Key Partnerships
CADCOM
CADCOM, Community Action Development Commission, is an organization based in Norristown, PA, the county seat for Montgomery County, PA. CADCOM’s mission is “to mobilize the human and financial resources of Montgomery County by initiating, developing and administering community and economic development programs designed to provide the tools needed to achieve self-sufficiency”. CADCOM was established in 1966 and was recognized as the lead anti-poverty action agency in Montgomery County and was charged with coordinating and developing strategies to empower citizens and combine the efforts of public and private entities to best serve the county.
The Civic Engagement Office has partnered many students with the efforts of CADCOM:
- CPIA (Community Partnership in Action), an actively engaged partnership with the community of Norristown, has been working with CADCOM and their EITC-VITA program since 2004. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a “refundable” tax credit that essentially works by reducing the tax burdens and supplementing wages for low-income working families. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a national program that offers free tax help to low-income people. Bryn Mawr volunteers receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in the Norristown area and travel weekly from the end of January through April to CADCOM.
- Bryn Mawr students have also developed PRAXIS III projects and Summer of Service placements at CADCOM, working with various departments such as the Micro-Enterprise Center and the Housing Assistance Program. CADCOM has been generous in not only hosting Bryn Mawr students but has also offered to do free tax-preparation on Bryn Mawr’s campus for interested staff members.
