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Oakbrook Collective Impact Council (OCIC) to Host Community Forum

by United Way of Berks County

Oct 14, 2022
Oakbrook Community Forum

The Oakbrook Collective Impact Council (OCIC), a collaborative working with residents who live in Oakbrook Homes, is hosting “Oakbrook Speaks Community Forum on October 18 to share results from a recent community needs survey. The group, in partnership with Project REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health), conducted the survey to identify resident-identified needs and barriers around issues of food insecurity, education, employment, transportation, safety and sense of community.

The community survey presents opportunities to help service providers understand what is needed most by the families for success and stability. Teams of trained bilingual volunteers representing Oakbrook residents, community volunteers and representatives from Reading Housing Authority, Project REACH and United Way of Berks County conducted the survey this past summer, with 42% of Oakbrook households participating.

Community Forum attendees have the opportunity to visit and learn about the data and information presented through graphs, charts and video. Representatives of the OCIC community collaborative will provide overview information.

United Way has served as the anchor organization of the collaborative for the past five years. “It has been exciting to work with Oakbrook residents and OCIC partners to achieve several meaningful accomplishments. Together, we have created summer learning programs focused on retaining or increasing reading skills, provided ESL programs for residents and increased access to healthy and fresh food through a community garden and access to Helping Harvest’s mobile market. These accomplishments happened because the collaborative invited and welcomed more voices to the table to develop actions focused on what was most important to the families of Oakbrook,” said Tammy White, President of United Way of Berks County.

As the collective work evolves, the Reading Housing Authority is establishing an Advisory Group to continue the work and create a neighborhood resource center and family services center, with plans to include a childcare center, small grocery store and business center – – all designed to help residents achieve self-sufficiency.

Oakbrook Speaks Event Detail:
Date: October 18, 2022
Time: Open House – style hours: 10 am – 12 noon and 4 – 6 pm
Location: Reading Housing Authority (William W. Willis Center for Administration)– 400 Hancock Blvd, Reading

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