About Us
CDF Action: Transform. Collaborate. Act.
At CDF Action, we believe the process is equally as important as the results. At the core of everything we do is the desire to listen, engage and act with intention.
Our programs focus on early learning and literacy opportunities for residents & families in Clarkston and the surrounding areas. CDF also provides consultation to communities and groups interested in our approach.
CDF: A Collective Action Initiative is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2010. We work to connect and engage the diverse residents of Clarkston, GA by helping residents recognize and develop their assets and assist them in creating activities and services that benefit the community.
OUR MISSION
CDF engages residents and partners to craft innovative, culturally sound, community-driven education initiatives, building on community assets. Our mission is to transform education so that all Clarkston children and youth will be nurtured, supported, and prepared to learn – from before they enter kindergarten through post secondary education.
We work to accomplish this mission by:
- Engaging families and the community in the education of their children and youth;
- Mobilizing resources and opportunities for families to be leaders and advocates;
- Enhancing or expanding existing early learning and kindergarten through 12th grade programs, practices or policies; and
- Developing new, innovative, multi-lingual/multi-cultural, resident-driven/informed, early learning and Kindergarten through 12th grade programs, practices, or policies.
Our vision is that Clarkston, Georgia, will be a thriving, vibrant, and diverse community where all residents’ voices are heard and where all community members work together to transform education.
OUR APPROACH
CDF believes relationships matter and residents will support what they help create. CDF helps communities move ideas into actions. CDF:
- Listens. CDF convenes and facilitates conversations with residents – including those who speak different languages – so that they have the opportunity to share their vision and ideas about education in Clarkston.
- Connects. CDF links residents to opportunities and resources – both building on existing local assets and serving as a catalyst to mobilize new resources.
- Equips. CDF equips residents, particularly parents, with the skills (a) become (a) engaged leaders in the education of their children and youth and (b) help shape education policies, programs, and practices.
- Acts. CDF facilitates decision-making processes leading to actions.
- Evaluates. CDF uses data and evaluation to inform our practice.
- Shares. CDF communicates the strategies, results, and lessons learned from CDF’s community building, decision-making processes, and education work with others, inside and outside of Clarkston.
- Mr. Jon Abercrombie, Director, Common Focus
- Ms. Alecia Asbury, Business Operations, Georgia Career Information Center, Georgia State University
- Ms. Cynthia Dorsey Edwards, Vice President, Edwards & Associates, Inc.
- Mr. Awet Eyasu, Vice Mayor, Clarkston City Council
- Dr. Heval Kelli, Cardiologist, Emory University
- Mr. Jeremy Lewis, Executive Director, Urban Recipe
- Mr. Randy Martin, Adjunct Faculty for Organization and Management, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
- Mr. Bill Moon, Educator; Principal, International Community School, retired
- Ms. Wendy Silver, Consultant, Fund Development
Roberta Malavenda
Executive Director
Flo Shephey
Financial Manager
The work we do would not be possible without the valuable partners and relationships we have in the community. Many thanks to our strategic partners:
- United Way of Greater Atlanta
- Early Learning Property Managemen
- Scottdale Early Learning
- City of Clarkston
- DeKalb County
- Refugee Women’s Network
- Women Watch Afrika
- Clarkston Library
- New American Pathways
- Georgia State University
- Emory University
- Somali American Community Center
- Syrian Community Network
- CPACS
- Muslim Voter Project
- The Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA)
- Refugee Family Literacy – Friends of Refugees
- Clarkston Culture Fest
- CDI Head Start
- Georgia Piedmont Technical College
- Early Learning Scholars
- Clarkston First Baptist Academy
- Giselle Learning Academy
- Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia
- Civitas Strategies
