Volume 2, Issue 3
MAY 2012 1
Volume 2, Issue 3
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE ACHANGE’S MISSION:
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Time for ACHANGE!
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Chairman’s Corner
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Building a Stronger
Nonprofit, pt. 2 To collectively promote quality affordable housing and community 6-10 Community Development economic development in Arkansas. Week Insert
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Member News
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Executive Committee/
Contact Info
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE AWARDS 2012 JUNE 19, 2012 Accepting individual and table registrations now! Join us in recognizing outstanding contributions in the field of community and economic development! For more info, contact Debra at dbanks@achange.org or call 501-766-3941. 2
Volume 2, Issue 3
TIME FOR ACHANGE! It takes a village…..you’ve heard the sentiment before applied to the raising of children. When I reflect on my childhood, I can see that. The neighbors watched out for us when we played. I could stop by Ms. Vivian’s for cookies and milk or sit on the front porch with my friend Yogi and pass the time. The neighbors all had a hand in raising us, and there was a sense of shared pride whenever one of us accomplished something big or small. So it is with ACHANGE. It takes all of you to build the organization. Without you, there would be no coalition and no shared voice for the future. It takes a village, and together we are building a future where people can find a variety of places to live that will meet their needs in an affordable manner. Together, we can accomplish much more than we could accomplish individually. In June, you will have the opportunity to come together and talk about the state of housing in Arkansas. What can be done to help achieve that dream of great available housing throughout the state? How can we make it happen? I know that you have ideas, and you know others that have ideas as well. That’s why I hope that I’ll see you during Community Development Week. Whether it’s to celebrate accomplishments, create an action plan for future housing policy, or participate in training that will help to energize your work, this week is built with you in mind. Help in the village building effort. Invite someone to attend the Public Policy Symposium or to sit at your table for the awards. Do you know any organizations with counselors, educators or management who might benefit from the training that we have scheduled? Share the registration booklet with them. Be an ACHANGE agent and take ownership in the success of the event. Enjoy that shared sense of pride that working together brings. Together, we can do great things. That’s why it’s time for ACHANGE.
Debra Banks Program Manager
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Volume 2, Issue 3
CHAIRMAN’S CORNER VOICES I have an admission. Everywhere I go, I hear voices. They aren’t the kind of voices that would make me end up in a hospital; but all of us are bombarded by people speaking their opinions, their agendas, or promoting a concern. All day long, we are told what to believe, where to put our trust, and how it will make us feel if we do what we are asked. I was taught in Sunday School that it isn’t always the loudest voice that matters most. Each of us has to be sensitive to the soft voices in our lives. When you have money or power or clout, your voice is typically louder. Your concerns and agendas are well promoted. Your followers echo those concerns and your voice becomes more and more prominent until, even though we may be busy with our lives, we have no choice but to pay attention. This isn’t always so with soft voices. When we take the time to focus, truly see, and closely listen to someone with a “soft” voice, we learn something about ourselves. Our eyes become opened and we move from indifference to compassion. So it becomes that every once and a while, someone with a small voice will catch the attention of someone with a voice that is a little stronger, whose sphere of influence and reach is a little longer and, thus, change begins. ACHANGE is made up of members with medium sized voices who have seen, listened to, and had compassion towards those with soft voices. Our medium-sized voices combine to create something more powerful and more influential, and all of a sudden, people are hearing the message. The message is clear if we take time to hear it. The message is truth if we study it closely. The message is powerful when spoken by people who care about it. The voice of those you serve matters to us. That is why we will be having a town hall meeting during our public policy symposium June 20th. Come and bring the hundreds of soft voices that you have heard throughout the years. Bring their message to light and begin the process of change.
Karen Phillips ACHANGE Board Chair 4
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Building a Stronger Nonprofit Foundation Pt. 2: Keeping Your Mind on the Money No matter how great the mission, an organization must have the money to do the job. Nonprofit organizations can be especially vulnerable to this, often existing only as long as the grant funding exists. Adding the additional constraints of development standards can place greater burden on a budget already stretched to capacity. At the fundamental level, nonprofits must create workable financial development strategies, function within the confines of a realistic financial management system, avoid excessive risk and ensure that the organization is in compliance with all legal requirements. 1. Financial Development Do you have a development or fundraising plan? How often do you review that plan to ensure that it is working as intended? Are you committed to the promise you made to your donors to do what you said that you would do with the money? 2. Financial Management Prepare a realistic budget that is in line with the work that you do. Put proper accounting tools in place and a good system of checks and balances. Do you have an annual audit conducted by an independent auditor? Have you heard of Sarbanes-Oxley? 3. Financial Protection: Risk Management Does your organization have insurance coverage to address risk? Does your organization consider the risks involved in an activity before engaging in that activity? 4. Legal Compliance Is your board knowledgeable about its fiduciary duties, and does it monitor activities to ensure that the organization is compliant with the law? Want to learn more? Read more on the Diamond Standards by visiting the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence’s website at www.acenonprofit.org and clicking on the Diamond Standards tab. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CURRENT PROFITABILITY? Attend: Beyond Bricks: The New Economy for Affordable Housing Providers on June 21, 2012 To register for this special one day session, use the enclosed registration form or click here. 5
Volume 2, Issue 3
JUNE IS NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH. WHAT BETTER TIME TO:
CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS;
FORM PUBLIC POLICY STRATEGIES; and
PROVIDE OUTSTANDING TRAINING?
We couldn’t think of a better time either! In the following pages, see a few of the highlighted activities for June 19-22, 2012! 6
Volume 2, Issue 3
The State of Affordable Housing in Arkansas: The ACHANGE 2012 Public Policy Symposium June 20th, 8:00 am — 4:00 pm The affordable housing landscape continues to change. What does the market look like in 2012? How affordable is housing in Arkansas? How does Arkansas compare to the rest of the nation? This symposium will provide insight into the current state of affordable housing, including local, state and national perspectives. Highlights of the Day:
“The State of Affordable Housing in Arkansas” presented by UALR’s Institute on Economic Advancement. The report will highlight housing occupancy status, monthly housing costs, and the economic impact of housing in Arkansas.
A multi‐discipline panel will discuss the state of housing from varying viewpoints . Panelists include ADFA, private and nonprofit developers, LISC and NeighborWorks® America
Town Hall discussion of affordable housing concerns. Join in the discussion of the issues and help to provide a roadmap of where Arkansas goes from here.
This year’s featured luncheon speaker is Dr. Sheila Crowley, President and CEO of The National Low Income Housing Coalition. The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes. NLIHC educates, organizes and advocates to ensure de‐ cent, affordable housing within healthy neighborhoods for everyone.
Don’t delay! Register today! 7
Volume 2, Issue 3
ATTN: HOMEBUYER EDUCATORS AND HOUSING COUNSELORS! Need some tools to energize your sessions? HO280 Sharpen Your Presentation Skills – Tips and Tools to Rejuvenate Education and Counseling Programs June 21-22, 2012
Are your education workshops expanding or bursting at the seams?
Is your audience fully engaged?
Are you looking for a way to market a program that appeals to a new audience in light of today’s economic conditions?
Are you prepared to deliver energized education and counseling services under the NSP?
Energize your education and counseling programs to meet today’s market conditions and demands. In this course designed for trainers, counselors and anyone in your organization focused on education and counseling activities, participants will receive state-of-the-art training tools and materials, and practice presentation skills. You will review the methodology needed to run a high-volume, high-quality homeownership education program. You will be instructed on PowerPoint techniques and how to develop interactive learning activities.
Certificates are available for this course, but you must attend both days of training. If you are interested in learning more about this class, call Debra at 501-766-3941. Visit the website at www.achange.org . Register by June 7, to receive your certificate on the last day of training. 8
Volume 2, Issue 3
Beyond Bricks: The New Economy for Affordable Housing Providers June 21st Back by popular demand, Dione Alexander, VP, Nonprofit Finance Fund (2011 keynote speaker) will provide a one‐day workshop specifically designed to help you re‐conceptualize your organization in today’s economy.
Beyond Bricks is an interactive session designed to guide affordable housing providers through an assessment of both the impact and profitability of their programming and frame strategies and scenarios to address the capital and capacity needed to achieve their aspirations for change and growth. Highlights of the Day: "I Am From" (an exercise in storytelling) All organizations need a way to frame their story that is less about the technical or statistical achievement and more about the compelling ways in which lives and communities are affected. Mission drives motives; reconnecting with why you as an or‐ ganization exist is the first step in planning for the future.
Impact Assessment Participants will build a matrix that plots their core activities in terms of impact and profitability and will develop some strategies and scenarios for contracting, expanding, or changing programming to both strengthen their organization and their community.
Case Study Participants will be led in a case study exercise and dialogue that focuses on an afforda‐ ble housing provider that substantially changed its business model. The case study will also provide opportunity to learn and share information about new tools and resources in the industry. Ready to shift to a more integrated system of community development? Register today! 9
Volume 2, Issue 3
ARKANSAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK
June 19 – 22, 2012 Hilton Little Rock, 925 S. University, Little Rock, AR 72204
Registration Form Name:_________________________________________________________ Title: __________________________________________________________ Company/Office: _________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________
Fax:______________________
Email: _______________________________________________________ Community Development Service Awards June 19th 6pm ___Individual tickets @$50.00 each OR
___ Table
@$500.00
(Please forward guest names. ) Addressing the Affordable Housing Dilemma in Arkansas Symposium June 20th 8:30 am—4:00 pm
___ Individual
tickets @$50.00 Luncheon Only (11:30am—1:00pm): ____ tickets @$25.00
Keynote Speaker: Sheila Crowley, President and CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition
NeighborWorks® Sharpen Your Presentation Skills - Tips and Tools to Rejuvenate Education and Counseling Programs June 21st and 22nd 9:00 am—4:30 pm ____ $200.00 each
Beyond Bricks: : The New Economy for Affordable Housing Providers June 21st ONLY ___ $100 each 10
Volume 2, Issue 3
MEMBER NEWS!!! RENEWING MEMBERS Pine Bluff—Jefferson County EOC Southern Bancorp Community Partners Northwest Arkansas Regional Housing Authority Better Community Developers, Inc. West Arkansas Community Development Corporation Central Arkansas Development Corporation Fort Smith Housing Authority
Other News A scholarship is available from ACHANGE for the 2012 Community Development Institute (CDI) in Conway, Arkansas. CDI is an intense, information-rich experience for anyone who would like to learn more about the total community development picture. If you’d like to see the schedule for the 2012 institute, click the CDI logo! For scholarship information, contact Debra. 3rd Annual Small City Economic Leadership & Empowerment Summit
HouseAboutIt’s 3rd annual Small City Summit will take place on July 27, 2012, in Little Rock. Be on the lookout for more information as plans are finalized.
For more information on the Small City Summit, click the summit logo or call HouseAboutIt at 501-247-3674. 11
Volume 2, Issue 3
ACHANGE Executive Committee Board Chairman—Karen Phillips 1st Vice Chairman—Susan Forte 2nd Vice Chairman—George Holcomb Secretary— Frances Newsome Treasurer—Cathy Carlock Associate At-Large Board Member—Martie North At-Large Board Member—Darryl Swinton
Program Manager—Debra Banks Committee Chairs Education and Training Committee Chairman—Roma Isom Finance Committee Chairman—Cathy Carlock Membership & Marketing Committee Chairman—George Holcomb Public Policy Committee Chairman—Darryl Swinton Resource Development Chairman—Charles Vann Ad-hoc Committee Chairman—Martie North
At ACHANGE, your membership matters. Come grow along with us!
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401 Main Street, Suite 206 North Little Rock, AR 72114 501-766-3941 Fax: 501-244-9670
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