Living Cities

Invest Fest starts today! At Living Cities, we’re excited to see how Invest Fest continues to inspire and support the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors, driving real economic empowerment and inclusion. It's where investing meets culture, and entrepreneurship thrives! This three-day financial empowerment summit for Black and brown communities features panels, live performances, and a marketplace with 400+ small businesses. A powerful platform for change! #InvestFest2024 #EconomicEmpowerment #InclusiveEconomy

The journey toward achieving true diversity, equity, and inclusion is often met with challenges, but it’s in how we navigate these obstacles that real progress is made. We're inspired by Cheyenne Ray PhD, SHRM-SCP insights on what it takes to be a successful DEI leader, as shared in this impactful interview by the amazing W.K. Kellogg Foundation. His perspective reinforces the importance of resilience and strategic thinking in driving meaningful change. We encourage our community to explore this conversation and reflect on how we can continue to strengthen our DEI efforts across all sectors. #DEI #ExpandingEquity #SocialImpact

Racial inequities in young adults' credit scores are not just numbers—they reflect deep-rooted systemic disparities in wealth-building opportunities across communities. New evidence shows that these disparities are driven by factors such as residential segregation and unequal access to housing wealth. To create truly equitable opportunities, we must address these structural inequities through policies that equalize the returns on homeownership and education for young adults in communities of color. By tackling these foundational issues, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and just economy. Great report by Urban Institute's Kassandra Martinchek. #RacialEquity #EconomicGrowth #DiversityAndInclusion #SocialImpact #InclusiveEconomy #SustainableGrowth #EquityInAction

At Living Cities, we recognize the importance of addressing racial inequalities in business ownership as a vital pathway to economic growth in minority communities. Recent research on initiatives by companies like Yelp and Wayfair, which label and promote minority-owned businesses, demonstrates the significant impact these strategies can have. By making underrepresented businesses more findable, these companies have not only increased customer engagement but have also uncovered new markets eager to support minority entrepreneurs. As organizations continue to incorporate Environmental, Social, and Governance factors and respond to the demands for racial equity, these findings highlight the value of aligning business models with social impact goals. It's clear that promoting diversity and inclusion within supply chains and online platforms is not just feasible but essential for fostering sustainable growth in our communities. Great article from Harvard Business Review.

Living Cities is excited for our Fall 2024 Internship Program which offers internship opportunities for graduate students to gain hands-on experience in the non-profit sector. Our internship program is designed to provide students with meaningful learning experiences in specific programmatic areas and organizational operations. As a Living Cities intern, students will have opportunities to acquire valuable skills and build their awareness of racial equity and inclusion, strategic philanthropy, policy, and systems change. The Living Cities Fall 2024 Internship Program is searching for highly motivated candidates for a paid, hybrid internship in the following teams and departments: - Homeownership Program - Business Ownership and Strategy - Communications and Narrative Change - Strategic Partnerships - Center of Excellence The deadline to submit is on 8/30/2024. Apply to join our Fall 2024 internship program through the following link. #LivingCitiesInternship #Fall2024Internship #Fall2024Internships #GraduateOpportunities #NonProfitInternship #NonProfitInternships

“Our approach is to think through, who are the stakeholders and the civic leaders and public leaders who should know each other, who should be coming together? And then, how do we create the space and the place for them to have a conversation around their actual data and the conditions in their city? We’re able to really talk through dynamics, listen and learn and share what other cities are doing.” - Joseph Scantlebury When you face complex and multi-layered issues, you need to address the entire #ecosystem and "outside" experts can be the neutral party that brings local leaders together and get to work. Thank you, Truist and Lynette Bell for giving Living Cities, Main Street America, and COUNCIL FOR ADULT AND EXPERIENTAL LEARNING the opportunity to work alongside extraordinary leaders in #Miami, #Atlanta, #Nashville, #Memphis, and #Charlotte. #EconomicDevelopment #CommercialCorridors Erin Barnes Dionne Baux Norris Williams, EDFP

Congratulations to our Members Lisa Hamilton of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Rich Besser of the RWJF, and Mark Suzman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on their inclusion in the NonProfit Times 2024 Power & Influence Top 50 list! https://lnkd.in/gghu8CFh

As the current legal landscape takes shape, it is even more crucial that we stay committed to measuring our progress toward a racially just society. ⬇ Check out President John Palfrey and MacArthur Foundation sharing their approach to demographic reporting.

At Living Cities, we use the power of story and memorable messages embedded in our integrated communications to drive positive narrative change. S/O the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for recognizing the power that narratives and stories hold as we work together to disrupt traditional narratives and create new pathways to accessing capital! #NarrativeChange #Storytelling #SocialImpact #Equity #InclusiveEconomy #DisruptTheNarrative

We're excited to share the final article under our "A New Foundation" initiative with Gumbo Media, LLC. This editorial ensemble seeks a more abundant and dignified future where wealth is a tool for catalyzing human flourishing and honoring intrinsic prosperity. 📝 Article Highlight: The Unreasonable Man - Meditations on Progress, Loss, and Community by Emem-Esther Ikpot Rochester, NY has been a beacon of Black political mobilization since the 1964 uprisings, and the resurgence of movement organizing in 2020 has paved the way for promising structural changes. Despite significant progress, Black communities in Rochester continue to face staggering inequities in homeownership, employment, and wealth due to systemic racism and historical injustices. Key Takeaways: ✔ The 1964 uprisings were pivotal in spotlighting Black political mobilization. Significant progress has been made in labor organizing, youth investment, and mental health awareness. ✔ Despite progress, systemic inequities in wealth and homeownership persist. Current initiatives focus on fostering economic development and community vitality. ✔ We must reflect on the complex interplay of progress and loss in the fight for liberation. It underscores the importance of building wealth that is human-centered, dignified, and inclusive. 🔍 Read the full article to dive deeper into the history and ongoing efforts to reimagine wealth and community well-being in Rochester: https://lnkd.in/gbtpzzAf #GenerationalWealth #CommunityBuilding #RacialEquity #BlackHistory #EconomicDevelopment #Storytelling #HumanCenteredWealth