THE EVOLVE BLOG

A Seat at the Table: Evolve Outreach’s Community Advisory Board

By Dan Hubbard

At Evolve Outreach, we believe that the people closest to the problem are also closest to the solution. That’s why we’re launching the Community Advisory Board (CAB)—a collaborative space where community voices can shape the direction of our programs, platforms, and partnerships.

The CAB exists to ensure that the communities we serve are also the ones helping to guide us forward. From homelessness to hunger, from data systems to direct care, the CAB will advise Evolve Outreach on how to improve and evolve our impact—grounded in lived experience, local knowledge, and collective wisdom.

Why This Matters

As we roll out transformative tools like our 24/7 Contact Center, our integrated Community Resources Management and Information System (CRMIS), and expand our Wraparound Services, we know our success depends on one thing above all: community input. The CAB is designed to make sure our efforts are not only well-intentioned—but well-directed, well-informed, and deeply rooted in reality.

Through monthly virtual meetings and quarterly in-person town halls, CAB members will help:

Advise on service gaps and opportunities in Delaware communities;

Shape improvements to Evolve’s Contact Center, CRMIS, and outreach initiatives;

Identify emerging needs and priorities;

Bridge communication between nonprofits, public agencies, and the people we serve; and,

Amplify local insight in state- and region-wide efforts to reduce homelessness and hunger.

Who Should Join?

The CAB is chaired by Evolve Outreach leadership, but it is powered by community passion and participation. We are seeking diverse voices from across Delaware who are committed to getting to a better condition of life for everyone in our state.

Highly encouraged members include:

Leaders of nonprofit organizations;

Directors of community-based programs;

Advocates or professionals in the business sector;

People with lived experience of homelessness or housing insecurity;

Members of the healthcare and behavioral health community; and,

Educators and researchers from academic institutions.

But the CAB is open to any Delawarean who cares deeply about the impact of homelessness and hunger in our communities. No title required—just time, commitment, and compassion.

How It Works

Virtual Monthly Meetings: The CAB meets once a month online. Sessions are recorded and made publicly available on Evolve Outreach’s website. Media outlets are welcomed—and encouraged—to use portions of the meeting in their reporting, provided a link to the full recording is published.

Quarterly Town Halls: Every few months, Evolve Outreach will host in-person CAB events in towns and cities across Delaware. These public gatherings are open to all as space allows and provide a chance for deeper discussion, community feedback, and collective problem-solving.

The CAB isn’t just a meeting—it’s a movement. It’s about listening before leading, and making sure that every major step we take is in sync with the people and neighborhoods we serve.

How This Helps Communities

When voices from across the state are heard, communities become stronger, safer, and more connected. The CAB allows local leaders and residents to spotlight what’s working—and what’s not—so resources can be allocated more wisely and services can reach more people. It’s a direct path from lived experience to lasting impact, helping communities better respond to homelessness, hunger, and hardship.

By building community-driven strategies, the CAB will help to ensure that solutions are not one-size-fits-all, but instead reflect the unique strengths and needs of each Delaware town and city.

How Donors Can Help

The CAB provides donors with a transparent, community-informed roadmap for giving. When you support Evolve Outreach, you’re not only funding programs—you’re investing in a publicly accountable, people-powered model of change. From technology and training to food and shelter, donor contributions help ensure that the initiatives shaped by the CAB are fully realized and sustainable.

Your gift helps fuel the infrastructure of listening—ensuring that community priorities don’t just get airtime, but get action.

How Volunteers Can Help

Volunteers are vital to both the work of the CAB and the programs it advises. From supporting town halls and outreach events to joining our contact center or CRMIS training teams, there are dozens of ways to plug in. Volunteering offers a hands-on opportunity to take part in the very conversations and efforts that are moving our state toward a better condition of life—for everyone.

Supporting Government Decision-Makers

Evolve Outreach hopes the CAB becomes a trusted bridge between community needs and policy action. By recording and publishing every meeting, and by inviting media and public officials to participate in town halls, we are offering government leaders a clear, community-vetted snapshot of what’s happening on the ground.

The insights and recommendations that come from the CAB can help shape smarter, more responsive policies—ones that reflect both real-time data and real-life experiences. Through collaboration, we can ensure that Delaware’s public resources are used where they’re needed most, with equity, precision, and compassion.

Get Involved

Are you ready to help shape the future of care in Delaware? Whether you're a service provider, concerned citizen, advocate, or survivor—your insight matters.

To express interest in joining the Community Advisory Board please email info@evolveoutreach.org. Together, we can build smarter systems, stronger services, and get to a better condition of life.