Letter from the Executive Director PENELOPE GRIFFITH
I want you to know that Collaborative Solutions for Communities (CSC) is immensely fortunate. We are blessed with a passionate board of directors and a resilient staff who are genuine, caring, and skilled. As we celebrate 25 years of service to the community, our longevity and knowledge are evident more than ever. We have learned that no matter what circumstances our clients have endured—most want to heal themselves and mend broken relationships. For them, and for us, it is the journey of a lifetime. At first, that walk is almost always painful. But then, doors begin to open. They open for a mother who was just released from prison, a young man whose world is filled with violence, and a teenage girl who has suffered the trauma of sexual assault. So many deserving people walk through that door, and we are here for them. CSC’s mission is to build the relationships that make the future possible. When we work with our clients, we don’t focus on what’s wrong. We don’t ask them to explain their troubles. They already know their problems all too well. Instead, the conversation is about moving forward. We ask them about the life they want to have. What would that life look like? With whom would they want to share it? We create a space where individuals and families can imagine a better future, and then we walk with them through their doubts and fears towards a new day. I know many people are skeptical and worry that the problems in our community are getting worse. They are deeply concerned that our neighborhoods seem to be unraveling. When they ask me if there is any way to stop the downward spiral of poverty, racism and violence, my answer is simple and emphatic: Yes.
I will admit that finding that “yes” took some time. When I was a young social worker, I believed that the answer to most of the problems in our society was—you guessed it—social workers. After all, we were profession- al problem solvers. We had a plan: observe, find, and repair dysfunction. The formula may have looked good in our textbooks but, unfortunately, it didn’t always work. The more I told my clients that I had answers to their problems, the less they believed me. With time, and the guidance of some exceedingly wise people, I discovered who really had the answers.
Families.
The solutions were in the hearts and minds of each family. And when I (finally!) got that into my head, everything became clear— we don’t need to fix our clients. Our job is to clear a path for them. As we renew our dedication to empowering our clients, we are excited to announce that in the months and years to come, we are expanding our organization’s resources to help our clients find wholeness. This report is devoted to their stories. So, it’s my joy and pleasure to welcome you to our Impact Report to the community. l
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