Our Mission

The mission of Community Development Works (CDW) is to create and support a community development infrastructure as the primary vehicle for citizen involvement in improving the health and well-being of Central Louisiana residents.

CDW programming is dedicated to providing Cenla residents and nonprofit organizations with tools and resources that support three main intended impacts:

• Civic Engagement

• Leadership Development

• Organizational Effectiveness

Community Development Works programs and services include:

• Citizen and Nonprofit Management Training

• Learning Lab

• Cenla Boardbuilders

• Cenla Execbuilders

• Nonprofit Works

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Our History

From the earliest days of The Rapides Foundation, there has been a formal acknowledgement that nonprofits, communities and individuals needed support in developing their capacity to respond to the opportunities around them. This took the form of one-day workshops and technical assistance engagements.

The Foundation conducted some extensive community-based needs assessments throughout the region and began to offer various longer-term trainings and programs. Many graduates of those programs have gone on to do important and powerful work in their communities.

Under its current structure, Community Development Works - or CDW - is an operating program of The Rapides Foundation. Housed on the 1st floor of The Rapides Foundation Building, we offer various formal and informal programs for nonprofits and their staffs, Boards and other volunteers while still strongly supporting individuals, schools and units of government in their desire to advance their work. Through the Learning Lab, we have access to comprehensive resources for all types of civic involvement and staff to assist you.

Keep an eye on the Web site or ask to be added to our mailing list. We continue to add programs and services that might be exactly what you need.

	Akeshia Singleton is the Program Officer for The Rapides Foundation.  She is responsible for programmatic oversight of Community Development Works and serves as the Foundation's programmatic representative to the community.   She holds a Master of Business Administration in International Business Management and Marketing from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL.  She also holds an undergraduate degree in business administration with a concentration in International Finance and Marketing from the University of Miami.  Prior to joining the Foundation, Akeshia served as Client Services Manager for Greater New Orleans Nonprofit Knowledge Works (formerly the Center for Nonprofit Resources and the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center.)  She has over ten years experience in client services and program management in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors.  She has been a member of the National Alliance for Nonprofit Management, the World Affairs Council of New Orleans, and a participant in the African-American Leadership Initiative in New Orleans.
	Felicia Walker, the Learning Lab Coordinator, is responsible for the maintenance of the Learning Lab including providing information and referral to Community Development Works callers and Learning Lab customers. Felicia also coordinates Parish Nursing training efforts. Maintaining databases, website development, bulk mailing and registration, inputting evaluation data, and generating program reports are a few of the duties Felicia tackles daily. She holds an undergraduate degree from Grambling State University in Accounting and has previously worked in the Avoyelles Parish School System and the Rapides Parish Library System.
	As the Program Assistant, Carol Handy, is responsible for the overall operations of the Community Development Works office and serves as the primary administrative support for all CDW program activities. Carol is accountable for supporting program staff including preparing program correspondences and materials, coordinating trainer and consultant logistics, meeting arrangements, and general administrative support.