DEAR FRIEND, We entered 2020 with elevated anticipation for the future. We believed this would be the year of deeper clarity and refined opportunities – “2020 Vision!” Quickly, we learned that 2020 would be the year we all would grapple with our humanity. For CAP this would become the year where we would lean on our values to forge the way forward.
VANESSA PHILBERT
Letter from the CEO
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
We worked to maintain a safe and healthy environment while meeting the growing needs of our customers. From diaper drives, door-to-door food pantry drop-offs, and load-and-go WIC services to creating COVID-safe refuge for domestic violence survivors and shifting to hybrid learning for our kiddos, our core value of innovation was put to the test. As the economic grip tightened on our community, we ramped up our partnerships to distribute millions of dollars to those in need of rental and utility assistance. If there was a word for 2020, it would be STRETCH. We stretched to connect our mission to our neighbors’ needs, and our team stretched their capes out as they ignited their superpowers every day to meet those needs. 2020 curated much uncertainty, but the consistent and courageous investments of our donors and funders provided security. Our donors and funders repeatedly rose up to meet the moment. Thank you to those who invested their stimulus checks, to those who attended virtual events, and to those who gave back because they once benefited from the supports offered. CAP’s ability to meet the demands of the moment was fueled by your generosity. While the landscape of life as we knew it was shifting right under our feet, we realized that our best strategy for 2020 lay in our ability to keep our heads up and our eyes searching for the SILVER LININGS. As we Stretched the Silver Linings, it became clear – 2020 would be the year where our compassion would carry us past the crisis of the moment to the hope for the future. Amid the trauma of a global pandemic, we grappled with the historical oppression still realized by systemic racism – a system that was designed to keep those living in poverty pinned down for generations. NOW became the moment to challenge ourselves to look at our words and assess if our actions aligned. How can we create a more just, more prosperous, and more equitable community? Another Silver Lining moment was born as we set our strategic priorities for the future: 1. Embolden a pathway to economic equity for generations 2. Elevate excellence in programming 3. Establish a values-aligned culture to recruit and retain the best talent 2020 may have caused a tremor in our worlds, but at our core we know if we commit to empowering community, driving action, and building partnership we will be the Silver Lining our community needs. In the profound words of Gandhi, “The future depends on what you do today.” Here’s to making today count for those who may need us tomorrow. Vanessa Philbert
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