CityTeam

?? A heartfelt congratulations to the fantastic graduates of our CityTeam San Jose women's program! These courageous women have faced immense challenges, such as homelessness and substance abuse, yet have emerged stronger. Their resilience shined through in every story shared during the ceremony. Thank you to Central Christian Church for hosting this special event, leading us in worship, and standing beside us as partners in this transformation journey. Because of volunteers, staff, and the unyielding spirit of our graduates, we continue to witness profound, life-altering change. The journey forward may be long, but today, we honor these new beginnings. ?? #CityTeamSanJose #WomensProgram #GraduationDay #Resilience #NewBeginnings #Transformation #Hope #CommunitySupport

??? Our San Jose Men's Program had an incredible camping trip casting lines, getting in the water, and sharing moments by the campfire. By uniting in brotherhood, they grow their community of sobriety. Together, they create a space where growth and transformation happen every day. This trip wasn’t just an escape; it was a reminder of continued life beyond addiction ?? #CityTeam #MensProgram #Sobriety #Brotherhood #HopeBeyondAddiction #HealingOutdoors #Community

"When I was three months pregnant, I found myself homeless and in an abusive relationship with my child’s father. I was really struggling to keep up with my coursework and attend my classes daily. My sister helped me to find resources and she came across CityTeam Heritage Home. I called CityTeam, did an intake, and moved in June 2023. The day after I gave birth, I also graduated from cosmetology school. At [CityTeam] Heritage Home, I found stability, safety, and lifelong friendships. I am a first-time mom, so parenting class was very helpful. I learned how to care for my daughter and support her development. Empowerment Class helped me find confidence and taught me how to love myself. Last month, my daughter and I moved out of Heritage Home and into our own apartment. The day before we moved out, I passed my state board exam and became a licensed manicurist! I will forever be grateful for Heritage Home and all this program has done for me." -Gabriella and Kalani, CityTeam Heritage Home Graduates ?????? #journeys #nextchapter #newmom #babyjourney #motherandbaby #journeyoflife #celebratefreedom

Last Friday, HomeFirst hosted a fantastic community resource fair! Attendees had the opportunity to connect with a wide range of services, including ??Medical ??Financial ??Housing ??Mental health ??Employment support ???Information on inclement weather Highlights of the event included two food trucks serving complimentary hot meals, DMV services, and a laundry and shower bus! ? A huge thank you to CityTeam, Santa Clara Family Health Plan, CA Vehicle DMV Services, Bill Wilson Center, Cal Fresh, Catholic Charities USA, Dignity on Wheels, Gardner Health Services, County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services, LEABsv Info, Nation's Finest, Destination: Home, Downtown Youth Wellness Center, Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, The Salvation Army, Bay Area Community Health, and the County of Santa Clara for your support and attendance. Your involvement is crucial in our mission to end homelessness. ? Stay tuned for the announcement of our next Community Resource Fair—we look forward to seeing you there!

?? Cheers to the fantastic new graduates of our CityTeam San Jose men's program! These resilient individuals have faced challenges head-on, overcoming substance use and homelessness to embrace a brighter future filled with hope. We also celebrated a surprise proposal during the ceremony—congrats to the happy couple! ?? Special thanks to Echo for hosting the ceremony, leading us in worship, and their overall invaluable partnership. With the support of our dedicated volunteers and staff, we’ve witnessed our graduates achieve incredible transformations. Here’s to new beginnings! ?? #CityTeamSanJose #GraduationDay #Resilience #NewBeginnings #Transformation #Hope #CommunitySupport #SurpriseProposal #Congrats

"I have always been determined and strong-willed. I married young, had children, graduated college, and worked in a well-respected profession. From the outside looking in, I lived a seemingly well-adjusted and productive life. However, my marriage was toxic and abusive to the point that it almost killed me. Inside, I struggled with depression, deep insecurities, and feeling completely lost and unsatisfied. I went deep into a dark walk with alcohol, drugs, and other unhealthy behaviors. I became a shell of a person and did not know who I was or where my values and integrity went. Being at [CityTeam] House of Grace, I was able to connect with God and build a relationship with him that finally filled the emptiness that nothing else could. It took a God-centered village to raise this broken and lost child. My village includes my family, my beautiful children, the case managers, and the women who live in my community. I would not be the transformed woman you see before you without their love and support. I cling to the power of God through all my future blessings and lessons." -Shelley, CityTeam House of Grace Graduate ???? #journeys #nextchapter #sobrietyjourney #sobermotivation #journeyoflife #celebratefreedom

?? Thank you, Splunk Marketing team, for volunteering at CityTeam San Jose! We appreciate corporations like Splunk, who take time out of their workday to make a difference in their community. A special thanks to Claire Hockin for providing the photos ?? ?? Volunteer with us, as a corporation or individual, at cityteam.org/volunteer

At CIM, we encourage our colleagues to donate time to volunteerism. We provide every full-time employee with up to two days of paid volunteer time off annually. Our team members use this time to support a variety of initiatives and organizations. Take a glimpse into the positive impact our teams made on their communities in August. ?? CIM team members in Dallas joined Community Partners of Dallas for a school supply packing event. ?? CIM team members in New York City donated their time to cleaning up a community garden with Friends of the Children NY. ??CIM team members in Los Angeles joined forces with The Surfrider Foundation to clean up trash at Venice Beach. ?? CIM team members in Phoenix attended "The Homeless Experience" hosted by Entryway Greater Phoenix. ?? CIM team members in Oakland partnered with CityTeam to assemble back-to-school supply kits for underprivileged children in the community. #cim #cimgroup #cimpact

Talk about A C T I V A T I O N !!!! This past Saturday evening CityTeam Portland hosted an all out block party on NW Davis Street between 3rd & 4th Avenue to celebrate our new building and to express our commitment to revitalization of Portland’s beloved historic Old Town neighborhood. As I walked around the festivities watching kids jumping in and out of a bouncy castle, eating Hawaiian Shaved Ice, dancing, laughing….being kids, I could not help but get emotional as this is what our downtown should be all about. With over 200 people in attendance, the atmosphere was peaceful and safe. When we first started to set up, there was a large encampment right next to the bouncy castle site. Within 30 minutes of setting it up, the individuals in that encampment peacefully packed up all of their belongings including their trash. It was a profound moment. They later came back and enjoyed a piece of pizza and a shaved ice. Creating inclusive environments around healthy and fun activities is what our community is all about! A special thank you to Jessie Burke and the OLD TOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION for allowing us to use their barricades and permit to block off the streets! We look forward to many more throughout the year!

Today was an extremely special day as my team and I sat for the first time together, in what will be the future home of CityTeam Portland for the next 100+ years. As we discussed operational flow, office to residential conversion, trauma informed design, workforce development, and strategic partnerships….. we had to take a moment and think of the hundreds of incredible people, organizations, and businesses that helped us make this dream a reality. We also had to acknowledge the amazing businesses that were forced to find a new home due to our acquisition of the building. In the interest of the greater good, we extended two free months of rent to all tenants in the building as well as flexible move out dates, and the return of 100% of their security deposits. We also acknowledge the rich cultural history of this neighborhood and those that have been fighting to revitalize it long before we dreamed of coming here. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with all of our neighbors and contributing to making Old Town a thriving place to live, work, and play! For information on how to support this innovative project, please reach out to me!