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MARCH 19, 2024, LOWELL, MA – Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving (www.yieldgiving.com) platform announced today that Coalition for a Better Acre has received a $1 million Open Call award.

CBA is among only 361 organizations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia to receive this award, intended for organizations working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States.

A total of 6,353 organizations applied to the Open Call, managed by Lever for Change, which β€œconnects donors with bold solutions to the world’s problems.” Eligible organizations had annual budgets of between $1million and $5 million.

Founded in 1982 to preserve and uplift Lowell’s Acre neighborhood, CBA is a member-driven, nonprofit community development corporation that provides 556 units of affordable housing and a range of free programs created in response to needs expressed by community members, including workforce development, leadership and civic engagement, health access, a food pantry, and community building events.

In March 2023, Yield Giving launched an Open Call for community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources.

β€œWe are a bit over the moon right now,” said Yun-Ju Choi, CEO of CBA. β€œYou could probably hear us clapping and shouting all the way down Moody Street when we learned of the award.” She added, β€œWe went into this thinking it was a big leap, because we knew how competitive it would be. But, true to our nature, we decided to go for it.”

Choi said CBA is seeking input from staff and Board Members as it finalizes its spending plan. β€œThis is an incredible windfall,” she said. β€œWe are being very intentional in ensuring it will have long-term, positive impact for CBA and for our community.”

Yield Giving initially planned for 250 awards of $1 million each. In the Fall of 2023, organizations top-rated by their peers advanced to a second round of review by an external Evaluation Panel recruited for relevant experience and underwent a final round of due diligence.

Citing the incredible work of these organizations, as judged by their peers and external panelists, the donor team decided to expand the awardee pool and the award amount.

"We are excited that our partnership with Yield Giving has resonated with so many organizations," said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. "In a world teeming with potential and talent, the Open Call has given us an opportunity to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen.”

More information on the Yield Giving Open Call and other initiatives can be found at www.leverforchange.org.

CBA Chief Executive Officer Yun-Ju Choi Announces Decision to Step Down in June 2024

LOWELL, MA -- Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) CEO Yun-Ju Choi announced today that she will be stepping down from her post in June 2024 after nearly 10 years at the helm of one of Lowell’s leading community development organizations.

Choi announced her decision this week, citing the need to focus on caring for her parents, both of whom have health issues. She will remain in the Lowell area.

β€œThis was a difficult, but necessary decision,” Choi said. β€œI have enjoyed every minute of my time at CBA, and I am proud of the community development work we do and all we’ve accomplished together. I am grateful to the CBA Board, our dedicated and capable staff, and our members, who always put our mission first.”

Choi continued, β€œIt’s now time for me to focus on caring for my parents, who sacrificed so much to make sure my siblings and I had futures full of possibility. It is a privilege to do so.”

The Choi family immigrated from South Korea to the U.S. in 1980, settling in Augusta, ME, where Choi grew up. β€œTypical of so many immigrants, we came to this country speaking no English and with limited means. For us, America truly was the land of opportunity. Assuring that everyone has access to resources and opportunities is what drew me to CBA.”

Board Chair Sixto DeJesus said CBA will hire a search firm to work with the board, staff, and CBA members to identify Choi’s successor.

DeJesus applauded Choi and her tenure at CBA. β€œShe will be missed. I know I speak for the entire Board in saying that Yun-Ju has strengthened the organization’s commitment to community development and increasing the availability of affordable housing. Yun-Ju has been, and I’m sure will continue to be, an important presence in our community. She has put a strong team together, with the ability to move the CBA mission forward.”

As Chief Executive Officer, Choi more than doubled CBA’s annual budget to more than $2.5 million and oversaw construction of 131 units of affordable housing in Lowell, Dracut, and Haverhill. She expanded youth, civic engagement, health access, workforce and economic development, and community engagement programs that complement CBA’s longstanding focus on affordable housing.

Choi also serves on numerous boards and commissions, including the Whistler House Museum, Lowell Finance & Development Corporation, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, and Mill City Community Investments. β€œYun-Ju’s support for the Lowell community has been tremendous,” DeJesus said. β€œShe has done much to elevate CBA’s visibility and built important relationships with different sectors of the greater Lowell community.”

Prior to becoming CBA Chief Executive Officer, Choi worked for various Boston nonprofits including Madison Park and Lena Park Community Development Corporations, the Boston Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Club of Boston. A graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine, Choi earned her master’s in management from Cambridge College.

DeJesus said CBA will be casting a wide net in the search for a new CEO. β€œWe will be seeking someone who has a strong understanding of the role of Community Development Organizations in advancing affordable housing and community improvement,” he said.

Also paramount will be a demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-racism, and the ability to work alongside Acre residents to create pathways out of poverty. β€œIt is vital that the next CEO understands the unique makeup of Lowell as a vibrant, diverse, and forward-looking Gateway city,” DeJesus added.

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About CBA: Founded in 1982, CBA is a nonprofit, member-led community development organization that has invested more than $167 million in developing affordable rental and owner-occupied housing in Lowell, Dracut, and Haverhill, currently housing more than 1,500 people.

Serving more than 2,500 people annually, CBA offers a variety of youth, workforce, leadership, and health access programs while also advocating alongside residents for changes to systems and policies that prevent hard-working families from achieving financial and overall wellbeing. CBA is a NeighborWorks affiliate. Visit www.cbacre.org for more information about CBA programs, services, and how to get involved.