AGP Executive Report

Community Loss & Care: Josephine “Josie” Faix, a longtime Clarksburg, WV business and philanthropy leader behind “Josie’s Place,” died Feb. 18, remembered for board service and community support. Local Housing Debate: Durango residents question “Lot F” plans for 22 homes after a new Head Start, arguing for more child care and warning about traffic and tree loss. Energy & Schools: Tennessee Valley Authority funding—$210,000 for Jackson’s Community Montessori—targets lower bills with efficient lighting, insulation, and thermostat upgrades. Community Planning: Boston’s Jackson Mann Community Center redevelopment could include housing, with a May 28 meeting set after budget fights. Affordable Homeownership: Nashville’s Housing Fund expands a Community Land Trust model so buyers purchase homes while the trust keeps land costs down. Civic Engagement: Black Political Empowerment Project urges Pittsburgh-area voters to show up in the primary. Community Health: LA County reports record flea-borne typhus cases—more than 200 in 2025—prompting pet and student precautions. Youth & Belonging: Fountain Hills hosts a free June 11 teen video game tournament at the community center.

Community Action Plan: Columbia’s Community Development Committee meets Tuesday to map the 2026–2027 Annual Action Plan, the city’s HUD grant roadmap for housing and neighborhood priorities. Local Hubs & Inclusion: A new community café, Caffi Festri (Vestry Café), opens May 20 in Dinas Cross, aiming to be a welcoming “hub for all the community,” with accessibility built in. Volunteer & Health Support: A Veterans Community Blood Drive runs Monday, June 1 at the American Legion Hall in Sutter Creek, with walk-ins welcome and donors entered for a $10,000 gift card. Community Safety & Crisis Response: Wiikwemkoong leaders announced a tougher drug-violence approach, including conditional removal of serious offenders for at least two years, after recent shootings. Charity in Motion: Enon Music Group launched EMG Cares and its “I Still Believe Tour,” pairing concerts with donations to nonprofits across up to 25 cities. Housing Progress: Atlanta celebrated the grand opening of 111 Moreland, adding 42 affordable rental units in Reynoldstown.

Community Safety Wins: In Colbinabbin, newly installed school-zone lights (turned on April 16) are already boosting driver compliance after years of parent pressure over speeding. Youth & Education Support: The Community Foundation’s Class of 2026 Scholarship Challenge handed out grants to three school districts, backing students who also “pay it forward” to local causes. Healthcare Community Action: Newport Hospital’s Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center is staying open after a community-led campaign, with organizers now pushing for an extra $4.9 million in annual funding. Charity Fundraising Momentum: A Glasgow Race for Life run by two friends diagnosed with cancer weeks apart raised £642,321 for Cancer Research UK, while Collingwood’s 36th Mother of All Yard Sales pulled in $80,000 for local youth programs. Inclusion in Action: Westchester’s Miracle League exhibition game highlighted belonging for players of all abilities on an adaptive field. Food Security Warning: Good Food Scotland says food banks risk becoming “permanent” unless community-run affordable shops get more backing.

Community Power in Action: A Ghana minister used a Krowor community dialogue to push social protection—“no child goes hungry, no older person abandoned”—while residents flagged rising costs, youth unemployment, drug abuse, child neglect, and healthcare gaps. Humanitarian Strategy: Qatar Charity unveiled its 2026–2030 strategy, aiming to deepen institutional capacity and boost humanitarian impact at home and abroad. Local Fundraising & Belonging: Ayrshire Cancer Support is inviting people into a Rocket Monkey 24-hour cycling challenge (May 22–23) to raise money for cancer care. Community Safety, at a Cost: Louisville police say a 4-year-old autistic boy was found dead after a massive neighborhood search, a stark reminder of how quickly community support can turn to grief. Charity With a Pulse: Dartmouth Cancer Center’s Manchester community walk raised about $93,000 for cancer research and patient support. Culture as Community Glue: Great Mission Viva Venezuela will host a cultural meeting May 20 at San Carlos Barracks to strengthen national identity through local arts and community ties.

Community Fundraising & Care: A Fort Pierce community held a vigil for a mother and her 3-year-old son killed in a wrong-way crash, while another child survived and the family is still searching for answers. Charity & Belonging: In Kuantan, government agencies and mosques donated sacrificial cattle for Hari Raya Aidiladha to help families carry out korban rituals and strengthen ukhuwah. Local Pride in Action: Spokane’s Lilac Festival kicked off with the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade festivities, drawing crowds and local vendors. Community Support in Health: Affinia Healthcare ran free screenings for tornado survivors and neighbors, adding Medicaid help plus groceries and hygiene items. Faith Community Hit: In Lodi, Calif., St. Anne’s Catholic Church reported a historic bell stolen early Thursday, leaving parishioners shocked. Civic Life: Springfield Pridefest returned with drag performers, parade, and 120+ vendors in a bid to keep the space safe and inclusive. Community Building: Mattoon’s Fit-2-Serve community garden started volunteer days, aiming for chemical-free growing and feeding local pantries.

Community Health & Care Gaps: Mumbai’s charity push to tackle the paediatric palliative care gap is in motion, while UNC’s outreach work highlights how prostate cancer care gaps persist when services don’t meet communities where they are. Local Remembrance & Support: Tuscaloosa’s community held a prayer vigil for slain nurse Ada Doss, and Monroe, Wisconsin residents are rallying around fire victims with spare rooms and a GoFundMe. Fundraising & Community Pride: Carbon County Community Foundation marks 10 years with an awards celebration, and North Tyneside’s Chris Lucas Trust is set for a top civic honour for decades of cancer research fundraising. Community Policing & Connection: Tortola’s RVIPF plans a “non-enforcement” meet-and-greet on May 29 to build safer ties through conversation. Governance Watch: Tata Trusts says a Charity Commissioner order delayed its May 16 board meeting—another reminder that charity oversight can quickly reshape plans. What’s Next: A Drumfries community clean-up is scheduled for May 19, and a Linnton emergency preparedness event hands out go bags and supplies.

Wildfire & Safety: Fire conditions stayed high to extreme as residents along Hwy 11 in northwestern Ontario faced evacuation orders, with two active fires still “not under control” and officials urging people to avoid the Fort Frances-to-Atikokan area. Community Health & Support: Polk County in Iowa is forming a cancer coalition focused on prevention and timely public information, while Anchorage Park Foundation awarded $300,000 in community-led park grants to improve trails, fields, and murals. Local Services & Trust: Eugene activists renewed calls for Police Chief Skinner’s resignation after body-cam footage showed racist, misogynistic remarks by an officer—while Minneapolis moved ahead on a plan for George Floyd Square’s Peoples’ Way site. Youth & Belonging: Starkville’s library is getting summer program funding from 100 Women Who Care, and Sault Ste. Marie highlights steady community “showing up” through local partnerships and Rotary. Family Events: San Diego’s Port invites families to a free Barrio Logan Bayfront day on May 16, and Cleveland’s Asian Festival returns May 16–17 in AsiaTown. Arts & Community Pride: LA County unveiled a master plan to reimagine the historic General Hospital Campus in Boyle Heights as a “Healthy Village” community hub.

Community Fundraising Surge: Shoppers and Aldi colleagues in the UK helped push Teenage Cancer Trust giving to £13 million, with a new “Walk With Us” challenge and an extra £13,000 donation. Local Arts & Belonging: Iowa City’s Community Band is gearing up for its summer run of free concerts, with new members welcome and rehearsals starting late May. Community Health in Action: Pharr EMS is hosting free Hands-Only CPR and “Stop the Bleed” training plus a blood drive on May 21, while Volusia County EMS schedules two blood drives during National EMS Week. Youth & Mental Health Support: Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly becomes patron of LGBTQ+ youth charity Belong To, and an Irish Association of Korea sunrise walk expands across multiple cities to support mental health and suicide prevention. Crisis & Safety Watch: Gunmen abduct students and a principal from Ahoro-Esinele in Oyo State, and Southern Pines Animal Shelter is overwhelmed after taking in 34 pets in one day—asking the public for help.

AI & Privacy Push: Vermont AG Charity Clark was named co-chair of a national attorneys general committee focused on AI guardrails for kids and consumer privacy, teaming up with Arkansas AG Tim Griffin. Community Safety & Trust: In Warner Robins, Police Week’s “Night of Blue Lights” centered on rebuilding relationships after officer-involved shootings, with officers saying community support can change outcomes in crisis. Local Service Networks: Sioux Lookout is hiring a “Community Navigator” to help residents navigate services early and safely, reducing escalation. Youth, Health, and Giving: Missoula’s Peace Park is moving toward a peace-sign patio with engraved pavers for remembrance. Public Safety Flashpoint: An unloaded firearm was found on North Laurel High School’s campus during a community event; no other weapons were found and one person was questioned. Sports as Community Life: Cape Verde’s Chinese-assisted National Stadium is now a regular training hub for judo and youth discipline.

Community Reopening & Access: Wentworth Library in West St. Paul is back after a year-long renovation, drawing nearly 1,000 people to celebrate new children’s spaces, a sensory-friendly calming room, extra study rooms, and updated tech. Charity & Health: In Enniskillen, the British Heart Foundation shop is urging a “Spring Fling” clear-out of quality unwanted items to fund lifesaving cardiovascular research, while Ballyshannon Community Hospital received a praised HIQA inspection for long-term care compliance. Local Impact & Support: Pagosa’s Second Chance Prom is racing toward a $45,000 goal to keep free youth and family services running, and the Community Foundation DeKalb County highlighted 2025 progress in its annual report, reaching $37M in assets and supporting 159 organizations. Fundraising in Motion: Macmillan’s Mighty Hike on the Norfolk coast has already raised about £1.06M for cancer support. Public Safety & Planning: County officials in Traverse City are seeking input on plans for a new jail and justice facility.

AI Guardrails: Vermont AG Charity Clark was named co-chair of a national attorneys general committee focused on AI, internet safety, and consumer privacy—aiming to set “guardrails” that protect children and shoppers from 24/7 corporate surveillance. Local Food Access: In Tempe’s Daley Park, Community Christian Church keeps feeding people with a pantry that draws unhoused residents via the Orbit bus almost every day. Youth Safety After Tragedy: A Lake Nona teen died days after an e-scooter crash, renewing calls for safer streets and faster prevention. Affordable Housing Pipeline: Wolfeboro’s Lakes Region Community Developers opened applications for Harriman Hill III, a 30-unit affordable complex slated for summer availability. Community Health Capacity: Lutheran Community Services Northwest secured major funding to expand mental health services in Kennewick as local youth counseling wait times stretch months. Civic Trust & Immigration: Sonoma County’s Truth Act forum packed the chambers as residents challenged the sheriff’s ICE communication and demanded more accountability.

Trauma-Informed Care Training: In Huron Perth, Victim Services brought 100 community stakeholders together for a day-long, FNIM-led training on culturally informed responses to trauma and violence—aimed at strengthening equity, anti-racism, and healing practices. Men’s Mental Health Outreach: Anchored Wings is launching a three-evening men’s mental health talk series in June at Hamlet Public School, pairing lived-experience speakers with local support groups to tackle stigma and suicide prevention. Volunteer Drivers Needed: Leeds charity PHAB has reissued an urgent plea for new volunteer minibus drivers—without transport, its weekly social club for disabled and able-bodied members can’t run. Community Fundraising & Belonging: Pagosa’s Second Chance Prom returns May 16 to raise $45,000 for youth and family services, while Selah’s Snack Cart is building a community space for teens with disabilities to belong and work. Safety & Community Impact: Gunmen attacked Yankamaye in Kano State, killing three and forcing residents to flee; locally, Jackson’s Old Hickory Mall is up for sale as residents push for new community uses.

Community Safety & Support: Jackson officials, schools, and police are coordinating for safer graduation events, including enforcing a clear-bag policy. Food Access Under Pressure: In Southern Indiana, neighbors are pushing back on the closure of a library-run food pantry, saying families will lose a vital lifeline. Local Services Expand: Cashmere’s swim team is getting more room for kids this summer after the city approved updated access and scheduling. Volunteer Power: A Penarth food pod is reopening as a low-cost shop to cut stigma while still offering emergency parcels, and it urgently needs volunteers. Community Health & Care: Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital marked 50 years of community care with an open house. Arts & Belonging: Milwaukee’s south side is getting a new Brewers mural meant to reflect the neighborhood’s identity and wellness. Community Media: In Amman, Jordan, the Community Media Network highlighted independent media as a tool for stability and announced renewed international trust for its platforms.

Community Media & Trust: In Amman, Jordan, Radio Al-Balad’s director Etaf Al-Rudan opened the Community Media Network conference, pushing independent media as a tool for social peace—and noting their platforms again earned Reporters Without Borders’ Journalism Trust Initiative certification. Local Giving That’s Moving Fast: Cape Town’s Cableway Charity Challenge already topped about R964,000 for SANParks Honorary Rangers, Ubuntu Football Academy, Volunteer Wildfire Services, and Wilderness Search and Rescue, with pledges still open until May 17. Health & Safety at the Grassroots: Rockford’s 5th Ward launched a new community walking program to build connection through music-themed walks; in Maryland, a Cannabis Awareness event is set for May 14 at a community center with free food and support info. Community Under Strain: Nkpor, Nigeria, is in outrage after an 80-year-old traditional stool aspirant died following a police raid, while Illinois mourns nurse Katherine Torbick after a recorded seven-hour ordeal. Civic Voice: Refugio County’s Beautification Awards named Austwell and the county library, and the chamber is asking residents for input via a public survey.

Local Leadership & Civic Power: Highland Park activist Shamayim “Mama Shu” Harris just announced she’s running for mayor, pitching a citywide “Blight to Beauty” task force and infrastructure fixes after years of community work through Avalon Village. Community Safety & Grief: Seattle is mourning Quusaa “Q” Margarsa, found shot dead at Growler Guys, while Gloucester County, NJ, holds a vigil for a 7-year-old killed after getting off a school bus. Food & Health Support: A new 5K on June 6 will benefit Alliance Community Pantry, and Airdrie’s Hike for Hospice is pushing for local hospice services. Public Space Access: Spokane City Council approved a new public spaces program to streamline permits and expand sidewalk cafes, street eats, and parklets. Education Planning: Austin ISD is restarting community meetings on boundary changes, with no final recommendations yet. Community Building Through Arts & Care: Café S.O.U.L. earned a Citizens Bank Small Business Community Champion Award, and Edmonds is hosting an EMS Week open house with hands-only CPR and free safety items. Ongoing Community Funding: Eastern Bank promoted Yongmei Chen to lead its Community Development Lending Group, continuing affordable housing and nonprofit lending.

Community Media & Press Freedom: In Amman, the Second Regional Community Media Conference urged free, independent community outlets to strengthen social cohesion as wars, restrictions, and AI reshape journalism. Local Safety & Trust: South Simcoe Police kicked off Police Week with two public open houses, letting residents tour facilities and meet officers. Charity Transparency Push: Bahrain approved tighter rules for public fundraising, adding faster permit timelines and stricter reporting to curb misuse. Health Support in Action: Wilmington hosted Parkinson’s Beat It (about 200 attendees) to fund exercise programs, while Richland Library launched a free lactation essentials pilot with support circles. Community Care & Belonging: A Juntendo University piece highlights “ibasho” (community belonging) as a long-term mental health recovery approach after disasters. Local Giving That Lasts: Arkansas’ Greene County Rescue Squad created an endowment with the Arkansas Community Foundation to keep emergency support going. Community Spotlight: Donegal Town explored a Community Alert/Text Alert group with Garda involvement.