Sustainable Communities
Houston Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is expanding from its community development focus to a comprehensive approach called "Building Sustainable Communities". This holistic approach to neighborhood redevelopment emphasizes community engagement and the integration of physical development with human development. This is not a new approach, but one that has proven effective. This strategy encourages and supports local, neighborhood-based, efforts to build healthy communities of opportunity in the broadest sense, while connecting them and their residents to the mainstream economy.
Five goals comprise the Sustainable Communities approach:
• Expanding capital investment in housing and other real estate development including affordable homes and using “green” building techniques;
• Building family income and wealth, including improving job skills and access to employment which provides a living wage;
• Stimulating local economic activity, connecting neighborhoods and their residents to the regional economy and beyond;
• Improving access to quality education; and,
• Developing healthy environments and lifestyles which includes safe streets and recreational amenities, affordable community health clinics, and environmentally sound design.
In August 2008, Houston LISC launched its GO-Neighborhoods Pilot Program. This pilot effort encourages communities to build relationships and collaborations within their neighborhoods for the purpose of revitalizing the community. The pilot neighborhoods are tasked with community engagement, quality of life planning, and implementing projects - both large and small- that may address issues such as health, youth, housing, crime, beautification and more. Eight neighborhoods are invited to participate in the program and of those eight, two- Near Northside and Independence Heights- were selected in February for more in-depth participation and investment from LISC.
The Eight Invited Neighborhoods include: Alief, Denver Harbor, Independence Heights, Magnolia Park, Third Ward, Near Northside, Gulfton, and Sunnyside.
Each of these neighborhoods were invited to Information Sessions discussing the Sustainable Communities Approach and the Neighborhood Challenge. Below are follow-up questions and answers from the sessions.
Objectives
Questions and Answers
Leaders Lab: If you are committed to making a difference in your neighborhood, then consider enrolling in the GO Neighborhoods Leaders Lab. This interactive learning experience is a clinic for persons who are currently working to create a better quality of life and/or implementing community projects in a LISC GO Neighborhood.
How Culture is Like an Iceberg
Critical Moments Reflection--CRCP MIT
Creating an Inclusive Community - Relationship Building Workbook
The Neighborhood Challenge Launch commenced November 14, 2008. All eight neighborhoods were invited to HCC for additional details about the Neighborhood Challenge for the Sustainable Communities Pilot Program and to celebrate the Launch. Below is a link to the handout provided at the event.
The Neighborhood Challenge Launch Handout
Building Partnership and Leadership in Communities: A LISC Houston Sustainable Communities Webinar included information about the tools and techniques for building stronger partnerships on a community level, emphasizing the need for relationship-building, story-telling and fact-finding. Below is a link to the power point presentation for this webinar.
Building Partnership and Leadership Webinar
Working Together Matrix
To view webinar click: https://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=86qi3lh4
LISC Houston hosted a breakfast with Jim Capraro, Executive Director of the Greater Southwest Development Corporation in Chicago. He is an advocate and participant of the Sustainable Communities Initiative in Chicago (known as New Communities) and pioneer of the community development movement. Jim shared his story of how his neighborhood organized, planned and worked together under the New Communities Program. He offered advice, observations, lessons learned and inspiration for the Pilot Program process. Below is a link to Jim's Making Connections: Quality of Life video which details his neighborhood's work and achievements.
Making Connections: Quality of Life Video
Neighborhood Challenge Presentation Guidelines presented on January 8 by Amanda Timm discussed the guidelines for the February 5 Neighborhood Challenge Presentations. Below is a link to the PowerPoint Presentation.
Neighborhood Challenge Presentation Guidelines
Inside-Out: Outreach to and Representation for Your Community Webinar conducted by Odin Zachman on Thursday, January 8 discussed the challenges and opportunities in reaching out to diverse communities within our neighborhoods and providing a framework for involving foundations, government agencies and officials, and corporations as partners. Below is a link to the PowerPoint Presentation.
Inside-Out: Outreach to and Representation for Your Community Webinar
Feb. 5 Presentations: The attached memorandum provides directions to make your neighborhood presentation go smoothly on Feb. 5th. For details on each neighborhood's time slot click on Agenda for Neighborhood Presentations. For Questions presented by participants in the Neighborhood Challenge and Answers about the Neighborhood Presentations click Questions and Answers about Neighborhood Challenge Presentations.
Neighborhood Challenge Memo
Agenda for Neighborhood Presentations
Questions and Answers about Neighborhood Challenge Presentations
On Feb. 5, seven neighborhoods presented for the Neighborhood Challenge. Please click below for each neighborhoods PowerPoint Presentation.
Alief; Independence Heights; Gulfton; Magnolia Park; Near Northside; Sunnyside; Third Ward