An important part of LISC’s strategy is to build on-the-ground capacity for leadership and action to support equitable economic development. The community engagement leadership training in 2018 provided a roadmap for community engagement practitioners to connect with other residents to promote meaningful change in their neighborhoods.
Community organizing is the process of mobilizing people within communities by identifying common goals and solutions and building bridges to resources that aid in developing and implementing strategies for reaching those goals. It is about community members getting excited about something and using that energy to create change. Community organizing empowers people to improve their lives. Community organizing, done right, leads to a shift in power.
Organizers learned over a series of workshops about civic engagement, inclusive neighborhood planning strategies and the power of storytelling. The trainings featured local and national best practices, allowed for dynamic discussion and received tools that could be immediately applied. One participant shared how they would work differently based on the trainings, “I hope to be smarter and more intentional about my work but also learn how to create an environment where relationships can be fostered and people feel safe enough to share their experiences, successes and struggles.”
The program participants representing Milwaukee area organizations and neighborhood groups were:
Araceli Arevalo- Safe & Sound
Cordella Jones- Harambee NID
Danielle Breen-Near Westside CDC
Dynasty Ceasar- Running Rebels
Neva Hill- Woodlands
Stephanie Mercado- Sixteenth Street Community Health Center
Terron Edwards-Walnut Way
Tonja Jordan-Near Westside Partners/ LISC AmeriCorps
Victoria Edwards- Running Rebels/LISC AmeriCorps
LISC Milwaukee looks forward to building more capacity through engaging our partners who have completed this training in the future.