418 W. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832 | 714-515-3085 | www.ocumited.org | Non-profit 501c3 Tax ID 46-3761517
February 26, 2021
City of Fullerton
Attention: Purchasing c/o Jimmy Armenta
303 West Commonwealth Ave.
Fullerton, CA, 92832
Dear Mr. Armenta,
Please find OC United’s response to the City of Fullerton’s Request for Bid #4361, Neighborhood and Recreation Facilities Lease Partners, with our specific interest in the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center.
Due to OC United’s experience in youth and teen programming, community development, and family support, coupled with years of investment in the neighboring Valencia Park community, we look forward to showing why OC United is the strategic partner that will best provide vital programming and support to the communities surrounding the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center.
Included in this RFP, you will find responses that meet and exceed your requirements along with all requested materials. Should you need any other information to move this process forward, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or (714) 875-4069. I look forward to speaking with you further regarding this project.
We are grateful for this opportunity with City of Fullerton.
Sincerely,
Jay Williams
Executive Director
OC United Together, Inc.
RFB#4361 - Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Opportunity:
Experience:
OC United is pleased to respond to the Request for Bid #4361 from the City of Fullerton to provide crucial services and programi ng to the communities surrounding the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center. This opportunity aligns strongly with the heartbeat of our organization and provides the potential to expand the essential work of empowering individuals and families through restorative relationships and whole-p erson care to the communities surrounding the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center.
OC United is actively involved in the Valencia Park community, adjacent to the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center, providing afterschool programming for children and teens for the past five years. As our relationship deepened within the community, our organization desired to expand our work to better support the needs of the families of the children we were serving. OC United began offering parenting and marriage classes, teen mentorship, events for families, as well as tangible goods such as food and clothing, expanding our support and programming to empower the whole family.
Vision for the Future: Our vision for the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center is to grow our current work in the Valencia Park community into the Gilbert community and widen the breadth of programs and services to both communities. Additionally, OC United is in final discussions with Orangethorpe Elementary School regarding providing K-6 elementary afterschool programs on the elementary campus in the upcoming school year. OC United envisions the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center as a place of safety for the community, providing necessary services for the residents including direct relief to meet immediate needs, as well as development to build and equip resident skills and opportunities.
Programs & Services: Programming would include:
• Youth and t een summer and afterschool programs, mentorship, and hangout space
• Classes and programs to increase family and personal skills including parenting classes, English and Spanish learning classes, document and translation assistance, workforce development workshops, etc.
• Technology lab including internet, computers, printer, and copier to facilitate bridging the digital divide
• Support groups including domestic violence prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, and wellness circles
• Activities and events such as family nights, community dinners, and holiday events
W
hy OC United: OC United is uniquely qualified to provide vital neighborhood services to the residents surrounding the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center. Our organization has understanding and experience in youth and teen programming, community development, trauma and its impact on families and communities, utilization of case management to support the individual’s specific needs, and extensive collaborations with other local organizations.
C
ontact Information: OC United Together, Inc.
Jay Williams, Executive Director
418 West Commonwealth Ave.
Fullerton, CA, 92832
Phone: 714-515-3085
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ocunited.org
501c3 Tax ID# 46-3761517
Proposed Lease Terms
RE: Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center
Date: February 26,2021
This Lease Proposal document outlines the proposed terms for lease of the premises described above between the City of Fullerton and OC United Together, Inc.
1. Term of Lease — Annual with first right of renewal
2. P roposed Usage — Community programming for youth, teens, and residents surrounding the Gilbert Neighborhood Center
3. R ent —
• In-Kind Services Services providing programming for youth, teens, and residents surrounding the Gilbert Neighborhood Center
• Ongoing Facility Maintenance both interior and some landscaping of exterior • Partnership in Facility Capital Improvement—including upgrade of the ramp, exterior platform, repainting and restructuring of interior
• Annual Maintenance and Repair through Love Fullerton Serve Day
OPERATIONAL / MANAGEMENT PLAN
1) R
ecreation Facility Management Experience
Valencia Park Elementary School
1) Name and Location: Valencia Park Elementary School, Rooms 30 and 31 2) Description of Facility: School rooms used for afterschool programming 3) Annual Operating Expense Budget
Staffing Expenses: $18,839
Program Expenses: $4,849
4) Dates Served: August 2016 - Present
5) S
cope of Services: Afterschool programming for 40 elementary schoolers 6) Annual Revenue
Donations: $28,311
7) Owners Name and Contact: Valencia Park Elementary School, Phone: (714) 447-7755 8) Organization Selection: Our organization was approached by the school to provide support for the students and families by first providing campus events, followed by regular aft erschool programming.
Programming for Aged-Out Foster Young Men
1) Name and Location: 1501 W Flower Ave, Fullerton, 92833 2) Description of Facility: 4-bedroom home providing housing for young men who have aged-out of th
e foster care system
3) Annual Operating Expense Budget
Staffing Expenses: $48,540
Program Expenses: $3,927
Utilities: $6,434
4) Dates Served: November 2016 – Present
5) Scope of Services: Our THRIVE program equips young adults exiting the foster care system for self-sufficiency by providing housing, life skills, financial literacy, access to employment opportunities, therapeutic support, mentoring, and a community in which to belong. 6) Annual Revenue:
Donations: $ 89,305
7) Owners Name and Contact: Giving University, c/o Mike Lang at Power Plus, Phone: (714) 765- 7551
8) O
rganization Selection: Giving University partnered with our organization by purchasing a home for us to provide programming and wrap-around support to young adults exiting the foster care system.
Programming for Aged-Out Foster Young Women
1) Name and Location: 1257 E Bastanchury Road, Fullerton, CA 92835 2) Description of Facility: 4-unit apartment complex providing housing for women who have aged- out of the foster care system
3) Annual Operating Expense Budget
Staffing Expenses: $63,450
Program Expenses: $18,088
Utilities: $12,226
4) Dates Served: January 2019 – Present
5) Scope of Services: Our THRIVE program equip s young adults exiting the foster care system for self-sufficiency by providing housing, life skills, financial literacy, access to employment opportunities, therapeutic support, mentoring, and a community in which to belong. 6) Annual Revenue
Donations: $91,607
7) Owners Name and Contact: California Lutheran Homes, c/o Bill Jennings, Phone: (818) 535-4490 8) Organization Selection: California Lutheran Homes partnered with us to expand our THRIVE program to young women and single mothers by purchasing an additional facility. 2) V
ision and Strategy
OC United’s mission is to empower individuals, families, and communities who have experienced trauma by providing restorative relationships and whole -person care. Trauma is the event, or series of events, that are experienced as a threat of harm that results in lasting effects on relational, physical, mental, or spiritual functioning. With this mission, it is our belief that everyone can be safe, connected, and whole.
Th
e end-goal of wholeness for a person includes : their emotional health, physical wellness, educational development, and increased social impact. Each of our services and programs are strategically designed to help support individuals, families, and communities towards these four areas of wholeness.
As an organization, we have been actively involved for the past five years in the Valencia Park community, right next to the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center. Over these years, we have engaged in community organizing and community development, focused on empowering the whole family. Our community organizing intends to leverage the voice of residents in the community in order to give them space to identify what they believe needs to be changed or celebrated in their neighborhood. Our community development work focuses on providing the resources and opportunities to build capacities in all areas of life. This includes afterschool programming, parenting classes, and mentorship, among other things. All of this is wrapped within an individualized case management approach, where families set goals, on their own terms, to aim for throughout the year. Our team then helps overcome barriers and provide support along the way towards these goals. Developed over the last five years, these programs help empower the whole family in the four areas of wholeness our organization seeks to address.
While we have not launched any formal programming in the Gilbert community at this point, for the past six months we have connected with families in the Gilbert community—hearing their stories, listening to their dreams, and building supportive relationships amid COVID -19. We have held multiple teen events, one family event, and met neighbors door-to-door in some of the more impacted parts of the community.
Our afterschool program team is finalizing discussions with Orangethorpe Elementary School as well as Fullerton School District administrators about providing K -6 elementary programs on the elementary campus in the upcoming school year. It is with this work in mind , in conjunction with both our history in the Valencia Park community and our new relationships in the Gilbert community , that we look to the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center.
Our vision for the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center is to expand our current work in the Valencia Park community into the Gilbert community and widen the breadth of opportunities and services we are capable of providing to both communities. As the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center is located in the corner of both the Valencia Park and Gilbert communities, this community center would provide a location to deepen the work in both regions. OC United will use the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center to provide necessary services for the residents from the community including direct relief to meet immediate needs, as well as development to build and equip resident skills and opportunities. Programming would include:
food and basic necessities relief, classes to increase family and personal skills, support groups , and year- round children and teen programming. From here, the center would become a central gathering place for community members to bring about positive change for their neighborhood.
The community center itself would be primarily managed by two OC United staff, our Community Organizer and our United Kids and Teens Director, who would co -lead any programs and services happening in the building. The programs would be provided by a variety of services including: OC United staff, organizational partners, and resident -led services. Potential programs and services based on previous conversations with the community are outlined below in detail. 3) Staffing, Hours of Operation, and Financial Plan
Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center
S taffing
Advisory Board:
Comprised of 3-5 community members
On-Site Staff:
Community Organizer (Co-Lead Staff)
United Kids and Teens Director (Co-Lead Staff)
Resource Staff
Program Specific Staff:
OCU Workforce Development Staff
OCU Domestic Abuse Staff
OCU Trauma Specialist
United Teens Program Manager
Program Support Staff (1 additional adult for every 20 kids or teenagers) Proposed Hours of Operation
M onday -Friday 11:00am-2:00pm -- Open Hours for Various Services Monday-Friday 2:30pm-6:00pm -- United Teens Afterschool Program Monday-Friday 6:00pm-9:00pm (as scheduled) -- Adult and Family Programming Saturday-Sunday -- Weekend events for kids, teens, adults, or family as scheduled Financial Plan
Our neighborhood initiative includes donors who have a heart f or this specific community . Our leadership is highly motivated, both staff and board, and together continue to move forward with unique funding ideas. The private sector continues to be extremely generous, desiring to support those adversely impacted by the COVID pandemic in this community. Unrestricted donations to the general fund give OC United the flexibility to fund programs that fall short on grant awards.
Additionally, OC United maintains minimum cash reserves of 3 months as recommended by the Weingart Foundation to be best practice for a non-profit in case of economic turndown. This year, we are applying for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant to begin the 2022 -23 school year, which will provide consistent funding for our after -school programs in the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center , Orangethorpe Elementary School, and Valencia Park Elementary School.
4) P
roposed Programs
The following programs will be made available on the timeline outlined below, subject to change on community need.
SUMMER 2021
The focus of the months of July and August would be to hold events and one -on-one conversations with the community for us to get to know them, for them to hear who we are as an organization, and for the community to share what services and programs they would want to see most in the Gilbert Center. All proposed programs would be contingent on community voice, as any future program ming would be directed by what residents identify as needs.
Seasonal Camps
Provides camps for kids and teens in the neighborhood for positive experiences which build on and develop their capacities, providing leadership opportunities for residents and teens. All kids and teenagers will receive a nutritional meal (in partnership with a local organization) each day they attend. 25 hours/week
Adult Learning & Resources
Open hours with one staff to assist with individual needs such as adult ESL, document and translation assistance, basic math tutoring, basic computer skills, job search, resume-building, and typing. Computer, printer, and copier would be available for community use. 10 hours/week
Family Night/Holiday Events
Once a month family nights to provide a space for kids, teens, and families to bond in a safe and fun environment.
2x/month
Teen Hangout
To help address juvenile crime and teen drug and alcohol use, a space for teens to hang out at designated times on the weekend, supervised by an adult, as opposed to spending time on the streets. 2x/month
Community Organizing
Resident-driven community organizing where residents identify what they want their community to be like. Tangible steps in policy changes and capacity building to move towards that vision. 5 hours/week
FALL 2021 & BEYOND
Fall of 2021 we will officially launch a variety of programming in the Gilbert Center, dependent on the programs and services the community identifies as the highest needs. We will be adding the following programs in addition to what was rolled out in Summer of 2021.
Teen After School Program/Mentorship
To help address juvenile crime and teen drug and alcohol use, a space for teens to receive mentorship from mentors in the community, build their own capacities and awareness of social advocacy, and do internal work to be empowered themselves. All teenagers will receive a nutritional meal (in partnership with a local organization) each day they attend.
16 hours/week
Family Night
Once a month family nights to provide a space for kids, teens, and families t o bond in a safe and fun environment.
1x/month
Domestic Violence Prevention
Support groups for community members, led by community members, to provide a safe space for residents to discuss domestic violence and find solidarity in prevention. 2 hours/week/series
Family Classes
Classes will be made available to support the family in the following areas: parenting classes, marriage support, drug and alcohol prevention, and financial health. Residents will have opportunity to lead these classes in order to pass on knowledge and skills and build supportive relationships within the community. 4 hours/month
Workforce Development Workshops
Job resourcing including job skills, resume building, internship/apprenticeship opportunities, and more.
Monthly Workshops
Technology Lab (contingent on funding)
To bridge the digital divide, a technology lab will provide open hours for community members to access technology and internet to apply for jobs, do research, or other needed use. 5 hours/week
Art and Cultural Studio (contingent on funding)
A public art studio for residents to use resources as they see fit in their own healing and creative exploration, with classes led by residents.
2 hours/week
Community Dinners (COVID-contingent)
Building community through shared meals between neighbors, alongside games, art, and other activities as a family.
2x/month
Childcare
Residents will have access to childcare services during parenting programming and events . All kids will receive a nutritional snack and/or meal (in partnership with a local organization) each day they attend. 10 hours/week
Immigration Services
Will provide no-cost immigration services for residents looking to get documentation.
Monthly - Partner Organization
English Language Learning
Through residents who are bilingual, English language learning and tutoring can take place for residents who do not speak, read, or write English to become more fluent. 2 hours/week
Spanish Language Learning
Through residents who read and write Spanish, residents who speak only Spanish can take the next step in their Spanish fluency.
2 hours/week
Personal Wellness Circles
For personal development and building of leadership capacities, residents would have the opportunity to participate in or lead a wellness circle focused on strengthening individuals. 4 hours/week/series
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Organizational Chart (see attached)
Why O
C United
OC United is uniquely qualified to provide crucial neighborhood services to the residents surrounding the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center . Our organization has understanding and experience in youth and teen programming, community development, trauma and its impact on families and communities, utilization of case management to support the individual’s specific needs, and extensive collaborations with other local organizations.
F
or the past 5 years OC United has worked closely with the neighborhood adjacent to the Gilbert Neighborhood Service Center empowering, mobilizing, and supporting local residents to create local transformation through relationships built by engaging in our relief and development programs. This past year we expanded our reach into the Gilbert community, developing relationships with local resident leaders, strategic partners, and key stakeholders. Currently four of our staff were raised or liv e in the Gilbert or Valencia Park neighborhoods, one within walking distance of the facility.
P
artnering with us in utilization of this facility would strengthen our ongoing efforts in this community and expand the reach of our programs and services, leading us to be the ideal fit for providing this vital neighborhood support.
FINANCIAL CAPACITY (SEE ATTACHED)
Audited Financials FY 2019
Audited Financials FY 2018
Audited Financials FY 2017
REFERENCES
D
r. Erlinda Soltero-Ruiz
Valencia Park Elementary School, Principal
Phone: (714) 447-7755; Email: [email protected] Nature of Relationship: Oversight to current OC United after school program operated on Valencia Park Elementary School campus
Dates of Service: 2016 to present
Christian Ponce
St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund, Coach
Phone: (310) 748-8860; Email: [email protected] Nature of Relationship: Coach at Community Building Initiative to coach and oversee OC United’s community organizing efforts in the Valencia Park neighborhood Dates of Service: 2019 to present
Bill Jennings
California Lutheran Homes, President
Phone: (818) 535-4490; Email: [email protected]
Nature of Relationship: Strategic partner and property owner for OC United’s THRIVE housing program for aged-out foster youth
Dates of Service: 2019 to present
D
r. Robert Pletka
Fullerton School District, Superintendent
Phone: (714) 447-7400; Email: [email protected]
Nature of Relationship: Provides strategic partnership to a variety of OC United activities and programs across the Fullerton School District
Dates of Service: 2015 to present