2023-597-E-Housing Dept-Community Empowerment Fund-Outside Agency

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Outside Agencies/Human Services Cover Page Page 8 of 20 Consistent with our commitment to equity and inclusion, the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and Orange County Government are taking steps together to center racial equity in the Human Services Funding Program. We are requesting basic information about your organization’s racial equity work. 5. How has your organization incorporated racial equity goals into your organizational goals? CEF is explicitly anti-racist and committed to pursuing equity and ending the racial wealth gap. Early in CEF’s history, a Co-Director model was established with the aim of reducing hierarchy. While some BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) and former Members were hired, the leadership structure remained predominantly white and it took almost a decade for the organization to critique how white supremacy and racism showed up in everyday operations. From 2018-2020, CEF worked with outside evaluators on a capacity- building process to address the harm caused to Black staff members and other problematic dynamics. With more direct conversations about race and racism, the team recognized that the best way for them to combat white supremacy in the organization was to move away from the non-hierarchical structure and towards one in which power was centered among BIPOC and people with lived experience of homelessness and poverty. This decision led to the transition to an Executive Director leadership model, Donna Carrington’s promotion to this role, and other changes to board and HR practices. All staff are now required to participate in monthly racial caucuses and the Equity Paradigm’s Racial Equity Cohort. Board Members are also required to participate in the Racial Equity Cohort. In addition, the organization has increased base-pay and benefits to ensure that everyone working at the organization is receiving a living-wage and that lived-experience is recognized as an invaluable attribute. 6. Please describe how you have involved the intended beneficiaries of the proposed project in the planning and design process (in 100 words or less). CEF believes that those who have directly experienced homelessness and poverty are best equipped to identify solutions. We center power among those with lived experience, and especially among current or recent Members. Two permanent board seats are reserved for Member representatives. The Executive Director and four other staff have lived experience and we encourage Members to apply to job openings. Members also lead and contribute to CEF’s advocacy efforts, arts projects, and selecting and training Advocates. Member input was also prioritized during our 2022 strategic planning process through surveys, focus groups, and an all-day retreat and is reflected in the final plan. 7. Please fill in your agency demographics in the table below: Agency Demographics Staff Board Gender Men 3 3 DocuSign Envelope ID: A24D2229-012E-4233-A6F8-624A53BCF7DA