Project Blueprint to Honor Ten Graduates
Bridgeport, CT (May 6, 2005) United Way of Eastern Fairfield County will graduate the 10 members of its Project Blueprint program for volunteer diversity. This is the 10th class to complete the program. The ceremony will be held at People’s Bank on Thursday, May 12, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. Special guest speaker is Wiley Mullins, founder of Uncle Wiley’s Specialty Foods, Inc. and author of the soon to be released book The Unopened Gift about the nutritional legacy of African-American slaves. People’s Bank is the event sponsor.
In September 2004, the Project Blueprint Advisory Council completed 12 months of strategic planning and program enhancements. The current class is the first to graduate under the enhanced curriculum. Project Blueprint’s vision is that the governance structure of non-profit boards in Eastern Fairfield County be reflective of our diverse community and the program offers specific training to develop volunteers’ skills. Graduates are well prepared to meet the needs of both non-profit organizations and the communities they serve.
Launched by United Way of America in 1987, the program serves approximately 40 communities nationally. The local program, which is sponsored by The Community's Bank, graduated its first class of volunteer leaders in 1995. To date, Project Blueprint has graduated over 150 individuals, many of whom are now serving on boards throughout our community. A Project Blueprint Advisory Council, comprised of local community leaders and volunteers, has policy-making and oversight responsibility.
Project Blueprint Chair Carolyn Vermont, ABCD, Inc., commended the Project Blueprint Advisory Council's commitment and dedication over the last 12 months. “The goal last year was to refine and improve an already terrific program,” said Vermont. “The graduates are the beneficiaries of this work and I’m pleased to say it is an awesome group. Our local non-profit community is really going to benefit from their new expertise.”
Project Blueprint’s mission is to increase the involvement of historically underrepresented groups, such as Caribbean/African-Americans, Hispanics and Native-Americans, in volunteer and policy-making positions in the non-profit sector of Eastern Fairfield County. To do this, program leaders identify, recruit, train and place individuals on the boards of non-profit organizations in the Greater Bridgeport area. Individuals attend a variety of workshops developed especially for Project Blueprint and participate in community projects designed to enhance knowledge of organizations and to build leadership skills.
Project Blueprint is one of a number of initiatives funded by United Way of Eastern Fairfield County. United Way is in the business of building a stronger, more caring community across Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. Our focus is on what matters. Research and experience tells us that the best way to help the most people is to focus on the root causes of the most serious problems. It takes the whole community - working together- to make that happen. So we bring people together from all across the community - people from government, business, faith groups, nonprofits, and ordinary citizens- to tackle the issues that matter most. United Way is committed to the bottom line results: the lives we change and the communities we shape. Find out more at www.thewaytocare.org
Project Blueprint - Class of 2005
Ina A. Anderson - Retired, City of Bridgeport
Ako Doffou Ph.D., CFA - Sacred Heart University
Magalie Granado - People’s Bank
Maurice S. Hill - Superior Court - Judicial Branch
Chaka N. Felder, M.S. - Bullard Havens Technical High School
Marie E. Jones - Retired, Owens-Brockway
April R. Mack - Bridgeport Housing Authority
Grace W. Moran - The Community’s Bank
Dulce E. Rabines - Bridgeport Hospital
Greg B. Thomas - the aditive
