Housing Authority

COLLEGE PARK AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION Quarterly Meeting - Minutes October 28, 2021 1:06 p.m. – 2:04 p.m. Recorder: Keisha Smith Page | 1 Board Chair: Michelle Johnson Vice Chair: Arelis Pérez Treasurer: Marsha Parham-Green Secretary: Keisha Smith Board Member (s): Robert Catlin, Theresa Keeler, James McFadden, Elizabeth Lynn,. Michelle Johnson, President, opened the meeting at 1:06 pm with the roll call. I. Roll Call a. Present: President-Michelle Johnson, Vice President- Arelis Pérez, Board Member-Elizabeth Lynn, Board Member-Bob Catlin, Board Member-Theresa Keeler, Board Member-James McFadden Treasurer-Marsha Parham-Green b. Absent: Secretary-Keisha Smith II. Agenda/Minutes Changes a. No changes to agenda. M. Johnson motioned and A. Pérez seconded the motion. b. General consensus was that a motion be made to approve 7/22/21 and 10/28/21 minutes at 1/27/22 board meeting. Michelle made the motion and Arelis seconded. III. Comments- General Public/Board a. There were no comments made by the board. b. No general public present for comment. IV. President’s Report a. Presentation overview on Maryland Non-profit classes – Theresa Keeler (Board Member) who took a series of classes along with Michelle Johnson and Arelis Pérez. COLLEGE PARK AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION Quarterly Meeting - Minutes Theresa Keeler presents the following: i. The Maryland Non-profit - consists of about 1200 members who primarily consult and train non-profits. ii. The Director of the Program is Amy Coates Madson who is also the Director of Standards of Excellence Institute who have put together and Page | 2 ethical and comprehensive foundation of best practices and information for non-profits. iii. The information derived from the classes will be important in the work that board will be doing. Especially as the board begins to recruit persons, volunteers, and search for funds. 1. Session One – Mission Programs and Evaluation a. The information presented was great. The challenge for the board in this session was being new. It was a challenge because there was no history like some others had who were present who had real issues to evaluate for change. The information presented and networking was so beneficial. b. They pointed out the necessity of knowing why your Non- profit exists. c. The importance of an elevator pitch and its three elements which are: i. The Hook ii. The Data iii. The Call to Action d. For context, M. Johnson added and explanation of what an elevator pitch is and how its used. An elevator pitch is a concise statement that a person would say if their organization needed money and the person that you needed to get the money from jumped on the elevator at that moment. What would you say? e. Theresa’s Elevator Pitch: i. The Hook: Hi, my name is Theresa Keeler, I’m working with the College Park Affordable Housing Coalition. Our primary goal is to restore and increase the dignity of the residents who are seniors and individuals with disabilities. ii. The Data: No data to present. This was the missing element that will be filled in later but shared that right now we are working on repairing the building and improving everyone’s living spaces in the building. COLLEGE PARK AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION Quarterly Meeting - Minutes iii. The Call to Action: I would like to talk with you further. If you’re interested in donating or volunteering or just coming to the building to see what we’re doing, so here is my business card. iv. Elevator Pitch take away: ALWAYS BE READY Page | 3 WITH A PITCH. f. Mission: i. Know why your Non-profit exists by asking and answering the following questions. 1. What? 2. For whom? 3. Why? ii. The Logic Model (helps to formulate thought as you complete the table on the handout that has columns with questions to consider). 1. Column 1: For whom? What do we need? What are the resources needed? What are our assumptions about what we are doing? What do we believe to be true about what we are doing? 2. Column 2: Activities and programs. 3. Column 3 Output. (We expect that once completed these activities will produce the following evidence of service delivery. Short and long-term outcomes (1-3 years 5-7 years). 4. Column 4: Impact. We expect that if completed or ongoing, these activities will lead to the following changes within (7-10 years) within the community or system wide. g. Availability of Forms – Deadline is November 22, 2021(22)? h. The Excellence Program Evaluation Matrix – another form/table helpful when used for evaluating and to make decisions. The form asks: i. Describe outcome/impact out want to have. ii. What data are we collecting? iii. What collection tool are we using? ( focus groups, cases etc.). iv. How are we measuring the efficiency of what we are doing? i. Data: What kind of date are collecting and using. COLLEGE PARK AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION Quarterly Meeting - Minutes i. Tool : SMART METHOD 1. Specific 2. Measurable 3. Action Oriented 4. Realistic Page | 4 5. Time ii. Ross Coordinator Hired – First day on Monday, November 1, 2021. 1. Will be involved with the residents and will be conducting assessments. The assessments will gather helpful information that will direct us and assist us in knowing their needs. 2. Session: Finance and Fundraising a. Standards of Excellence suggest what to look for in the establishment of policies and procedures. This will prevent fraud and misuse of funds. We assess and manage organizational risks. b. Fundraising Planning Worksheet - (for brainstorming) i. What kind of donors are we soliciting? ii. How will we solicit? iii. What methods will be used to solicit? iv. What is the total we are looking to raise? c. Marsha Parham-Greene- suggests that CPAHC be very strategic about planning. Begin to ask yourselves: i. Who do we know now to ask or donations? 1. Begin asking in Jan/Feb ii. Look at other housing non-profits to learn where they get funds iii. Create a strategic plan (remember it is a living document that should be reviewed every three months and revised and refocus to meet the current needs. 1. List individuals, foundations an organization you can ask. 2. Everyone should forward the list to Parham- Green by the end of November. 3. Draft a donation letter that can be updated once more data is obtained from the ROSS Coordinator. d. Donation Question  COLLEGE PARK AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION Quarterly Meeting - Minutes i. Can CPAHC ethically solicit HACCP vendors for donations? 1. Response – Yes (M. Parham-Greene) ii. Forms will made available online - they will be uploaded to One Drive and all board members will Page | 5 have access. iii. Question: James McFadden asks how does one accomplish the goals set forth in the elevator pitch to do what we say we are going to do? 1. Response: M. Johnson suggested that this can be done by looking at the by-laws and data collected to know what we are trying to accomplish. For example: a. Food Kitchen b. Build Low Income Housing c. Emergency Funds Assistance - generate funds to assist persons with financial issues. d. Everyone should come up with a pitch to present at the next meeting. e. Question: A. Pérez requested a retreat and/or dinner to strengthen the framework fo a strategic plan by drilling down chapter by chapter and brainstorming. i. Answer: M. Johnson’s response was yes. f. Question: A. Pérez asked how many members can be participate in the non-profit. i. Answer: M. Johnson suggests that all research the answer. g. Question: E. Lynn request a meeting with M. Johnson regarded CPAHC related decision. h. Additionally, M. Johnson suggested talk centered around staggering terms so that there will not be a time when all persons are unable to serve, and it becomes an entirely new board. V. A. Date and Agenda items for the next meeting – a. Date of next Meeting: Thursday, January 27, 2022 i. Logo ii. Website iii. Budget  COLLEGE PARK AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION Quarterly Meeting - Minutes VI. Adjournment of Meeting: a. A. Pérez made motion to adjourn the meeting and E. Lynn seconded and the motion was carried to adjourn Adjournment of meeting: 2:04 p.m. Page | 6