CityLink and the Linked Music Festival are mentioned in a recent article on Loveland’s Bikes, Bands and Bites event. Check it out:
Our city’s childhood poverty is third-highest in the nation
Almost half of the children in Cincinnati live in poverty, according to a recent Cincinnati Enquirer article based on U.S. Census data. The Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte gives us a stark look at the immediate and long-term effects of poverty on 48 percent of this city’s children.
Poverty surges 53% in suburbs
The New York Times just published an article examining the spread of poverty in the suburbs, where it’s grown 53% since 2000 (compared to 26% in urban areas). This is simply another indicator that poverty is more than just an urban problem—it’s going to take a citywide movement made up of dedicated, generous, passionate people to make a difference.
Click here to read the Times article.
October 24-30 is CityLink Week at The Echo
CINCINNATI (Oct. 16, 2011)—The Echo Restaurant in Hyde Park is supporting CityLink Center on Oct. 24-30 with CityLink Week, a week of fundraising and awareness building for CityLink’s programming and its new facility in the West End.
CityLink Center is a city-wide movement to strengthen Cincinnati by breaking the cycle of poverty, one by one. Scheduled to open in 2012, it will provide clients with integrated services all under one roof, while also equipping clients with a mentor who will walk alongside them through an individualized action plan, including job readiness and life skills programming, that will give them the tools they need to succeed. Area churches and social service agencies are partnering to build and staff a facility for CityLink Center at 800 Bank Street in the West End.
“I know many people who are employed but barely getting by,” said Stephanie Surgeon, co-owner of The Echo. “I think CityLink is going to help them thrive, and I want to share the excitement about CityLink with others in our community.”
More than $10 million has already been committed to CityLink, but CityLink is working to raise $2 million in additional funds for capital and operating costs. That’s where The Echo comes in.
Not only will the restaurant provide 10% of all proceeds from CityLink Week toward CityLink’s construction, but The Echo also is engaging with its customers to spread awareness of CityLink and how it can help break the cycle of poverty in Cincinnati.
“The city of Cincinnati truly made The Echo what it is today,” Surgeon continued. “I want to use The Echo to give back to the city that gave us so much.”
CityLink Executive Director Johnmark Oudersluys along with CityLink Board Chairman Tim Senff will be guest hosts at The Echo on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 5-8 p.m., answering questions about CityLink and informing diners about what CityLink does. Brochures will be available, and servers will wear “Join the Movement” t-shirts to promote CityLink.
“We’re excited that The Echo is partnering with us to bring about positive change in Cincinnati,” said Johnmark Oudersluys, executive director of CityLink. “We look forward to many other businesses and organizations coming on board so that CityLink can help break the cycle of poverty in our city.”
The Echo, located in Hyde Park Square since 1945, is a friendly neighborhood joint that takes pride in serving home-cooked, hearty fare at reasonable prices. The Echo recently has stepped up to support various local charities, including the Hyde Park Senior Center and Summit Country Day School. For info on The Echo visit echo-hydepark.com.
Cincinnati one of the nation’s poorest cities
Cincinnati was recently named as the seventh-poorest city in the country, according to this year’s American Community Survey. That means 83,312 people in our city —30.6%—live below the poverty line (less than $22,314 for a family of four).
See the Cincinnati Business Courier’s full article here.
Media Coverage of CityLink Groundbreaking
News outlets all across the city covered the recent Groundbreaking Ceremony at 800 Bank Street. Click on the links to read articles and watch videos.
Cincinnati Enquirer: CityLink starts construction
Channel 5 WLWT: CityLink breaks ground on West End facility
Channel 12 WKRC: Groundbreaking today for CityLink Center in West End
Channel 9 WCPO: New center aims to change lives
91.7 WVXU: CityLink breaks ground
Cincinnati Business Courier: Work starts at CityLink
Channel 19 WXIX: Groundbreaking ceremony for CityLink Center
CityLink’s Services Based on Leading Model
CityLink Center’s goal is to move our clients one by one from “stabilizing” to “thriving” status, helping them move from poverty to self-sufficiency. As we pursue this cutting edge vision, we are encouraged by the results of other organizations that have tested out this model.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation, which is focused on meeting the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families, recognized how challenging it was for low-income families to navigate an incredibly fragmented system to obtain critical services. Several years ago, they created a new framework called Centers for Working Families (CWF) to help low-income families reach financial stability and move up the economic ladder. The CWF approach bundles access to a full range of services, including employment, financial and other support services, in a convenient location to help families build self-sufficiency, stabilize their finances, and move ahead.
Piloted in several sites across the country, the CWF model has produced promising results: clients receiving bundled services were 3-4 times more likely to stay employed, get vocational certificates or degrees that would allow them to move towards thriving economically than clients who were receiving individual services.
Today, there are more than 60 organizations engaged in this way of providing services including major foundations that have traditionally funded organizations providing individual services. These funders are able to leverage their giving for more effective services for low-income working families.
So, while the concept of CityLink Center is not new, it is on the cutting edge.
