First Graduates of the New Haven Non-Profit Academy to Receive Funding , By Angie Carter, New Haven Register

Empower's Nonprofit Academy to dole out $300,000 to aid 17 organizations New Haven Seventeen nonprofit and faith-based organizations will receive more than $300,000 collectively in grants later this month as part of Empower New Haven's first Nonprofit Academy.

The academy was established to help strengthen the overall health of nonprofits by providing training in a wide variety of areas, including goal setting, strategic planning, staff development, project planning and management and technology. Participating organizations also are encouraged to collaborate and share resources to better serve their clients. "The financial resources enable your organization to increase its capacity," said Chief Information Officer Thomas Ficklin. "The money is applied to a work plan, to make the work plan viable." Organizations fill out an application and after being selected for the academy, representatives attend technical assistance training. The inaugural group attended nine sessions.

Empower new Haven targeted agencies that serve children and youth, ex-offenders returning to their communities, the elderly and disabled and people in need of housing, mental health r substance abuse services. "We're really excited about the academy," said President/CEO Althea Marshall Richardson. The grants will be awarded during a ceremony at 5 p.m June 23 at Empower New Haven headquarters, 59 Elm St.

The recipient organizations this year are All Our Kin, Amistad America Inc., Centro San Jose, Christian Community Action, Dixwell/Newhallville Mental Health Services, Hill Development Corp., Life Haven STRIVE/New Haven, C.H.A.I.N. Fund, Citywide Youth Coalition, Connecticut School of Survival, National Student Partnerships, Open End Theater, Sister's Journey and Soul-o-ettes. They also will meet consultants from a pre-qualified list who will provide ongoing support services, Ficklin said. David Alvarado, executive director of Hill Development Corp., said the agency sent several members of its board of directors and staff to the academy training. He said training, technology to any agency, regardless of years of service. Hill Development has been creating affordable housing units in the Hill neighborhood since the early 1980's.

Empower New Haven is a nonprofit organization that administers millions in federal Empowerment Zones grants form the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to aid the city's poorest census tracts in the Dixwell, Dwight, Fair Haven , Hill, Newhallville and West Rock neighborhoods. Funding for the New Haven Nonprofit Academy was provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Compassion Capital Grant program.

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