Community Care Development Network connects underserved areas with resources to succeed

Bridging the Gap

The Community Care Development Network connects underserved areas with resources to succeed

PHOTO COURTESY OF TAMIKA HOLMES

Students from the Inspire Program.

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

After years spent doing community volunteer work, Tamika Holmes founded a youth mentoring program—Precious Pearls of Promise—in 2014 for girls between the ages of 11 and 18. During the natural course of developing those relationships, she and others learned of pressing physical, environmental, and emotional needs impacting the homes where these girls lived: financial stress over rent and utility bills, unemployment concerns, and lack of food and clothing. The preteen and teen girls were stressed, helping to raise younger siblings because single moms were working two or three jobs. After much listening to these families’ voices, Precious Pearls of Promise knew they needed to do more, and they expanded to include mentoring, education, and life services, thus forming the Community Care Development Network (CCDN). “During 2019 alone,” says Tamika, founder and director, “CCDN served approximately 2,400 individuals ranging in age from newborn to 95.”

Q: Tell us about CCDN’s mission and purpose.

TH: Community Care Development Network (CCDN) is a faith-based 501c3 community development organization located in the East Lake community engaging underserved areas in metro Birmingham by meeting individuals’ immediate basic needs, mentoring (youth, adult, and family), connecting to resources—including stable housing and affordable health care, education (financial literacy, math, and reading tutoring), and workforce development courses.

Q: What programs do you offer and to whom?

TH: Our Life Services Program includes: Community Food Hubs—Providing emergency food to community members in need. CCDN operates four community food hubs for convenience. Families may pick up at any location two times per month and can receive 40 to 80 pounds of food. The four locations are: • Monthly on 1st Thursdays at 139 54th Street N., 35212 (in partnership with Woodlawn UMC) • Monthly on 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 1920

Old Springville Rd., 35215 • Monthly on 3rd Thursdays at 7753 1st

Avenue S., 35206 (in partnership with East

Lake UMC) • Monthly on 3rd Thursdays at 2600 Fairfax

Avenue, 35020 (in partnership with Shady

Grove Missionary Baptist Church)

Life Services Resource Assistance—Providing resources for emergency needs such as financial, clothing, housing, job loss, medication assistance,

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and household supplies (diapers, wipes, baby formula, Ensure, adult diapers, detergent).

Our Family and Youth Support Programs includes two Youth Mentoring groups. Precious Pearls of Promise (young ladies ages 11 to 18) and Diamonds in the Rough (young men ages 11 to 18). Last month, we began working on a hybrid schedule: two Saturdays per month are in person (8 a.m. until 2 p.m.) and two are virtual (noon – 1:30 p.m.). Parents Helping Parents is mentoring for biological parents, guardians, grandparents, etc. We meet virtually on the second Tuesday evening of each month at 6 p.m. and on the fourth Saturday of each month at 2 p.m.

CCDN Education Programs help to increase skills and knowledge for youth and adults in key areas, like youth reading and math enrichment, GED tutoring, trade school resources, and career readiness classes.

LearnWorks Reading and Math EnrichmentThis program is for middle school and high school-aged youth who have a challenge with reading and math.

GED Tutoring is available for youth ages 16 through 19 and adults age 20 and up. It’s designed to assist with preparation for the GED exam, and assessments determine the level of learning. This program prepares learners for job market success, college, and life through building confidence and skills needed to flourish.

Inspire Education Program and Services were developed to equip youth and adults with the essential work skills needed to secure employment and develop a life development plan. Career readiness materials are supported by Alabama Ready to Work through Lawson State Community College, WorkFaith Birmingham, and Inspire Education Program.

Healthy Tuesdays is health-focused and designed to help families. The program involves educating families by collaborating with health care facilities, clinics, doctors, nutritionists, counselors, and insurance agencies. It engages families in the community to live and maintain healthy lifestyles through four key areas: mental health, fitness, family and nutrition, and spiritual health.

Our Community Outreach Projects develop partnerships that will increase community cohesiveness, effectiveness, and growth. Projects may include civic engagement, solutions to education and food insecurity, and family unification. We have ongoing projects with Birmingham Coalition for Student Mental Health, Children’s Policy Cooperative of Jefferson County, E.L.E.C.T. Teen Summits, Financial Literacy, Voter’s Registration, Christmas at CCDN, Woodlawn Area Food Insecurity Project, Food Insecurity Challenges Greater Birmingham, Birmingham Lift Project, and Back to School! Past projects include Restoration Families First and Second Chance Hiring Fair.

Q: How does faith play a role in the organization?

TH: During our family and youth mentoring programs, we work with families on building a foundation using faith-based principles. In our emergency food boxes, we incorporate prayer booklets to help families and individuals who are struggling. We also partner with several churches throughout Jefferson County and metro Birmingham.

Q: What do you hope the programs accomplish?

TH: UNITY! We want our community to bring families together, school environments together, work environments together, churches together, and the community as a whole together. In fact, one of our mottos is “Be the change you want to see in your home, church, school, and community.” We desire to be a beacon of hope in a world of darkness.

Q: Who is your target demographic?

TH: We help anyone who comes through our doors. While most of our clients are low to moderate income, we do not turn anyone away. We have working-class families who do not fit into the low- or moderate-income box, but they still need some assistance. When Covid-19 hit, we were serving 400 families monthly in our Life Services Program. We believe help is help!

It’s important to note that our organization also includes a network of partners and churches that help us to be successful. Organizations like Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, The City of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity (IEO), United Way of Central Alabama, Restorative Strategies, LLC, WorkFaith Birmingham, Birmingham Ed Foundation, Woodlawn Foundation, Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation, JCCEO, Woodlawn UMC, East Lake UMC, Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Guiding Light Church, The Church at Brook Hills, UAB, Jefferson County Family Court, Emotions Counseling Service, and more. These partners are an example of what we want to build—unity.

For more information about the CCDN, its programs, or to volunteer or donate, visit ccommunitycaredn.org.