Volume 2, Issue 3

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MAY 2012

Volume 2, Issue 3

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ACHANGE’S MISSION:

To collectively promote quality

affordable housing and community

economic development in Arkansas.

IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE

3 Time for ACHANGE!

4 Chairman’s Corner

5 Building a Stronger

Nonprofit, pt. 2

6-10 Community Development

Week Insert

11 Member News

12 Executive Committee/

Contact Info

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

SERVICE AWARDS 2012

JUNE 19, 2012

Accepting individual and table registrations

now! Join us in recognizing outstanding

contributions in the field of community and economic development!

For more info, contact Debra at dbanks@achange.org or call 501-766-3941.

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TIME FOR ACHANGE! It takes a village…..you’ve heard the sentiment before applied to the

raising of children. When I reflect on my childhood, I can see that.

The neighbors watched out for us when we played. I could stop by

Ms. Vivian’s for cookies and milk or sit on the front porch with my

friend Yogi and pass the time. The neighbors all had a hand in

raising us, and there was a sense of shared pride whenever one of us

accomplished something big or small.

So it is with ACHANGE. It takes all of you to build the organization. Without you, there would

be no coalition and no shared voice for the future. It takes a village, and together we are building

a future where people can find a variety of places to live that will meet their needs in an afforda-

ble manner. Together, we can accomplish much more than we could accomplish individually.

In June, you will have the opportunity to come together and talk about the state of housing in

Arkansas. What can be done to help achieve that dream of great available housing throughout

the state? How can we make it happen? I know that you have ideas, and you know others that

have ideas as well. That’s why I hope that I’ll see you during Community Development Week.

Whether it’s to celebrate accomplishments, create an action plan for future housing policy, or

participate in training that will help to energize your work, this week is built with you in mind.

Help in the village building effort. Invite someone to attend the Public Policy Symposium or to

sit at your table for the awards. Do you know any organizations with counselors, educators or

management who might benefit from the training that we have scheduled? Share the registration

booklet with them. Be an ACHANGE agent and take ownership in the success of the event.

Enjoy that shared sense of pride that working together brings.

Together, we can do great things. That’s why it’s time for ACHANGE.

Debra Banks

Program Manager

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CHAIRMAN’S CORNER

VOICES

I have an admission. Everywhere I go, I hear voices. They aren’t the kind of voices that would make me end up in a hospital; but all of us are bombarded by people speaking their opinions, their agen-das, or promoting a concern. All day long, we are told what to be-lieve, where to put our trust, and how it will make us feel if we do what we are asked. I was taught in Sunday School that it isn’t always the loudest voice that matters most. Each of us has to be sensitive to the soft voices in our lives. When you have money or power or clout, your voice is typically louder. Your concerns and agendas are well promoted. Your followers echo those concerns and your voice becomes more and more prominent until, even though we may be busy with our lives, we have no choice but to pay attention.

This isn’t always so with soft voices. When we take the time to focus, truly see, and closely listen to someone with a “soft” voice, we learn something about ourselves. Our eyes become opened and we move from indifference to compassion. So it becomes that every once and a while, someone with a small voice will catch the attention of someone with a voice that is a little stronger, whose sphere of influence and reach is a little longer and, thus, change begins.

ACHANGE is made up of members with medium sized voices who have seen, listened to, and had compassion towards those with soft voices. Our medium-sized voices combine to create something more powerful and more influential, and all of a sudden, people are hearing the message. The message is clear if we take time to hear it. The message is truth if we study it closely. The message is powerful when spoken by people who care about it.

The voice of those you serve matters to us. That is why we will be having a town hall meeting during our public policy symposium June 20th. Come and bring the hundreds of soft voices that you have heard throughout the years. Bring their message to light and begin the process of change.

Karen Phillips ACHANGE Board Chair

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Building a Stronger Nonprofit Foundation

Pt. 2: Keeping Your Mind on the Money

No matter how great the mission, an organization must have the money

to do the job. Nonprofit organizations can be especially vulnerable to

this, often existing only as long as the grant funding exists. Adding the

additional constraints of development standards can place greater

burden on a budget already stretched to capacity.

At the fundamental level, nonprofits must create workable financial development strategies,

function within the confines of a realistic financial management system, avoid excessive risk and

ensure that the organization is in compliance with all legal requirements.

1. Financial Development

Do you have a development or fundraising plan? How often do you review that plan to ensure

that it is working as intended? Are you committed to the promise you made to your donors to

do what you said that you would do with the money?

2. Financial Management

Prepare a realistic budget that is in line with the work that you do. Put proper accounting tools in

place and a good system of checks and balances. Do you have an annual audit conducted by an

independent auditor? Have you heard of Sarbanes-Oxley?

3. Financial Protection: Risk Management

Does your organization have insurance coverage to address risk? Does your organization consid-

er the risks involved in an activity before engaging in that activity?

4. Legal Compliance

Is your board knowledgeable about its fiduciary duties, and does it monitor activities to ensure

that the organization is compliant with the law?

Want to learn more? Read more on the Diamond Standards by visiting the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence’s

website at www.acenonprofit.org and clicking on the Diamond Standards tab.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CURRENT PROFITABILITY?

Attend: Beyond Bricks: The New Economy for Affordable Housing Providers on June 21, 2012

To register for this special one day session, use the enclosed registration form or click here.

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JUNE IS NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH.

WHAT BETTER TIME TO:

CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS;

FORM PUBLIC POLICY STRATEGIES; and

PROVIDE OUTSTANDING TRAINING?

We couldn’t think of a better time either! In the following pages, see a

few of the highlighted activities for June 19-22, 2012!

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The State of Affordable Housing in Arkansas:

The ACHANGE 2012 Public

Policy Symposium

June 20th, 8:00 am — 4:00 pm

The affordable housing landscape continues to change. What does the market look like in

2012? How affordable is housing in Arkansas? How does Arkansas compare to the rest of

the nation?

This symposium will provide insight into the current state of affordable housing, including

local, state and national perspectives.

Highlights of the Day:

“The State of Affordable Housing in Arkansas” presented by UALR’s Institute on

Economic Advancement. The report will highlight housing occupancy status, monthly

housing costs, and the economic impact of housing in Arkansas.

A multi‐discipline panel will discuss the state of housing from varying viewpoints .

Panelists include ADFA, private and nonprofit developers, LISC and NeighborWorks®

America

Town Hall discussion of affordable housing concerns.

Join in the discussion of the issues and help to provide a roadmap of where Arkansas

goes from here.

This year’s featured luncheon speaker is

Dr. Sheila Crowley, President and CEO of The National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving socially just

public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have

affordable and decent homes. NLIHC educates, organizes and advocates to ensure de‐

cent, affordable housing within healthy neighborhoods for everyone.

Don’t delay! Register today!

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ATTN: HOMEBUYER

EDUCATORS AND

HOUSING COUNSELORS! Need some tools to energize your sessions?

HO280 Sharpen Your Presentation Skills – Tips and Tools to Rejuvenate Education and Counseling Programs

June 21-22, 2012

Are your education workshops expanding or bursting at the seams?

Is your audience fully engaged?

Are you looking for a way to market a program that appeals to a new audience in light of to-

day’s economic conditions?

Are you prepared to deliver energized education and counseling services under the NSP?

Energize your education and counseling programs to meet today’s market conditions and de-

mands. In this course designed for trainers, counselors and anyone in your organization fo-

cused on education and counseling activities, participants will receive state-of-the-art training

tools and materials, and practice presentation skills. You will review the methodology needed to

run a high-volume, high-quality homeownership education program. You will be instructed on

PowerPoint techniques and how to develop interactive learning activities.

Certificates are available for this course, but you must attend both days of training.

If you are interested in learning more about this class, call Debra at 501-766-3941.

Visit the website at www.achange.org . Register by June 7, to receive your

certificate on the last day of training.

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Beyond Bricks: The New Economy for Affordable Housing Providers

June 21st

Back by popular demand, Dione Alexander, VP, Nonprofit Finance Fund (2011 keynote

speaker) will provide a one‐day workshop specifically designed to help

you re‐conceptualize your organization in today’s economy.

Beyond Bricks is an interactive session designed to guide affordable

housing providers through an assessment of both the impact and

profitability of their programming and frame strategies and scenarios

to address the capital and capacity needed to achieve their aspirations

for change and growth.

Highlights of the Day:

"I Am From" (an exercise in storytelling)

All organizations need a way to frame their story that is less about the technical or

statistical achievement and more about the compelling ways in which lives and

communities are affected. Mission drives motives; reconnecting with why you as an or‐

ganization exist is the first step in planning for the future.

Impact Assessment

Participants will build a matrix that plots their core activities in terms of impact and

profitability and will develop some strategies and scenarios for contracting, expanding,

or changing programming to both strengthen their organization and their community.

Case Study

Participants will be led in a case study exercise and dialogue that focuses on an afforda‐

ble housing provider that substantially changed its business model. The case study will

also provide opportunity to learn and share information about new tools and

resources in the industry.

Ready to shift to a more integrated system of community development?

Register today!

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ARKANSAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK June 19 – 22, 2012

Hilton Little Rock, 925 S. University, Little Rock, AR 72204

Registration Form

Name:_________________________________________________________

Title: __________________________________________________________

Company/Office: _________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________

Phone: ____________________ Fax:______________________

Email: _______________________________________________________

Community Development Service Awards June 19th 6pm

___Individual tickets @$50.00 each OR ___ Table @$500.00

(Please forward guest names. )

Addressing the Affordable Housing Dilemma in Arkansas Symposium June 20th

8:30 am—4:00 pm

___ Individual tickets @$50.00 Luncheon Only (11:30am—1:00pm): ____ tickets @$25.00

Keynote Speaker: Sheila Crowley, President and CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition

NeighborWorks® Sharpen Your Presentation Skills - Tips and Tools to Rejuvenate Education and Counseling Programs June 21st and 22nd 9:00 am—4:30 pm

____ $200.00 each

Beyond Bricks: : The New Economy for Affordable Housing Providers June 21st ONLY

___ $100 each

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MEMBER NEWS!!!

RENEWING MEMBERS

Pine Bluff—Jefferson County EOC

Southern Bancorp Community Partners

Northwest Arkansas Regional Housing Authority

Better Community Developers, Inc.

West Arkansas Community Development Corporation

Central Arkansas Development Corporation

Fort Smith Housing Authority

Other News

A scholarship is available from ACHANGE for the 2012 Community

Development Institute (CDI) in Conway, Arkansas. CDI is an intense,

information-rich experience for anyone who would like to learn more

about the total community development picture. If you’d like to see the schedule for the 2012

institute, click the CDI logo! For scholarship information, contact Debra.

HouseAboutIt’s 3rd annual Small City Summit will take place

on July 27, 2012, in Little Rock. Be on the lookout for more

information as plans are finalized.

For more information on the Small City Summit, click the summit logo or call HouseAboutIt at

501-247-3674.

3rdAnnualSmallCityEconomicLeadership&EmpowermentSummit

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ACHANGE Executive Committee Board Chairman—Karen Phillips

1st Vice Chairman—Susan Forte

2nd Vice Chairman—George Holcomb

Secretary— Frances Newsome

Treasurer—Cathy Carlock

Associate At-Large Board Member—Martie North

At-Large Board Member—Darryl Swinton

Program Manager—Debra Banks

Committee Chairs

Education and Training Committee Chairman—Roma Isom

Finance Committee Chairman—Cathy Carlock

Membership & Marketing Committee Chairman—George Holcomb

Public Policy Committee Chairman—Darryl Swinton

Resource Development Chairman—Charles Vann

Ad-hoc Committee Chairman—Martie North

Follow ACHANGE on

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logo or by clicking here!

Follow ACHANGE on

Twitter by clicking the logo

or by clicking here!

401 Main Street, Suite 206

North Little Rock, AR 72114

501-766-3941 Fax: 501-244-9670

At ACHANGE, your membership matters.

Come grow along with us!