CORE APPROACH
Relationship-First
Community Listening
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
WHAT IS CABI
The foundation of everything QUILT does.
CABI is QUILT’s grassroots outreach program, built on the belief that lasting change starts with trust. We meet residents where they are, listening first to build the relationships that make real progress possible.
​
Our ambassadors are neighbors, not outsiders. They knock on doors and show up at local events to have honest conversations about the barriers people face, like affordable internet, digital skills, or access to essential services.
​
These conversations show us what communities truly need. That firsthand insight directly shapes how QUILT designs programs, advocates for change, and connects residents to new opportunities.
Relationship-First
We believe lasting change begins with trust. Our ambassadors build genuine relationships with the residents they serve.
Community Listening
Every program starts with listening. We hear directly from residents about their challenges, hopes, and priorities.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
CABI ambassadors come from the communities they serve, bringing cultural understanding and authentic connection.
HOW IT WORKS
A process that puts community voices first.
CABI follows a proven process that puts community voices at the center of digital equity work.
01
Community Listening & Engagement
Our ambassadors go door-to-door, attend community events, and host neighborhood sessions to understand what residents truly need, not what we assume they need.
02
Identifying Barriers & Needs
Through authentic conversations, we uncover the specific obstacles preventing digital participation, affordability, skills gaps, trust issues, language barriers, or lack of access.
03
Advocacy & Solution Design
Community insights directly shape how we advocate for policy change, design programs, and tailor services to meet real needs rather than theoretical ones.
04
Connecting Communities to Resources
We bridge the gap between residents and programs,, whether it's affordable internet enrollment, digital skills training, job opportunities, or other QUILT initiatives.
WHY IT MATTERS
Digital access programs don't fail because of technology, they fail because of disconnection. CABI solves that."
Measurable Outcomes
CABI’s engagement directly correlates with higher program enrollment, greater digital adoption, and stronger community resilience. Trust translates to results.
Community-Informed Design
​When programs are designed with community input, not just for communities, adoption rates increase, barriers are addressed proactively, and resources are used more effectively.
Trust Enables Impact
Programs without community trust fail. CABI’s relationship-first approach creates the foundation for all of QUILT's digital equity, workforce, and connectivity initiatives to succeed.
WHO WE SERVE
Built for multiple entry points.
CABI works with diverse stakeholders to build bridges between communities and the systems designed to serve them.
Families and individuals seeking digital access, skills training, and connection to essential services.
Residents & Neighborhoods
KEY OUTCOMES
Enrollment in affordable internet programs
Access to digital literacy training
Navigation to community resources
Nonprofits, faith-based groups, and grassroots organizations partnering to extend reach and impact.
Community Organizations
KEY OUTCOMES
Co-hosted outreach events
Shared community insights
Amplified program awareness
Public housing providers and government agencies seeking trusted community engagement partners.
Housing Authorities & Agencies
KEY OUTCOMES
Resident engagement strategies
Digital equity program implementation​
Data-informed policy advocacy
ISPs, workforce programs, and service providers who need authentic community connections.
​Program & Infrastructure Partners
KEY OUTCOMES
Trusted introduction to communities
Enrollment and adoption support
Feedback loops for improvement
GET INVOLVED
Partner With CABI
Whether you're a housing authority, community organization, government agency, or funder, there's a pathway to work with CABI.
Work with CABI to bring trusted community engagement to your housing community, neighbourhood, or service area.
Start a Partnership
​Have questions about how CABI works? Schedule a conversation with our community engagement team.
Talk to Our Team
Fund the ambassadors, training, and resources that make CABI's community-centered work possible.
Support Community Outreach
Get Program Updates
New training cohorts, events, and research — sent when it's relevant.
Digital access, workforce training, and community connectivity, South Side Chicago since 2014.
GET INVOLVED
© 2026 QUILT NFP. All rights reserved. | 501(c)(3) Nonprofit