Community Development
A strong community offers a rich source of fulfillment and empowerment to all of its members. Strong communities are able to connect all of its members to the resources that fulfill human needs which promote health and well being. Hence, CHEER’s mission is to give people the knowledge and ability to create healthy thriving communities, so that people can experience high quality of life through their own collective efforts.
The importance of the work in our catchment: In working with the community we find many people who are not well connected to others or involved in their communities. They lack the supports and connections to meet many of their needs. Consequently, CHEER conducts outreach to people who are less connected. We make them aware of resources and opportunities. We provide instruction on how to navigate the institutional systems that offer the services they need. We provide training and supports in civic participation and leadership.
Maple Tree Group
The Maple Tree Group is a group of residents from the Maple Avenue buildings in Takoma Park. The group was formed in Spring 2019 for the purposes of bringing together diverse groups, including Ethiopian and other residents, to learn together about community resources and to plan joint activities for their own enrichment and recreation. In the past, The Maple Tree Group conducted activities such as parenting support classes, English conversation classes, nutrition & fitness classes, community picnics, and a teen support group.
Currently, the Maple Tree Group is running a digital media and wellness support program. Partcipants learn essential basic computer skills led by a volunteer IT professional. In addition, participants provide emotional support and give advice to one another while navigating life in a new country.
Gg, CHEER's Maple Tree Outreach Specialist, at a Support for Ethiopian Deaf Community (SEDC) cookout event.
Maple Teens Watching "Inside Out".
CONEXO
CONEXO, is a parent leaders group that CHEER helped to organize. They have been an independent and autonomous community group since 2019. They conduct community clean-ups, block parties, appreciation events, and more. They have been part of the planning and execution process for many Long Branch activities. They have been involved in many advocacy opportunities. For example, community advocacy walks. Members of this group have been instrumental in extending care and service to individuals and families in need in their neighborhood.
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CONEXO members providing free food to the community at Energy in the Park
CONEXO at Takoma Park's National Night Out
A CONEXO member's child performing
community advocacy with Montgomery County Councilmember
Evan Glass during a food distribution
Advocacy Actions in Long Branch in Collaboration With AIM (Action in Montgomery)
CHEER continues to work to advocate with the community on issues like community safety, pedestrian safety, and parking. We helped host a series of meetings to address the implementation of the new parking program in Quebec Terrace. One goal was to address all the questions that residents had about the issue to the representatives from the Department of Transportation. We also invited community members to participate in a public debate. They were able to hear from candidates for Governor and Attorney General talk about their plans regarding affordable housing, education, and climate. The main purpose was to learn more about the importance of political participation to prepare residents to be part of the political life of their communities and the nation.
On November 14th 2022, we worked together to hold a community safety meeting with members of the Takoma Park police department. Commander David McBain and Jacob Newman (SS Regional Director) were the main guests. During this meeting, we discussed the status of the implementation of the security camera program in the county, a report on the current community safety status in Long Branch, and police committment to enforcing the parking program at Quebec Terrace.
On November 16th 2022, we hosted an evening community advocacy walk with Delegate Lorig Charkoudian. This walk took place at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School and surrounding neighborhoods streets down Piney Banch Road. We chose an evening time because it's the time when many problems are "visible". We wanted Delegate Charkoudian to see this. The lack of parking spaces has led to many community safety issues (Ex. tire slashings, physical altercations, verbal threats, car damage, theft of tools & supplies from construction work vans, and residents resorting to sleeping in their cars). We also explored alternatives for solutions and gathered advice about who should be the key people who could help us propose ideas for solutions.
To read the Quebec Terrace Community Meeting Summary, please click here! (Available in English & Spanish)
Food Distribution
CHEER currently hosts 3 food distributions. These food distributions include the general CHEER food distribution, the Takoma Park Food Distribution through Cultural Grocery Stores Pilot Program, and the Community Food Assistance Program (CFA). Our food distributions not only provide things like fresh fruits and vegetables to Long Branch and Takoma Park residents, but also creates a valuable space for the sharing of community input, resources, and events.
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General CHEER Food Distribution: In partnership with Capital Area Food Bank and the Silver Spring Consolidated Services Hub, CHEER currently hosts a once a month food distribution at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School (NHEES) with over 600 families on our list. This distribution used to be biweekly until recent pandemic-related cuts to funding.
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Takoma Park Food Distribution through Cultural Grocery Stores Pilot Program: In January 2025, we started out Food Distribution through Cultural Grocery Stores Pilot Program. With funding support from the City of Takoma Park, CHEER provides monthly vouchers to 50 partcipants to be able to shop at one of two local cultural grocery stores. Our voucher system food distribution allows participants to choose their own culturally relevant foods directly at a local grocery store and eliminates any sense of shame that people may experience if they are picking up boxes or bags at food distributions or food pantries.
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Community Food Assistance Program (CFA): In January 2025, we also started our CFA program. With funding support from the Office of Food Systems Resilience, CHEER currently supplies pre-packaged produce from Hungry Harvest to 300 households. In the spring, the program will change to where participants will receive $20 in monthly tokens or credit to purchase food from either Crossroads Farmers Market or Community FarmShare Mobile Market.
Our food distributions have also become a space for youth empowerment and leadership. Our youth volunteers, many of whom have volunteered for multiple years, have been a huge help in keeping this food distribution running. Here are some pictured below:
Questions?
If you have any other questions about this program, please contact Vanesa Pinto at vanesa@communitycheer.org