Catholic Social Services (CSS) has been selected for the second cohort of the Team Up Project, a national bridge-building initiative organized by four of the nation’s leading community organizations.
CSS has partnered with the YMCA of Central Ohio to build bridges and collaborate, beginning in the Hilltop community on the west side of Columbus. The collaboration will focus on finding synergy between respective programs for families with children and eventually expand to other communities where CSS and the YMCA have shared interest.
CSS will focus this bridge-building through its Our Lady of Guadalupe Center programs on Columbus’ west side.
“Partnership is a key driver for our Growing with Purpose strategy and this project aligns well with our Catholic Social Teaching principles of Solidarity and Subsidiarity,” Kelley Henderson, CSS’ president and CEO, said.
Now in its second year, Team Up is a collaboration of Catholic Charities USA, Habitat for Humanity International, Interfaith America and YMCA of the USA.
Through Team Up, the organizations have mobilized their vast networks — with more than 7,500 collective sites touching nearly every community in the U.S. — to provide opportunities and resources that inspire people to build connections, allowing them to: promote empathy and understanding across cultural, ideological, ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds; create a stronger sense of belonging and unity; and work with others in their communities for the common good.
Thirty local organizations around the country were selected to participate in the second cohort. Though the projects vary widely, all of them employ bridge-building skills to bring together volunteers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect.
Locally, CSS serves more than 10,000 individuals annually. Its mission is supported by dedicated volunteers who help seniors find connection, guide families toward a brighter future and assist young adults in transitioning to the workforce.