CAPIC’s Executive Director Participating on the Chelsea ARPA Community Advisory Committee

Announcement from the City of Chelsea:

The City of Chelsea has recently established an ARPA Community Advisory Committee of community stakeholders and residents to produce a final Allocation Plan. This committee consists of 20 members: two City Councilors, nine Executives from the City’s active Community-Based Organizations, and nine unaffiliated residents selected through a self-nomination process.

The Community Advisory Committee will evaluate all of the information provided through the community engagement process and, based upon that community input, determine priorities for ARPA spending and ultimately make recommendations for allocating the funds between areas such as affordable housing, food security, entrepreneurship and small business assistance, workforce development including child care and digital access, mental and behavioral health, and environmental investments. The Committee is charged with identifying areas where one-time investments can have long-term benefits to our residents and community. Health Resources in Action will support this effort by providing professional facilitation and advisory services.

ARPA Committee members

• Roseann Bongiovanni - GreenRoots
• Jenny Camacho - Small Business Owner
• Susana Carella - Resident
• Joan Cromwell - Chelsea Black Community
• Richelle Cromwell - Community Action Programs Inter-City
• Cara Cogliano - Chelsea Community Connections Coalition
• Richard Gordon - Small Business Owner
• Rosa Lopez - Resident
• Rafael Mares - TND
• Alice Murillo - Bunker Hill Community College
• Paul Nowicki, Chelsea Chamber of Commerce
• Mohamud Qasim - Resident
• Edgard Romero - Resident and Small Business Owner
• Mayra Romero - Resident and Small Business Owner
• Amanda Rosario - Resident
• Scott Scherffenberg, ROCA
• Todd Taylor - District 1 Councillor
• Gladys Vega - La Colaborativa
• Wendy Velazquez - Resident
• Naomi Zabot - District 3 Councillor

DO YOU NEED HELP HEATING YOUR HOME THIS WINTER? CALL CAPIC TODAY!

Need help paying your heating bills?

IMPORTANT INFORMATION about APPLICATIONS for the 2021-2022 FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

• Applications will be mailed to EXISTING clients from September 2021 – October 2021
• Applications for NEW clients will open on November 1, 2021. Please see application instructions for more details.

You can call CAPIC for more information at 617-884-6130, Monday – Friday, 9AM – 4PM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING CAPIC EMPLOYEE ALLEGATIONS

You may see media coverage today about a matter regarding a CAPIC employee, Henry Wilson. We are taking these allegations very seriously. At this time, there is not much I can say about this on-going matter, but I would like to share with you the following statement

“The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office notified CAPIC that CAPIC employee, Henry Wilson was arraigned today on charges related to an inappropriate relationship with a student in the Chelsea Public Schools. CAPIC is cooperating with the District Attorney, Chelsea Police Department, and other agencies who are involved in the investigation as needed.”

It is important to also note that pending court/legal outcomes, Henry Wilson has been suspended without pay and will not be allowed on or in any CAPIC properties.

Sincerely,
Richelle Cromwell
Executive Director
CAPIC

CAPIC will be closed today in observance of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Black Independence Day, or Jubilee Day, is one of the oldest holidays commemorating the end of slavery in the United States of America.
Now more than ever it’s important that we recognize this day. Please take some time to reflect, learn and support one another. We must work together to ensure that all people are treated equally with dignity and respect.

Do you live in Chelsea? Are you feeling financially stressed? CAPIC can help. Please watch this video to learn more, or call CAPIC at 617-884-6130.

CAPIC is proud to be partnering with the City of Chelsea, MassSave and All in Energy to provide residents of Chelsea access to low cost, energy efficient programs. This partnership has allowed us to address some of the inequities that exist for our clients who live in Chelsea.

CAPIC is proud to work for and with the Community Action network across the country and our 23 agencies here in MA, including MASSCAP. We all work tirelessly every day to create opportunities and change lives and communities. #CommunityActionWorks #mapoli

May is here and that means it’s #CommunityActionMonth! All month long we’re celebrating the legacy and ongoing impact of the #CommunityAction Network—helping people and changing lives in every corner of America. #WeR1000Strong #CommunityActionWorks

Application Process: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are now offering an online portal for new applicants to complete Fuel Assistance applications in lieu of normal face-to-face interviews with an intake worker for the initial application. You can also still apply by calling us at (617) 884– 6130, ext. 1021 or emailing fuelassistance@capicinc.org.

Pre-existing fuel clients can contact us by the previously mentioned phone or email for returning application details.

If you’re a NEW APPLICANT, you may use the button found below to apply online:

CAPIC’s Chelsea/Revere Family Network Coordinator, Jeanette Velez, was recently asked by MGH to participate in their PSA’s to help prevent the spread of COVID. She has played a vital role in working to help those impacted by the pandemic. We thank Jeanette for all that she does for the local community and those in need. Here she is talking about safety measures in Spanish to educate the community on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

CAPIC prides itself on the diverse community we serve and our diverse staff, who I believe reflects the best of what CAPIC and community action has to offer. CAPIC stands firm in the belief that all people should be treated equally, with dignity '& respect. We acknowledge that structural race, gender together inequities remain barriers that must be addressed. Community Action has always stood for the promise of equal opportunity for all and has been a voice for those in need.

Community Action was created in 1964 from the efforts of the Civil Rights Movement as part of the federal Economic Opportunity Act in the “War on Poverty”. Since the Agency’s inception, fifty-four years ago, CAPIC’s role in the community has been to identify and address the needs, problems, and concerns of individuals and families, so as to empower them to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. People of color continue to be suppressed by a lack of opportunity due to the adverse effects of systemic racism. In this role, we must be a strong voice against oppression, hate, and injustice. It is imperative that we strengthen the work that we do by advocating for equal access for all members of our community to education, health, employment, and economic systems. CAPIC will continue to work closely with local government, elected officials, law enforcement, the faith community, and local service providers to support initiatives that strengthen the communities that we serve as well as work to improve the quality of life for all residents.

CAPIC joins the call for unity, justice, peace, reform, and equal opportunity for all. CAPIC stands in solidarity with those who seek to promote social justice and equality. I encourage staff share their thoughts and ideas on how we can continue to grow and be a voice for those in need. It is our responsibility to condem all forms of violence and racism and to speak out rather than remain silent. We are always stronger together.

The Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC) Board of Directors will conduct the annual meeting of the Corporation on Thurssday, October 28^th, 2021 at 12:00pm. The meeting will be held remotely via Zoom due to COVID-19 related safety protocols.

We thank Gladys for her on-going dedication to those who are suffering from alcohol and substance use disorders and her tireless efforts to improve the quality of life for at-risk, street-involved individuals. CAPIC’s SUDS Program works closely with the Chelsea Police Department, Chelsea HUB, North Suffolk Mental Health Association, and the Selah Day Resource Center. Gladys is an active member of the Chelsea HUB and Chelsea Downtown Taskforce. Congratulations Gladys! Message from DPH is below: Congratulations! DPH is happy to recognize your exceptional efforts and accomplishments in a leadership role. The award was supposed to be presented by the DPH Commissioner at a conference on Tuesday, March 31st at 11am at the DCU Center in Worcester. However, due to COVID it was moved to September, and now the conference will be virtual.

Head Start’s 6-week Summer at Home session is in full bloom
A weekly packet with books, supplies and activities are delivered to 50 children each week. Parents and children participate in live classes via Zoom and phone calls with their teachers. While we all miss being together, it is wonderful to see the joy of learning continuing and know that our children will be ready for kindergarten in a few short weeks! #HeadStart

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 is the last day to complete an incomplete application for the Fuel Assistance Program!! If you have any questions, please call to speak with a staff person for from 8:30AM – 4:30 at 617-884-6130. Spanish-speaking staff are available to assist via the phone/email as well.

CAPIC is conducting a three-year Strategic Plan with a Community Needs Assessment. As a community member, we value your input about the needs of your community in our planning process. Your responses will help us to plan important programming and address the needs of the local communities served by CAPIC. All responses will be kept confidential and will not affect eligibility for CAPIC services. Click here to take survey.

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The American Red Cross has increased its donations to local food banks that serve Lynn, Chelsea and Revere — three communities that have been battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Citing the increased need, Red Cross spokesman Jeff Hall said their food donations are now made on a weekly basis to Leading Through Empowering Opportunities (LEO Inc.) in Lynn and Community Action Programs, Inter-City Inc. (CAPIC), which serves families in Chelsea and Revere.

This program made Families First history. Beyond reporting the highest graduation rate that we’ve seen in the Power of Parenting program to date, five parents had perfect attendance and 100% of parents reported that they are highly likely to recommend the program. “I think the comfort level of the language capacity was huge,” said our program partner. “It was a major barrier breakdown for community members.”
It is evident that programs like this are both appreciated and needed in the area. Next year, Families First plans to expand the number of programs offered in the City of Chelsea, engaging even more parents and benefiting even more children during the important early years of life.

CAPIC’s Executive Director, Richelle Cromwell, MASSCAP and colleagues from throughout the Community Action network were at the State House on February 5th, advocating for budgetary and legislative items critical to those we serve. CAPIC’s Executive Director was honored to present Speaker DeLeo with a Community Action Champion Award. For almost three decades has been a friend and supporter of Community Action and the work we do to provide services and resource to those in need. He is a dear friend of CAPIC and we can’t thank him enough for his continued support and for understanding the mission of community action. #BeCommunityAction #Communityaction works #peoplehelpingpeople

CAPIC was proud to be a part of the Annual Point in Time Count that took place January 30, 2020 from 12:30am - 3:30am in Chelsea and Revere. Bags full of basic necessities, warm socks, snacks, and water were put together and were distributed to homeless individuals during the count. CAPIC would like to thank SUDS Program Director, Gladys Valentin-Agneta, Emergency Program Director, Cary Havey, Jeff Gibson, SUDS Mobile Outreach Coordinator, and Responsible Payee Program Director, Lee Nugent for donating their time to this important event, as well as Pastor Sandra Whitley for her dedication to this important matter. CAPIC's Executive Director, Richelle Cromwell, and Chelsea City Manager, Tom Ambrosino, also volunteered their time. CAPIC would also like to thank the Chelsea and Revere Police Departments for their continued support, as well as the Chelsea Soldier's Home, Dr. Almi Abeyta, Superintendent of Chelsea Schools, City Councilors Todd Taylor and Enio Lopez, ROCA, North Suffolk Mental Health, Bay Cove, and Chelsea City Hall.
CAPIC is proud to play a role in working to eliminate homelessness and provide critical, direct services to homeless individuals in need.

Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC) is pleased to announce that Richelle Cromwell of Chelsea was recently selected to succeed Bob Repucci as its Executive Director. The announcement follows a unanimous decision by the CAPIC Board of Directors to select Ms. Cromwell from among 46 applicants for the position. Ms. Cromwell brings to the organization over 40 years association with CAPIC. As past President of the Board of Directors, past Treasurer and Chairman of Finance and numerous committees, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring the organization to new heights. Bob Repucci will continue to serve the communities as Executive Director of the Winnisimmet Real Estate Inc., where he will develop strategies to preserve tenancies for lowest income area families.