CEE History
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Coalition for Economic Empowerment began as Crafts for Economic Empowerment. Nicknamed Craftsee, it was incorporated in 1996.
Early Highlights
CEE launched its pilot project in partnership with For Love of Children in 1996.
CEE worked with the Family Learning Program of Martha's Table-30 singled mothers on welfare received 90 hours of "hands on" training in retail marketing. Through church fairs, business shows, and sales in the National Cathedral's gift shop, they were able to generate independent income to support their families and enrich their lives.
CEE was donated over 5,000 square feet, of retail space, from the National Press Building, to house Craftsee's marketing collective and a retail store, which sold handmade products from local women and fairly traded products from around the world.
CEE developed a 14-week program at Bruce Monroe Elementary School in conjunction with the Friend Service Committee to give local parents "employment readiness" training and a 12-week, on-the-job retail training experience at a kiosk in the Tyson's Corner mall. Our job placement rate was 86%.
CEE was certified as a work training sight with 45 slots for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in 1997 by the District of Columbia.
CEE worked with over 75 organizations to develop and implement its programs.
CEE facilitated meetings involving more than 20 organizations to identify potential collaborative action on issues of entrepreneurship, micro-enterprise development, and economic justice.
CEE was recognized in local media-Channel 7 newscast titled "Working Women" (August 1, 1997), and front page articles in the Washington Informer (September 12, 1997), and The District Weekly Section of The Washington Post (July 16, 1998).
With the support and guidance of a Steering Committee of religious and nonprofit leaders, CEE created the trade name Coalition for Economic Empowerment (CEE) in November 2002. This committee conducted strategic planning and evaluation activities over a three month period to determine what kinds of changes were needed and what role the organization should play in serving low-income citizens of the District.