Providence Intown Churches Association Leaps Forward with TSNE Assessment

Diana Burdett, executive director of Rhode Island-based Providence Intown Churches Association (PICA), a nonprofit which provides outreach and services to the homeless and low-income residents, knows firsthand what it’s like for an organization to experience hardships. Facing eviction from its location and broad board member disengagement, PICA’s ability to maintain its highly-attended food assistance programs and other outreach services to the poor and homeless was threatened. “If we hadn’t adapted and changed, we would have ceased to exist,” Burdett said.

Fortunately, PICA received a grant from New Roots Providence and participated in a TSNE-led assessment. This proved critical in enabling the organization to implement a new approach. By bringing people to together to discuss issues in an open manner, the elephant in the room was finally addressed, Burdett explained. “Through the New Roots process and [TSNE consultant] Ayeesha’s listening, it gave me, the board, and staff an opportunity to have a voice,” she commented.

During the discussion with Third Sector New England and follow-up with a consultant, the board openly spoke for the first time. Communicating about the problematic issues resulted in amending the board bylaws; thus, the board could expand to include community members, rather than only church members as previously allowed. Work with the consultant also included developing mission, vision and values statements These changes were instrumental in revitalizing the board with fresh energy and ideas, according to Burdett.

Additionally, PICA enjoyed the benefit of executive coaching thanks to the New Roots Providence grant. The executive coaching was invaluable to Burdett in addressing such challenges as increasing PICA’s visibility, fundraising, and community involvement, especially important in supporting her in the role of an executive director. The executive coaching focused specifically on examining the budget to augment donor contributions and capacity building.

Calling PICA’s situation an identity crisis, Burdett emphasized the need to raise awareness in the community about the important services PICA offers to the homeless and low income residents. Besides addressing hunger through its food pantry and soup kitchen programs, the non-profit organization actively seeks to assist the homeless transition off the streets into subsidized housing by providing intensive case management. Additionally, the resident advocate works in downtown subsidized housing preventing homelessness and offering case management and crisis intervention to the most fragile residents. “TSNE’s assistance and the New Roots staff have been phenomenal and have enabled us to move forward,” Burdett warmly shared.