Climb Community Development Corporation

Programs: Climb community development corporationprogram updates for 2017climb cdc completed renovations of homes for low-income families with funding from the department of labor (dol). Dol participants also prepared and served meals to indigent gulfport residents and the local elementary school. Funding was provided by starbucks and schultz family foundation for the customer service in excellence training program which is a barista training program to benefit opportunity/at-risk youth. The u. S. Department of labor provided funding for the youthbuild program in which opportunity/at-risk youth receive nationally and industry recognized certifications in culinary and construction while completing on-the-job training and educational gains. This year climb cdc added the high school diploma component. The south mississippi planning and development district provided workforce investment act funding for opportunity/at-risk youth with education gains, job skills, life skills, and job placement. Additionally, the funding allows climb cdc to work with potential employers through the externship program. This program allows climb cdc to place participants at a potential place of employment and pay their minimum wage and workers compensation insurance for up to 400 hours of training. With funding from baton rouge area foundation and other donors, climb cdc's culinary program trained and placed at-risk youth in employment, education or advanced training programs. Hud and the continuum of care provided funding to support climb cdc clients facing chronic homelessness. As the corps network's first affiliate in mississippi, early in the year climb cdc conservation corps was provided funding to complete a second pilot project in collaboration with the nature conservancy. The gulf coast stream and habitat assessment trained students in environmental conservation techniques. Climb cdc became the youngest corp to receive national accreditation. Through funding from environmental protection agency, climb cdc activated the conservation corps program. Training 25 students a year to be placed in environment steward type employment. Combining this funding with funding from the nature conservancy, climb cdc has been able to complete projects in desoto national forest, with national park services, the gulf coast land trust and department of marine resources. Goodwill provided finding to help hire a coordinator for the family enrichment center programs in a high poverty community. The fec programs worked with partnering organization to provide literacy and education programs to families along the gulf coast. Youthbuild usa through the office of juvenile justice and delinquency program provided funding for mentoring services to at risk youth. The program matched community leaders with young people to provide additional support to the participant to meet the goals of the individual development goals. Through funding from the department of labor, climb cdc has on boarded a job support specialist to assist participants in employability trainings, employer partnerships, and job placements. Through funding from the nature conservancy, climb cdc was able to provide environmental stewardship to multiple partners on the gulf coast. The conservation corps were able to complete over 26 acres of federal land restoration as well as multiple projects with the mississippi land trust, city of bay st. Louis, william carey university, turkey creek initiative and many more. Through funding from the national park service, the climb conservation corps were able to work on ship island and assist in environmental restoration. Through funding from volunteer mississippi, climb cdc was able to execute an americorp program with a scope of environmental stewardship. Climb cdc was able to recruit and earn service hours for 26 young people. Service hours were earned on projects that included federal land restoration as well as multiple service projects including working with a local community garden, multiple city projects and several island projects. Each member who earned 450 hours received education scholarships to use at post-secondary institutions to further their education.