CityView Magazine

48 | January/February 2015 ment, Cumberland County Schools and Interfaith Hospitality Network. Univer- sity and college internship partnerships include UNCP, Methodist, FSU and Cal- ifornia State Northridge. Connections is also developing an internship partner- ship with Boston University. e interns assist with the Connec- tions day resource center, which is the only day resource center that has case management specifically for women and children in Cumberland County – the case management component assists clients with navigating through the various agencies in the community. "We are building a learning lab for interns," said Patty Collie, one of Connec- tions' founding members and president of the organization's board. "We have out of state universities who have found out about us and they have local students working on their masters and some of them are interning with us. Our learning lab is very important because it's a mutually beneficial relationship for us and the students - they get hands-on experience and obviously we get people who help us with a very high traffic day resource center." e day resource center allows clients to check out computers for educational, work and medical appointments and hosts activities related to seeking stable hous- ing, employment and other needs the clients may have. e clients work with the interns and staff to set goals for themselves and become self-reliant. Bennett said the Connections day resource center case management services help the organization to spend more time with the individual client compared with other agencies. "We also have a program that requires a little more accountability from the wom- en and it may assist them with rapid rehousing - it's called the Connect to Redirect program (C2R)," Bennett said. "It uses the CARE team approach. Women who are volunteers for us serve on CARE teams. C2R also has a counseling component - Con- nections has two counselors who work with clients. Once the clients' goals have been met, they join a CARE team to assist other homeless ladies. We are really focusing a lot of effort on the growth of that program." CARE stands for Connections and Coaching, Accountability, Resources and Empowerment. Connections' services have helped make a difference in many lives. "I don't believe that anyone's purpose is to struggle in homelessness and instability. We definitely believe that every person who walks through the door has a purpose." Funeral Service & crematory 910.484.8108 610 Ramsey Street H ank S tew art "It feels wonderful to see the growth and potential of people," Bennett said. "We do get to spend a lot of time with women who are truly homeless, in shelter en- vironments or on the streets. ey utilize the day resource center to get off the streets. ey could go to the library or they could go to these other places, but they come here and I think it's because our reinforcement of accountability on their part and belief that they can achieve more for their lives. We've seen people enrolled in college programs since coming here to Connections. We've seen people becoming employed who haven't had jobs for years and it's just an empowering environment for them and to see them grow and change in the matter of a few months is won- derful. I like to take pictures of our clients when they come in and months down the line show them pictures of how they have changed and how much their efforts have impacted their own lives. I am grateful we can be a part of that change, just impacting our community in such a way that we care about the ladies who come to our office. ey are not just numbers to us, we want to see them succeed, we want to see them have different lifestyles, we want to see their children succeed in school. Being a part of that, I'm just grateful." e community is on board with Connections, as exemplified by the generosity of those who have donated of their time and resources. A local Girl Scout group was working on their Silver Award and they created a beautiful space for Connections kids. ey painted paintings, built bookshelves and donated DVDs. "I have been moved by this community's giving spirit toward us," Bennett said. "Everything that is brought to us by our community, whether it be monetary dona-

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