CIF Program Success: Spectrum New Beginnings, Valens Solutions, Youth House

Wrapping up a year of good work, on December 13, neighbors, friends, and program partners from the Northwest Dayton Community Investment Fund (CIF) gathered for an evening of reflection and celebration. Here is a spotlight on three of our grant recipients.

Spectrum New Beginnings:

Connecting people to mindfulness experiences, CIF funding was a boon for capacity building -- helping Spectrum New Beginnings to set up the organization structure that will lead to success and sustainability. Their original goal was to provide wellness practices and increase emotional well-being and quality of life for Northwest Dayton residents. To ensure they were providing the most valuable services, the team started with a community survey to seek input on the needs of the residents. Programs launched to serve more than 200 residents, including self-care Saturday (massage, stretching, fitness, therapeutic art, etc.) - woman-to-woman circles for community support, and a youth cope program (geared toward teen boys). In the midst of growing program offerings, they also strengthened their organization, as they redeveloped the board, hired an accountant, and partnered with Five Rivers Health Center and UD Fitz Center. The expanded model is income generating (for organizations who are able to pay), which covers the cost of the community-based free program. In addition to providing program updated, we heard testimonials that highlighted how the group helped individuals find strength within themselves and find community.

Valens Solutions:

Over the past year, Valens Solutions conducted over 140 community navigator related cases, impacting nearly 1000 immigrants in our community. These cases addressed education, housing, housing needs, food insecurity, transportation, and employment. Large programs included support for four Community ID events and several presentations for awareness building. Serving on a more personal basis, Valens Solutions provided workforce assistance to support individuals through training programs including nursing school and the police academy. They also helped numerous people navigate the complexities of criminal and civil courts cases. Their legal immigration arm, IC Dayton, consulted with 133 people and worked 93 cases. Valens is proud to support their clients toward goal that include American citizenship, education, employment, and greater inclusion within the Dayton community.

Youth House:

With the focus to develop youth of color throughout their critical development years with a focus on educational services, resources, mentoring, and community support -- Youth House launched in 2023. In 2024, they received their CIF grant to build capacity for their organization and the wider community. They have secured a new office space that houses offices, meeting rooms, podcasting, storage, and a resource closet. Their new Youth Programming/Partner Space houses a third shift childcare program and a food service provider; additionally, it is available for special events or needed youth programming. Recognizing the critical need for transportation solutions, the used CIF funds to purchase a van in support of youth participants. These new spaces serve as a resource hub for youth directly and youth-serving organizations. With their increased capacity, programming through Youth House has had a significant impact in the community; they have facilitated 200+ youth leadership service hours, 1,000 youth care packages, and college scholarships.