A note on neighboring.
If we were to pick a word of the year for RCI, that word would be neighboring
At RCI, it’s our goal to be good neighbors, and that means meeting people where they are It means we see the value in our differences and find ways to build connections over shared experiences It means having our doors open to our community, day after day
On a recent wintry morning, I arrived at our Community Building Center and saw many of our folks chatting and waiting to get out of the cold The icy roads meant much of our city was shut down for the day schools had closed, the buses weren’t running, and the freezing rain didn’t show signs of letting up any time soon On this day, our community was grateful for a reprieve from the weather, but, primarily, looking for ways to help us and each other One of our community members, Amanda, offered to be our greeter until our regular volunteer arrived “I’m
Community Building Center & Service Hub
Since November 2015, RCI’s Community Building Center has served as a safe, welcoming daytime space for residents of Allentown We think of our community center as the beating heart of our organization Places like this are the seams that hold the social fabric of a city together because, as we often say, strong neighborhoods begin with safe spaces.
Part of our Community Building Center, the Service Hub is a collaborative space where our organizational partners provide key services to our community like educational workshops, mental and behavioral health care, and activities that support healing, connection, and growth.
Program Updates
RCI Village Housing Program
When we started the RCI Village housing program six years ago, we knew we would have a steep learning curve There was a lot we didn’t know But we did know this housing is the foundation for a stable and successful life and a thriving community Since 2019, this program has achieve remarkable results, meaning it has given our remarkable residents the supports and tools they need to thrive, and to put down roots in our community. To date, 88% of residents who have entered the program remain stably housed, and two residents have set a goal of buying their own home
“Being a part of a community to me means having a huge group of people who want me to succeed - having a community behind me just in case I hit hard times, having people I can talk to”
~ RCI Village Resident
For the past several years, RCI has been honored to be part of a dynamic and growing collaborative effort focused on Allentown’s Franklin Park neighborhood, which our organization and half of our staff call home. This year, we have had the opportunity to nurture the grow the Franklin Park neighborhood group, participate in an in-depth survey of over 300 residents, host community events and celebrations, and engage with our partners in exploring housing options and solutions
Wantto learn more?
Visit: lppih.org/well-being-franklin-park
“We can’t solve social problems one by one. We can only solve them place by place.”
~ Seth D. Kaplan, Fragile Neighborhoods
Connecting through Creativity:
Ryan's Art
“The community center has a lot to do. It’s good for keeping me out of trouble. I can spend time on my hobbies instead.” Ryan has been a regular at RCI for the past three years, where he has built lasting friendships with other community members and staff. Now, as a Peer Leader, he gives tours to new community members and helps with some of the daily activities at the CBC. But his passion lies in creating art. “The environment at Ripple helped me truly discover my love for art. I even had my work displayed at the Banana Factory!” Ryan’s art was selected to be part of the 8th annual juried Compendium Exhibition celebrating the art of the self-portrait Ryan shared what it meant to be part of this exhibition: “I felt amazing I felt thought-about I’m thankful for the people who voted me into the show and really looked at my art I appreciate it”
“Ifeltamazing.Ifeltthought-about.” Ryan stands nextto his self-portrait atthe 8 annual juried Compendium Exhibition. th
Kristin Baxter, Director of the CBC, continues to inspire creativity among our community members, introducing new art projects with different mediums. These projects offer opportunities to share stories, relieve stress, and build identity - all while encouraging connection Kristin shared, “Not only was it important to Ryan to be part ofthis exhibition [atthe Banana Factory], but this opportunity also put our mission into practice such a meaningful way”
Congratulations to Ryan for being selected forthis exhibition!
WordsfromOurCommunity
“Y’all made me laugh today and made me feel good Thank you for putting a smile on my face ”
“This is a place where you can come and be yourself. I would come in depressed sometimes and sit in a corner but I knew I had to be around people But I would come here because people accept you This situation is exactly how community works ”
“We meet each other and we get some kind of energy to go back out into the world another day.”
“This is my second home.”
“Gracia a dios por sitios como este. Que ayudan a las persona sin importar su condicion Gracia por esto que hacen ”
“You can lay so much to rest here. You can lay your burdens to rest.”
ByDave
Thanks
Dennis & Barbara Adams
April Al-Angary
Lowell Albright
Tom & Carolyn Albright
Kimberly R Andrews
Barb Atkins
Donna Barats
Deb & Warren Bartholomew
Gene & Laura Basara
Patricia Beldon
Marilyn H. Bender
Roy & Connie Bender
Paul & Sharon Binder
James & Diane Bleam
Wesley & Joyce Brokopp
Kent & Michelle Brustlin
Nicholas Butterfield & Rachel Osborn
Arlan & Donna Butz
Peter & Sandra Carpenter
Michael Chadwick
Rev Chip & Mary Lou Colson
Ho'onani & Carmelo Cuadrado
The Dallas Family
Michael & Evette D'Amore
Charles & Pamela Dent
Kathleen Dent
Maritza Torres Dolich & Herbert Dolich
Diane Edelman
Paul & Lisa Emrick
David Escott
Maria Esposito
William & Bonnie Falla
Michael & Valerie Ford
Barnet & Lisa Fraenkel
Kelly Frankenfield
Joseph & Margaret Gardner
Khris & Melody Gefroh
Nancy & Glen Gehman
Krista Geissinger
Marjorie Geissinger
Earl & Marilyn Godshall
Dustin & Ellen Grow
George & Eulenna Harriott
Elsbeth & Steven Haymon
to our individual donors.
Donald Heckman
Dwayne Henne & JennyWright
Elizabeth Hepler
Eric Himmelwright
John & Charlene Hoff
Julie & Brian Huber
NancyJohnson
Thomas & JennyJohnson
Emily & Bill Jones
William & Susan Karpovich
Vonda Klein & Phil McCutchen
Lenore Kohl
Janet Landes
Valerie Lane
David Latshaw
David & Kathy Leber
Francis Leming
Matthew & Rachel Lewis
Thomas Lichner
Joan Lioi
James & Rosalie Maehrer
Gail Magan
Jennifer Mann
Charles & Ruth Marcon
June McCracken
Kathleen McLane & Lawrence Deiter
Alicia Moyer
Allen Moyer & Nancy Kramer-Moyer
David & Myrna Moyer
Sarah Nahar
James & Aimee Nassif
Mary & Wayne Nitzsche
Teresa Nyce
Karoline Peeler
Scott & Gillian Pidcock
Tiffany Polek
Terry & Andrea Powell
Harry & Emma Rath
Alan & Ruth Reberg
Margaret Rosenberger
Janet Roth & David Panton
Jan Rumbaugh
Sara & Timothy Russ
Diane Sackett
Shirley Scarantino
Beth Schermer
Marci & Ted Schick
Jeanette & Dick Schmoyer
Rachel Schmucker & Lois Langevin
Jason Serfass
Michael Shaffer
Tamara Shantz
Judy & Larrie Sheftel
Glenn & Becky Short
Steven & Alicia Shussett
Anna Simon
Charlene & Kevin Smalls
Brian & Krista Snader
Richard & Rebecca Snyder
Matthew Stephens
Robert Stevens & Janet Boyd
Walter & Paulette Stiver
Richard & Dorothy Stobaugh
Melissa Stoner
Steve & Ruth Strand
Mallory Sweeney
Charles & Annette Thiel
Robert & Ruth Walden
Ben & Angela MoyerWalter
Linda & Joshua Watson
BarryWeibel
David & Mary Beth Weinstein
Melissa Weinstein & Samantha Carney
Elizabeth Whitman
John & Mabel Widrick
Don & Meg Wieand
Peggy & Fred Wuertele
RoyYoder
Bernard Zavatone
Dawn & LarryZook
MargaretZook
$125,000
Harry C TrexlerTrust
Up to $110,000
Leonard Parker Pool Institute for Health
Up to $75,000
The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Fund ofthe Vanguard Charitable Foundation
Up to $55,000
Anonymous Foundation
Swamp Mennonite Church
Up to $40,000
The Reidler Foundation
Up to $30,000
Lehigh County
Up to $15,000
City CenterAllentown
The Provident Bank Foundation
Up to $10,000
City ofAllentown
Evangelical Lutheran Church ofthe Redeemer
Penn Community Bank Foundation
Verna O Canova Foundation
Up to $7,500
HighmarkWholecare
Up to $5,000
Hurricane Road Fund
Just Born
Up to $3,000
ESSA Bank & Trust
Faith Church
New Beginnings Fellowship
PNC Foundation
Up to $1,500
Capital Blue Cross
Leona Gruber Charitable Trust
St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church
Up to $500
Allentown Collaborative Ministries
B’nai B’rith Allentown Tenants Organization
Fulton Bank Foundation
Up to $250
Dome Technology, LLC
Lehigh Valley Community Foundation
Hope Lutheran Church
In-kind donors
Asbury United Methodist Church
Dough to Door
Evangelical Lutheran Church ofthe Redeemer
Fiorenza’s Food for Friends
Joyful Giving Ringers Roost
Shepherd ofthe Hills Lutheran Church
Wawa Store #8078
Financial Overview October 2023-September 2024
RCI’s work is made possible through the generosity of our many community supporters We have been fortunate to consistently operate in a state of good financial health, which, in turn, allows us to better serve our community.Thisyear, RCI’s expenses exceeded ourrevenues, however,this is a reflection of the timing of contributions relative to our fiscal year. Our funding continues to come primarily from private sources, including foundations (67%), individual donors (15%), businesses and corporate donors (8%), and churches and faith communities (3%) This year, 6% of our funding camefrom local governmentcontracts and1%from sponsorships.
RCI Village Properties is RCI’s 501(c)(3) supporting organization, established in 2020 to support our mission through housing and related services. We are grateful for contributions that support capital expenditures and acquisitions from Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Swamp Mennonite Church, the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation, and individual donors, which are allowing us to make strides toward improving organizational stabilitythrough a transition to direct ownership of our own facilities.
Growingour mission
Creating safe, sustainable housing for the Franklin Park neighborhood, centered on community ownership and grounded in shared equity.
Together ishowwedoit.
We are fortunate to have an amazing network of partners and collaborators In addition to working together to provide the best possible care for our community members, we sometimes have an opportunity to share about our collective work with the broader community in Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. This year, our executive Director, Sherri Binder, had the opportunity to participate in a town hall event with our partners that serve on the Allentown Commission on Homelessness
Aplaceto belong.
Since opening its doors in 2015, RCI has created a welcoming environment for all members of the community as they are. Our mission is grounded in community, connection, and relationship and it’s a mission worth believing in and investing in
We are working hard increase our capacity so that we can better serve our neighbors and community As we grow, the RCI Village program will expand the availability of deeply affordable housing anchored in community and connection. By investing in housing that reflects the needs of our neighbors and a commitment to community ownership, we will begin to build a more equitable city
“It’s like anywhere…when you walk in, and people are happy to see you, it makes you feel good. ” Barb, Diane, and Donna, affectionately known in our community as the Uno Ladies, began volunteering at RCI in 2017. “Ittook months to build trust,” they shared. “We came, and they told us to just play games, butthen nobodywould playwith us. We’d be playing by ourselves,” Donna explained. After a few months and nearly giving up, a community member finally joined in “Dave just happened to play with us After that it was like gangbusters And then other people started playing games with us We’ve been playing ever since” While the games are always spirited, the real purpose is connection “It’s a community center where people can come and feel like they belong, ” said Diane. “When we tell them that we play cards here, people are like, ‘Oh!’ But that’s the best way. Because then you’re free to talk, you’re free to discuss. Once you get to know people, now we can tease each other, and they give it right back,” shared Barb. “It’s a sweet gig!”
Board of Directors
Sara Russ, President - Fulton Bank
Julie Huber, Vice President - Diamond Credit Union
Khris Gefroh, Treasurer - Peoples Security Bank & Trust
Hon. Michael D’Amore, Secretary - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Kent Brustlin - Integra Realty Resources
Zachary Galloway - RKLAdvisors
Tiffany Polek - Allentown School District
Charlene Smalls - Ripple Church
Danilo Sanchez - Mosaic Mennonite Conference
Charles F Thiel - Iota Communications
Melissa Weinstein - Sunburst Property Management
RCI Village Properties Board
Kent Brustlin, President
Melissa Weinstein, Vice President
Sara Russ, Secretary
Zachary Galloway, Treasurer
Staff
Sherri Brokopp Binder, PhD, Executive Director
Blake Henry, RCI Village Housing Director
Kristin Baxter, EdD, Community Building Center Director
Erick Marfil, CBC Resource Coordinator
Ben Walter, Interfaith Community Chaplain
Maritza Torres Dolich, Interfaith Community Chaplain
Alicia Moyer, Grants & Donor Relations Manager
Ellen Grow, Business & Finance Administrator