Bittersweet News and Important CCC Update
There comes a time when parents must let their child “fly”. Though bittersweet, now is such a time for the Community Coalition for Children…helping children thrive ™
After more than 27 years of communicating, connecting and collaborating, the CCC is officially dissolving.
We are so very proud of our groundbreaking Coalition with our mission: to be a catalyst for collaborative efforts to create, sponsor and endorse educational and social programs designed to help children thrive.
Our initial program in 1997 featuring parenting expert Adele Faber galvanized more than 1200 people to explore issues that face us all and formally launched the Community Coalition for Children. Over the years, we’ve addressed critical topics such as bullying, communication, respect and resiliency. Several CCC program iterations have responded to changing community cultures. Throughout, we united public, independent and alternative schools, colleges, community/social service agencies, learning consortiums, hospitals, youth service bureaus, corporations, and student and adult individuals to help children thrive.
However, times have changed significantly over 27 years. Much of the work we bonded together to address may be handled more efficiently now within various organizations. Attendance is waning at large events, people are shifting priorities of expending time and energy, financial resources are limited, and fewer student field trips are authorized. Helping children thrive also means helping ourselves thrive; sometimes that means our personal and professional lives stand in the way of energies which our all-volunteer corps may devote to the Coalition.
Although there was significant and widespread enthusiasm for our proposed 2023-2024 “I Am Me” program, we noted a disconnect between enthusiasm and realistic action to move this project forward. Unfortunately, the CCC does not currently have the leadership and organizational structure to properly support such a venture. This recognition, coupled with changing community contexts, led to our bittersweet but unanimous decision to dissolve the CCC.
We encourage interested entities to pursue interpretations of “I Am Me” within their populations and consider other avenues of coordination; several individual members of the CCC may be available on a limited basis to assist with transition.
After settling our accounts, remaining assets of the CCC will be disbursed consistent with our mission to support specific funds/programs sponsored by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut – our earliest and ongoing grantor – and United Way of Southeastern Connecticut – our fiscal agent of the past several years.
Our hearts are filled with pride and gratitude as we acknowledge the tremendous connections we have forged together, the traditional socio-economic, ethnic and institutional divisions we have transcended together, and the voices we have empowered together. While we may no longer be together as the Community Coalition for Children, we each must continue to actively and passionately help children thrive. Heartfelt thanks to you all for all your compassion, commitment and support over so many wonderful years!
After more than 27 years of communicating, connecting and collaborating, the CCC is officially dissolving.
We are so very proud of our groundbreaking Coalition with our mission: to be a catalyst for collaborative efforts to create, sponsor and endorse educational and social programs designed to help children thrive.
Our initial program in 1997 featuring parenting expert Adele Faber galvanized more than 1200 people to explore issues that face us all and formally launched the Community Coalition for Children. Over the years, we’ve addressed critical topics such as bullying, communication, respect and resiliency. Several CCC program iterations have responded to changing community cultures. Throughout, we united public, independent and alternative schools, colleges, community/social service agencies, learning consortiums, hospitals, youth service bureaus, corporations, and student and adult individuals to help children thrive.
However, times have changed significantly over 27 years. Much of the work we bonded together to address may be handled more efficiently now within various organizations. Attendance is waning at large events, people are shifting priorities of expending time and energy, financial resources are limited, and fewer student field trips are authorized. Helping children thrive also means helping ourselves thrive; sometimes that means our personal and professional lives stand in the way of energies which our all-volunteer corps may devote to the Coalition.
Although there was significant and widespread enthusiasm for our proposed 2023-2024 “I Am Me” program, we noted a disconnect between enthusiasm and realistic action to move this project forward. Unfortunately, the CCC does not currently have the leadership and organizational structure to properly support such a venture. This recognition, coupled with changing community contexts, led to our bittersweet but unanimous decision to dissolve the CCC.
We encourage interested entities to pursue interpretations of “I Am Me” within their populations and consider other avenues of coordination; several individual members of the CCC may be available on a limited basis to assist with transition.
After settling our accounts, remaining assets of the CCC will be disbursed consistent with our mission to support specific funds/programs sponsored by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut – our earliest and ongoing grantor – and United Way of Southeastern Connecticut – our fiscal agent of the past several years.
Our hearts are filled with pride and gratitude as we acknowledge the tremendous connections we have forged together, the traditional socio-economic, ethnic and institutional divisions we have transcended together, and the voices we have empowered together. While we may no longer be together as the Community Coalition for Children, we each must continue to actively and passionately help children thrive. Heartfelt thanks to you all for all your compassion, commitment and support over so many wonderful years!