Davis 30 August 2013 To: Brandon Forbes, Barbie Arroyo, and Dean Williams (Project Supervisors) Cc: Katherine

Chamberlain, Coro Fellows Director From: Larissa Davis, 2014 Coro Fellow Subject: This memo outlines the deliverables to be completed during an eight-week placement at the Office of City Councilman Bruce Kraus. Executive Summary: Elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2011, Councilman Kraus represents the residents of District Three neighborhoods (South Side Flats, South Side Slopes, Beltzhoover, Knoxville, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Allentown, Mount Oliver, Central Oakland, South Oakland, and Saint Clair) in Pittsburgh, PA. Councilman Kraus key legislations carry a focus on civil rights and quality of life. In regards to his commitment to these areas, since 2011, Councilman Kraus and his staff (Brandon Forbes, Policy Director and Barbie Arroyo, Constituent Services Coordinator) have ardently supported Pittsburghs Formerly Convicted Citizens Project and its director, Dean Williams. The Formerly Convicted Citizens Project is a not-for-profit organization that works to remove barriers and encourage the full participation in society of citizens with prior convictions. The Formerly Convicted Citizen Project (FCCP) originated as a Pittsburgh extension of the Philadelphia-based X-Offenders for Community Empowerment, also known at XCE. The XCE received a $150,000 monetary and in-kind grant from the Falk Foundation (Pittsburgh, PA) in 2011 to fund the extension into the Pittsburgh area. At the time of its formation, the FCCP was almost exclusively an advocacy organization. The Falk Foundation hired Dean Williams, an advocate for formerly convicted citizens, to assume the role as the director and sole employee of the project. Director Williams focused primarily on passing Ban the Box legislation, which removed the check box asking about an applicants criminal record during on the initial application phase, for the city of Pittsburgh. Williams initiated a significant amount of community organizing and successfully garnered community council and district representative support for the Ban the Box legislation. The ordinance for the city of Pittsburgh passed in early 2013. Director Williams also expanded his initial job description and committed a substantial amount of time to delivering workshops and organizing. In doing so, he partnered with the Urban League of Pittsburgh to educate people about the expungement and pardon process, and the Dusquesne Law School Clinic to provide assistance to persons applying to have their criminal records expunged or pardoned. Although the FCCP is still supportive of new efforts by legislators to pass a similar Ban the Box ordinance on the county level, since March 2013, it has expressed interest in continuing education- and community resource-focused aspects of the organization.

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Davis The FCCP has already taken some of the thought-based steps (e.g. discussing ideas with key stakeholders) to restructure the organization with an outlook towards sustainability and increasing community impact. Thus, the FCCP has organization leaders from the government and private non-profit arenas to sit on its board, applied for 501(c)3 status, and solicited outside help in supporting the organizations current work and visioning for the future. In Spring 2013, the Falk Foundation funding for the FCCP ended. Consequently, organization is in need of a new, concrete strategic plan as well as revenue sources to fund it. One key fuel that the FCCP has in a bountiful amount is passion and commitment to its cause: helping persons with criminal records to be fully integrated into Pittsburghs social fabric. This fuel as well as numerous others will be imperative to the FCCPs expansion and continued presence as a critical resource in the greater Pittsburgh area. Project Objectives: Over the course of eight weeks, the Coro Fellow, Larissa Davis, will serve as a project manger of the upcoming FCCP grant application. Larissa will be responsible for helping the FCCP articulate its focus and develop a strategic plan for moving forward. These items will be used in drafting a template letter of inquiry and framework for a grant application on behalf of the FCCP. In order to accomplish these objectives, Larissa will reach out to community members, organization leaders, local grant-making foundation administrators, subject matter experts, and others. Throughout the project period, Larissa will work closely with the FCCP Director, Dean Williams, at every step of the process. Director Williams and other FCCP stakeholders will retain fully autonomy over the intellectual and implementation aspects of the organizations development. Larissa will serve as a catalytic resource to those committed to the organization for the long haul. In addition to presenting her placement work to other Coro participants and staff, Larissa will present her work and the future direction of the FCCP to the Pittsburgh City Council, which will be recorded and aired on local Pittsburgh city television. Outcomes: 1. Evaluate information gleaned from the conversations with the FCCP director and board members, affiliated community organization, and stakeholders. 2. Compose new documents articulating the focus of the FCCP and key aspects of its needed strategic plan. 3. Compile research literature on organizations similar to the FCCP and (Pittsburgh) data relevant to developing its strategic plan. 4. Research the grant-making process for various types of institutions; attend Carnegie library workshops; and seek help from subject matter experts. 5. Explore possible grant-making organizations that the FCCP could use for seed funding, in-kind benefits, and/or other ways to allay the costs of it current programs. 6. Serve as conduit to the FCCP and other organization stakeholders.

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Davis 7. Leave thorough and useful paper and/or electronic documentation for the FCCP to continue to use after the placement period. 8. Draft a template letter of inquiry and framework for an FCCP grant application.

Learning Goals: 1. Gain an understanding of non-profit strategic planning and organizational development. 2. Grow my understanding of the grant application process. 3. Start to develop an acumen for serving as a connector amongst people and organizations. Process: Week 1 (August 27-30) 1. Attending briefing meeting with Councilman Kraus staff and FCCP Director Dean Williams (8/27) 2. Examine FCCP documents and research grant application process. 3. Meet with FCCP board members (8/29) 4. Attend Southwestern Pennsylvania Re-entry Coalition (SPARC) meeting (8/30) 5. Reach out to Coro for subject matter experts 6. Schedule meetings with FCCP stakeholders for the following weeks. Week 2 (September 2-6) 1. Meet with Kerry ODonnell from the Falk Foundation (9/2) 2. Meet with resource librarian/staff member of The Foundation Center at Carnegie Library (9/3) 3. Work closely with Director Williams; discuss FCCP vision. 4. Meet with Duquesne Law Clinic Director Tracy McCantus. 5. Continue open communication with Councilman Kraus Office. 6. Schedule meetings with FCCP stakeholders for the following weeks. Week 3 (September 9-13) 1. Work closely with Director Williams to narrow down FCCP focus. 2. Lay down needed components of FCCP strategic plan. 3. Attend free grant workshop at Carnegie Library (Building the Bottom Line & Nonprofit Sustainability, 9/11) 4. Attend Urban League/FCCP expungment and pardon workshop (9/13) 5. Phone Conference with Pittsburgh-based non-profit consultant 6. Continue open communication with Councilman Kraus Office. Week 4 (September 16-20) Coro Fellows Project Placement Memo 3

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1. Reflect on progress thus far and recalibrate if needed in order to achieve objectives, deliverables, and learning goals. 2. Write letter of inquiry draft. 3. Draft Memorandum of Understanding between Future Champs Resource Center, Inc. and FCCP. 4. Meet with other FCCP stakeholders. 5. Attend free grant workshops at Carnegie Library (Grantseeking Basics: An Orientation for Nonprofits, 9/20) 6. Continue to work closely with Director Williams 7. Continue open communication with Councilman Kraus Office. Week 5 (September 23-27) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Review/revise letter of inquiry draft. Map data of workshop participants (2012-present) Meet with other FCCP stakeholders. File relevant information for grant application. Continue to work closely with Director Williams Continue open communication with Councilman Kraus Office.

Week 6 (September 30-October 4) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Review/revise letter of inquiry draft. Draft grant application framework Map data of workshop participants (2012-present) Continue to work closely with Director Williams Continue open communication with Councilman Kraus Office.

Week 7 (October 7-11) 1. Review/revise grant application framework 2. Continue to work closely with Director Williams 3. Continue open communication with Councilman Kraus Office. Week 8 (October 14-16) 1. Help Future Champs Resource Center, Inc./FCCP location set up (10/14) 2. Finalize letter of inquiry template, grant application framework, and ongoing project plans. 3. Compile and handover all project related materials (legacy documents) and instructions on their use. 4. Brief project supervisors, director, and FCCP stakeholders on the status of the project. 5. Ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the project status and points of contact for future progress. Coro Fellows Project Placement Memo 4

Davis 6. End of placement presentation (10/18)

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