About Hope CDA and Our Mission
Hope Community Development Association (Hope CDA) believes many of society’s challenges stem from the absence of men in their homes or men that are not positive role models. We believe every person is made in the image of God and is therefore of great worth. Hope CDA exists to help men escape the prison of poverty, helplessness, and hopelessness. This was part of Jesus’ mission to earth when he quoted Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…” Luke 4:18 (NIV)
Hope CDA’s mission is to demonstrate Christ’s love by equipping individuals to transform their lives through gainful employment and skillful living.
While Hope CDA is grateful for the many organizations that provide emergency relief to hurting people, that is not who we are. We believe God has called us to the slow work of development. We desire to help men develop their character and their God-given talents so they can experience the dignity of work to support themselves and their families.
Hope CDA’s jobs training program provides training and work experience for men with employment barriers who have a desire to not only be successful in the workplace, but in life overall. The goal of this holistic training is to help men become financially self-sufficient and to mold them into leaders in their workplace, their neighborhoods, and their families.
Hope CDA provides actual on-the-job experience through its current small businesses of residential construction, woodcrafts, and landscaping. But more importantly, we provide life skills training so participants can be successful in their personal lives, which enhances their ability to succeed at work.
Our Roots
Hope CDA originated out of the historic flood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in June, 2008. Serve The City, a coalition of about 60 churches and nonprofits in the Cedar Rapids area, created a recovery fund to help displaced people get back into their homes. Serve The City determined there was an ongoing need for housing assistance and had a vision to combine this with a construction jobs training program for those with employment barriers. Serve The City organized Hope CDA as a separate 501(c)-3 in 2010. The construction jobs training program began in September 2015. In the fall of 2019, we began our woodcrafts business and in the spring of 2020 we began our landscaping business.
Our Staff
Our Key Leaders:
Larry Anspach, Program Director
Mike Bullard, Accounting
Victoria Fink, Bookkeeping
Kathy Garrett, Office Assistant
Carl Gonder, Advancement & Advocacy
Judy Griffith, Office Manager
Mike Hamer, Woodcrafts Manager
Lavonne Johnson, Counseling Resources
Mike Johnson, Coaching Director
Dr. Robert Pannier, Program Navigator
Elijah Price, Foreman
Eric Mullinex, Foreman
Jamie Williams, Enterprise Manager
Ron Ziegler, Executive Director
Our Board of Directors are:
Betty Daniels, Director; community advocate
Mike Johnson, President; retired President of Timberline Manufacturing
Terry Knake, Vice President; Realtor with Skogman Realty
Travis Kolder, Treasurer; Collins Community Credit Union
Ken Kolek, Chief Financial Officer and Director; Partner, Midwest Development, ATLAS CPAs & Advisors Summer Riley, Director; Mr. Car Wash
Trent Tuel, Director; Founder/Owner of TIGLLC construction company
Phil Rezin, Director; retired Founder and President of Midwest Microwave Solutions
Summer Riley, Director; Mr. Car Wash
Ron Ziegler, Secretary and Executive Director; retired from Transamerica and Forethought Fin. Services