News
Lighting up the Neighborhood
CCC receives Rockwell Collins Green Communities Grant to put energy efficient light bulbs into the Friendship House Neighborhoods.
Connecting Caring Communities received a grant from Rockwell Collins, an international aviation and aeronautics company with a local Abilene office at Dyess Air force Base, which provided energy efficient light bulbs for families in both the Northpark and College Heights neighborhoods. With the money received 1400 lightbulbs were distributed to 130 homes throughout the neighborhoods. To help with the distribution 35 students from ACU Impulse Camp came and helped sign up neighbors and pass out and install light bulbs, as well as 8 adults and 4 Rockwell Collins Employees. One of our neighbors who was already using the light bulbs in her home told the students how much she loved them and how they were saving her $10 a month on her electricity bill. This grant allows people in our neighborhood to have light bulbs that will last longer, be more efficient and save them money on their electric bill, and are more environmentally friendly-a definite plus for everyone. Thank you Rockwell Collins, and to all those who helped deliver and install light bulbs for our neighbors. It truly is amazing how something as simple as a light bulb can truly make a difference in someones life.
Community Showcase event nears
CCC's first annual event sure to be entertaining for all
CCC requests City in-fill funds
As part of our new North Park Development Project, CCC has requested in-fill development funds from Abilene City Council
Doug Myers of the Abilene Reporter-News reports on CCC's request for in-fill development funds in the Wednesday, August 13 paper:
Building Friendship: Community project organizers want to move, expand with city's help
Again on Sunday, August 17, Doug Myers reports on in-fill development within our city in the Abilene Reporter-News:
The foes of infill development: time, money
CCC's request for $120,000 of the in-fill development funds goes to public hearing and possible vote before Abilene City Council on Thursday, August 28 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the upper level of City Hall. Your help advocating for CCC's request in this project is greatly appreciated!
Northpark Back to School Pool Party
Northpark Neighbors enjoy swimming, eating, fellowshipping with neighbors and getting free school supplies on Friday, August 8th.
We had our 4th annual Northpark Neighborhood Back to School Pool Party and BBQ. The party was held on Friday August 8th at the Hardin-Simmons Pool. Neighbors enjoyed a BBQ dinner provided by Isaiah 58 ministries, and it was wonderful! We had a little over 100 neighbors in attendance and gave out almost 70 bags of school supplies for children preschool through High school. The families enjoyed time just meeting new neighbors, fellowshipping with friends, swimming and eating as well as getting school supplies donated by Hardin-Simmons University, including free t-shirts for all the kids donated by the HSU alumni office and Horizon camps. We hope to keep this pool party an annual tradition. Some of our families showed up almost an hour early, they were so eager to swim and eat 
Community Renewal Road Trip
Abilenians make trip to Community Renewal International
On July 27-29, a group of CCC partners made the trip to visit Community Renewal International in Shreveport, Louisiana. Their goal was to learn more about the community renewal model utilized by Connecting Caring Communities and find ways to increase the impact of our work in Abilene.
Attendees, as always, learned much and were energized to make a difference in our own community. Participants included Suzie Ramsey, Margaret Holloway, Mary Glover, Mark Waters, Tim Kennedy, Cindy Martin, Anita Jones-Stevenson, Courtney Jackson, Sarah Frazier, College Heights community coordinator Dusty Garison and CCC executive director Brad Carter.
*Much thanks to the (anonymous) donor/s who made this trip possible on a comfortable bus and to the staff of Community Renewal International who welcomed us with open arms. *
CCC New Job Opening
Seeking someone to lead our Haven House efforts
Connecting Caring Communities is seeking a full-time, qualified and motivated individual to lead efforts for our Haven House strategy beginning this summer.
Download information, job description and employment application here
Summer Fun at City University Camp
Kids from both Friendship Houses mix learning and fun at facilities around the city.
Take 30 kids, ages 5-15, stir in some volunteers, combine with various Abilene locations, mix with a lot of fun, add a dash of learning, and what do you have?
City University Summer Camp!
Youngsters from the North Park and College Heights Friendship Houses, along with the coordinators and volunteers, participated a week of activities from June 16-20. Each afternoon, the group visited a different city location and learned about various city services and functions. City staffers Joy Hedges and Jayme Johnston coordinated the program, with help from Friendship House Coordinators Danyel Rodgers, Stephanie Fletcher, and Dusty Garison, and several parents and other volunteers. 
On Monday, the kids went to City Hall, where they met in the Council chambers and toured various departments. They were welcomed by City Manager Larry Gilley, and held a mock City Council meeting in the Council Chamber. They also visited the Abilene-Taylor County Health Department and toured the lab and facilities there. Tuesday, they went to the Abilene Zoo for a "behind-the-scenes" look at operations there, including a chance to feed the new baby rhino.
Wednesday found the group at the Law Enforcement Center. They watched a presentation by Abilene SWAT Team, whose members showed their equipment and talked to the kids. They also toured the 9-1-1 Call Center and other police facilities. That day's highlight was a fascinating demonstration by the APD's K-9 unit.
Abilene Fire Station #1 hosted the group on Thursday, where firefighters showed their equipment to the students, including an infrared scanner which can find an injured person in a smoke-filled room, and the "Jaws of Life" rescue tool. The older kids were also allowed to climb into the bucket on the ladder truck, and take a ride up to the end of the ladder.
The week concluded with a visit to Rose Park, where the youngsters visited the skate park and tennis facility, along with the senior citizen center and the adaptive rec facility. But the highlight of that day was definitely the pool! The kids enjoyed cooling off from the hot summer sun and spent the afternoon splashing and swimming.
It was a great week, and we appreciate so much those who worked to make it possible. We especially want to thank:
- Everyone from the city who graciously hosted us at their facilities
- Joy and Jayme for their coordination of each day's events
- The parents and volunteers who helped each day
- Those who provided snacks
- Hardin-Simmons University for transportation assistance
We are grateful your partnership with us and look forward to next year!
Summer Activities About to Begin
Northpark and College Heights Friendship Houses join together for summer camps.
During June, July and August the children and teens from the Northpark and College Heights Friendship Houses will get to experience summer camps together. During June the group will have a "City University" sponsored by the City of Abilene in which our kids and teens will get a behind the scenes look at how the city operates. Each day the group will get to tour various city offices such as the police station and fire stations and learn about what they do and ask questions. This should be a fun hands on learning experience for our kids. During July the kids will have Backyard Bible Club for a week and end the time with a fun water day. During August a group from the HSU Family Psychology class will be working with the kids on issues of peer pressure as well as learning about how to be good winners and losers and dealing with living in a competitive world. The summer will end with a big back to school bash! For more information contact Danyel Rogers at the Northpark Friendship House: 670-1257.
North Park kids dance with HSU Spurs
Watch video of Friendship House kids dance routine
This spring, the kids at the North Park Friendship House sponsored by Hardin-Simmons University have been learning a dance routine. It's great fun, good exercise and another fantastic partnership with students from Hardin-Simmons. Watch this parent's video of one of their practice sessions right here!
CCC Unveils Turner Award
Board of Directors establishes award in honor of HSU president Craig Turner
On Friday, May 9, the board of directors of Connecting Caring Communities unveiled the W. Craig Turner Award in honor of Hardin-Simmons University president Craig Turner.
The W. Craig Turner Award is in recognition of Dr. Craig Turner's vision for a community of neighbors helping neighbors and his willingness to lend his leadership and support for the development of a community renewal program in Abilene, Texas. The establishment of Connecting Caring Communities (CCC) is a direct result of Dr. Turner's generosity in sharing the success of the pilot program at Hardin-Simmons University with the entire Abilene community. CCC now exists to further develop the renewal of neighbors helping neighbors and mutually enhancing relationships as the foundation for a sustainable community.
The award will be given to an outstanding person, family, or partner who exemplifies the practice of this vision in a remarkable way. The recipient will be determined by the board of directors from nominations made by staff or others directly involved with one of the three Connecting Caring Communities strategies: Caring Team, Haven Houses, or Internal Care Unit (Friendship House) neighborhoods.
The CCC board of directors chose to honor Turner as he takes a new role outside of Abilene. Turner has been an invaluable resource, supporter, partner and encourager for CCC since its inception. Dr. Turner said he was humbled by the honor and grateful for the great work Connecting Caring Communities is doing in Abilene.