Programs

Below is a sampling of how the CEDC actively engages its stakeholders through a “people-centered” approach to collaboratively develop plans, programs, and services to meet their needs on an ongoing basis.

1. The staff of the CEDC works daily, directly engaging with the residents and small business stakeholders, hearing their concerns and challenges as well as identifying gaps in services. The CEDC then incorporates that feedback into immediate service delivery interventions. 
2. The organization is in frequent contact with store owners throughout the Acushnet Avenue Corridor through door-to-door outreach to facilitate their role as critical stakeholders in Commercial Corridor revitalization efforts through addressing common problems and working on joint events and activities.
3. From January to April, the CEDC connects with hundreds of families and seniors who receive free tax preparation at its office as part of the IRS affiliated Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The organization connects with low-income households, allowing them to witness the struggles of working low-income families and seniors firsthand. Tax season also presents an opportunity to engage taxpayers about community needs and outreach. 
4. For over a decade, CEDC has worked with the immigrant community primarily from Central America. CEDC offers a wide range of advocacy, support, and referral networks to help immigrants navigate health, education, employment, and legal systems. Through this process, the CEDC can identify critical areas impacting the immigrant community that act as barriers to successful community integration and work together to enact policy-level changes successfully.
5. As part of the CEDC’s intentional place-based approach to its work, the CEDC uses the power of creative placemaking to engage the residents directly. Through a variety of activities including public art, developments of pocket parks, and family-friendly events such as the Festival Típico de Guatemala, the CEDC can hear directly from neighborhood residents on an informal and ongoing basis the areas of concern to their physical space, i.e., safety, beautification, etc.
6. In 2014, the CEDC spearheaded the Love the Ave Coalition, which created higher-level partnerships with city-wide agencies and departments, local non-profits, and other stakeholders dedicated to improving Acushnet Avenue’s economic development through collaboration. This effort engaged hundreds of neighborhood residents, small businesses, and others to define its strengths and identify challenges. Love the Ave helped to leverage $5 million in new public and private investment to improve the district. 
7. The CEDC also participates as part of the Near North End Partnership to assist the most at-risk residents with needed services. Through bi-monthly participation, the CEDC can learn about additional areas of challenge and opportunity impacting those most vulnerable residents.
8. As part of its VITA tax preparation program, CEDC works extensively with seafood processing workers, shore side workers, and fishermen on tax preparation and troubleshooting tax issues.  As part of this work, the CEDC learns about issues that involve fishing families and members of New Bedford’s working waterfront.
9. The CEDC established the Mujeres Victoriosas, a peer support and leadership development group by and for immigrant women that meets twice a month. .  The group has 7 core organizing leaders and anywhere from 15-25 women participating each month.  These women work to bring information and services to underserved communities. Every meeting they host an informational speaker on a wide range of topics and engage in organizing and advocacy on issues impacting its general membership. This group serves as a sounding board for issues affecting the immigrant community.