Clarkston Development Foundation

“Prior to filing, the 990 is reviewed by management and the board chair on behalf of directors. They approve final filing of the 990.”

“Board reviews policy annually and discussion is held about compliance with the policy. Conflict of interest statements are signed at that time and evaluated.”

“Board of directors are responsible for determining compensation of the executive director. Compensation is reviewed annually using comparable data.”

“UPON REQUEST”

“Vision: the vision of cdf action is that clarkston, georgia, will be a thriving, vibrant, and diverse community where all residents' voices are head and where residents work together to transform early learning and education. Mission: cdf employs an asset- based community development approach to ensure that all clarkston children birth to eight years of age will be nurtured, healthy, and prepared for kindergarten and beyond. Cdf serves as a catalyst to build on community strengths, mobilize new resources, and pilot innovative projects. We work in partnership to advocate for equitable policies, practices, and programs, moving ideas to action. Cdf provides technical assistance to groups inside and outside of clarkston.”

“In 2019, cdf began a strategic planning process, in partnership with civitas, using civitas' finding your north star framework. During 2020, civitas, cdf staff and board worked on a landscape assessment, including conducting strategic interviews with key stakeholders and families to identify cdf's strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats. A board planning retreat was held with an outside facilitator to develop a swot analysis and to begin identifying strategic goals. Work continued on the assessment and the development of goals in 2020. Programs and activities include: a. Clarkston early learning network (celn)/clarkston early learning task force. Celn, created in 2012 as a result of cdf community dialogues, is a coalition of individuals and organizations committed to: (a) increasing access to and the quality of early learning and literacy activities, (b) promoting the importance of the early years and home language to children's growth and development, and (c) supporting equitable early learning policies and programs. In 2019, cdf action and the network requested that the city of clarkston create a clarkston early learning task force to conduct an assessment of early learning and to develop recommendations for the city of clarkston and other stakeholders. Cdf worked with the city to create the work plan and to recruit task force members which were appointed in early 2020. In 2020, cdf conducted monthly task force meetings by zoom, developed a list of child care centers and family child care homes serving the clarkston community, and shared information and resources with members of the task force. B. Federal covid-relief grants. Cdf received two grants from united way of greater atlanta to assist families with computers and other resources needed as a result of covid. In addition, cdf received funding from the city of clarkston to purchase computers as well as wifi service for apartment residents. Cdf assisted two child care centers, a women's resource center, and the rohingha community apply for federal grants from the city of clarkton to provide child care assistance and gift cards for food to residents of clarkston. C. Clarkston tell me a story children's stories from around the world. Ctmas was cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic. Two stories from around the world events were hosted by cdf action via zoom, featuring stories for adults. These webinars were well attended and highly rated. The two events raised funds for the 2021 clarkston tell me a story festival. D. Ready schools. The ready schools initiative is an innovative early learning and family engagement program for 3 and 4 - year children and their families in the year before pre-kindergarten. The ready schools, located in apartment complexes or churches, offer a multi-lingual, multi- cultural half day program. The ready school, designed in partnership with families and early learning programs, provide an informal and culturally responsive experience for refugee children, many of whom had never been away from family. Current teachers, who are bi-lingual, were previous ready school parents. In 2020, cdf supported three ready schools, one in norcross for spanish-speaking families in partnership with the american learning academy, and two in central dekalb, in partnership with scottdale early learning, inc. During covid (starting in march 2020) the ready schools in dekalb were held virtually, on zoom, with guest storytellers, and "fun and learning" packets provided monthly to families. The norcross program, except for march and april, was held in-person, with safety pre-cautions. In 2020, funds were received from the imlay foundation to sponsor storytellers on zoom, purchase books for each family, and to partially fund the ready school evaluation. Additional funds were received from the delta pilots for books. The stone mountain rotary club also provided funding for books, storytellers, and computers for families. The families participated in end of yea”