How it Started
2016
Community Empowerment Project, Inc…. The Missing Link was founded by Dr. Alton A. Williams in 2016. It was after watching a TV documentary on why elephants in South Africa were destroying villages and killing other animals without explanation, that the concept began to take shape. Upon studying the elephants’ behavior, officials discovered that the elephants committing these horrendous, out of character deeds, were teenage male elephants. The adult males (bull elephants) had largely been killed and poached for their tusks.
Once the rampaging teen elephants were separated and placed on reserves, where there was the presence of adult bull elephants, the negative behavior of the teens subsided. The presence of bull elephants was The Missing Link; as it turns out, they were extremely integral to the success of the elephant family.
Likewise, the same is true with broken communities in the City of Wilmington, Delaware. Our inner-city men must find ways to become true bull elephants and take control of our communities once again. These same men must create efforts to combat negative statistics and low expectations promoted against black boys and men in our society. These same elders must teach the youth and promote/advocate on their behalf. This can result in diminishing the stigma of missing in action.
Shortly after initiating the Missing Link concept, Dr. Williams was joined by Jerome “Zulu” Clark and weekly meetings were held under the auspices of the Redding House Foundation on Wilmington’s Eastside.
December 2017
Dr. Williams and Mr. Clark were joined by Dr. Daniel Hanks, III, Family Therapist, along with approximately 8-10 community men for weekly meetings.
April 2018
Prior to attending a Saturday meeting, Dr. Williams drove around the Eastside of Wilmington and saw how trashy the streets were. He noticed how the scene was in stark contrast to what he immediately remembered on several trips to Canada. That the streets were immaculately clean and the roadways were free of trash. He immediately coined the term “Canada Clean “. So at that meeting the group was asked if anyone had ever been to Canada and no one had. Dr. Williams said to the group it is time for Wilmington’s Eastside to become “Canada Clean”.
John “June-Bug” Harris said he would take on the task by himself. All he needed was clean-up tools to do the job. The rest of the attendees at the meeting said they would assist June Bug. They refused to let their brother do that work alone and they all would do it for “free”.
Drs. Williams and Hanks and member, Jerome Hicks, met with the Mayor of Wilmington requesting supplies to implement the venture. Dr. Williams asked Mayor Purzycki if he had the good fortune of going to Canada. Mayor Purzycki responded, “Yes. Yes, I have”. Dr. Williams replied, “What was the first thing that you noticed upon entering Canada?”. Mayor Purzycki responded “How clean it was”. Dr. Williams stated enthusiastically, “I want the East Side of Wilmington that clean. Canada clean.
The Mayor informed us there were plans to implement a BEAUTIFUL CITY INITIATIVE that would contract community organizations to employ individuals for the project. What initiated as a volunteer project resulted in the opportunity for individuals to receive income for the work. A work program was not planned but it has afforded members gainful part-time employment. This initiative has proven to enhance the self-esteem and personal improvement worth to those involved.
August 2018
The Redding House affiliation ended and CEP, Inc. was born. The efforts were enthusiastically championed by many throughout the City.
November 3rd, 2018
Michael Purzycki, Mayor of the City of Wilmington, visits with CEP Founders and Members.
The Beautiful City Initiative was launched and we begin participation along with three other community organizations.
September 2019
In addition to the Eastside Clean Team, another team was added, the Washington Heights/North Side.
Like the Eastside, the Northside has received rave reviews from the community. The Office of the Mayor has considered the CEP, Inc. as one of the model units in the CLEAN STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE.
2020
CEP joined the fight against COVID-19 by assisting in a food drive for those in need during the lockdown.
MISSION
The mission of CEP is to support the revitalization of impoverished residents in the city of Wilmington, DE through education, health and mental health information, and prison reform.
To become a referral service to promote family unity.
VISION
We strive to act as a “stepping stone” to the next level of meaningful, community participation and self-actualization.
GOALS
Community Empowerment Project, Inc. has three main organizational goals and they are as follows:
- To expand meaningful employment opportunities to the At-Risk Homeless population of the communities that we serve.
- To provide Respect, Empathy, Love, and Knowledge to all individuals seeking to contribute to their communities.
- To connect disenfranchised individuals with their communities in meaningful ways that lead to the self-actualization of the individual.