Who we are at Christian Community Action

Who We Are

Executive Director

Our mission and history

Major Milestones

Board of Directors

Financial statements

Message from CCA Executive Director,
Rev. Bonita Grubbs

Thirty-five years ago, a house was destroyed by fire on Congress Avenue in New Haven, leaving a family homeless. An ecumenical group of Catholics and Protestants, seeking a way to put their faith into action and to demonstrate their concern during a highly turbulent time in our history, came to the rescue. Thus the organization we today call Christian Community Action, Inc. (CCA) was born.

Since 1967, CCA has grown and evolved substantially, while remaining true to its origin mission of serving families in crisis and assisting individuals to realize their unique strengths and potential. In addition to dealing with unexpected, short-term emergencies such as fires and evictions, CCA is now actively involved in helping families attain self-sufficiency through initiatives such as our Stepping Stone Transitional Housing Program while, at the same time, advocating change in the systems that perpetuate poverty and injustice through efforts such as our Advocacy and Education Project and the developing LifeWorks Center.

We have grown in so many ways, yet we have also remained true to our roots as a storefront organization focused on promoting dignity and respect. While we may be bigger in size and broader in scope than we were in 1967, we work hard to maintain the high-touch personalized approach to people and their problems we have been known for since our origins.

We have been fortunate in having visionary leadership throughout our history. Prior to my coming to CCA 13 years ago, the agency was led by first Rev. David Nehring, second, by the Rev. Philip Grigsby and third, by Rev. Karl Hilgert, each of whom brought originality and inspiration to our work. Together with those who have served selflessly on our Board of Directors and our dedicated staff, these three gentlemen contributed substantially to the high regard in which CCA is held in the New Haven community today.

As much as we have accomplished so far, many challenges lie ahead. With trust in the Lord, we look forward to meeting these challenges. Watch us and pray for us as we grow and remain faithful to our mission.

Sincerely,

Rev. Bonita Grubbs

Our mission and history

Christian Community Action, Inc. is a not-for-profit ecumenical social service organization located in New Haven, Connecticut. Its mission is to express faithful witness by:

1. providing emergency food, housing and support to those who are poor in New Haven;

2. encouraging them in their efforts to attain self-sufficiency, and

3. working to change systems that perpetuate poverty and injustice.

Other programs offered by CCA include after-school programs and a children’s summer program, fuel assistance and food basket distribution at Thanksgiving to more than 1,000 families.

Now in its third decade of service, CCA continues to be a force for community building and social change.

CCA got its start as part of suburban "living room" dialogues held in 1966 between Catholics and Protestants, regarding how best to put their Christian faith into action. This led to direct assistance to victims of a fire on Congress Avenue in 1967.

It was on Congress Avenue that CCA had its first office, under the direction of the Rev. David Nehring. This office became the focus of urban encounter programs, crisis intervention, emergency housing and outreach between the inner city and the suburbs.

CCA moved to its current facility at 168 Davenport Avenue in 1971. There, CCA expanded its emergency housing, crisis intervention, coalition building, welfare reform and educational efforts. In 1978, CCA acquired the adjacent property at 166 Davenport Avenue, adding three more emergency housing units.

In December 1984, the city-owned New Haven Family Shelter at 124 Sylvan Avenue was partially opened under CCA operation. After structural problems were corrected, the entire building was opened in 1986. The facility provided an additional 10 apartments for emergency housing.

In 1998, after years of planning, the Stepping Stone Transitional Housing Program was opened at 660 Winchester Avenue. This facility houses 18 apartments, the Stan Preisner Computer Learning Center, an after school program, an on-site Head Start program for the community, sponsored by the New Haven Board of Education and a recreational room for resident families and their children. Also housed within the facility is the Dixwell / Newhallville Community Mental Health Center. Stepping Stone also houses rooms for workshops, a children’s library, a work-out room for tenants and a laundry facility.

Major Milestones

1966-67

Living Room Dialogues

1967

Rev. David Nehring, 1^st CCA Director

1968

Emergency Food Program Starts

1970

Move to 168 Davenport Avenue, adding five emergency apartments

1976

Rev. Phil Grigsby, 2^nd Director

1977

Involved in development of New Haven Fuel Bank

Welfare Reform Project Begins

1979

166 Davenport Avenue property purchased, adding three more emergency apartments

1980

Thanksgiving Distribution started

1981

Rev. Karl Hilgert, 3^rd Director

1985

Sylvan Avenue Shelter site opens, adding ten more emergency apartments

1987

CCA increases social service and case management programs for emergency housing residents

1988

Rev. Bonita Grubbs, 4^th Director

1992

CCA celebrate 25 year of service

1993

"Mothers for Justice" organized

1994

1.1 M grant approved from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for transitional housing program

1994

First Children’s Summer Program at CCA’s shelter

1996

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act signed into law by President Clinton. The disappointment over this piece of legislation, purportedly designed to reform welfare program and policies, led to CCA’s Welfare Reform Project changing its name to the Welfare Justice Project.

1998

Stepping Stone Transitional Housing Program opens

1999

Fire at CCA Main office; devastating office and five emergency housing apartments

2000

Opening of Stan Preisner Computer Learning Center at Stepping Stone

2000

166 Davenport and Sylvan Avenue shelter sites collectively renamed the Hillside Family Shelter

HUD awarded three year renewal grant for Stepping Stone

2001

New "Client Choice Program" starts as part of CCA’s Food Pantry in the spring.

Welfare Justice Project renamed Social Justice Project.

CCA partners with Life Haven Family Shelter to start "The Woman’s Wellness Project"

2002

CCA celebrates 35^th anniversary

Social Justice Project moves to Willow Street to open new center for education and advocacy (LifeWorks Center).

Social Justice Project named changed to Advocacy and Education Project. Project staff move to new offices at 85 Willow Street (Lifework's Center)

2003 Citizens Bank and News Channel 8 Name CCA a Community Champion; Agency Awarded a $25,000 Grant

CCA Raises $27,000 at Second Annual Gala Ball

CCA Inaugurates Popular Economics Institute at LifeWorks

2004
CCA launches its Program for Internships, Vocational Opportunities and Training (PIVOT), thanks to a $150,421 grant from Empower New Haven. PIVOT is designed to help people of low income to better prepare and obtain jobs that pay living wages and offer opportunities for advancement and growth.

2004 CCA holds its first annual Forum programs, called “Laughing at Ourselves” and featuring the comedian Sinbad and TV personality Joy Behar. The program raises $35,000 for the agency.

2005 CCA launches Health Advocacy Voices Emerging Network (HAVENetwork) to provide people of color who are poor with the opportunity to share their experiences and have their voices heard as policymakers work to improve our nation’s increasingly dysfunctional health care system. HAVENetwork is made possible, thanks to $41,705 grant from the Universal Health Care Foundation of New Haven.

2005 Second Annual CCA Forum “Freedom! Not Just Another Word,” featuring writer Molly Ivins, attorney Anita Hill and public television’s Ray Suarez, nets $56.000 for the agency.

2005 Annual Thanksgiving Food Basket collection / distribution services 1,200 families / 2,700 individuals. This effort, which CCA has been carrying out for 25 years, is possible thanks to the help of hundreds of volunteers from area schools, churches, businesses and civic groups.

2006
PIVOT program reaches the 100^th person mark, in terms of number of people it has helped with job preparation, paid internships and / or job placement since its inception in late 2004.

2007 CCA celebrates its 40th Anniversary at Peabody Museum - February 6, 2007

CCA Board of Directors

President: John James
President
Microgenesis, Inc.

Vice President: Raymond Andrewsen
Assistant G.M. for Operations
AM 1220 WQUN

Treasurer: Ronald Smart
Director, Global Logistics
Colgate – Palmolive

Secretary: Abraham Colon
Lieutenant
The New Haven Fire Department
Emergency Medical Services Division

Jeffrey Lange
Teacher
Branford School System

Carol Sacco
Retired Social Services Executive

Marilyn Toland, Esq.
Toland Law Firm

Rev. Carolyn Young
Senior Minister
Whitneyville Congregational Church

Crystal Gooding
Database Coordinator, Office of Faculty Affairs
Yale School of Medicine

Snow Turner
Field Supervisor of MANOS
New Haven Heath Department/MCH Division

Edith Pestana
Environmental Justice Program, DEP

William B. McCullough M.D.

William Johnston

Financial Statements

If you would like to view our financial statements please click on the following links.

2004 2005 Expenses 2006 Budget

B2004 2005 Revenues Statements of Activities and Changes in Net Assets

Who We Are

PIVOT program reaches the 100th person mark, in terms of number of people it has helped with job preparation, paid internships and / or job placement since its inception in late 2004.

PIVOT program reaches the 100^th person mark, in terms of number of people it has helped with job preparation, paid internships and / or job placement since its inception in late 2004.