October 2024 Newsletter

Live, Work, Thrive

Your Update. Your Impact.

A Note from Jay Coburn, President & CEO

One of the strongly held values in the community development sector is the importance of engaging the people served in setting the organization’s priorities. This value is grounded in the belief that for community development initiatives to be effective, residents, clients and community members must have a seat at the table to identify and solve the challenges that create barriers to people being able to live, work and thrive on the Lower and Outer Cape.

At the CDP we are committed to embracing this value, particularly as we work over the coming year to develop a new six-year strategic plan. At the end of September, members of our Board of Directors and senior members of our staff participated in a four-hour Board-Staff retreat to kick off the strategic planning process. A Strategic Planning Committee, working with our talented consultant, Melissa Oomer designed a half-day session that allowed us to develop a deeper understanding of our current programming. With a deeper understanding of our existing programs, we were then able to imagine what our community could look like in 2040, and how we got there, if we fulfilled our mission to lead the Lower and Outer Cape in building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive here.

Over the coming year, the Board will continue to meet to update our strategies to fulfill our mission. Part of the work ahead will be to engage the people we serve, business and community leaders, and non-profit and government partners in an evaluation of our ongoing efforts. In the coming months we anticipate conducting key informant interviews, focus groups, and surveys.

I welcome hearing your thoughts and observations about our programming and the work ahead of us as we address the region’s housing affordability crisis, nurture small businesses, and work with our partners to address the impact of gentrification and income inequality in our region. Please feel free to email me and share what is on your mind.

We anticipate releasing a six-year plan a year from now that embraces new strategies and empowers members of our community to build a stronger and more diverse community in this special place we call home.

Jay Coburn

President & Chief Executive Officer

With Sincere Thanks

An Interview with Gwen Pelletier

"It has only become harder to find housing. It is important that we do more to help people stabilize their lives so they can contribute to our community."

– Gwen Pelletier, retired CDP President and CEO

Gwen Pelletier, the CDP's CEO and President from 1994 to 2006, successfully guided and positioned the CDP to become the vital community resource it is today. She was a visionary who saw the challenges our year-round community was facing before many others and got to work.

Gwen Pelletier (left) and CEO Jay Coburn present the Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service to Elaine McIlroy, Chair of the Wellfleet Housing Authority, at the 2023 CDP Annual Meeting.

When we recently caught up with Gwen, she shared that she plans to move closer to her son, Traven, in Michigan, where he runs a successful landscape design company. We will miss her and want to express our sincere appreciation for all her contributions to our community. She has been a champion, a steadfast partner, and a generous friend of the CDP. She continues to give us the energy and confidence to pursue our mission and continue this hard work.

Supporting Local Business Owners

CDP Referral Program Supports Small Business

"The CDP offers an invaluable service for those who are starting and don't know

what's most important, who to ask, where to find help, and more."

– Mariah Fidalgo, co-Founder and Owner of the Wild Water Collective

Have you ever purchased or used a service based solely on recommendations from others?

The CDP's success in reaching and serving more small business owners is largely due to word of mouth. We are thrilled when a small business owner mentions that they learned about the CDP through a family member, friend, colleague, acquaintance, or one of our community partners. One of the most valuable referrals we receive is from small business owners who have had positive, first-hand experiences working with us.

One such client is Mariah Fidalgo (pictured right), the owner of Wild Water Collective in Orleans. Mariah has been a CDP client since 2021. She often refers friends and acquaintances seeking business help and resources to the CDP.

Read more about the Wild Water Collective.

CDP Referral Program

Help us spread the word to potential new small business clients, make connections, and support small businesses.

Anyone can make a referral and become eligible for our monthly gift card drawing and win a gift card to a local businesses.

Visit the Business & Credit page on our website for more information.

Housing Matters

Affordable Housing Glossary, A to Z

After Labor Day, the CDP's Housing Advocacy team begins its “school year.”

The Lower Cape Housing Institute (LCHI) begins its curriculum by holding the Fall Peer Group and hosting its first workshop, Housing 101. Project 365 members gear up for their advocacy efforts. Our First-Time Homebuyer Workshops resume. It's a perfect time for a refresher on all things affordable housing. Which statewide organizations should be on our radar? Which confusing housing terms could use a little clarification?

What follows is an excerpt of the CDP’s Glossary of Housing Terms and Acronyms. Please read on to familiarize yourself with and refresh your knowledge of using terms like a pro. For more information on our housing programs and to get involved, contact contact Amanda Bebrin, CDP Director of Housing Advocacy at amanda@capecdp.org.

Read more about the Affordable Housing Glossary, A to Z.

Your support and involvement are invaluable. Thank you for making our work possible and significantly impacting our community.

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