Our Initiative
The Communities for All Ages Core Team:
The Core Team currently consists of the following people:
Benevilla:
Michelle Dionisio, President/CEO
Kendra Amburgey: Interim Finance Manager
Natasha Payton: Bistro Program Coordinator
Rio Salado College:
Todd Aakhus, Director of Community Partnerships
Programs
City of Surprise:
Mayor Lyn Truitt
Councilmen Roy Villanueva – District 4
Councilmen Mike Woodard – District 5
Councilmen Skip Hall –District 6
Donna Miller, Community Division Manager
Community Members:
Elizabeth Lowe – Wells Fargo Financial Advisors
Elizabeth Wilkinson – First Food Bank
Carol Struck – Benevilla Board Member and
Birt’s Bistro/Bookstore – Volunteer
The youth leadership members within the core team graduated from high school in 2010. We are working with the Surprise Leadership Team program and Dysart School District to identify and train local youth to join our efforts.
In addition to our core team, our partnership team include 55 additional members who represent local businesses, congregations, non profit agencies, police and fire department.
Our Funder:
* Arizona Community Foundation
Phase of development: Implementation
Starting date: 2009
Our work:
Even though we are in the early phase of implementation, we have already has some important successes and accomplishments. Our long term goal of enhancing physical and digital connectivity for all ages within the original square mile has been supported by the completion of the Bridge over Lizard Run Wash, and related community celebration of the bridge along with the installation of public computers available for residents of all ages.
Opportunities and supports to meet food security and related needs across the lifespan have been addressed through the groundwork being laid for our community garden. The city will be providing a local plot of land at low cost as an in-kind donation and the garden is being designed and developed by community members of all ages, genders and ethnicities. Residents will also be encouraged to plant their own backyard gardens and to participate as vendors in the community Farmer’s market. We have been working with the Dysart School District Special Need Students, Teachers and square mile residents of different ages to start seedlings for transplant to the community garden the fall. the food from the garden and community plots will help donate additional food to the local food bank.
Moving forward we are in the process of building on this work by completing the community garden as well as learning opportunities for all ages related to nutrition, cooking and gardening as well as offering computer instruction.
Inaddition, we are seeking to increase collaboration and build our core team to include mroe residents from the original square mile as well as other business members, congregation leaders and nonprofits. Meetings are being scheduled with local area apartment buildings including a senior housing unit and low income housing unit to expand our core team and connect residents to local opportunities for community involvment.
The core group is working with Compassionate Surprise to promote a Clean-up Day in the original square mile. Our core group will provide information to community members about the CFAA initiatives (community garden and farmer’s market opportunities) to volunteers and community members at the Benevilla campus. Compassionate Surprise is a group of congregations, non-profits and the Surprise Police Department that are committed to linking residents to programs that provide the help people need in all facets of life and programs needed for a fuller, safer and more community-oriented Surprise Life.
In 2010 Rio Salado College launched the Pay 30 Forward program. This campaign asks employees to volunteer at least 30 hours in their community. The committee will work with leaders at Rio Salado to identify additional volunteers/core committee members who can help with the CFAA initiative.
