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Informal conversations in an auditorium during the DCF's Latino Communities in Sussex County event

New DCF Report Highlights Complexities and Contributions of Latino Communities in Sussex County

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Wednesday, October 9th, 2019

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At its Oct. 7 Focus Conversation event in Georgetown, held in partnership with La Colectiva de Delaware, the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) released Perspectives on the Latino Population in Sussex County, Delaware, the result of a research project commissioned by the DCF and conducted by researchers at the University of Delaware. The report will serve as a resource for nonprofit organizations, funders, community leaders and others striving to engage and advance this important segment of the community.

The report shows that, with a population of over 20,000, Sussex County Latino communities contribute more than $50 million in tax revenue to Delaware annually. There are more than 800 Latino-owned businesses in the county. Sussex County Latinos are buying homes, holding jobs, and going to school and church. However, they still face challenges related to language and cultural differences, unfamiliarity with U.S. systems and processes, immigration status and more.

The research team identified important moments that can be leveraged by community members, nonprofits, and pro bono services to build opportunity, including through culturally sensitive and bilingual programs and services for immigration assistance, college and financial aid navigation, public transportation improvements, home buying, business training, and banking.

DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay describes the report’s findings as encouraging and inspiring. “Sussex County’s vibrant and diverse Latino community is bringing new passion to the belief in the American Dream.”

The report was researched and written by Drs. Jennifer Fuqua and April Veness at the University of Delaware with the support of a grant from CFLeads to the DCF. The study was completed in collaboration with Dr. Christine Cannon, executive director of the Arsht-Cannon Fund at the DCF; La Colectiva de Delaware; La Esperanza; and many other partners.

For more information and to view the complete report and accompanying materials, visit delcf.org/sussex-latinos. Report materials are available in both Spanish and English.

Photo by John Mollura Photography

The American Dream in Sussex County

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay

· Wednesday, September 25th, 2019

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Delaware’s Latino population is growing and it’s growing fast. And that’s a good thing.

On Oct. 7, the DCF will be releasing a new report entitled Perspectives on the Latino Population in Sussex County, Delaware.

What we find is encouraging and inspiring. Now exceeding 20,000 people, Sussex County’s vibrant and diverse Latino community is bringing new passion to the belief in the American Dream.

“I raised smart and determined kids who don’t give up,” said Julia Roque, who immigrated from Puerto Rico in the 1970s. “They make me happy.”

Her children are now pursuing careers in communications, the military and nursing. Julia and her family are just one example.

The Sussex County Latino community contributes more than $50 million in tax revenue to Delaware annually. There are more than 800 Latino-owned businesses in the county. Nearly 25% of Sussex County Latinos aged 25 or older have earned college credits – 75% of them are women. They are learning English at breakneck speed, buying homes, holding down jobs, going to school and church, leading local sports leagues, and building community.

This is what America was built on. While many of us are grappling with whether the American Dream is still possible, the Latino community in Sussex County is living it. I’ve long expressed my continued belief in idea of the American Dream. This report gives me even more confidence that it has not vanished.

The report will be posted soon. In the meantime, you can sign up here for the Oct. 7 community conversation in Georgetown, where the report will be discussed.

This report, which was written by Drs. Jennifer Fuqua and April Veness at the University of Delaware, would not be possible without the support of a grant from CFLeads; the partnership and inspiration of Dr. Christine Cannon and the Arsht-Cannon Fund; the community leadership of La Esperanza and La Colectiva; and members of the Sussex County community.

5 Questions with Stu: Dr. Christine Cannon, Executive Director, Arsht-Cannon Fund

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay

· Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019

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Dr. Christine Cannon has been the executive director of the Arsht-Cannon Fund since its inception in 2004. With careers in nursing and education, nonprofit board leadership, and experience in grantwriting and program development, Christine partners with grantees to achieve the most effective program outcomes and impacts — with a particular focus on Delaware’s Latino community. Through the inspiration of the Arsht-Cannon Fund (a component fund at the DCF), the DCF overall has increased its attention on these issues as well.

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Why is philanthropy important to me?

For me, philanthropy provides a powerful opportunity to change the lives of Delaware’s Latino families through close partnerships with community leaders, nonprofits, educators, and healthcare providers. At the Arsht-Cannon Fund, our grants fuel a variety of educational opportunities that drive English language acquisition, family literacy, early childhood preparation for kindergarten, year-round learning for English Learners in K-12, college access and graduation, career development, equity-focused educational advocacy and more.

What are the greatest factors influencing your decisions when you consider opportunities you could support?

The greatest factors influencing my funding recommendations include:
(1) Justification of the need for a program
(2) The nonprofit’s capacity to implement a bilingual or bi-cultural program, and to access, engage, recruit and retain Latino participants
(3) Evidence of collaboration between nonprofit partners and the Latino community
(4) The use of data/research-based evidence to develop and monitor the program
(5) Most importantly, the impact of the program

What community endeavors are you proudest to support or engage in?

While I am proud of our 11-year-history of supporting family literacy programs that provide educational support for children while their immigrant parents learn English, I am also proud to advocate for English Learners (ELs). I am a member of the Steering Committee of Education Equity Delaware, which currently advocates for an equitable student funding formula. Involvement with a group of EL advocates, including the Rodel Foundation, resulted in a series of five infographic English Learner Fact Sheets, including Spanish-language versions. The fact sheet series won first place prizes at the Delaware Press Association’s Annual Communications Contest, and at the 2019 National Federation of Press Women’s Annual Communications Contest.

Finally, I am proud to be engaged with a Sussex County-wide collaboration among more than 50 nonprofits who want to grow their capacity to engage with and serve Latino families. Called La Colectiva de Delaware, pilot programs are developing approaches to resource navigation, literacy, youth mentorship, and workforce preparation.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned through your work in philanthropy?

I have learned the value of investing time in developing partnerships with, and between, grantees. There is so much to learn from each other, including members of our Latino communities. Latinos engaged in identifying issues important to them are more likely to be involved in developing long-term approaches. Building understanding, trust, and collaboration results in new opportunities and collective impact.

If you could do one thing to increase equity in Delaware, what would you do?

Equity would increase if we could educate more Delawareans about our Latino youth and families. Increasing awareness and understanding of Latino culture and communities within our state – such as those illustrated in the English Learner Fact Sheets – can lead to actions that increase equity. Education Equity Delaware provides opportunities to learn how to advocate for children (K-12) who are English learners, have disabilities, or who are from low-income families. I also believe a continuation of the Delaware Community Foundation’s Book Circles with an additional focus on opportunity gaps may bring people together to discuss new approaches.

There are many ways to learn more about Delaware’s Latino population. The 2009 Delaware Hispanic Needs Assessment (partially funded by the Arsht-Cannon Fund) helped funders, community leaders and nonprofits focus their work. Results from a 2019 DCF study of Latino families in Sussex County are due to be released in the fall. These results will help shape La Colectiva’s work.

But ultimately, the best way to learn is by creating one-on-one connections with our neighbors

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About 5Qs: Each month, we ask local philanthropic leaders to answer five questions about how they view philanthropy in their work, their lives, or their organizations. It’s a chance to hear from people we all know, and some you may not know – but in a different way.

Arsht-Cannon Awards $667k+ in Grants to Improve Lives of Hispanics in Delaware

Posted by Allison Levine

· Monday, November 13th, 2017

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Hispanic families in Delaware are benefiting from increased access to education and health care with the support of $677,841 in grants from the Arsht-Cannon Fund (ACF), an endowed fund at the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF).

Some of the 2017-18 grants were awarded in June and the remainder are being issued this week. Over the past 13 years, the ACF has invested nearly $9 million in Delaware nonprofits focused on education, health care and youth, with a particular focus on improving the lives of Hispanic Delawareans As our Hispanic communities benefit, the quality of life for all Delawareans improves.

1-Immigrant family integration:

Lutheran Church of Our Savior’s English as a Second Language Program – $50,000 (2 years): Helping approximately 150 adults and their children learn to read, write and speak English.

Polytech Adult Education’s Family Literacy Program – $50,000 (2 years): Breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by providing educational opportunities to low-income and immigrant adults and their children.

Latin American Community Center (LACC) English as a Second Language (ESL) and Nurturing Parenting programs – $30,000: Continuing its ESL program and providing a new parenting-skills program.

Friends of Bear Public Library and Friends of Route 9 Library and Innovation Center – $3,500: Offering Plaza Comunitaria program at both libraries that includes basic-, elementary- and intermediate-level school courses in Spanish for immigrants age 15 and over.

Delaware Readiness Teams – $10,000: Translating and disseminating information about early kindergarten registration for Spanish-speaking Latino parents; gathering data to provide help to parents preparing preschoolers for kindergarten.

Friends of Wilmington Parks – $1,800: Buying books in Spanish for preschool and kindergarten nature programs.

Friends of Milton Library and Friends of Garfield Park Library – $5,500: In partnership with the Delaware Hispanic Commission, holding the annual celebration of Latino culture and community at the Milton Library in Sussex County and, for the first time this year, at the new Route 9 Library and Innovation Center in New Castle County.

Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council, Inc.’s ESL & Low Income Tax Clinic – $25,000: Helping Latino immigrant families statewide resolve tax issues.

2-Kindergarten through College Programs that improve life trajectories:

Reading Assist, Inc.’s Reading Corps Reading Intervention Program – $25,000: Recruiting, training and supervising bilingual reading tutors for first- through third-grade students in the Colonial School District.

Sussex Tech Adult Education’s Healthy Snacks for 21^st CCLC – $8,500: Providing snacks and food for their after-school programs and field trips.

UrbanPromise Wilmington’s Street Leaders Program – $25,000: Increasing the number of Wilmington’s Hispanic youth leading and participating in their afterschool and summer programs, which focus on developing teens personally and academically in a nurturing environment.

Summer Learning Collaborative, Inc. – $36,000: Expanding this successful summer camp program, focused on reducing the summer learning gap for middle school-aged children in low income families, to Sussex County during the summer of 2017.

La Esperanza Community Center’s Youth Immigration Advocacy Program – $20,000: Planning and piloting a Youth Advocacy Program to support the development, academic success, and rights of Latino youth in its surrounding Georgetown community.

PeaceWork, Ltd. – $10,000: Expanding programs to provide arts, yoga and gardening activities to at-risk youth living at the New Castle County Youth Detention Center.

Leading Youth through Empowerment (LYTE) – $12,000: Planning to expand capacity to recruit, enroll, and engage Latino 8^th through 12^th grade students in their college access afterschool and summer program.

TeenSHARP Inc.’s College Access Ambassador Program – $20,000: Expanding and recruiting additional Latino high school students into its program, which expands college access for students of color.

TeenSHARP Inc.’s Delaware Goes to College Academies – $34,000: Providing academic advising and coaching for college admission for up to 600 Delaware qualified youth during the 2017-18 school year.

Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington’s Hispanic Graduate Support Program – $20,000 (2 years): Enabling Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington to provide continuing guidance to their middle school graduates (and their Spanish-speaking parents), through high school and college.

3-Increased Access to Quality Bilingual Mental/Behavioral Healthcare:

National Alliance on Mental Illness Delaware’s Hispanic Services Initiative – $75,000 (2 years): Expanding outreach to the Hispanic community to increase knowledge of mental illness and reduce barriers to access of care in Kent and Sussex County.

Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s – $30,000: Educating Latino families in Wilmington on access to mental health care, expanding capacity for screenings to better direct clients, and training new clinicians.

Ronald McDonald House of Delaware’s Housing Program for Delaware’s Hispanic Families – $10,000: Expanding support services for Latino families staying at the Ronald McDonald House while their child is receiving care at a local hospital.

Latino Mental Health Workforce Program – $16,500: Providing partial tuition assistance for three bilingual graduate students, who have committed to work as mental health professionals in Delaware after graduation.

Sussex County Health Coalition – $50,000: Facilitating an environmental health assessment focused on behavioral health and expanding school-based mental/behavioral programs to Latino students.

4-Advocacy for Education Achievement and Health Equity

Rodel Foundation’s Social Emotional Learning Landscape Study – $20,000: Providing critical information on Delaware’s SEL efforts, student needs, evidence-based practices, evaluation measures, and advice to scale up successful efforts and align with needs.

Rodel Foundation’s English Learners in Delaware – $20,000: In partnership with the Delaware Hispanic Commission’s Education Committee, conducting data collection and analysis to address educational disparities in a series of 5 fact sheets and secure state funding for English learners.

Delaware Campaign for Achievement Now (Delaware NOW) – $60,000: Engaging students, parents, communities, teachers, and organizations to urgently advocate for educational policies for student success – higher graduation rates, test scores, and college enrollments for Latino students.

UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza) – $5,000: In partnership with the Rodel Foundation, developing advocacy and awareness plans for English learners in Delaware.

The Arsht-Cannon Fund was created in 2004 from the estate of the Honorable Roxana Cannon Arsht and S. Samuel Arsht. Roxana Cannon Arsht was the first woman to be appointed to serve as a Delaware judge, while her husband S. Samuel Arsht was well-respected for overhauling Delaware’s General Corporation Law. Their daughter, Adrienne Arsht, said, “My parents’ desires to invest in the needs of the times- supporting the best interests of a civil society- are actualized by supporting this newest wave of immigrants.”

“We’re honored to partner with a growing number of Hispanic-serving non-profits that provide life-changing opportunities for integration, learning and health,” said ACF Executive Director Dr. Christine Cannon. “Our Hispanic families face unique challenges that require understanding, culturally-sensitive approaches, and expert program bilingual staff and volunteers who care deeply.”

“We’re proud of the impact of the Arsht-Cannon Fund,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “The focus on Hispanic families fosters a community where everyone can feel welcome and succeed. Supporting a diverse and healthy community is at the core of the DCF’s mission.”

What’s next for the DCF? What does the Brexit vote say about us?

Posted by Allison Levine

· Monday, June 27th, 2016

· 1 Comment

One hundred days into my job – and it is time to relaunch “What’s Stu-ing?” I’ve been writing this blog for more than five years… [See previous posts here.] I’ve had a hiatus since January, but I’m ready to go again. With this Delaware launch, I want to talk a bit about what I’m seeing and where we are going – but I feel compelled to say a few words first about the Brexit vote last week. Here goes…

Like many others, I find myself deeply troubled by the Brexit vote last week. For much of my life, I’ve been committed to the idea that deep love of local community naturally co-exists alongside passion for inclusion and welcoming others.

But this vote, and what seems to be the reason for it, reminds me that it’s hard to blend these sentiments. It requires not just a recognition of differences, but a celebration of differences. It requires us to step outside of our comfort zones. It requires us to see the yearning all people have to live with safety and opportunity and happiness.

The mix of nationalism, malcontent, anxiety and fear illustrated by the Brexit vote is not isolated to England. People are struggling to find themselves in the world, and are too often lashing out at others in response. We must constantly remind ourselves and each other of our universal humanity.

This love of humanity is why I am passionate about our work at the community foundation. Because at our core, we are about engagement and civic mindedness. The root of the word philanthropy is love of humankind. And what I see in the Delaware Community Foundation is lots of that love.

I see generous Delawareans supporting their communities – their local libraries and community centers, their schools. I also see generous Delawareans reaching outside of their immediate communities – driving greater understanding of Islam, working for more educational resources for low-income children, supporting our rapidly growing Hispanic community (see what the Arsht-Cannon Fund has been doing lately), or reaching out through Friendship House to help families facing particularly tough times.

The DCF is a place where love of local community and the passion for inclusion come together. It’s a place where humanity matters most.

For me, it’s been an exciting four months – meeting with so many folks to understand how this passion and caring manifests here in the First State. It’s been an inspiration to learn about the fabulous work Fred Sears has led to support this community of philanthropists and do-ers. I am so grateful to Fred and everybody else who has built this community foundation over the past 30 years.

Thanks to my predecessors, the DCF is an incredibly strong institution and, over the next several months, our task is to figure out how to leverage that strength to keep making Delaware a better place to live and work. While much is still evolving, we are already getting to work on a few new initiatives. Let me share a few thoughts about those….

First, and most importantly, our focus remains serving individuals and organizations who want to be charitable in Delaware. As we build on the work of Fred Sears and his predecessors, we strive to continuously enhance the donor experience. To help us identify opportunities for improvement, we recently conducted a survey of donor satisfaction and expect to receive results in August.

In the meantime, we are improving our investment strategy. We know that our investments have been disappointing. Our diverse portfolio mirrors the same investment strategy employed by many large institutional investors for long-term growth against inflation. But with the kinds of market volatility we’ve been seeing, that strategy has just not produced the kind of results we and our fundholders want to see. The DCF Investment Committee is studying ways to update the strategy to improve returns, while still preserving capital over time.

The Investment Committee also is developing a series of alternative investment pools to give fundholders choices about how funds are invested and managed. As chair of the Mission Investors Exchange, I’m very excited that one of those funds will be a mission-based investing pool, in which the corpus of the fund will be invested to provide both excellent financial returns and direct community benefit. For more information about this national movement, visit missioninvestors.org.

We are leaning into the new Community Engagement The DCF introduced this initiative in October with the launch of our community indicator project, DelawareFocus.org. Starting with the website and the Delaware Community Focus Council, we are expanding the DCF’s civic leadership role to become a greater source of community knowledge, as well as a convener and facilitator. Over the coming months, we expect to hire a new director to lead this initiative.

Through the Community Engagement initiative, we aspire to: (1) provide new levels of information for donors, to help them achieve their philanthropic goals and maximize the impact of their charitable dollars; (2) provide a high-level dataset about the overall quality of life in Delaware, to be a resource for donors, nonprofits, elected officials and businesses as they pursue their work; and (3) identify opportunities for the DCF to help the community address systemic issues and unmet needs.

So that is what’s on our plates. With donors – and the passions and concerns of donors at the center – we are pushing this community foundation into new areas to help shape Delaware’s future.

It’s my honor to be in this job – working with the incredibly generous folks I meet with every day. Please reach out to me if you have thoughts or suggestions.

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