Community and Faith Based Initiatives

Commitment to Change or (C2C) is a faith-based driven partnership committed to addressing quality-of-life issues and pursuing community and economic development opportunities that are vital to our partners, stakeholders and the residents of our community. It is an integral part of Washtenaw County's groundbreaking MEGA partnership MEGA P that has economic, community, education and workforce partners working together in new ways to provide vital services and promote opportunities to businesses and residents throughout the region.

Commitment to Change allows Washtenaw County Government, the Ministers Alliance of Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor & Vicinity, other faith-based and community partners to leverage local, state and federal resources by drawing on the strengths of each partner organization. Washtenaw County and its communities cannot become a world-class, model economy if too many of its citizens are left behind.

What will C2C Do?

The Commitment to Change faith-based driven partnership is committed to:

• Developing Access points that link places of worship, community centers and libraries throughout Washtenaw to the Michigan Works! Service Center
• Increasing the literacy rate
• Improving neighborhoods for our citizens by focusing on housing
• Increasing and improving access to county services with a focus on gaining employment, accessing education and training, and obtaining emergency services, and
• Assisting with post prisoner reintegration into the community by providing mentoring programs.

Why is C2C Unique?

• In many neighborhoods and communities faith-based organizations serve as the hub of community activity and the source for information as well as services. C2C builds on the leadership of these organizations and connects to places of worship to serve the needs of residents helping reach residents in ways that government alone cannot.  
• The State of Michigan's Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives focuses on supporting the critical community support services that faith-based and community organizations provide. It is working closely with C2C which it views as a model it hopes to be able to duplicate in other communities in Michigan.

How to Join C2C?

Community and Faith Based organizations are currently being sought to serve as Access Points within their communities as well as to list their resources on the web-based Resource Directory. Other initiatives are being developed. For more information on C2C please contact Washtenaw County etcs-Michigan Works! at 734-544-2954