Section I: Organization Information

Name of Agency: The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation

Name/Title of Contact: Gabriel Mandujano, Executive Director
Address: 4548 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139        

Phone Number: (215) 895-4075

Email Address:  gmandujano@theenterprisecentercdc.org
    
Web Address:  www.theenterprisecentercdc.org

Total Number of Staff Members: 3 full time (including a current Philly Fellow) and 1 part time        

Total Agency Budget: $544,644

Agency Mission: The mission of The Enterprise Center Community Development
Corporation (TEC-CDC) is to create sustainable and equitable communities by combining targeted interventions in the built environment with activities to build the capacity of resident stakeholders.  TEC-CDC seeks to build community pride and empower residents by using an asset based community development approach to revitalize the Walnut Hill neighborhood of West Philadelphia, which extends between 45th Street and 52nd Street from Market Street to Spruce Street.  

Fellow’s Job Title: Community Projects Associate

Section II: The Nitty Gritty

1. Will fellow be working at the same address listed above?  If not, please list the address for the fellow’s worksite.

The fellow will work at the 4548 Market Street office.

2.  Will the fellow have:   

A. ___Own Office?              ____Shared Office?            ____No Office?  

B. __Own Desk?               ____Shared Desk?              ____No Desk?

C. __Own Computer?       ____Shared Computer?      ____No Computer?

3. Please state name and title of fellow’s immediate supervisor.
Gabriel Mandujano, Executive Director

4. Please approximate the percentage of time fellow will work:

_20%__Independently      __40%__As a team member in a group setting   

_40%__As a team leader in a group setting

5. Will fellow be expected to travel as part of his/her position?
The Fellow will travel within Philadelphia for community meetings and related events, including short, walkable trips to events in West Philadelphia.   

If so, will travel be: ____Within Philadelphia?  ____Outside Philadelphia?

How often will they need to travel?
The Fellow would need to travel approximately twice per week.

Will fellow need: ____a car?   ____a transpass?  __occasional tokens?

Will the agency provide or reimburse for these expenses?
TEC-CDC will provide SEPTA tokens for these events.


Section III:  Community Need
Please submit a one paragraph response for each question.

1. Please state in measurable and quantifiable terms the specific community need that the Philly Fellow will address, including the number of people in the community directly affected by the problem.

The recently completed neighborhood planning process has exposed the extent to which Walnut Hill is a community with significant needs.  Currently, 31% of Walnut Hill’s 8,643 predominantly African American residents live below the poverty line.  In 2005, the neighborhood’s household median income was $19,772, much lower than that of the city as a whole, which was $37, 036 in the same year.  At the two main elementary schools serving Walnut Hill’s children, 86% (Lea Elementary) and 95% (Locke Elementary) of students received subsidized lunches, indicating family incomes of less than 130% of the
federal poverty line.  Residents also have relatively low educational attainment: 30% of residents over the age of 25 do not have a high school diploma or GED.  Between 2000 and 2005, Walnut Hill experienced a 150% increase in home prices, with the median home price rising from $66,000 to $161,250.  Although this price appreciation indicates an influx of investment to the area, the subsequent rise in property taxes is exerting enormous pressure on long-term residents and reducing options for high-quality affordable housing.  

In addition, although many residents cite neighborhood friendliness as a major asset, there are challenges to Walnut Hill’s community cohesion.  Roughly 40% of Walnut Hill’s residents are renters, and the 2007 survey of 418 residents found that renters tended to report greater social isolation than homeowners.  50% of renters reported that they speak to fewer than four of their neighbors, and 10% of renters report that they do not speak to any of their neighbors at all.  Residents have also highlighted the need for improved access to educational and social service support for community members of all ages.

2. Describe how your agency addresses this need, and how the new capacity created by this fellow will help alleviate the problem.

The Enterprise Center CDC is building strategic partnerships with neighborhood residents, service providers, business owners, elected officials, educational institutions, and communities of faith to provide comprehensive support services to the Walnut Hill community.  The implementation of the Walnut Hill neighborhood plan will address these needs and counter the effects of poverty, gentrification, and community deterioration.  The Community Projects Associate will provide invaluable assistance to TEC-CDC’s community outreach efforts related to the implementation of the Walnut Hill neighborhood plan.  

3. Describe the level of community involvement in the fellow’s project.

A significant percentage of the Community Projects Associate’s time (approximately 60% to 70%) will be spent engaging the resident community of Walnut Hill.


Section IV:  Job Description

1. Please outline in list form the fellow’s duties and responsibilities.

        Project management for resident-led projects (for example, past Philly Fellows have managed a community-designed banner project, block clean-ups, a block beautification grant project, and a grantwriting seminar for residents)
        Community organizing within Walnut Hill, including organization project-specific committees of residents and attending meetings for groups such as Walnut Hill Community Association, Friends of 40th Street, and West Philadelphia Coalition of Neighborhoods and Businesses.  The Community Projects Associate will work closely with neighborhood residents, funders, and other community-based organizations focusing on West Philadelphia.
        Grant prospecting and writing proposals to federal, state, and local grantmakers
        Research and compilation of historical data, such as demographic data, resident survey results, news stories, maps, etc. pertaining to the Walnut Hill neighborhood

2. Please outline in list form the skills/qualifications a fellow should have to succeed in this position.
        Highly self-directed and effective when working independently
        Excellent writing and research skills
        Strong interest in community organizing, resident empowerment, and working with diverse populations
        Experience or strong interest in urban planning, economic development, real estate, public administration, or urban studies

3. Please outline your agency’s plan to orient and train the fellow.
TEC-CDC’s standard initial orientation for its associates includes:
        A thorough introduction to the target area, including walking through the
neighborhood;
        Meetings and in-depth discussions with Walnut Hill residents and stakeholders,
including board members of the Walnut Hill Community Association;
        An overview of The Enterprise Center and TEC-CDC’s history, mission, vision, and
activities in West Philadelphia;
        An overview of TEC-CDC’s short- and long-term goals; and
        A discussion of the Community Projects Associate’s work plan for the upcoming year. Following the orientation period, the Community Projects Associate will begin to work his/her scheduled hours, with assistance available from the Executive Director and other The Enterprise Center and TEC-CDC staff members whenever needed.


Section V:  Supervision/Resources

1. Please briefly describe plans for supervision of fellow.

For the most part, the Community Projects Associate will work as project manager, determining objectives, budgets, and timelines for community-driven projects.  These goals will be achieved with input and approval from the Executive Director and community partners.  The Community Projects Associate will also engage in periodic one-on-one meetings with the Executive Director, and TEC-CDC holds weekly staff meetings to discuss project updates and upcoming events.

2. What methods, information, or data will you use to evaluate the fellow’s success in their position?

Throughout the fellowship year, TEC-CDC will use periodic meetings, examination of deliverables, and 90-day and year-end performance evaluations to determine the Community Project Associate’s progress and successes.  The Enterprise Center CDC’s evaluation process includes assessments by peers, supervisors, and community members, in addition to a self-evaluation.


Section VI: Project Plan

Please outline goals and results you expect the fellow to achieve and the measures you will use to evaluate performance.  These goals must address the community need stated above.

1. Please describe the proposed project goal you expect the fellow to achieve.
        Assisting with TEC-CDC initiatives, including neighborhood plan implementation activities
        Assisting with strategic planning and organizational capacity building for Walnut Hill Community Association
        Contingent on funding, managing a series of small community projects, including a block beautification grant program

2. Please list significant milestones for this project and dates by which they will be accomplished:
        1st round of block beautification grants for FY 2008—completed November 2008
        2nd round of block beautification grants—completed January 2008