Strategic Plan Guides CSL Towards Impact
July 5, 2024 | By: Doug Cowan, President & CEO
In June 2023, CSL’s Board of Directors approved a comprehensive Strategic Plan to guide our work from 2023-2027. A new plan was critical to guide our path towards improved impact post-pandemic. CSL staff provided an update to the Board of Directors in June, and here are some of the first year highlights, separated by aspiration area:
Financial Wellbeing
In Fall 2023, CSL hosted its first entrepreneurial cohort through our BlendWell Community Cafe to provide another viable pathway towards strengthening career opportunities. Another cohort is scheduled for Fall 2024.
In 2024, we eclipsed $1,000,000 in assets developed through HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which CSL manages at Hawthorne Place Apartments. Twenty-eight program graduates have used their asset development accounts to become first-time homebuyers.
Workforce Development
Quincy Michael, CSL Noland Road Warehouse Associate, celebrates being named the 2024 Client of the Year by the Kansas City Chapter of the Missouri Rehabilitation Association!
In 2023, 241 students were enrolled by CSL in a tuition-paid, certificated training program, and 91% graduated with an industry-recognized credential. So far in 2024, 159 students have been enrolled in a similar training. In most trainings, enrollees can reasonably expect to make more than $45,000 annually post-graduation.
CSL added an Employment Success Coach in 2023 to better engage hiring partners and improve job placement.
Digital literacy is included in all pre-enrollment workshops, and some enrollees qualify for technology assistance grants (connectivity, hardware, etc.)
CSL’s Vocational Rehabilitation program received the most referrals from the State of Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation office of any Community Rehabilitation Program in the Kansas City region.
Also in our Vocational Rehabilitation work, we are growing our Traumatic Brain Injury support, and, in 2024, we added a second Summer Work Experience for young persons with disabilities.
Housing and Basic Needs
Pictured above is an outline of the Drop-In Center community space.
We are partnering with Good Shepherd Community of Christ to open the Eastern Jackson County Drop-In Center to better support individuals experiencing homelessness. We were successful in receiving a $500,000 appropriation from the State of Missouri’s 2024-25 fiscal year budget to support the construction of that facility.
CSL secured a contract for more than $800,000 through the City of Independence (HOME-ARP funds) to help keep families stably housed, and we have received $2,000,000 in awards in 2024 through the Missouri Housing Development Commission to keep families from being evicted. Additionally, the contract provides for an additional street outreach worker to connect with those experiencing homelessness or marginal, unstable housing.
Independence T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. crew members pose for a picture after being hard at work and beautifying our community!
A regional partner of CSL’s transferred to us their portfolio of around 75 rental units through HUD’s Permanent Supportive Housing. That brings CSL’s total rental portfolio to 150 units to help formerly homeless individuals and families.
CSL successfully launched, and continues to maintain the Independence T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. program with the City of Independence. We employ homeless and marginally-housed individuals to work on a roadside litter crew team, and have helped more than 15 employees go from street-level homeless to permanently housed, and we’ve removed more than 500,000 pounds of litter from Independence roadways.
Community Development
CSL has partnered with AIRR (Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation) to help support neighbors with financial, legal, and employment opportunities. We support neighbors by helping them access ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) documentation, along with developing entrepreneurship opportunities.
In partnership with other businesses along US 24 Highway in the Fairmount area of Independence, CSL was able to help lead an initiative to start the Fairmount Community Improvement District (CID). The CID will help build a stronger business corridor where CSL’s BlendWell Community Cafe is located. Our team is guided by the sentiment that no meaningful community development can happen without economic development.
These represent a few of the early success stories from the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Click here to view the entire plan, along with all of the goals and strategies.
