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Community Empowerment Program |
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CCAEJ is grounded in “place”. We recognize that communities are not simply groupings of buildings filled with consumers, customers, or clients whose behavior is studied, managed and manipulated by powerful outside forces. Communities are families, neighbors, and individuals who recognize the necessity of sharing power and sharing responsibility. Our voice brings perspective to the public debate of those most directly affected in ways that can refocus attention to the most urgent needs of our families, neighbors and fellow residents and can breathe new compassion, creativity and responsibility into the public debate and decision making process. The building blocks of every community lie in relationships at the neighborhood level. Our work enables local residents to be the authorities within their neighborhoods. Residents have knowledge, contacts and skills that enable them to draw their neighbors into efforts to improve their community. Our efforts are not to build one community leader, but to encourage many community residents to share leadership. Some people are strong on research and like the details; others have strong people skills and can motivate others to get involved; others have financial skills; others have good writing skills; others have close relationships and credibility with many people in the community; and others have persuasive speaking skills. Each is a leader in their own right. Each has the ability to expand their skills and explore new experiences. CCAEJ uses several methods to develop grassroots leadership. We believe the most effective learning takes place by “doing”. While leadership is not created by sitting in classes but in doing, we seek opportunities for people to practice new skills in safe environments and to hone their new skills in a real life events. Role plays, practice, and attempting skills are essential to not only fine-tuning skills but developing the confidence and trust in each other necessary to confront power. Community assessment — What skills are needed? What skills are within the group – how do we share them? What skills need to be developed? Community Resource inventory — What resources are available to you? What social contacts do you have? Who are possible allies? Who are potential opponents? Where are meeting places? Who has credibility with the community? As we work with community groups we conduct the same assessments: we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses within the group, ascertain the needs of the group and walk them through the necessary workshops. Methods of Leadership Development Neighborhood Action Teams We work with neighborhoods residents to identify and develop solutions at the most local level—the neighborhood. Friends and neighbors come together to get to know each other better, develop a vision of what they want in their neighborhood and outline steps to achieve it. This is the most basic group of our organizing efforts. The individual neighborhood groups are then brought together in larger community wide groups that in turn come together in County-wide groups; our community Leadership Councils are made up of residents from both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Inland Valley SALTA program The SALTA program is another method for education and awareness building. It is a structured program to involve the Latino community though formal classes that start in the home to foster understanding of environmental factors that influence health. Each graduate then recruits, enlists and trains another class. We then identify those with natural leadership qualities and interest and enlist them as block leaders. These organized neighborhoods become a foundation for community action. Leadership Academy/Skills Workshops At every level of our organizing we hold skill development workshops. Once a year our Leadership Academy identifies those interested in the issues and provides more in-depth understanding of organizing theory and skills development. A structured 12-week course provides not only in-class theory but outside practice. We believe that one “learns” organizing and leadership not by studying in a class, but by doing. Home work assignments, role plays, and practice provide solid experience before venturing out to the real world. Networks/Coalitions/Collaboratives Our neighborhood and county leaders have the opportunity to expand experiences and knowledge by working with other groups and communities on issues of common concern. Issues Forums/Symposiums/Community Summits We utilize community leaders to lead workshops, give presentations, and participate on panels. Each opportunity provides practice and expansion of experience. Crucial to our Community Empowerment program are our efforts are to demystify science, law and “the experts”. CCAEJ sees these as technical tools to be utilized by communities but not to be used to control community decisions. We emphasize the difference between technical issues and policy issues and the legitimacy of community in setting policy. For example, the presence and amount of a chemicals in drinking water is a technical issue; but how much of any given chemical that should be in our water is a policy issue, and as such an issue that communities must decide on. 
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CCAEJ was founded on the belief that the key to effectively solving community problems lies in bringing diverse segments of the community together in one strong voice. By utilizing the skills, talents, and knowledge of each community member and tapping into the resources and relationships that are inherent within each community, we identify issues, define solutions and create change. Each community member brings their own expertise and talents to the table, combining with others to form a strong community force. We develop grassroots leaders by helping individuals recognize their own strengths, learn new skills and develop the confidence to utilize those skills within a group setting.