Tempe City Council recently met with leaders from the Tempe Community Council to discuss the nonprofit’s vision, priorities and accomplishments recorded during the year so far.
Several members from TCC’s board gave presentations during the council’s Feb. 10 meeting regarding the group’s work in fiscal year 2024-25, highlighting services the group provides, its outreach to the community, its financial health and more.
TCC has been a long term partner of the city, providing various human services to address Tempe’s needs. Board Chair Nicole Spracale said during the meeting the group’s mission is to connect those in need with those who care.
“Tempe Community Council does this by convening community, conducting research, determining priorities, implementing effective programs and exemplifying prudent stewardship of resources,” Spracale said.
The group’s strategic priorities, developed by the board about four years ago, are focused on people, resources and programs and partnerships.
Executive Director Octavia Harris went over accomplishments the group recorded during the past fiscal year, showing how their work has supported TCC’s strategic priorities such as increasing TCC’s brand identity through brand communication.
“There were communication goals that were established with action plans to engage more of the community and the awareness of TCC, as well as volunteering for TCC and just really making more people aware of who TCC is and what we do in the community,” Harris said.
Some examples Harris pointed to were collaborations with the Downtown Tempe Authority for things like the Tempe Blooms installation, and its engagement with the Tempe Chamber of Commerce on its Women in Business Council.
Other accomplishments included successful fundraising activities, hiring marketing and events staff, increasing and maintaining board diversity, and increasing the diversity of its volunteer base.
TCC offers a range of supports for students, adults and seniors. Programs highlighted were Threadz, Open Horizons, Teen Triple P Positive Parenting, Vita Tax Site, the Tempe Coalition and the TCC Agency Review.
The Threadz program, for example, helps to eliminate inequities students may face with their appearance, cleanliness and preparedness by ensuring students have access to the clothes and supplies needed for success.
The Tempe Coalition is focused on reducing youth risk behaviors and promoting health and wellness through community awareness, education, advocacy and resources.
Tempe Councilmember Berdetta Hodge thanked TCC for its work, specifically pointing to the impact Threadz has with local students.
“Everything that you do within the Tempe Union High School District and the collaboration between it, I’ve first-hand witnessed how that impacts our kids, our students, and it is a great impact,” Hodge said.
Spracale also touched on challenges TCC is facing, pointing to increasing numbers of lower-income households struggling to meet basic needs with housing, food, clothing and personal care costs being higher.
She also noted that the city is facing a budget shortfall because of rental and sales tax reduction, so TCC is encouraging continued collaboration with the community to ensure the group can continue to provide its services.
Board Treasurer Nick Tomashot gave an overview of TCC’s financial health, noting that the group’s financial stewardship and strength of its financial reserves demonstrate that TCC is an established organization that donors and partner agencies can trust to provide continued support to the community.
In TCC’s FY 2023-24 financial audit, it recorded $1.9 million in assets by the end of the year, with a surplus of $81,000 in net assets. TCC had $1.7 million in revenue for the fiscal year with $1.6 million in expenses.
TCC Board Vice Chair Rabbanni FurQaan covered the partnerships TCC maintains for funding, which consists of the Tempe Community Foundation, the Together Tempe Voluntary Donation and the Healthy Giving Campaign.
Following his presentation, Mayor Corey Woods and the rest of council expressed their support for TCC’s efforts, specifically with Together Tempe. They collectively committed to support and actively participate in Together Tempe’s 2025 fundraising goal of $25,000.
“Absolutely count me in to assist you in raising that,” Woods said.
Council plans to participate through personal contributions, encouraging residents to participate, reaching out to large businesses in Tempe, working with the chamber to engage the business community and incorporating youth engagement.
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Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
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Tempe Councilmember Berdetta Hodge thanked TCC for its work, specifically pointing to the impact Threadz has with local students.
Following his presentation, Mayor Corey Woods and the rest of council expressed their support for TCC’s efforts, specifically with Together Tempe. They collectively committed to support and actively participate in Together Tempe’s 2025 fundraising goal of $25,000.
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