OHIO URBAN COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK

THE CATALYST FOR CREATING THE OHIO URBAN COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK IN 1985 WAS TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR THOSE WHO DIDNT HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. OUR FOUNDERS SAW A NEED TO SUPPORT THE AGENCIES IN THE STATE WHO SERVE COMMUNITIES FACING DEEP, GENERATIONAL, AND SYSTEMIC ISSUES. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER OHIOS URBAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES THROUGH EDUCATION, NETWORKING, AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. OUCAN UNIQUELY BLENDS VARIOUS STATEWIDE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE KEY PROGRAMS FOR THE URBAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY NETWORK, ITS LEADERS, AND STAFF. THE NETWORK IS FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED THROUGH ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND A MYRIAD OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS, GRANTS, AND PROGRAM REVENUE. IN 2024, OUCAN STRENGTHENED ITS OVERALL ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND MISSION IMPACT THROUGH ITS 2022-2025 STRATEGIC PLAN: STRENGTHENED THE NETWORKS MARKETING AND REBRANDING AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT CAMPAIGN THROUGH KEY PARTNERSHIPS, INCREASE STATEWIDE VISIBILITY AND PUBLIC POLICY ENGAGEMENT. SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED RE-IMAGINE OURS CAMPAIGN AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OHIO URBAN COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK. STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS FOR NEXT THREE YEARS: ESTABLISHED A COLLECTIVE IDENTITY BY BUILDING ON RECOGNITION IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHO OUCAN IS AND WHAT OUCAN DOES. OUCAN RESOURCE GENERATION BY INCREASING THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL OF OUCAN THROUGH AN ABBREVIATED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY INCLUDING THE GROWING INVESTMENT PLAN. STRENGTHENED COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS BY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE ECOSYSTEM OF URBAN POVERTY REDUCTION, FOCUSING ON THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO BENEFIT FROM OUCANS TRAINING, ADVOCACY, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES. BUILD A REPOSITORY OF OUCAN NETWORK BEST-PRACTICES AND CODIFYING AND PACKAGING BEST PRACTICES THAT DISTINGUISH THE WORK OF OUCAN SO THAT THE NETWORK CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THESE BEST PRACTICES AND OTHER URBAN NETWORKS CAN LEARN FROM THESE BEST PRACTICES SUCH AS THE ANNUAL REPORTS. IN ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR PROMOTING THE NETWORKS ADVOCACY AGENDA, OUCAN BOLDLY EXECUTED ITS GOALS, MOST NOTABLY, THE NETWORKS INFLUENCE IN THE PASSAGE OF THE STATES 2024-2025 BUDGET RESULTING IN 2,500 PER CHILD STATE TAX DEDUCTION, CONTINUOUS FUNDING OF OHIO HOUSING TRUST FUND AND SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO REDUCE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN WAGES AND OCCUPATIONAL CLUSTERING. THESE IMPORTANT PILLARS ARE PART OF THE OUCAN ADVOCACY AGENDA PRIORITIES