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 of CCA, PICO Florida, 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 toward the goal of ensuring all eligible children are enrolled in the program.  That new outreach is being addressed in Brevard County by the Brevard KidCare Coalition comprised of agencies, providers, non-profits and other organizations.  The CCA Health Care Team was instrumental in development of the coalition.

PICO Florida held a press conference on the back steps of the Capitol in Tallahassee, September 3, following the press conference of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius the same morning in Washington, DC.  Secretary Sebelius released a study by the Urban Institute on ways to enroll the 4.7 million eligible but not enrolled children and challenged the states to expand enrollment (PICO signed on to that challenge).  Our leaders gave testimony and lifted up ways Florida's legislature can take action.  Florida ranks in the bottom three states, along with Texas and California, having the most eligible but not enrolled children (500,000+).

                   PICO Florida Press Conference, Tallahassee, FL, September 3, 2010

• For Homeowners

CCA leaders conducted 2 Foreclosure Forums in 2009 and another is planned for 2010.  The purpose of the forums is to provide information to people regarding the foreclosure and loan modification processes.  Information regarding short sales, loan modification, homeowner responsibilities and obligations, and even ways to handle the stress was provided. 

CCA leaders held a Homeowners Insurance workshop in 2009 at Palmdale Presbyterian Church and another September 1, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church.  These workshops provided homeowners with information about wind mitigation, a process which analyzes the storm hardiness of a home and provides ways for homeowners to "harden" their homes against storm damage.  "Hardening" a home for storm protection can often save homeowners hundreds of dollars on their homeowners' insurance premiums.

• 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. 

• 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. 

• Liberia Avenue

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. 

                                                             Liberia Street, September 2006

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

Click here for a printer friendly version of this page