Volume 6, Issue 16

October 31, 2022

In This Issue...
Announcements | Upcoming Events | Resources | Capella/Strayer University Partnership
Announcements

MCA Welcomes Association's New Director of Finance


We are pleased to announce the recent hiring of Misty Sedore to the position of Finance Director at Michigan Community Action. A lifelong resident to Michigan, Misty earned her BA in accounting and a MA in Organizational Leadership from Siena Heights University. Misty comes to us with over 17 years of experience working in nonprofit accounting and over 12 years of experience in a leadership role. Most recently, Misty served as the Controller and Corporate Compliance Officer for a county owned medical care facility.  

Is Your CAA Ready to Start on a Pathway to Excellence?




Pathways to Excellence has adopted a new multi-leveled Tiered Approach for agencies interested in moving beyond minimum requirements and taking the next steps for achieving agency-wide excellence based on the thirty-five CAA Standards of Excellence. The CAA Standards of Excellence represent the very best practices of the very best agencies. The Tiered Approach offers new levels of engagement and encourages any agency to take the first initial steps and move forward at your own pace for becoming a high-performance, ever-improving Agency of Excellence.


Want to learn more about Pathways to Excellence? Click here.


Ready to start your journey? Contact Michelle Stevens at mstevens@micommunityaction.org for support getting started. 

Upcoming Events


Nov 8, 2022 - Election Day, MCA Office Closed

Nov 14, 2022 - Finance Committee Meeting

10:30 AM ET

Nov 14, 2022 - Directors

Council Meeting

12:00 PM ET

Nov 14, 2022 - Board of Directors Meeting

1:30 PM ET

Nov 16, 2022 Legislative Committee Meeting

9:30 AM ET

Nov 24-25, 2022 - MCA Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving 


For a full list of events,

visit MCA’s calendar

The Michigan Community Action Update is a round-up of important information for members of Michigan Community Action.
We may send more
frequent updates when
important information breaks
that impacts the
Community Action network.
We welcome your input and feedback.
Please send your comments and ideas here.

Upcoming Events

Webinar – Pathways to Reaching Unbanked Consumers


The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is partnering with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to host a free webinar on November 10, 2022 on reaching unbanked consumers. This virtual meeting will bring together stakeholders throughout Michigan to share insights on how to increase access to bank and credit union accounts for underserved consumers, as well as access to free tax preparation services. 


When: 10-11:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 10, 2022 


Where: Webinar, Microsoft Teams, registration information below.

  

Who should attend: Staff from financial institutions, local government, and community-based organizations interested in improving access to bank and credit union accounts for underserved consumers in Michigan. 


Registration information: Registration is now open. You will receive a confirmation email once completed.  

For additional information: If you have any questions about the event, please email Eric Louden at erilouden@fdic.gov or Ross Yednock at yednockR@michigan.gov

Grants Management Training – Detroit, MI December 12-13, 2022


The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant management workshop in Detroit, MI on December 12-13, 2022. This in-person training is for grant-recipient organizations across all disciplines. Attend this class and you'll learn how to administer government grants and stay in compliance with applicable rules and regulations.



For full event details visit: http://grantstraining.com/detroit1222

Webinar – Setting Up for Giving Tuesday Success: November 10, 2022, 12:00PM ET


Join Brandon Tabor, Senior Director, Annual Giving at the University of Notre Dame, Ria Kapluck, and Ahmed Gewiley, Customer Success Managers at Hivebrite, as they discuss strategies and best practices to set your organization up for fundraising success!



Register here

Resources

Community Action Election Resources


The National Community Action Partnership (NCAP) recognizes and supports the work of Community Action Agencies (CAA) and State Associations across the country that protect and empower the voices in their communities. To that end, NCAP has published a new Policy Spotlight Brief on Voting Rights and new election season social media graphics and messaging.


They've also compiled additional election resources from CAPLAW, the Department of Justice, and others, for use by Community Action Agencies (CAA) and State Associations during election season.

Collaboration in Polarized Times

In this discussion from the 2022 Collective Impact Action Summit, four speakers explore assumptions and complicated narratives about the opportunities for (and barriers to) collaboration across lines of difference, including what’s worked well, what hasn’t, and how funders can better support collaborating across differences. Watch the video or access the discussion transcript.

Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matter for Nonprofits

The National Council of Nonprofits has curated resources that they have found helpful in diversity, equity, and inclusion work for individuals, organizations, and for networks. Explore their practice pointers and list of resources here.

Changing the Housing Narrative by Talking About Race and Values

In this article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review, three social change leaders discuss how to move the narrative about housing away from a focus on individual actions toward values, racial justice, and the well-being of all.



Read more here

Michigan Community Action, Capella University
& Strayer University Partnership
Back to school savings with education built for real life

Ready to go back to school to gain the skills and knowledge you need to reach your career goals with access to education that works with your busy life? Capella University understands this. That’s why our bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs in human services, behavioral health, business, IT, and leadership & administration leverage what you already know and are grounded in real-world application. 

Through our partnership with Capella, you and your immediate family have access to high-quality, online education and tuition savings that make it possible to earn a degree or certificate at a significantly lower cost and at your own pace. Capella offers you:  

· Exclusive scholarships, grants, and other savings including a 10% tuition discount.  

· 50% off the first FlexPath session if you begin your program by June 2022. 

· Two learning formats - FlexPath and GuidedPath - that are flexible, affordable, and supportive.  

· A student-centered approach, including support teams to help you be successful and persistent. 

Ready to learn more and get started?  

Visit Capella.edu/MichiganCommunityAction to find a degree program that’s right for you and to see special tuition offers.  

Check out this PDF for information on programs offered. 
Save on your degree at Strayer University

Michigan Community Action and Strayer University have partnered to offer eligible employees of their member agencies access to flexible, affordable associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. If you’re thinking of earning a degree, we invite you to take advantage of special offers designed to help you meet your educational goals.

Special offers and scholarships available now

$5,000 scholarship for new or returning Strayer students to apply toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree

• 10% tuition discount for the duration of your program*
  * Tuition discount upon receipt of documentation of employment and eligibility.

Why Strayer?
At Strayer, you’ll get a modern, online degree that gives you the confidence to change your future. Our programs are built for working adults and our student services coaches offer support at every step. We believe in educational access, academic quality, student success and customer service.
MCA Officers/Board Members 2021-2023
Lisa Evans
President
Community Action of Allegan County

Morghan Boydston
Urban Officer
Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development

Lisa Bolen
Lower Peninsula Rural Officer
Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency

Michelle LaJoie

Upper Peninsula Officer

Community Action Alger- Marquette


Toby Berry

At-Large Officer 

Community Action Agency


Kerri Duff 
Secretary Treasurer
Gogebic Ontonagon CAA

Mary Ann Neopolitan
CAA Governing Board Officer
Monroe County Opportunity Program

Susan Harding
Directors Council Chair
Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency


MCA is continuing to observe CDC guidelines encouraging remote work practices and following local public health guidelines. The office remains physically closed to anyone outside of immediate staff. We are accessible by phone and email during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30AM-5PM ET.
Be well and stay safe everyone. .
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