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Joe Colletti, PhD is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Institute for Urban Initiatives and the Institute for Urban Research and Development (IURD) and co-founder of the Episcopal Housing Alliance. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Urban Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA and the Director of the seminary's Office for Urban Initiatives. Much of his teaching and community and economic development experience focus on the issues of affordable housing, economic development, health and mental heath care, homelessness, fair housing, and substance abuse. He has written numerous reports for local government and other local agencies concerning the above issues and has also written several grants for these public and private agencies that have totaled more than 250 million dollars. He is also the founder of Mama’s Hot Tamales which is a well-known successful small business kitchen incubator and job training café that is operated by Episcopal Economic Development. In addition, he is the founder or co-founder of several community and economic development programs and community coalitions.
Much of his teaching and community and economic development experience focus on the issues of affordable housing, economic development, health and mental heath care, homelessness, fair housing, and substance abuse. He has written numerous reports for local government and other local agencies concerning the above issues and has also written several grants for these public and private agencies that have totaled more than 200 million dollars. In addition, he is the founder or co-founder of several community and economic development programs and community coalitions.
He is also a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and has written several reports concerning social issues for the Diocese. He is an Associate of the Mount Calvary Benedictine Retreat House and Monastery. Much of his teaching and personal experiences also focus on the integration of Christian monastic practices and urban social service. He is a passionate follower of the teachings of St. John of the Cross and has a web site devoted to St. John’s experiences of the “Dark Night of the Soul” (see www.dark-night-of-the-soul.com). He has also written papers and teaches courses, seminars and workshops about the integration of the “Dark Night of the Soul”, other monastic practices, and urban social service. He is also the founder of the Institute for the Urban Monk which helps individuals integrate monastic spiritual practices with the daily experiences of urban life.
He and his spouse, Sofia Herrera, PhD, were married in 2000 in Corleone, Sicily among family and friends. His grandfather immigrated from Corleone and grandmother from Sambuca di Sicilia to Chicago at the turn of the twentieth century (see “The COLLETTIs from Corleone: 100 Years in America”). His father (Rosario Colletti) and mother Genevra Bizzoni were born and married in Chicago. Both parents recently passed away. His sister Linda and brother Kenneth live in the Chicago area.
He and his spouse, Sofia (who was born in El Salvador) met in Pasadena and continue to live in the city. They often have families and friends to their home for sacred meals. Such meals include readings and prayers while everyone enjoys delicious Italian/Sicilian, Latin American, or other cultural foods.
REPORTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES
Recent reports that were written or co-written include
10-Year Strategies to End Homelessness
• Summary of Local 10-Year Strategies to End Homelessness throughout the United States (2005);
• City of Pasadena 10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness (2004);
• Within Our Reach: City of Long Beach 10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness (in progress);
• County of Riverside 10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness (in progress).
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Consolidated Planning
• The City of Pasadena Consolidated Plan (Housing, Homelessness, and Economic Development), (2005);
• The City of Riverside Consolidated Plan (Housing, Homelessness, and Economic Development), (2005);
• The City of Glendora Consolidated Plan (Housing, Homelessness, and Economic Development), (2003);
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
• The City of El Monte Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, (2004);
• The City of Long Beach Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, (2003);
• The City of Paramount Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, (2001);
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Homeless Counts, Surveys, and Assessments
• County of Riverside 2005 Homeless Census
• City of Pasadena 2005 Homeless Count
• County of Riverside 2004/2005 Homeless Assessment
• County of Riverside 2004 Homeless Survey
• City of Pasadena 2004 Homeless Survey
• City of Long Beach 2003 Homeless Count
• City of Pasadena 2003 Homeless Count
• City of Long Beach 2003 Homeless Assessment
• East San Gabriel Valley 2003 Homeless Count
• City of Long Beach 2003 Homeless Survey
• City of Glendale 2001 Homeless Count
• City of Santa Clarita 2001 Homeless Count
• City of Pasadena 2001 Homeless Survey: Data and Issues
• Homelessness in the City of Riverside 2001: An Assessment of Service Needs
• Women Living on the Streets of Pasadena: 2001
• City of Glendale 2000 Homeless Survey: Data and Issues
• Homelessness in the San Gabriel Valley: 2000 Assessment
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Community and economic development programs that were founded or co-founded include:
• Mama’s Hot Tamales Café, Los Angeles, (2001)
• MacArthur Park Sidewalk Vending Program, Los Angeles, (1999);
• Rediscover MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, (2002);
• V.E.N.D. (Vital Economic and Neighborhood Development), Los Angeles, (2000);
• City of Pasadena Winter Shelter Program (1987);
• City of Glendale Winter Shelter Program (1994);
• East San Gabriel Valley Winter Shelter Program (1992);
• Project ACHIEVE of Glendale (1996);
• Project ACHIEVE of El Monte (1998);
• Project ACHIEVE of Pomona (2003);
• Project ACHIEVE of Riverside (2002);
• Pathways Domestic Violence Transitional Housing Program, El Monte, (2001);
• Casa Maria Transitional Housing Program, Pasadena, (1991);
• Euclid Villa Transitional Housing Program for Families, Pasadena (1994);
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Community coalitions founded or co-founded include:
• Pasadena Housing and Homeless Network (1991);
• East San Gabriel Valley Consortium on Homelessness (1996);
• MacArthur Park Public and Private Partnership (2001);
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Grants include awards from the following sources and/or programs:
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance (several jurisdictions);
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
• Community Development Block Grant Program (several jurisdictions);
• Community Service Block Grant Program (several jurisdictions);
• California Department of Housing and Community Development;
• Private Foundations.
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Courses taught at Fuller Theological Seminary include:
• Introduction to Urban Studies
The purpose of the class is to challenge each student's perspective of the city. Students are exposed to a wide variety of topics, theories, and methods that relate to the field of urban studies. Students interact with professionals who are involved in urban life such as elected officials, law enforcement administrators, social service agency representatives, etc. Such persons are guest lecturers and panelists who along with the instructor integrate social responsibility and religion from various points of view. Perspectives include local politics, business and economics, health and human services, law enforcement, community relations, demographics, and arts and leisure.
• Homelessness, Congregations, and Community Partnerships
During the past 20 years in the United States, homelessness has increased instead of decreased in spite of the many efforts made by public and private agencies including local government and congregations. In addition, hundreds of thousands of households are at-risk of becoming homeless. The class closely examines past strategies and suggests new and revised strategies that provide opportunities for communities and faithful leaders to reverse the surge of homelessness.
• Integration of Spirituality and Urban Ministry
The course teaches students to integrate faith, spiritual traditions, spiritual practices, ecclesiology, and urban ministry. Such integration has helped ordinary people live extraordinary lives. Students apply and cultivate their faith, learn and practice spiritual virtues such as reflection, meditation, contemplation, compassion, silence, and be involved in urban ministry which helps them understand more broadly and profoundly their call to a deeper spiritual life that includes being agents of change within the communities and congregations in which they live, work, worship, and serve.
• Church-Based Urban Research
Students learn that a congregation needs to understand its social and cultural context and its own character and identity in relationship to its surrounding community. Surrounding communities are described in terms of demographics, organizations, present-day activities, historical events, networks, economics, political structures, and how churches embody certain characteristics in order to engage their community. Research tools and resources are explored and implemented by students.
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