Accomplishments

When given the tools, ordinary people can do extraordinary things.  Our leaders have improved our community in many ways.  Following are just a few:

• Democracy in action!

The most important achievement of CCA is the empowerment of the leaders; moving citizens from apathy and hopelessness in the democratic system to full engagement in community policy.  As a result of the training provided, more than 100 CCA leaders are currently engaged in the democratic process, working with public officials to make changes in public policy to achieve social justice and equality.  Those leaders are also teaching others how to organize and work toward policy change. 

• Improve the system

Through efforts between CCA, FOCUS (Orlando affiliate), and Florida officials, improvements were made to the Florida KidCare program.  The online enrollment process has been improved by extending the time to complete the application as well as adding a SAVE feature to the application process.  The state committed an additional $1.1 million to improve outreach and ensure all eligible children are enrolled in the program.  That new outreach is being addressed in Brevard County by the new Brevard KidCare Coalition comprised of agencies, providers, non-profits and other organizations.  The CCA Health Care Team was instrumental in the development of the coalition.

In the last legislative session the Florida Legislature unanimously passed SB 918.  Enactment of SB 918 will help resolve many of the enrollment issues CCA and PICO Florida leaders found with the Florida KidCare program.  These changes will help cover an additional 46,000 uninsured children in Florida and will help the state qualify for   additional federal funds which will be available starting in 2010 as a result of the recent reauthorization of the Federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Update:  On January 4, 2010 CCA leaders held a public action meeting with Sen. Mike Haridopolos and Rep. John Tobia.  The purpose of the meeting was to publicly thank    the legislators for their support of Florida KidCare improvements in the last legislative session, but  to also ask for continued support in further improving the enrollment process for the program.  Both Sen. Haridopolos and Rep. Tobia committed to continuing to work with CCA leaders to find ways to streamline enrollment, and to reach out to the 20%  uninsured children who are eligible for Florida KidCare in order to make sure all Florida children have access to adequate health care.       

Florida has the second highest number of uninsured in the country at more than 500,000.  

• Back To School/Florida KidCare Enrollment Events

CCA leaders and staff recently attended Back to School Events at the Brevard Zoo, Mt. Moriah, Ascension Religious Education, Our Lady of Lourdes Religious Education, Cambridge Elementary School, & Booker T. Washington where they provided   enrollment information regarding Florida KidCare.  More than 3500 families were given information about the children’s health insurance program at those events.  CCA is a participant in the Boots on the Ground Outreach and Enrollment program for Florida KidCare. Over the last 2 years CCA leaders have personally enrolled more than 50 families in the Florida KidCare program.

• Foreclosures

CCA leaders conducted 2 Foreclosure Forums, the first June 9, 2009 at Ascension Catholic Church and another September 23, 2009.  The purpose of both forums was to provide information to people regarding the foreclosure process.  Information regarding short sales, loan modification, homeowner responsibilities and obligations, and even ways to handle the stress was provided.  Another forum is being planned at a member congregation in Palm Bay.

CCA worked in partnership with Project H.O.P.E. for the September workshop.

• City Streets

CCA leaders at Palmdale Presbyterian Church worked with the Ed Gardulski, Brevard County Public Works, regarding streets in need of repair, particularly Croton Road.  Leaders brought pictures to a research meeting with Mr. Gardulski showing several  large potholes in streets. At a subsequent public Action Meeting November 21, 2008,  Mr. Gardulski informed attendees that pot holes on Croton Road had been filled and repaving would begin very soon.  He also noted other issues citizens shared regarding roads and committed to providing answers to those issues at a future public meeting. 

Since that Action Meeting, Croton Road has been repaved.

• Tropical Storm Fay

Monday, August 25, 2008, Mt. Moriah Pastor Harvey Riley, CCA leaders, and Powell Neighborhood Association members held a meeting with Palm Bay and Melbourne city officials regarding the flooding in both cities caused by Tropical Storm Fay.  More than 150 people attended the meeting, an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and frustrations about the flooding and the city officials’ responses to that flooding.  An incredible piece of this meeting was the fact that Pastor Riley and the CCA leaders pulled it together in just 3 days.  Pastor Riley attributed much of the success of the meeting to the skills he, the leaders, and the Powell residents had received through the training provided by CCA. 

• Help from the DEA in fight against drugs

Leaders enlisted the help of their Federal Senators and Representatives, asking them   to submit letters to the DEA recommending DEA involvement in the Powell Subdivision.  Those letters moved the Powell neighborhood from #10 on DEA’s list to #2. The DEA worked with local police from both cities in an effort to eliminate the drug dealing in the neighborhood, culminating with raids on Nov. 8, 2006, and March 22, 2007. 

Both police departments are continuing their work toward eliminating drug trafficking in the neighborhood. 

• Mt. Moriah unites neighbors, Melbourne Police and  Palm Bay Police

Leaders from Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Palm Bay joined with residents from the Powell Subdivision, the Powell Neighborhood Watch Program, Melbourne Police Department and Palm Bay Police Department to work together to address crime and drug trafficking in the neighborhood. 

• Residents and the city of Palm Bay make the Liberia Street plan a reality

Mt Moriah and Powell residents worked together with Palm Bay Public Works on a $2 million neighborhood improvement project on Liberia Street in the Powell Subdivision.   Plans included much needed drainage improvements, repaving, and adaptation of a “linear park”.  Work was completed in August 2006. 

*Powell Subdivision is a low income, African-American neighborhood in North Palm Bay and South Melbourne, FL.

• Take Back the Beach!

Holy Name of Jesus leaders worked with County Parks and Recreation Department, Melbourne Police Department and County Sheriff’s Department to reduce illegal activity in Canova Beach Park.  Although located in a family neighborhood, families did not use the park because of its reputation for criminal activity.  The parks department cleaned brush from the park, and police departments committed to increase their presence in   the parking lot.  All departments continue to keep the park safe and family friendly.

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