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In Action
With a grant from CCHD, El Pájaro Community Development Corpora-
tion (CDC) is empowering Latino and Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs like
Marleny. Marleny came to the United States from El Salvador, escaping
violence and an unsafe situation with a dream to start a restaurant where she
could serve traditional Salvadoran food and support her family. She entered
the Business Education and Loan Program at El Pájaro CDC and in Octo-
ber 2014 opened Pupuseria Marleny’s. With the support and education she
received, her business has been so successful that she has already opened a
second restaurant. The restaurants have allowed Marleny to provide gainful
employment to ve new workers and help revitalize her community.
National Strategic Grants
National strategic grants range from $200,000-$500,000 and fund projects
that promote justice and economic development on a signi cantly larger
scale. Projects funded by these grants are statewide, regional, or national in
scope and are typically for campaign-style initiatives with focused, time-
speci c goals.
In Action
With a national strategic grant from CCHD, Grounded Solutions Network
is creating permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for families
across the United States. Through a combination of grassroots organizing,
research, and advocacy for policy change, Grounded Solutions Network is
empowering members to create sustainable and inclusive housing programs.
One way this is accomplished is through the Resident Ambassador Program,
in which Grounded Solutions Network residents and leaseholders receive
leadership development opportunities. With this training, residents gain
skills to educate lawmakers about the importance of permanently affordable
housing and advocate for these issues on a national stage.
We are abundantly grateful for the thousands of people who generously
contribute to CCHD. Without you, our work would not be possible. During
Holy Week this year, Pope Francis reminded us, “Jesus comes to redeem us,
to send us out, to transform us from being poor and blind, imprisoned and
oppressed, to become ministers of mercy and consolation.” Let us continue
to work together in becoming “ministers of mercy and consolation” to all
those on the margins.
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