Community Action Development Corp Of The Lehigh Valley

THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY ACTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ALLENTOWN IS TO ELEVATE AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS BY ACTIVELY PROMOTING NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION WHICH STRENGTHENS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ECONOMY, IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL RESIDENTS.

COMMUNITY ACTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ALLENTOWN (CADCA) IS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION SERVING A LARGE PORTION OF CENTER CITY ALLENTOWN. CADCA ORGANIZES THE RESIDENTS OF THE CENTER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT REVITALIZATION STRATEGIES. COMPLETED THE FIRST YEAR OF THE ALLENTOWN'S FUTURE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH MULTIPLE "YOUTH SERVING" COMMUNITY PARTNERS. "CONDUCTED 2 MULTI-WEEK VIRTUAL, YOUTH ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING CLASSES WITH 26 ATTENDEES; "RECRUITED 9 SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO "TELL THEIR STORY" TO YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS AND TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR; "MENTORED 8 YOUTH ENTERED IN THE PENN STATE LEHIGH VALLEY TEEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE WHICH CULMINATED WITH THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE "PITCH CONTEST-; "LAUNCHED NPP "NAMING CONTEST" TO CREATE A LONG-TERM IDENTITY FOR THE "ALLENTOWN'S FUTURE" INITIATIVE. WINNING ENTRY WAS "ALLENTOWN'S CORE-; "SUPPORTED START-UP OF GENERATION NEXT FRESHMEN CLASS AT WILLIAM ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL WITH 21 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING; "PROVIDED COLLEGE TOUR FOR 12 YOUTH WHO RECEIVED COLLEGE APPLICATION TRAINING AS PART OF THE SAT BOOT CAMPS. TOUR INCLUDED 4 UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES WITH TOUR GUIDES; "AWARDED 19 SCHOLARSHIPS TO A COMBINATION OF FORMER GENERATION NEXT STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF THE SAT BOOT CAMPS; "COLLABORATED WITH THE FREEDOM SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP TO LAUNCH THE JAMES LAWSON FREEDOM SCHOOL AT 3 SITES WHICH COLLECTIVELY ENROLLED 112 YOUTH AND SERVED TO MITIGATE THE "SUMMER SLIDE" BY UTILIZING A RESEARCHED, MULTICULTURAL, ACTIVITY-BASED CURRICULUM; "FUNDED SEVERAL AFTER SCHOOL BI-LINGUAL LITERACY AND TUTORING PROVIDERS WHO COLLECTIVELY SERVED OVER 100 ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND CONCURRENTLY PROVIDED TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTION FOR OVER 50 PARENTS; "INVESTED IN THE INNOVATIVE ANTI-VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS WORK LED BY PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY. THEIR OUTREACH TEAM AND VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS DEVELOPED CRITICAL SKILLS TO BUILD COMMUNITY TRUST AND CONNECT RESIDENTS TO SERVICES WHICH HELP PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE. IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO EVERY SHOOTING WITHIN 24 HOURS, PNLV WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO OVER 200 RESIDENTS AND ATTEND 6 CANDLE LIGHT VIGILS; "PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN'S LAW ENFORCEMENT STAFF TO IMPLEMENT THE 7TH YEAR OF COLLABORATION ON ITS SIGNATURE YOUTH ACADEMY EFFORT FOCUSED ON ENGAGING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT TO EXAMINE CAREERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. 40 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED OVER A 4-WEEK PERIOD AND WERE REWARDED WITH TRIPS TO PHILADELPHIA ZOO, READING MARKET (IN PHILADELPHIA), LEISURE LAKE (READING) AND DORNEY PARK; "SUPPORTED THE 1ST SPANISH LANGUAGE "CIVILIAN POLICE ACADEMY" DESIGNED TO EQUIP RESIDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THERE WERE 20 GRADUATES; "PILOTED INAUGURAL HIP HOP DANCE CLASSES AT BRIGADIER ANNA MAE HAYS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH 17 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING OVER A 2-WEEK PERIOD AND CONCLUDING WITH 2 FINAL DANCE PERFORMANCES FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS; "COLLABORATED WITH BAUM ART SCHOOL TO ENROLL 14 YOUTH IN THEIR FASHION DESIGN PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON ENTERING THE FASHION DESIGN INDUSTRY AS A CAREER PATH OR BECOMING A FASHION INDUSTRY ENTREPRENEUR; "BUILT CAPACITY AT 6 SMALLER NON-PROFITS VIA THE COALITION OF DIFFERENCE MAKERS INITIATIVE WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OVER 500 YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES; "ASSISTED MULTIPLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES REACHING OVER 5,000 RESIDENTS AND WHICH INCLUDED: MOTHER'S AND FATHER'S DAY CELEBRATIONS; R&B EXPLOSION AT WEST PARK; HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT; DOMINICAN FESTIVAL; BLUES FESTIVAL; MOBILE DENTAL VAN CLINIC (ORAL HYGIENE); YOUTH BOWLING; YOUTH SWIMMING; GIRLS BASKETBALL CLINIC; VOCAL WORKSHOP; TRAUMA INFORMED PARENTING TRAINING; AND LAPTOP BAGS AND MASK DISTRIBUTION TO STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL IN SPRING, 2021.