Community Connections Collaborative

Community Connections Collaborative (CCC) is an unincorporated nonprofit association of seasoned leaders and connectors within the Philadelphia Community.   Our motto is Relationships Matter.  Our mission is to facilitate connections and collaboration among individuals, groups, and service providers to improve community health and quality of life.   Our vision is to be a thriving community of information advocates and social service providers increasing access to knowledge, resources and tools that overcome barriers to collaboration and sharing.  Our current focus for action is:

(1) Building and strengthening relationships with grassroots organizations serving in the Philadelphia area.

(2) Making and strengthening strategic connections between leaders.

(3) Sharing tools to assist grassroots organizations to inform the community of their services and events, such as Wikidelphia.Org.

(4) Promoting the value of network development and coordination, leading to effective collaboration.

(5) Convene summits for grassroots organizations to provide a channel for open communications and problem solving among leaders facing similar challenges.

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Stayed tuned for updates on our progress. All good things take time.

Background and History

In April 2019, a group of people deeply involved in the North Philadelphia community were brought together to identify ways to improve its overall health.  Over the next several months, the group invited others to join them in establishing connections for mutual assistance.  During this process, a common theme emerged: there are many grassroots organizations in the community; however, they are often unaware of each other’s work and sometimes unwilling to collaborate with others for various reasons.  Upon reflection, it was observed that despite these organizations being comprised of people who have the most solid and healthy relationships within the community, they struggle to survive, competing with each other and bigger more established agencies for scarce funding.

In the spirit of collective work and responsibility the Community Connections Collaborative seeks to promote the message: Relationships Matter, while helping build assets and bringing knowledge to facilitate more effective collaboration and community action. 

Our Mission is to facilitate connections and collaboration within the community between individuals, groups and service providers to improve community health.

Our Vision is a thriving community of information advocates and social service providers increasing access to knowledge, resources and tools that overcome barriers to collaboration and sharing.

Community Connections Collaborative is all relational and in constant motion. Within each monthly meeting (primarily through zoom), we meet new people, get updates from others, and talk with each other about topics of common interest to grassroots leaders. The meetings are facilitated by Ted Hewson. Participants often invite others they know to join in the conversations. The relationships developed overtime have led to several collaborative projects, including those listed in that section of this website.

Rather than attempt to list ongoing participants, what follows are descriptions of the primary leaders who help guide and make this work possible.

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37th Ward Community That Cares Coalition

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www.Wikidelphia.Org

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It Is Not Your Fault

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Gail Pryor, AD Human Services, Member of House of Faith Baptist Church

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Jeff Gehris, PhD

Patty Hewson, PCD(DONA), CRNP

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Ted Hewson, MBA, Health Administration

• GRASSROOTS LEADERS NETWORKING MINI-SUMMIT: DIVERSIFIED FUNDING – NOVEMBER 21, 2024

CCC is collaborating with the 37th Ward Communities that Care Coalition (CTC) and Salvation Army KROC Center to hold another Grassroots Mini-Summit, this time on the topic of Diversified Funding on Thursday, November 21, 2024 starting at 11:30am with a networking lunch followed by a panel discussion, workshops, and further networking ending at 5:00pm. Come network with other leaders and learn together how to create new funding streams, build financial resilience, and thrive in today’s evolving landscape. Whether you’re looking to expand your donor base, explore partnerships, or tap into earned income, this event will provide practical strategies and expert insights to boost your organization’s financial health.  Bring along any flyers or resources you’d like to share with others.  Click here for more information and to REGISTER for it.

• LIST OF GROUPS WANTING A TABLE AT COMMUNITY EVENTS

CCC is collaborating with Global Citizen to develop a list of groups interested in having a table at a Community Event to share their services. To see the list, click here. To add your group to the list, click here to fill out the associated google form and submit it. Please share this webpage with event planners so they can use the list to invite groups to participate in their events. THANK YOU!

• LIST OF VENUES INTERESTED IN HOSTING COMMUNITY EVENTS

CCC is collaborating with 37th Ward Communities that Care Coalition (CTC) to develop a list of venues interested in hosting Community Events. To see the list as of now, click here. To add your venue to the list, click here to fill out the associated google form and submit it. Otherwise, please share this webpage with venues and others who can benefit from it. THANK YOU!

• COMMUNITY CALENDAR PROJECT

CCC is collaborating with 37th Ward Communities that Care Coalition (CTC) to implement an online collaborative Community Calendar for Philadelphia area groups. We are seeking commitments from 50 or more groups to invest at most $100/year for sign-ons to upload information about their group and their events. To see the list of those already signed up, click here. Once we receive 50 commitments (needed to cover the $5,000 annual subscription cost), we will collectively work together to setup Philadelphia specific categories, sub-categories, regions, and age groupings and implement the calendar tool here. Using the links below to check it out and sign-up.

Calendar Three minute Demo

As used in Boulder, Colorado: bocoyouthevents.org

As used in Missoula, Montana: Missoulaevents.net

Feedback, questions, and requests for more information

SIGN-UP for Calendar

• WIKIDELPHIA.ORG

CCC is collaborating with CommunityMagic.Org to help maintain and expand use of a wonderful source of information about organizations serving within the Philadelphia area all categorized by what they do. If your organization is not listed or if you have changes to request, please email the information to [email protected] or [email protected].