Strengthening Our Community Ties

Dear TRC Family,

As we enter the summer months, I want to reflect on where we are as an organization - and as a community. The Renaissance Collaborative was founded on the principle that everyone deserves access to opportunity, stability, and dignity, as we strive for self-sufficiency. That principle is more important than ever.

We are living in a moment of serious tension and transition. Across the nation, we see growing threats to the public systems meant to support our most vulnerable. Funding for social services, affordable housing, mental health care, and workforce development is not only shrinking in some places - it is being strategically undermined. As proposals to scale back these critical lifelines continue to emerge, we are reminded of the urgent need for community - to stand up and serve as the safety net to ensure our most vulnerable are not lost. Solutions need to be grounded in partnership, resilience, and local power.

In this political climate, our work becomes even more essential. At The Renaissance Collaborative, we are not just a service provider - we are a community anchor. And we cannot shoulder this work alone. Now more than ever, it takes a network of support, from city leaders and philanthropic partners to neighborhood volunteers and community residents, to ensure the promise of equity is not lost in the cracks of policy rollbacks.

That’s why the strength of our partnerships and the trust within our communities matter so deeply. As government safety nets are threatened, the community safety net must stretch further and be woven tighter.

This reflection is also shaped by our recent celebration of Juneteenth - a powerful reminder that “justice too long delayed is justice denied”. Juneteenth teaches us about the long road from proclamation to liberation, from paper promises to lived reality. Our organization exists to bridge those very gaps. We work each day to help individuals - often left behind by systems - reclaim stability, self-worth, and self-respect, all with the ultimate goal to build strong community.

And we do so in a building with a story: the historic Wabash YMCA, a place of Black resilience and leadership during the Great Migration. That legacy is not abstract, it is in our walls, our mission, and the people we serve.

Organizational Goals: Summer 2025
As we look to the months ahead, The Renaissance Collaborative is prioritizing the following efforts:

1. Maintain 95% Housing Occupancy:
   We will continue collaborating closely with our partners to ensure our housing units are fully utilized - providing stable, affordable homes to those in greatest need.

2. Expand Strategic Partnerships:
   Our goal is to grow and diversify our collaborations - broadening access to essential services for both residents and the wider community, across all TRC locations.

3. Increase Awareness and Resource Capacity:
   Through strategic marketing and storytelling, we will raise the visibility of our mission, honor the legacy of the historic former Wabash YMCA, and attract new streams of funding. At the same time, we are committed to investing in our staff—equipping them with the tools and support needed to continue delivering exceptional work.

As the summer unfolds, I invite each of you to see yourselves as part of this much-needed movement. We are stronger when we show up for one another, when we connect across institutions and streets, and when we believe that a just, vibrant, and inclusive community is possible.

Thank you for being part of the TRC family - and for walking this journey with us.
 

With purpose and appreciation, 

Oji Eggleston
Executive Director