2024-02-07T15:12:40-05:00 2023-06-30 A Accounting & Tax Prep LLC 3490 Whitney Ave Suite 204 Hamden CT 06518 990EZ 2022-07-01 850636757 THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION CONN 104 ELM ST Cheshire CT 06410 DIANE COOK CHAIR 2032503312 2023-09-28 true DIANE COOK Thomas Nemet P00068647 2032878868 2024-02-07 X 0 00 AAL2 IAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z X reread-books.org X X 124321 X 40758 7600 102 9489 4288 5201 66372 4327 62045 115706 46103 7700 40137 190 11315 105445 10261 42828 6 53095 X 46572 59734 0 0 3750 3750 50322 63484 7494 10389 42828 53095 SEE SCHEDULE O PAGE 1 SEE SCHEDULE O (PAGES 1-5) 105445 105445 DIANE COOK CHAIR 10.00 0 0 0 KAREN MAJESKI VICE PRESIDENT 5.00 0 0 0 BLAKE KERSEY DIRECTOR 2.00 0 0 0 DAVID PELLETIER TREASURER 2.00 0 0 0 KATHY DEMSEY DIRECTOR 2.00 0 0 0 KIMBERLY GENTILE DIRECTOR 6.00 0 0 0 PENNY LEISRING DIRECTOR 2.00 0 0 0 KELLIE MORAN SECRETARY 2.00 0 0 0 LYNN SALZER DIRECTOR 2.00 0 0 0 JIM BUTLER DIRECTOR 2.00 0 0 0 ALLISON BASS RICCIO DIRECTOR 2.00 0 0 0 HOPE REINHARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 25.00 21504 0 0 ANN EISBACH DIRECTOR 2.00 0 0 0 false false false false false false false false false CT DIANE COOK 104 ELM ST Cheshire CT 06410 2032503312 false false false false false false false false false false false NONE NONE true X 23214 40538 48358 112110 23214 40538 48358 112110 50047 62063 15 102 117 112227 175076 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED General explanation attachment Form 990 Exempt PurposeThe Connecticut Community Empowerment Foundation, Inc. which operates as ReRead Books & More, a used bookseller, raises awareness and acceptance of individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. The Foundation provides advancement of individuals with special needs by providing integrated employment training and job skill development opportunities, and by providing the individuals, their families, and the community with educational and social programs focused on independent living. Part III, Line 28 First AccomplishmentThe Connecticut Community Empowerment Foundation (CCEF) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization was founded in May of 2020. CCEF operates a used bookstore named ReRead Books & More, the store was opened to address the lack of job training and independent living opportunities for individuals with special needs. ReRead Books & More opened its doors to the greater Cheshire community in November of 2020.The need for job training and independent living opportunities escalated and became critical due to the COVID-19 pandemic since young adults with differences were among the first workers to lose jobs. A group of community members who had experienced this crisis first hand, from families directly effected by the lack of opportunity for children with special needs, to professionals in education, transition programs, and occupational therapy recognized the urgent need for innovative and alternatives. The bookstore was founded to offer a host of job training and mentoring opportunities, as well as serving as a social and educational hub to support confidence and independence for individuals with special needs.To Accomplish Its Mission:A. CCEF operates a thriving used bookstore with designated areas for contemporary fiction, memoir, current events, Classics, Young Adult Literature, art, cooking, mystery and thrillers, philosophy, science, poetry, gardening and crafts. A large central table has been setup in the store for themed displays, bookclub meeting, and presentations by authors. The bright and welcoming childrens area features a colorful rug a large bench with pillows, shelves and baskets of books accessible to children, along with a table for crafts. This space also accommodates childrens parties, seasonal activities for children, and a weekly story time. The bookstore also has a nearby Annex where donated books are received, sanitized, evaluated, and organized for sale. The Annex also houses an online e-commerce program where books are scanned for value and then shipped to customersB. CCEF offers integrated employment training, through a collaboration with Quinnipiac Universitys Occupational Therapy Department, which provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a work environment with the coaching and mentoring supports needed not only for future employment, but which can be transferred to many other situations and contexts such as independent living, social events, recreational activities, and overall quality of life. ReReads Guide to Integrated Employment Training (2022 edition) prepared by Dr. Karen Majeski, OTD/OTR/L, in concert with the Quinnipiac University Occupation Program details specific skills, coaching guidelines, and assessments. This guide is available to educators, students and the general public. C. Provides job skill training, according to cognitive or development needs, in 5 settings. 1) ReRead Books job skill training includes customer service, register, alphabetizing books, story time, tours for visiting groups, assistance with events, answering the phone, setting up displays and decorations, record keeping, and making posters and videos for events. 2) The Annex job skill training includes warehouse skills, accepting donations, sanitizing books, inventory, and organizing books. 3) Online and E-Commerce Book Sales job training includes scanning books, selecting books, entering data, record keeping, and packaging for shipment 4) Community Social Events job skill training includes explaining our mission to visitors, greeting guests, setting up tables and chairs, participating in the events (sometimes in seasonal costume), cleaning up after the event. 5) Farm Market, June through October, job skill training includes greeting vendors, setting up displays, making change, record keeping and clean-up.D. Hosts monthly community-wide, special needs friendly events that attract, engage and inform adults and children. These monthly events attract between 75 to 250 participants from throughout CT, and include seasonal holiday programs, author talks and workshops, Friday evening outdoor concerts in the summer, educational programs, and fairs with local artists and illustrators. Two major events draw significant crowds of 500+: The Writers Festival in the Fall features 20 Connecticut-based authors and The December Holiday Stroll of arts, crafts, ensemble music, local Capella groups, and festive wreaths, trees and menorahs.E. Serves as a fieldwork site for Quinnipiac University Occupational Therapy graduate students which is an integral part of the occupational therapy education experience, allowing students to apply clinical reasoning and practice skills, build professional relationships with future co-workers and community members and clientele, and transition from student to entry-level OT practitioner. The exact day-to-day tasks of students may look different depending on what projects they are working on. However, they work towards the same goals: the ability to educate others about the role and value of OT, engagement with others in OT related activities and tasks, the development of professional and therapeutic relationships, demonstration of evidence-based treatment guidelines, and the transition from student to entry-level practitioner.F. Maintains active contact with the public through its website and social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram and Tic Tok), and E-Blasts, as well as traditional public relations and advertising methods. Stories about the organization have been featured on Connecticut television stations WTNH, WTIC-TV and WVIT, along with newspaper articles which have been published in the Harford Courant, New Haven Register, Republican-American and Record Journal G. Collaborates with and supports other regional organizations and communities that serve those with special needs.H. ReRead Books & More was honored by the Cheshire Community YMCA and received the Social Responsibility Award. YMCA CEO, Mark Pooler said, ReRead is an amazing addition to our community. Not only is it a great bookstore, but it provides young adults with special needs a much needed place of belonging. The Connecticut Community Empowerment Foundation is located in Cheshire, CT, in New Haven County, a predominately suburban area, and serves almost 10,000 visitors from throughout New England each year. Approximately 75% of our visitors come from within Connecticut.The Connecticut Community Empowerment Foundation resources include a Board of Directors of 17 community leaders, 4 part-time staff, and a network of 40-50 dedicated volunteers, as well as university-based interns. Among The Connecticut Community Empowerment Foundations collaborative relationships are other nonprofits and educational institutions. These include the Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, Inc. for Young Adults with Autism, the Quinnipiac University Transition Program, the Cheshire CT Board of Education, Best Buddies, Special Olympics, the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, ReSet Social Enterprise Trust, Quinnipiac University Occupation Therapy and MBA programs, Marrakesh, Inc, Cheshire Friends of the Library, Cheshire High School, Cheshire Academy, CT Sustainability, Loris Truth and Read to Grow, Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA, Artsplace Performing & Fine Arts, and St. Peters Episcopal Church, Cheshire. Description of other expenses Part I line 16 Description AmountINSURANCE 1,290COMMUNITY OUTREACH 520OFFICE EXPENSES AND SUPPLIES 2,725COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE 1,150ADVERTISING 439EDUCATION 248MISC FEES AND TAXES 353DUES AND MEMBERSHIPS 244STORE EXPENSES 4,212MEALS AND ENTERTAINMENT 134 Other changes in net assets or fund balances Part I line 20 Description AmountNET ASSETS PREVIOUS YEAR 6 Description of other assets Part II line 24 Category Beginning of Year End of YearPROGRAM REVENUE RECEIVABLE 3,750 3,750 Description of total liabilities Part II line 26 Category Beginning of Year End of YearSALES TAX PAYABLE 896 982GIFT CARDS OUTSTANDING 4,620 6,524ACCRUED EXPENSES 1,978 2,883