What is the Making Connections - Denver Initiative?
Overview
Making Connections - Denver (MC-D) strives to improve the opportunities and futures of families and children in tough or isolated neighborhoods. MC-D believes that children do better when their families are strong, and families do better when they live in communities that help them to succeed. MC-D is part of a 10-year nationwide initiative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. A list of our local partners is below.
Since MC-D began in Denver in 1999 with a few youth organizers and residents of the four neighborhoods, the initiative has grown to involve hundreds of volunteers and strong partner organizations whose commitment has resulted in viable changes in their communities.
- Where We Work - Denver and Nationwide
- Partners
- Transition to Local Management
- Financial Support
Where We Work
Making Connections-Denver works in four neighborhoods: Baker, Cole, La Alma/Lincoln Park and Sun Valley. Denver is one of 10 cities that are involved with Making Connections. The others are: Des Moines, IA; Hartford, CT; Indianapolis, IN; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Oakland, CA; Providence, RI; San Antonio, TX; and Seattle, WA.
Partners
Making Connections-Denver is guided by an advisory board of 13 partners who make decisions about budget, policy and the overall direction of the initiative.
| Annie E. Casey Foundation |
Audrey Jordan |
| Baker Community |
TIm Lopez |
| Chinook Fund |
Sherelle Hessell |
| City and County of Denver |
Cec Ortiz |
| Cole Community |
Sandra Douglas
|
| |
Missy Mish |
| Family Economic Success |
Tierney Thomas |
| Metro Organizations for People |
Mike Kromrey |
| Mile High United Way |
Cecilia Broder |
| Advisory Partner |
Myrna Hipp |
| Piton Foundation |
Mary Cronin |
| Project WISE |
Christy Belz |
| |
Regina Richards |
| Sun Valley Community |
Phil Kaspar |
| University of Denver |
Jean East |
Transition to Local Management
In early 2007, the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) asked Making Connections’ teams across the country to transition management of the initiative to a Local Management Entity (LME) in 2007-2008. The LME, with residents and organizational partners, will lead the work of Making Connections through 2010 and beyond. This includes future planning, financial sustainability, and ensuring accountability to neighborhood residents, the broader community and to investors.
The duties of an LME will include, among other things:
- Working with site teams to achieve a set of measurable results for families and children (improving family earnings and assets, ensuring that young children grow healthy and prepared to succeed in school, and supporting resident engagement and organizing strategies that lead to results.)
- Sustaining and expanding the central role of residents in all key aspects of site decision making and strategy implementation.
- Using data to understand the circumstances of families, guide decisions, empower residents, and as the basis for an evaluation and accountability system.
Since January 2007, MC-D Partners have identified the values to guide the LME, developed a selection process, evaluated several candidates, and selected one possible candidate. A decision on the LME is expected by the end of 2007.
Financial Support
Revenues for Making Connections-Denver was $1.8 million in 2007. The organization leveraged more than $3 million on behalf of partners, schools and other non-profit organizations working on the initiative.
|
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Making Connections-Denver
|
$1,550,000 |
| Community Learning Network |
$300,000 |
| Total Income |
$1,850,000 |
| |
|
| Other Co-Investments |
$3,340,000 |
Brett Family Foundation
Catholic Campaign for Human Development
City and County of Denver
Community College of Denver
Denver Community Court
Denver Foundation
Donnell Kay Foundation
The Ford Foundation
Jared Polis
Mile High United Way
Morgridge Family Foundation
Packard Foundation
Perkins Fund
Rose Family Foundation
The Piton Foundation
US Dept. of Labor-- Emily Griffith Opportunity School |
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