Her students include teen parents, kids at 7th grade reading levels, kids who could not complete 9th grade.  They are now taking college level classes.

            Anyone is eligible to participate in AAD with an appropriate referral from a responsible adult.  One student now studying full time at Durham Tech entered the program at a 4th grade reading level.

            AAD has raised the bar in Durham.  Donors and recipients have not had high expectations of students.  AAD proves that you can realistically expect high academic achievement from at risk kids who have dropped out.  Sandee has in her 10 years of working with at risk kids always been convinced that her students have the intellect and motivation, and will succeed if supported.  Their potential is amazing. 

            Congregations can help AAD by donations, and by holding the community accountable for funding such programs for drop outs. 

            To obtain a GED in the U.S. or Canada, students must pass five subject areas: Literature, Writing, Social Studies, Science  and Math including algebra and geometry.  Reading tests start at the 10th grade level – poetry, fiction, non-fiction – and questions are tricky.  Passing GED is very difficult.  It takes about 300-400 hours of instruction in addition to homework to achieve it.

 

12.       Prayers for those in need were offered for:

            Students who have dropped out of school

            The family of Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas; her mother's brother died last week.

           

13.       PLL offered a Closing Prayer, including thanks to Sandee Washington for her vision, sense of mission and accomplishments.

 

                                               

Minutes by David Winer