{"id":1569,"date":"2020-05-28T04:11:34","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T04:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.com\/?p=1569"},"modified":"2020-08-16T19:41:40","modified_gmt":"2020-08-16T19:41:40","slug":"capacity-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/capacity-building\/","title":{"rendered":"Capacity Building"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Stories of Impact<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Capacity Building<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson, Jr. is a lifelong Delray Beach resident. Passionate about his community, he became one of Healthier Delray Beach\u2019s strongest assets. His lived experience and stature as a trusted community member helped Palm Health Foundation<\/span><\/a> and the initiative\u2019s fiscal agent create breakthroughs in engaging residents who were initially resistant to the initiative. Leadership quickly realized Dupree\u2019s talents and potential. They invested in his professional development and supported capacity building for his promising grassroots nonprofit organization. Jackson tells his story:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"\u201cIn September 2014, I got my 501c3 and officially became a nonprofit\u2014the EJS Project.\u00a0 I wanted to create a place in my community that I wished I had as a kid: a safe place to go for support, to be around adult mentors and have leadership opportunities.\u00a0 There was nothing else like it for kids and teens going through personal struggles.\u00a0<\/p>

At the time, I was a \u201ckitchen table\u201d nonprofit.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have a location of my own and I wasn\u2019t taking a salary.\u00a0 The timing of Healthier Delray\u2019s launch couldn\u2019t have been better.\u00a0 Just as I was getting off the ground, they were too.<\/p>

I was invited to attend one of the first Healthier Delray community meetings.\u00a0 Shortly after, I was nominated to the steering committee.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t sure I was the right person.\u00a0 All of these big names were on the committee from the United Way and other well-known nonprofits.\u00a0 I thought, \u201cWhat could I add to this?\u201d<\/p>

I didn\u2019t know how important lived experience was.\u00a0 I was amazed by how the committee members referred to me for advice.\u00a0 It gave me power and made me see that I was good enough to have a leadership role.\u00a0 They made me feel worthy, valued and important.<\/p>

Healthier Delray also took me professionally and personally to another level.\u00a0 The fiscal agent, Achievement Centers for Children and Families (ACCF), was searching for a community liaison.\u00a0 At the same time, the EJS Project needed resources and credibility.\u00a0 We made a deal.\u00a0 I would work for ACCF for three years while running the EJS Project.\u00a0 In return for building community relationships, ACCF and Healthier Delray would provide me with training and professional support to strengthen the EJS Project.<\/p>

I learned so much during that time about nonprofit leadership, grant-writing and reporting.\u00a0 They sent me to workshops and conferences and helped me network and gain access to organizations that could support our work.\u00a0 My professional stock grew tremendously as the CEO of a nonprofit. I was respected, and I was able to practice evidence-based work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u2026the biggest thing is sustainability. I hope I\u2019m the example. After Healthier Delray is gone, I\u2019ll still be here. I want to be a professional and serve my community. It doesn\u2019t get any better than that.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmanuel \"Dupree\" Jackson, Jr., EJS Project CEO and Healthier Delray Beach steering committee chair<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Toward the end of my three years as community liaison, I was ready to grow the EJS Project<\/span><\/a><\/strong> and move on from ACCF.\u00a0 I knew of a vacant building that would be perfect.\u00a0 Delray Beach had provided other nonprofits with donated space for $1 a year.\u00a0 I was able to get on the agenda for a commission meeting with my Healthier Delray steering committee members at my side. They spoke on my behalf, helping me secure my lease.\u00a0 I could now tell parents that the EJS Project had a home.\u00a0 I could finally tell kids on our waiting list that we had room for them.\u00a0 And thanks to the skills and connections I developed during my three years with ACCF and Healthier Delray, I received donated iPads, a 15-person van and the resources to hire a program director.\u00a0<\/p>

We now provide after school programs for middle school and high school students to help them with homework and provide open conversations on sexual activity, bullying and peer pressure. Once a month we provide a Saturday community connection opportunity with a guest speaker or a field trip.\u00a0 In the summer, we have programming from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day to work on team building and public speaking through a partnership with a local improv group.\u00a0 We\u2019re also creating videos for the Palm Beach County Sherriff\u2019s Office and the Department of Juvenile Justice on how bad decisions can result in a lifetime of consequences.\u00a0<\/p>

We\u2019re continuing to expand and grow, but the one-on-one life changes are the most important to me.\u00a0 A student came to me after missing over 30 days of school.\u00a0 He was on the verge of being kicked out for the rest of year.\u00a0 Once we started working with him, he became more involved with positive activities like sports and behaved better at home.\u00a0 He never missed a Sunday planting trees with us.\u00a0 He finished the year with a 2.8 GPA.\u00a0 He just needed something to be proud of on his own.<\/p>

For students like him and for me, the biggest thing is sustainability. I hope I\u2019m the example.\u00a0 After Healthier Delray is gone, I\u2019ll still be here.\u00a0 I want to be a professional and serve my community.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t get any better than that.”<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Sustainable Impact: <\/strong>The EJS Project now serves 250 youth per year with a mission to build and empower future leaders. Dupree follows the model he learned through Healthier Delray Beach by respecting the lived experiences of his students and giving them a strong voice in determining the programs he delivers.\u00a0 He is also taking on capacity building by mentoring other nonprofit start-ups as he was mentored by ACCF.\u00a0 The success of the program has attracted significant new funders, including the Children\u2019s Services Council of Palm Beach County, the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Network Building<\/a><\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Stewarding Shared Resources<\/a><\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stories of Impact Capacity Building Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson, Jr. is a lifelong Delray Beach resident. Passionate about his community, he became one of Healthier Delray Beach\u2019s strongest assets. His lived experience and stature as a trusted community member helped Palm Health Foundation and the initiative\u2019s fiscal agent create breakthroughs in engaging residents who were initially […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1569"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1569"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2937,"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1569\/revisions\/2937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthiertogetherpbc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}