Community Action Duluth

TO EMPOWER AND ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO ELIMINATE POVERTY.

COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH IS COMMITTED TO BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN POVERTY AND PROSPERITY. WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES BY HELPING THEM BUILD CRUCIAL ASSETS THAT PAVE THE WAY OUT OF POVERTY. THESE ASSETS ENCOMPASS WRAP AROUND SERVICES SUCH AS FINANCIAL LITERACY, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL COACHING, JOB SKILLS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL CAPITAL, HEALTH RESOURCES, INSURANCE, FOOD ACCESS, CHILDCARE, AND ADVOCACY FOR FAIR POLICIES AND A HEALTHY NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE STRIVE TO CREATE LASTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING." LAUNCHED IN 2020, COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH'S COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM IS A PILOT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE THAT HAS ACHIEVED REMARKABLE SUCCESS. IN FY23, WE PARTNERED WITH THE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF DULUTH, MN, TO REHABILITATE SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS USING A COHORT OF LOW-INCOME PARTICIPANTS. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAD PREVIOUSLY FACED SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, LACK OF EDUCATION, AND UNMET TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. OUR PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON EMPOWERING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FROM HIGHER-PAYING CONSTRUCTION JOBS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. EACH YEAR, CAD HIRES, TRAINS, AND EDUCATES A NEW COHORT OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES, PROVIDING THEM WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO OVERCOME EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS AND SECURE CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSURES IN VARIOUS TRADES BY THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD. IN ADDITION TO HANDS-ON TRAINING, OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE EARNED CERTIFICATIONS IN CARPENTRY, OSHA COMPLIANCE, CPR, AND AED. THESE QUALIFICATIONS OPEN DOORS TO SUSTAINABLE CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION, HELPING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM IS THE LONG-TERM SAVINGS IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. COMPARED TO PART-TIME MINIMUM WAGE JOBS, A CAREER AS A CONSTRUCTION LABORER COULD SAVE THE COMMUNITY 606,355 IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS OVER THE COURSE OF A PARTICIPANT'S WORKING LIFETIME, WITH 60,000 SAVED IN JUST THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THEIR CAREER. THIS NOT ONLY BENEFITS THE INDIVIDUALS BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. MOREOVER, OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AT CAD HAVE FURTHER SUPPORTED PARTICIPANTS BY ASSISTING WITH BENEFITS OUTREACH, INCLUDING ENROLLMENT IN MNSURE AND SNAP, AND OFFERING VITAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THROUGH OUR 'JUMP START' PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM HELPS INDIVIDUALS OBTAIN DRIVER'S LICENSES, PAY FINES AND FEES, AND ACCESS OTHER TRANSPORTATION-RELATED SERVICES, ENSURING THEY HAVE THE MOBILITY NEEDED TO PURSUE AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.

COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH (CAD) HAS LAUNCHED THE "LEAD AND HEALTHY HOMES" PROGRAM, A VITAL INITIATIVE AIMED AT ELIMINATING DANGEROUS LEAD FROM HOMES AT NO COST TO RESIDENTS. THE PROGRAM NOT ONLY PROVIDES ESSENTIAL LEAD TESTING FOR CHILDREN AND PREGNANT ADULTS BUT ALSO INCLUDES A JOB TRAINING COMPONENT DESIGNED TO BRING MORE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR INTO THE LEAD ABATEMENT FIELD. THIS DUAL FOCUS ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ENSURES SAFER HOMES WHILE CREATING MEANINGFUL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

'CONNECT FORWARD', THE COACHING PROGRAM AT CAD, ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS IN IMPROVING THEIR CREDIT SCORES, INCREASE THEIR NET WORTH, AND OBTAIN A RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATE OR CREDENTIAL.